joe90

Just to add to my input above, I had a £30k contingency (been watching too many grand designs!,!), guess what, I did not need it so instead of building my own conservatory/sunspace I had one made of Oak and erected. (Oh, and the windows were not late so I would not qualify for grand designs).

Seems bonkers and totally unfair.

With our build we used a main contractor (for the hard work?) and I did plumbing, labour for the electrician, kitchen and window fitting, all chippying, doors etc and laboured for the builder as I could. It’s 240sm and I spent £260k so comes in just over the £1000 per sm. I would not say it was high end but we have quality windows (bespoke), locally made kitchen, oak doors, MVHR and ASHP (bargain on Ebay). Frankly our budget was purely guessanomatry based on my being a retired small time builder.

Have a look at this, makes me itch to try another build using straw!!! https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/67k-straw-bale-low-cost-self-build/

When I designed our build I went on loads of sites for kit houses that had plans etc and found the things I liked and morphed them into what we wanted. We did use an architect but only to put these plans on CAD for our planning application (he was cheaper than normal because he worked for our main contractor).

I would certainly entertain using straw, downside is wall thickness to get a good U value. Also it needs to stay dry during construction which most others materials do not. My original plan to build a straw bale house was to buy my own scaffold and make a “cacoon” (tin roof and sheeted sides) so I could build whatever the weather. (I chickened out ?).

I have volunteered on two straw bale builds and loved it but it’s very labour intensive, these panels look great and very DIYable, I would be very tempted to use them if they were about when I started my build.

Snap, I am also 64 and retired and just finished our build (well nearly only an acre of ground to landscape ?), like @PeterStarck I am knackered and my working day gets shorter. On my build I was PM , labourer, chippy etc etc. I had a main contractor fir founds, brickwork, concreting plastering etc but did nearly all the chippying, plumbing kitchen fitting etc. Although I could do more I decided to stick at what I enjoyed and able to do well and pay others to do the “hard” work other wise it would not be enjoyable and take a lot longer. I was lucky tho, had a brilliant builder who has turned into a good friend.

Ask the GW why its in the quote!

+1 for GRP, yes more difficult weather wise but well worth it In my opinion.

My roof timbers, internal wood floors etc were out in a wet Devon winter and they did not suffer, it will all dry out. They make boats out of wood you know?.

Excuse me but your the customer, you are paying a builder to build what you want, I don’t care what country your in or whether they are proud of it. If the panels are out in the wet chuck a tarp over them, simples!

@AnonymousBosch have you found the leak?

Panels are usually portrait, stop worrying, what height did you specify for your rooms?, if it’s not what you specify the builder/frame erectors will have to put it right! Simples.

When I got rid of our very small cess pit I had it pumped out and collapsed it with the JCB like @Onoff said above then covered it in solid yellow clay and puddled it to form a seal and topped it off with garden soil. NOTE, if anyone wants yellow clay I have about 50 tons F.O.C. ?

Hi and welcome, nice to hear your story, yes sooo much info on this forum and the VAT issue fir me was scary but advice here had it dealt with very easily.

I have one if these and it’s invaluable for getting nails out, the blade is very thin. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-0-55-116-55-116-MOULDING-BAR/dp/B000RI1XTM/ref=pd_sbs_86_t_0/259-2399638-2199645?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000RI1XTM&pd_rd_r=4b8f0d66-97c6-462c-a05c-74eba1aba4a0&pd_rd_w=fLzIZ&pd_rd_wg=XZx2v&pf_rd_p=e44592b5-e56d-44c2-a4f9-dbdc09b29395&pf_rd_r=HRGXASZM8Z94JNQEGCP0&psc=1&refRID=HRGXASZM8Z94JNQEGCP0

Path edgings may not be suitable for vehicle traffic, what about kerb edgings laid on their back, gives you a “ramp” up to and holds back the gravel. I did that on a previous drive and it worked very well.

“Learning curve”, I love learning new stuff, it’s what makes a build enjoyable.

I always want to do everything myself but realise it will take forever if I do, I am also older so leave the really heavy stuff to younger fitter people. I try to do the work I know I am good at, and enjoy, and that makes the build more enjoyable. It is also dependant on finance how much you can pay others to do.

Yeehah, ? I have replaced many bathrooms and plastic bag and tape or elastic band is fine, there is no real pressure to deal with.

Welcome to THE forum about self building. Read some of the blogs attached fir full stories about individuals builds ( @JSHarrisespecially ). Remember there is no such thing as a stupid question, stupid is not asking!,!. I was very hands on with my build, gained shed loads of invaluable info from here and thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

I have a small ASHP from Ebay but no PV. DHW tank rather than sunamp. I have not configured our heat pump to cool as in our location it has not been necessary (so far). So being all electric did not hinder my SAP and my running costs are a lot lower than my previous house. Looking to lower them even more by going E7.

If this is the case why not instal a Willis heater fir a minimal amount but make sure you have all the pipework in place IF you do need an ASHP. I would be loathed to spend money on something you never use? Ask @TerryE.

You will find out when you take it apart, just look fir the screws.