joe90

I am not an SE but have done many loft conversions and I don’t see why a steel ridge beam was necessary, I have only used them when large dormers were installed. @Gus Potter will be along shortly (hopefully) who will know more.

+1. I consider a slight slope an asset for the above reasons plus you say you are the highest point so no or very little drainage from above. AND sandy soil, what’s not to like 🤷‍♂️

Bring back the old days (tin hat on)

I didn’t, just registered as self employed with HMRC and kept records, if I got anyone else involved with a job, painter, electrician etc I made it plain that they were self employed working for the customer not me to keep things simple and no employee liability.

I took out a basic insurance but no one ever asked for it, I was once asked to quote for a job at a local school but didn’t qualify as I needed £1m liability insurance .

Being self employed is a gamble but I thoroughly enjoyed it, I have always got on well with people, I have only not got on well with (some) management. Just make sure you are honest with customers, be comprehensive with quotes, no ambiguity. That’s really to do with the likes of gas, electricity and structural engineer. Anyone can call themselves a builder (I did with no qualifications) just a lifetime of DIY and the right aptitude.

The only problem I had once was with a BCO officer, he turned up on site as I arrived, I got my ladder off my van to climb the scaff when he told me the ladder should be tied off at the top!!!, yes I said, as soon as I get up there I will tie it off. Not good enough he said. WTF. I explained I removed the ladder at night to stop “others” climbing up when I was not on site. He was adamant so I climbed up the scaff and tied it off when I got to the top then I laughed at him. Never saw him again.

I have never had a scaffold inspection but my son in law has just started working for octopus energy installing solar panels and they have weekly scaff inspections.

So what have you been doing all that time?

Of course

Second hand is always a gamble, get someone who knows diggers to look over it for you. (I loved every minute of driving my JCB, best boys toy EVER).

I was always told (rightly or wrongly) that without counter battens the felt or membrane is draped between rafters to enable moisture to run down to the gutter.

I agree, just making the point about Straw being a by product..

Why ?

Again, the wheat will be grown anyway, the straw is a byproduct.

Yes a really neat job, but being the devils advocate I would have drilled holes centrally in the joists and threaded the, pipes through them (which you can do with plastic but not copper), then filled the existing notches fully so floor boards can be secured. (Sorry). I am a convert to plastic this being one of the many reasons.

Just remembered my build was a house name not number, it already existed as a derelict bungalow but no problem getting insurance (direct line). note, just had to renew my car insurance and renewal was £100 cheaper than last year 👍(that’s a first).

“Bollocks” spring to mind, just call it number 1 (but retain the name) who is to know 🤷‍♂️

I did this and it’s called check reveals, made the fixing of windows easy to the back of the outside wall, windows are within the insulation area (my reveals were angled as well to give better light penetration).

Oh no it doesn’t (Christmas is coming) I chose where possible not to use plastic or petro chemical insulation and some others here have too. If you have any data on how dangerous natural products are I am sure you will produce a bar chart or graph.

Natural materials rather than oil based/plastic products spring to mind But they don’t farm just to produce straw, it’s a by product which will be produced whether used for building or not.

Depends when this was introduced and when the Road it came from was laid 🤷‍♂️

Not really, that’s Makita equivilant of my de Walt

I agree, will more than likely give it away (neighbour using it at the moment) it earnt its keep as was cheap.

But then again some of us actually finished our build 🤷‍♂️