Nestor

Rained off today on Dartmoor so time for some window shopping. Internorm / Rationel have both quoted for triple glazed, tilt and turn and prices are near identical. Can any owners of the above offer any practical advice regarding opening types especially tilt and turn. Thanks all. @Stones @JanetE @Barney12@IanR @dogman @ProDave @craig

Exactly as Prodave and Peter.. I think we moved 500 tonnes +. We used a 3 tonne digger which was a bit small tbh. I set the profiles as far back as possible on the site so we could reuse them, checked again for the blockwork after the concrete pour. It was all quite enjoyable.

We set out and did the ground works ourselves, made some timber profiles, Measure the diagonals as well. We took many hours to get it right. Just took a measurement from an existing fixed point on the site to start. Extended 2m out on all sides as well. We will have more digging out todo once house nearing completion.

@Barney12 I hear you.

Good topic as our kitchen has a vaulted ceiling, 4.5m high and we will have central island with induction hob. Similar size to Alphonsox. Looking at downdraft extractors, is it best to have recirculating than external extract due to having MVHR fitted?

Hi Dave, yes will be clad in timber. On the inside going to fix 75mm horizontals to increase insulation depth then OSB, batten, plasterboard. My brother used 100mm pavatherm, great stuff but very heavy. He used a chainsaw as well as a table saw. The 40mm cuts fine with my Makita 18v circular saw. What thickness OSB did you use?

Started external wall insulation, 240sqm in total to fix. Its Pavatherm combi, 40mm. Fixed a 40mm (cut down from 50mm) batten on the outside edge of soleplate and rested boards on top and off you go. Takes a while to then fit dpm and horizontal battens which I now need to remove and fix vertical battens first......Nearly finished the house frame except the flat roof, Seems a little odd to start covering walls after so long, I need to contact window suppliers again for more accurate quotes.

The Major is a flail mower (MJ22-140) for cutting grass and the grass polishers are a pair of Manco's. Old but still great fun with only 6hp. My 80 year old father in law had a go last week.

Yes, its a vaulted ceiling. 10.5m long steel ridge beam with 2 steel posts. We fixed 250mm timber to steel to fix rafters and added another 4.8m of timber ridge to the end of the gable.

Thank you both.

Monday and Tuesday were fine to measure, cut and fix 52 rafters. Next is to fit 75mm horizontals and fix Isoroof and membrane. Just had quote from BPC for MVHR, is everyone happy with the kit supplied? Please PM if necessary. Thank you.

Thanks Triple07 and Nickfromwales for your comments. I think Dad did A level woodwork back in the late 50's.

My Dad engineered the frame and I designed the building wth some help from an architect friend. We employed an SE for the ridge beams and first floor load. PM me if you want more info.

Excellent jib job. We improvised with 2 lengths of 4.8 bolted on to the bucket of the digger to lift 6m glulams into place. Worked a treat.

Very impressed with Genies, our steel was only 4.7m high though still felt a little vulnerable. Just need to take it slowly.

We have stick built primarily for cost saving, will share the actual cost later but hopefully £50K+ saving, fortunately have some time and energy though I do feel a bit bushed in a good way at 53 and the challenge and satisfaction from it all. Also having the support of my Dad, he's 74 has been invaluable and an opportunity to spend time together. Maybe that sounds a bit odd. I am still enjoying it.....

Splice was 470mm x 120mm and 100mm x 100mm on the face.

This was last Monday and was quite a challenge for my Dad and I. Steel was 10.5m in length spliced in the middle, about 400kg + the added timber ridge and needed to be 4.7m high sitting on two 100mm square posts. Overall length was 15m.. The night before I realised one of the posts was 400mm to short. We carried on using some blocks until the post was replaced on Tuesday. Blocks visible in 2nd picture on top of post. Rented 2 x Genie lifts and away we go. Well, it took all day really making sure it was all seated properly and square. Felt slightly sick all day. Hopefully rafters next week.

Well its just my Dad and myself. He draws and measures, I cut and fix. Thanks for the compliment. No professionals on site yet.

A bit slow to update the blog, been busy making frames up to the first floor, Caberdek laid to make it all a bit easier to work off, second hand Kwikstage up and 2 x 6m glulams for the ridge. Rafters and counter battens on top for the 35mm Isoroof. Membrane on top. The weather has been great until today. Some photos enclosed.

Hi Ian Sorry to hear the news. You have great advice here. It will be rectified and you will move forward once again with the build. In situations like this I think it could have been worse, no one injured. Monday, my Dad and I put up a 400kg steel, 10.5m in length, 5m up on a couple of Genies. Felt a bit sick the whole day seeing it sway in the wind and one of the posts was 40cm to short!!! It was replaced yesterday. Drama....Blocks underneath left hand post. Kind regards James.

Start making frames, would like to get a roof covering (Isoroof) on by late autumn if possible.

Took a while to lay the blocks and 21 cubic metres of concrete poured to complete the slab. Next sole plate and timber time.

Can anyone recommend a supplier of Pavatex Isolair and Pavatherm Combi. Trying to find decent price without incurring £550 delivery charge. Live in Devon. Need 240sqm of each product.

Trenches filled and blockwork starts, about 1100 blocks to be laid. We spent a long time making sure the profiles were accurate, taking diagonal measurements across each rectangle.