asklair

This is a link to a guy who builds round houses, years ago I heard him give a talk, totally inspiring, the funny part was he was going to give a talk about social housing but the computer didn't work so he just talked about the round house he built. The roof design was just poles but they locked together, structural engineers could not get their heads around this concept. link to his website http://www.dunbeag.org.uk/index.php I do not know the full story, I think something happened to his first round house, so if you contact him you are aware of the situation.

A drying room ( shed with lean-to). Talking from experience, kayak gear really smells foul, you do not want it indoors, trust me. The lean-to can be where mountain bikes and kayaks can be stored. It makes the experience so much better when you can leave your gear outside in a tidy and orderly way and then dive into a hot shower and then relax in comfortable surroundings. Sorry if I have gone off the point a bit.

This was just doing the access road before we had to slice the top off the hill. Took 3 attempts to get planning permission and a few years, I think they thought the conditions they put in would stop me.

Glad I am not the only person who does this, there is always something in my mind telling me to make it a "wee bit" stronger.

Blue sky thinking and in an ideal world, should energy production be a non-political party subject. I could say much more but I would end up sounding like a drone for a political party. Thank you @SteamyTea for this post.

Heres a better solution, http://learn.eartheasy.com/2012/06/how-to-make-a-poor-mans-hot-tub/ I like your posts, thinking of building that solar can heater, the best part will be drinking the beer to get the cans to do the job.

My tuppence worth, plant small trees, cheaper and less problems long term, just my opinion, I have planted a "few" trees.

Copper for me, been a really mild winter, hundreds of mice (I do mean hundreds). Showing my age, plastic pipes use to let air into your heating system, cut new pipes and you will see a circle in the pipe which is a membrane to stop air getting in. I stand to be corrected in what I have said. There are simple fittings for copper pipes now, someone with more knowledge could give advice on them.

Everything sells, in a space of under 12 months we sold a plot of land, a house and bought a flat and a house. This was not part of the original plan, but what I can say is what others are saying, do not pour money into the house you are selling and take a hit so you can move forward. On paper, we lost money, in reality, we sold what we wanted and our lives have moved on. Those in my age bracket, 1960s child, a few years to sell a house is way too long.

@Alphonsox all going well, took me ages setting up and concreting in poles, the hoops were so easy to put up. I was in Glasgow the other day and B&Q had an offer on post concrete 20kg bags, around £3.50 a bag, made that part of the job easy. Still more to do, and tips on putting the polyethene sheet on would be great. Forgot to say I put U clamps on the poles I concreted in.

@Alphonsox pictures will be supplied, its officially Spring today here, my partner saw the first frogspawn for 2017.

@Alphonsox just to let you know I have gone with the solution of fixing U-bolt exhaust clamps to the foundation tubes so they will grip the concrete. Polytunnel has now been ordered.

@Alphonsox Many thanks for advice and photos, the outcome we are now going for a 14 by 25, originally going for 12 by 25, crop bars, twin support brace kit," anchor plates" (advice needed) and aluminium base rails. The option for oversize tubes appears to be gone, they may of upgrade the standard design as another seller use to point out the importance of diameter and thickness of the tubing. Also going for 2 piece instead of 4 piece tubing, this appears to be stronger, 4 piece easier to transport. What I am not sure of is the "anchor plates" (info on the web but satellite internet so slow at the moment), am I right to think they are tubes with plates at the bottom, you dig a hole, place them in and backfill with concrete. First Tunnels do a PDF download instruction manual, will download when bandwidth lets me. Finally just going for standard polytunnel cover material unless it's obvious to upgrade to a different spec.

Made arrangement with land owner.

Is there a place for this on this site, do not want to start posting on this subject if it will dilute the main purpose as a self-build site. My view is you are building a structure which to my way of living is an integral part of my house, more important than a conservatory. So it's up to you folks yay or nay. Please do not send me to a garden forum. Just got the top netting on deer fence for my outdoor living room (veg allotment), got a house with no garden, the dynamic land owner sees the bigger picture and is willing to work with us.

I know what you mean about the midges.

10 miles down the glen, living in the same house which one of my neighbours a while back lived in and his younger siblings went to the local school. Went for internal insulation, never lived in such a warm house, easy to heat too. Yes, there are still issues, looking at a half full glass, walking is amazing if I had time. It's not remote as where we planned to go, takes the same time to get to Glasgow as from Oban, Fort William is nearer than Oban which is only 55 miles away, or 35 miles by boat. Last 2 winters or should I say all our winters have been so mild, looking forward to being snowed in. What do I do for a living, I did a job share as a postie in Oban ( I said it was a roller coaster ride, got a flat in Oban where I stayed for the week on I worked (Ikea fold down bed), the kids have a base there, the flat was never part of the plan either) You will not believe the next bit, got away from Royal Mail and got a years contract which the main part was organising the renovation of a hall (Dorran construction). My new job starts in April, just got to find it. Glen Etive has a litter issue, that would be my dream job picking it up and talking to people about it. A privilege that we can live here. Any job ideas would be great to hear from anyone.

Thank you, everyone, I need to own up and say we live in Glen Etive, yes it's not much of a building plot, bit the bullet and got Leven Homes to do all the renovating work, they were fantastic. I was always told never ever buy a Dorran house, we bought it thinking we would knock it down and rebuild, in fact, we had no idea what we were going to do, within seconds of seeing the house it was ours. So what I am trying to say is that even if you start a self-build there are points when you can and should bail out, and sometimes that house you were told never to buy, well sometimes just go and think about it. For me get a builder in to do the work, never but sometimes it's the best option. So if anyone wants my views on a Dorran house just ask. I would not even attempt to build in Glen Etive, still want to do a self-build. Not having a garden, means no gardening work, and flip it around I just walk outside and there's one big garden. Still got work to do about the house so questions will be asked. I must admit everything could have gone pear shape, its been one roller coaster ride.

Quick about me: Started visiting ebuild.co.uk, fantastic knowledge base, 3rd time lucky got planning permission, did ground works, sold the site (ran out of time, all the kids had fledged the nest) on to local builder who has almost completed the build on a site where the planners just laughed at my vision. Moved to Lochaber and we bought a semi detached Dorran house with no garden, the attributes of the house we were wanting was away up north no neighbours, small house very large garden. We did get the small house and a location. The old saying location, location and location. Still got that itch to build my house. Finally glad to see this site up and running, many thanks for all those who helped me on ebuild.co.uk and those who kept the dream going on this site. John