ToughButterCup

So, keeping your nerve worked, then. Good. You'll need that level-headedness many times over the time of your build. Enjoy the anticipation, and relax a bit before diving in. Good luck.

Well Russ, funny you should ask. I'm dabbling with the idea of doing some (repeat some) of my own plastering. Softly softly catchee monkey.... ?

B+Q had none in stock, Wickes had a big notice on the plastering section : 10 bags only Chatting to the manager, it became clear that demand was at an all time high. Is plaster in short supply where you are?

In this case, I was lucky enough to have a grinder with an auto - stop function. And stupid enough to work when really tired.

At this stage of your build, is £200 - £300 going to make a difference? I get the DIY fun stuff. But the fact that you're posting here hints at slightly unnecessary risk

I sympathise. Greatly. I ended up paying a man with a Totalstation a few hundred quid. And checked his work 'by steam'. Found one error of exactly 1 meter. More by luck than anything else.

Include in that process a clear, practical, policy on how to deal with bursts. As an undergraduate, I was lucky enough to have been taught by a lecturer who taught and whose research field was Accident Theory. In brief: accidents are normal, so prepare for them. By the end of the pouring phase, I had developed a really quick and efficient burst-mend process: a type of accident kit if you will. Bits of wood and sheeting of the right size, screws which had an unfailing grip in the Durisol , wood ready cut to size for the most common burst (one block). Shovels ready, two wheel barrows, and a pre-dug pit for the waste concrete, hose ready to sluice the fine bits out of the house. Didn't stop the sickening big-girls-blouse sensations as the pour progressed. It got to the stage where I'd almost have been glad of a burst because I'd have had something to do. We had 7 in all.

Yes, and no. No for those trade names. Yes for Durisol. £300 worth of 3 by 3s, a 100 meters of threaded bar and loads of nuts and washers. More detail needed?

Take us through the building - related problems one by one. Start with any single problem. For example, the building problem that worries you most. If you think that it will help you, take a photo, upload it to the site and add it to your post.

Before I forget, here's a checklist for you. Its a high-stakes meeting, never hurts to have a list

Oh dear oh dear, oh dear. Direct quote from SAP 2012 version 9.92 (October 2013) Page 7 Tin hats folks, tin hats.

Hmmm, where to go from here .... ? Who designed the plans?

On BH, as soon as you say the magic word ' architect ' some of us (the nicer bunch ?) see your bank balance taking fire from a machine-gun. Others disagree. I wouldn't want your thread to be diverted into a common cul de sac. If you want an architect, get one. You might like to investigate what an Architectural Technician can do for you as well. Architects design - thats all (can you hear the howl from most architect's offices ?) . Doesn't matter all that much what the build system is. Yes, it would be just tickety boo if you got lucky and found an architect with both a sense of humility and humour who knew her way round an ICF block. Thing is, if she did, what would that change about the design? A little bit here and there maybe , but it wouldn't change the look, feel, essence, dare I say the soul of the place. At your stage of the planning phase I didn't know that architects rely heavily on Structural Engineers. They're the ones that do the hard sums - they are the ones who say whether its safe to (say) build a roof quite like the one you have always dreamed about, or how much rebar (reinforcement bars) the ICF needs. Hence the common sneer - architects are merely educated artists. Unjustified in my opinion. Here's the thing: our SE had no idea how much (in our case ; little) rebar our ICF (Dursiol) needs. However a specialist Dursiol SE did know. Result ; saved several thousand pounds. The original SE was brilliant at designing the foundations for our place - the Durisol SE had no idea how to design foundations. You know the design you want. Sure you need an architect? If bits of the design are ' interesting ' you'll need an SE. You may well find a hesitancy on the part of architects to merely rubber stamp your design. Here's a link to the official list of architects in the Abingdon area. Here's a checklist about briefing an architect Good luck! Ian

Thats the point of the EPC setting on the SDS drill (70% power and auto - stop , sometimes called an overload clutch)

Your poor lawn and box hedge. You must be devastated. ? Bet you didn't get much sleep last night.... good luck Ian

Welcome. We like photographs ... The more specific the question, the better we can help. Ian

Welcome. Welcome also to the first rule of self-building: be persistent. There's a simple strategy that'll help you: ask the manufacturers to recommend an architect, and work outwards from there. Look the architect up in the professional register. Do some networking. Ask local architects .... Good luck. Ian

I have about four years experience of one particular ICF : Durisol. There are many other brands of ICF, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. My ' journey ' (?) with Durisol has not been easy - sometimes terrifying (have a read of this) , at others a dream to build with on my own. Its easy to use, but it needs as much care and attention to detail as any other system. Part of the trouble with Durisol is that its marketed as an easy-to-use system. The 'thing' that goes with it in some peoples minds is speed of build. In my case, that was seen -by one or two people- as an excuse not to bother , and excuse not to sweat the detail. Fatal. Stitching the two quotations (above) from your post together - the experience of your mates, and their attitudes to ICF will be a key thing to think about. Almost every trades person setting foot on our site has no - zip, nada, nie, kein, rein -experience with ICF let alone Durisol. And that matters. Some look at it and run (there's loads of work about - "Why should I bother?") , others suck their teeth harder and longer than normal. You'll already have a good deal of sympathy - they're your mates. But, take the plasterers for example: does he have experience of a very highly absorbent / porous substrate? Is he prepared to give it a go? Here's way too much detail about my experience with Durisol. Yes, I would use it again. Yes I would drive a hard bargain by investigating other ICFs. No, I wouldn't self build again. Too damn old.

First of all, welcome. The answer in brief is leg work. You cannot read enough. You cannot network enough. You cannot ask too few questions. You already have two of the most valuable possessions: A trade. And all trades people have connections. A partner. Without one, its all so much harder. Connections mean answers. A partner means - at the very least ; oiled wheels, a sympathetic ear, another perspective. Vital. Good luck Ian

Tell the right hand to work with the left hand - at the same time.

A month. Ah ha! The colour of the floor (away from the plastic) changes from off-white-ish in the morning to a biscuit / whiteish during the day. Other areas of the floor, not so well ventilated (corners, nooks and crannies) are visibly darker, but they too change colour a little during the working day. Very much more slowly, those out-of-the-direct-breeze areas are changing colours. Hence the need to keep the doors and windows open. Thanks @Ian

Our liquid floor screed is drying off: all windows and doors open all day - this weather is helping a lot I'm sure. Someone on BH suggested we put a sheet of plastic on the floor to see if there was any evaporation: a quick , dirty check. So I have done. When I remove the plastic sheet, the area covered by it is significantly lighter in colour than the area which has not been covered. Why would that be so? Instinct says the opposite might be the case (because there will have been less transpiration / evaporation). Anyone know why , first thing in the morning the screed is a lighter colour under the sheet than everywhere else?

2 fully opening (currently suicide) doors: which will soon be Juliettes .

My wooden staging is already spoken for, and thats before I have finished with it. The family have descended like locusts and ' need ' the staging for their gardens. Its the popularity of raised vegetable beds.... Our kids have been abusing the word need since they realised that - used with care and a bit of guile - it works wonders sometimes.