Claire B

I've been in my nissen hut conversion 4 years now and would like to add solar panels and battery back up (thinking Tesla Powerwall) so I can be more self sufficient. I asked the farmer if I could buy some land to put the panels on (ground mounted) as my roof faces either east or west. He said he'd sell me some land (at 30k for half an acre!) but why don't I just put panels along the ridge line of the roof. My roof is curved. He said he'd found some curved panels on eBay for his shepherds hut but I'd need something more substantial here. Could anyone recommend any? The roof is zinc, would they just attach to the seams? It would be great if this could work as you wouldn't see them. The roof has Velux windows but they're on either side and there's a good 2 meters between them over the top.

Do it! I got rid of the TVs 4 years ago and don't miss them one bit. They're just used for mind control and to tell the masses what to think. Life is so much better without them.

Good advice thank you. He's a natural with numbers and doesn't realise what a gift this is. I'll get him to read this whole thread once he's back from his weekend jaunt.

More good ideas to add to the list, thank you.

Thanks. I've lost money on my own self build but I built it to live in not to profit from so everything was high spec. It sounds like developers make more money than builders then? The builder that built my home turned up in a new Range Rover as soon as the project was signed off! my sons girlfriend works for a company that finds land for developers so that could come in handy. I don't like the idea of throwing up cheap units for personal profit and would like to gently steer him towards the emerging eco market.

Got to be honest he's never going to do scaffolding! He's excellent at maths so yes perhaps a RICS quantity surveying course if he could do that remotely whilst working a day job too and getting some experience.

Thank you for your input. He's going to spend a few weeks looking into it all before making any decisions. He's away on holiday for a week too which gives him a change of perspective.

Somewhat, he's an insurance broker dealing with claims. He is very good at maths though regardless so the QS side of things shouldn't be a problem.

This is a great idea! Gets first dibs on the properties.

It just goes through the whole process of building so he can get an idea of the process and see which area interests him more than others perhaps. Just for interest not to get any qualification.

Yes he has a lot of holiday to use up this year, just finding the best way to use that time. On site experience vs short courses in college. He's found a 3 day course at The self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon he's keen to go to.

Good idea! We'll take a look and see whats on offer. It could be another year until I have good planning permission on my land so he could practice on smaller projects and build up skills.

Perhaps he will go down the developer route, it's early days, he'll look at options and choose what suits his interests and skill set the most. Thanks for taking the time to reply, all useful information. I'll be recommending he uses this site too, he's away for the weekend which is the only reason he's not already doing so.

I can fund it... which is why I want to be involved at first.

Aw thanks, I think you're a bit far away. I'll be advising he reads this site from top to bottom.

I have now, thanks, I think he would get on well with Rollo!

Thank you so much. yes we're looking at college technical courses though he doesn't want to spend a few years in college full time at his age but perhaps shorter courses, or part time would be useful. He's tried the degree route and it's not for him, he wants to be 'doing' rather than writing essays. The link to apprenticeships is very useful, some of those sound interesting. By 'building' he imagines buying plots, building (or converting) something by planning it, subcontracting & managing the build then selling on. I think it would be useful for him to have some experience of each trade even if he's subcontracting.

Essex, countryside, near Stansted.

Thank you, this is encouraging. I think he'd like to just have a go and I have land with a planning application ongoing which could enable several houses to be built eventually. He's lived though my own build has some knowledge of the process.

Thank you, we'll have a look at apprenticeships. By 'builder' I think he imagines buying plots, building (or converting a building) something on it (managing and subcontracting trades) then selling on. He needs to know what the process is and how to manage it, and have a basic understanding of each trade. It might be useful to learn a trade himself so he could do an aspect of the build himself.

Thank you, this is encouraging. I have land with old buildings on I'm hoping to get planning on so he could just get stuck in and have a go (with my supervision!). Ive converted some old buildings myself (using professionals for every aspect) so have some experience of the process. I see there are colleges that offer one / two week courses in each trade, this could give him some basic knowledge of each to start with.

Thank you, I am encouraging him to do his own research and figure out the path for himself but as I'll be funding his venture I want to check he's on the right track and hasn't missed anything. He'll want to work for himself and hire trades in. I have land I'm hoping to get planning on so that could be his first project. You and I know that some experience working for someone else would be beneficial but Im not sure if he'll fit in on your average building site (went to private school and it shows!).

Hi, My son, 22, is leaving a city desk job he hates and would like to look into a career as a builder. Where does he start? What courses, books & qualifications should he look at doing? Any good Youtube channels or Podcasts you recommend? Thank you.

RE Butler, local longstanding builder but this was they biggest project to date. MLM structural engineers and building regs (big company I believe) and FBB architects - awful people, we fell out very early on. It was a nightmare, husband became terminally ill and died half way through project, architects took advantage of the fact that we weren't 100% focused on what was going on with every pair of the build. Now just trying to make the best of a bad (but not so bad, I love living here) job. Probably not much under the floor as we had to keep the existing floor slab (so it was a conversion and not a new build). I imagine it would have been whatever building regs stipulated and no more.