Mulberry View

Just the two courses. While I'm here. I have two solid walls that align with a first floor Posi (no openings in either), should I pack the gap between the top of the blocks and the Posi to add strength to the floor? If so, is any protection needed between the joist and the mortar?

So not this then?

Ah, perhaps I can. I'll check. You think its definitely strong enough @Iceverge?

I'm still at it with these internal walls, I'll post some pics when I get a minute. But what lintels for the internal doorways now that I'm using medium-dense concrete blocks? My merchant has suggested the right-angled external ones like this...

It's really just re-consolidating the wall and floor build-up now that I have made some insulation/performance changes, to make sure everything works and I'd also like to get deeper into air-tightness detailing, but again beyond what my Architect did and beyond my knowledge. We also have a couple of relatively minor design matters that need reconsidering, but are beyond my own ability.

That's what I thought regarding contracts. I've never even considered it, but now we're in dispute all people seem to be saying is 'what is your form of contract?' and 'what were the T's & C's?' We aren't water-tight yet, we are close to confirming the window order, but the roof fiasco has definitely scuppered us pretty badly.

Whilst our battle to resolve our Zinc Roof problem rumbles on, I want to try to understand how we get our project on track as it feels slightly off the rails. Keep in mind we are actual self-builders, mostly building it ourselves, I am the main contractor. We did have an Architect on board, but now estranged from the project. We have plans in hand to RIBA Stage 4a (Building Regs Plans). We have managed to get most of the structural shell up and services in without needing any trades or more detailed plans, but do we need to onboard another Architect to take our plans forward to a more technical level or is it sufficient to address elements as needed as we progress with the project? Or do people manage to build with the level of plans we have? I am already trying to improve the spec where I can, so things are changing and certainly need the window detailing to be properly considered. I have a conversation ongoing with another Architect about taking the project over to fill in the blanks, but I don't want to go too far and waste money. With our Zinc roof, we obtained 3 quotes, decided on which we preferred and instructed by email. People speak of contracts etc, what is the normal process of bringing a trade in? Something different to what we did? Should we be drawing up some sort of contract each time we need a trade? Or is email instruction sufficient as a contract? I would be grateful for some other input on this, I just want to get the place built, but am plagued on a daily basis about whether we're just winging it too much and procrastination is definitely causing delays.

Aaaah, yes of course. Nice one, you've been a great help.

That's all very helpful, but why 2 courses of bricks at the bottom and 1 at the top if that could be dealt with in a 10th block course as both a block and 3 course amount to 225? Mines an ICF build, I'm not a huge fan of starter bars and am probably going to go with Owletts that I can plug into the concrete. I have time on my side with this, I'm not in a rush.

Brilliant suggestion, thanks for this.

My First-Floor Posis are in already. My main focus is in trying to get the level right for the doorway openings so I can drop the lintels straight on top of a course, then work out the remaining blockwork after that (probably 2 courses). Planning on making the doorways 2100 high, but should I take this from FFL or top of actual finishes? I have about 275mm left on the floor build-up above the B&B floor, so I need to achieve 2375mm in blockwork for the lintels to work out. I've just received my Marmox Thermoblocks, they sent me 100mm thick blocks instead of 65mm by mistake, fine by me and nearly courses (2360mm with a 10mm bed under the Marmox), so I guess I can just fatten the courses up a little and get to 2375mm without too much trouble.

This has all been very helpful, thanks to everyone who has contributed. Just a couple of points I need to clear up... So, Medium-dense Concrete blocks for the ground floor walls are a good choice? How high to block up the ground floor walls in terms of the Posi floor above?

That's very helpful, thank you.

Any pitfall in going 2040? We've got 2500 ceilings.

That's an interesting idea.