Triple07

There's nothing like the immense satisfaction of quite literally building it yourself, well done, it's not the speedy option, (we cheated and got the roof trusses made) it takes time, but perfection does ?

Looks excellent, well done, we have also stick built on site and reckon we have saved £30k+ and means every timber position is well and truly etched in our minds...like it or not ?

Hi @soapstar, we are also building in Aberdeenshire, we had our temporary power supply installed in August and connected in December. Our SSE guy "Dod" was fantastic, kept me right step by step and did a few site visits. We had to upgrade the transformer so it did cost more but didn't have much option, basically we have it into a painted plywood box mounted on a post with our temporary supply and we will move it into house next year when (hopefully) near completion. We did chose to connect the meter and pay a small daily standing charge (£0.11 daily) and lower unit price but left it a couple of months, we do use the supply for the charging batteries, the kettle, cctv and lighting when the darker nights are here, but there is the option of no daily standing charge but higher unit price. Depends what you are doing with the site until you start building and how secure you need to keep it. Exciting times for you though, congrats on the planning, our planners were...ehm... not the most accommodating ?

@PeterW so it is possible to use a 3G router with the security camera? I was almost swayed with an EE mobile broadband package but then I was told I couldn't hook it up with the Swann camera I was looking at...

@Jimbouk I hope you don't mind me asking but roughly how much data does the mobile system use? I am trying to compare the costs of the app and suitable camera phone with data versus simply installing my bt line early and paying the broadband charge. We already have Electricity. Also does the app give the clarity to identify detail such as car number plates? A camera that I need to collect sd footage and view after the events does not suit our current needs. Failing that, does anybody have recommendations for a cctv system that can be viewed remotely thanks all ?

Swell! John Lewis had the 5 zone (or perhaps the replacement) on display last week, looked great! I got a large stainless steel pan from Siemens when I bought the hob in the smaller version and it is a great pan....yup I too got excited over a pan, I may just phone them direct for my new kitchen order, 3pans could just tip me over the edge ?

No we are at Lonmay, the Build is coming along, slowly but steadily, windows went in today - despite the high winds again, so that's a relief! How bout yourselves? There's actually a fair few going up in our corner which is great as it was quite stagnant for a while!

You are likely sorted with this now @Alexphd1 but I'd try A&K Elphistone at New Deer, Phone: 01771 644 673 (they do have a website and Facebook) they are agricultural metal works mainly but if they can't help they will at least point you in the right direction, also Lawrie Fabrication (have a FB too) could be a good shout, he has some interesting things on his page!

I'm sure they are from Spain, won't hold that against them tho

As below, but to be fair, I can't find them online either, hope it helps ?

Thanks folks TP have surprisingly gave us the best quote of £0.72(+vat) per slate, 7-9mm, A1, S1, T1 , preholed, 400x250mm (16x10) grey Royal Ascot "abbey" slate. if anyone else was working out their M2 of roofing that's 25/m2... Couldn't see any visible pyrites in sample slate ?

Hello @Mrs H, and welcome ? after much research and visits to past projects, we decided to use a semi-retired Chartered Architect who mainly focused on self builds (a few each year) He was fantastic. He got us through planning and building regs and is "on the other side of the phone if we need him again" but we got our drawings and have been well on our way since. As was previously mentioned, no two self builders are the same and Different things are important for different reasons, but we felt he offered not only good value but really worked with us to get plans we loved. We had a site visit with him ( I am shocked by those who do not visit the site) For our 1st meet we drew up our own plans and wish list and presented him "our vision" but we were flexible. He gave us some great advise and alternatives. Helped us decide what we hated so he knew which way to steer. The cost included as many tweaks as we needed, he said on the first visit something like "if it takes 50 redraws don't worry, it's your house, but if it really takes that many, something is really not right" Took us 3 redraws and that was only small tweaks, as he had also done his research into us- He asked us lots of questions to gain an insight into us as a family, like most self builders "sell on" isn't much of a factor, it's nice, and nobody wants to ruin that, but the house is for us. He asked was it a family home? Were we looking at adding to it in future or downsizing maybe. Which rooms do we currently use most and why. He took note of Little things that make a big difference to how easy a house is to live in....i often work nights so sunlight in the bedroom isn't a plus for me, We have kids- glass balustrade are magnets for fingerprints but storage is essential and so on. He had a very good grasp of the planners likes and dislikes and we were made clear on what types of design would sail through planning, what he could push for (and if it was worth it) and what was a definite don't even go there. i think it's also down to the client too, we were very open about finances and what was important. My sister in law is also "selfbuilding" (i would say having a bespoke house built, she has a PM and main contractor...) she is now on to her 3rd architect and none of them have discussed finance much more than top end budget and at least one set of those plans is just never going to be achieved considering the groundswork within the budget. With selfbuild I have found that budget changes so perhaps "what are you comfortable spending" is more appropriate, do you want to save time/money (both seldom possible) . Some people have no idea what certain elements cost, did I want bi-fold doors once I knew cost and quality difference? nope! Does she? Of course, because she doesn't believe it's that much more expensive, in the scheme of things....(let's forget the fact we stay in north east Scotland and it's too windy and cold to even have a window open! ) Wow sorry that's a tangent and probably all standard but it's the little things that mean a lot they say! We got a fair few copies of the drawings and that helped a lot and also digital copies to send on for quotes etc. Best thing I have read on here, and I don't recall who by unfortunately, was that self build does not mean building what you dream of but deciding where to compromise. Wishing you well - Triple07

Sorry I'm momentarily bringing this back to induction hobs, we previously had ceramic electric hob- hated. Then moved and put in gas- great. Then moved again...and put in induction and wouldn't have anything else. We chose a silver Siemens hob as picture below, significantly cheaper at Currys (-and more so if u use promotions quidco etc) came in at about £750 two years ago. Mainly chose it for colour and sleekness, placed on an island. Haven't scratched it yet. Did have to part with a couple of pans but most were metal anyway so not an issue- but Siemens themselves had a promotion and sent a very nice large pan/casserole dish so that made up for it. Main thing apart from aesthetics, it's fantastically responsive, i am quicker boiling a pan of water than kettle for spuds etc. Only heats pan so safer ...if like me for everything else that gets put on island "catching" . Digital display too...other brands are available but I do really recommend this one, will definitely have same in the new house....or bigger ? http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/cooking/hobs/siemens-iq700-flexinduction-eh679mn27e-electric-induction-hob-stainless-steel-10149376-pdt.html?istCompanyId=bec25c7e-cbcd-460d-81d5-a25372d2e3d7&istItemId=xxptxatiwm&istBid=tztx&srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~0103+(PLA)+INTEGRATED+KITCHEN+APPS+CORE~All+Integrated~Exact&mctag=gg_goog_7904&kwid=GOOGLE&s_kwcid=DS!700000001497114!147017580910!!!g!!PRODUCT+GROUP&device=t&ds_kids=92700015669725844&PLA=1&gclid=CPDvj4epk9ICFRQTGwodoiwIIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CPLJtoepk9ICFeWiUQod3DELNQ

Hello again, how is everyone? Well we finally got the roof trusses on after a delay due to high winds, dormers and roof ladders to form now, then to get on with sarking the roof prior to slating, roll on the lighter nights.....and the warmer ones!

@nod @Roundtuit How did u get on with ur slate prices in the end? We r looking at ordering ours just now, 362m2, and if I hear one more time about Brexit and price increases from suppliers .....i will....I will...ehm....well....not much I can do really....suck it up and accept the bad timing!

Much prefer building the dream, especially when it's a true self-build, I do get disappointed when it's all main contractor, and, as evil as it sounds.. I do like when there is the "normal" drama of missed deadlines, financial woes, exhaustion and tension.....or at least I hope that's normal and not just us! We have found many of the episodes have offered some tips for a general self builder too, and sound advice...bye bye bi-fold doors ?... Grand designs has its place though, especially the ££££ projects, although most weeks I do find myself rolling my eyes at Kevin McClouds intro ?

The snow certainly didn't stop us, hardy over here ? but with gusts of wind in excess of 60mph, understandably the crane company didn't want to chance it, rescheduled for next Friday, fingers crossed for a calm day!

Resurrecting this since the met office has just issued more weather warnings for high winds & snow....and I have the crane booked for getting the roof trusses on this Friday....yes....Friday 13th ?.....?❄️?

Hello....this seems as good a place as any to pop my first post..... we too r building in Aberdeenshire, Lonmay area to be more precise. We have our foundation slab complete and have just moved on to building the kit... exciting times!