LSB

Is the genie lift yours ? who specified the wind steels

well done, great to see so much progress

This was just me wondering, no one is particularly right or wrong. Obviously, it depends on skills, time, money and attitude. We are doing it block by block as our budget is <200k for 240sqm barn conversion. This requires 2.4m underpinning and we couldn't even get anyone to quote on doing it. So, rollup your sleeves and get on. Hence we are doing it in phases, like building 5 mini houses until we get to roof level. I'm not sure what happens then though. One real advantage though is you've got time to make decisions and rectify any mistakes when they happen (we've made a few)

This doesn't seem to cover putting mortar on blocks etc, just planning it all.

Who is really doing it themselves, as in digging foundations, laying floors, laying blocks etc. etc. etc The only outsiders we have had are the pouring concrete suppliers. Every other thing is done by one man and his missus. It's very slow, hard work and sometimes not much fun. But, the satisfaction. I'm just wondering how many of us are on here as it seems most people are getting in teams.

would be good to see it

I've checked the schedule and I'm in a meeting from 9 - 5 on Thur so I don't want to do an evening meet yet.

I need to dig out the diary, will come back to you.

Building involves so much digging and disposing and filling and burying. So, lots of expense for something that will never be seen again. Makes me extra thankful for the farmer who very happily had all our spoil for his own particular holes in tracks. But, it's coming on well and now you get to go up and put something in place that you will get to see again. JIll

well done Geoff, it's good to see a blog when you know where the site is. Well done on the progress.

what are peoples plans re eating

We had some work done on our roof, I think it was F&H, that is our house, not new build. He charged to put it on, but then just left it until well after the builder finished rather than specific weeks.

Sounds good to us and I like seeing concrete 🙂

When we laid the first concrete slab with suspended rebar due to clay we had to put expansion foam We are now getting ready to pour the floor slab for the other end of the barn, which is on sand so no heave protection needed. So, SE and BC agree that we don't need a suspended rebar floor support, just concrete with rebar within it. But, my brain is aching and I can't think if we still need the expansion foam on the sides. Each of the small areas are 3.5m * 6m and the bigger one is 4m * 13m. This one is still being dug out. Thanks for your thoughts.

What's the plan for Thursday, where and when ? Jill

I would so love to visit the site, but as we are extreme east and you are pretty much extreme west and we have all the animals to consider it just isn't feasible. But, I'm so glad you did all this research as we haven't even considered our cladding options yet as still putting one block on top of another one at infinitum. Well done

Currently the 15th is totally blank in my diary. My OCD doesn't like that so it would be good to put something in. How does that suit- still in Woody I hope

Saga for the day for us. I went to check the safe to see if I had anything worth selling - sadly not, but it's attached to the wall in the back of the wardrobe behind other things and difficult to get at. When trying to get to it I realised that everything around it was soaking, all my posh frocks - never worn these days, lots of important paperwork, the safe was full of water as it has a ledge. Also, some nik naks that were my mothers, worth nothing as such except sentimental value, now in the bin sadly. The floor and boards were also soaked. Before talking to the insurance Dave decided to investigate further. He got into the attic above and discovered a plumbing valve air lock thingy had perished and was dripping. So, I asked, why is so much soaked. Turns out when the heating is on it gushes rather than drips. It is 25 years old as it's in the house extension that we built back then. Oddly, there are 4 of said valves and the other 3 are still perfect. At least the part was only 7.99, it's just the damage it's done. The worst is that the leak is right above a wall which is why I guess we haven't noticed it and we are concerned about the middle of the wall, it is block rather than wood. I used one of said frocks for a party at the end of March so not been leaking for that long. We have guests from tonight until Monday so can't do anything until they have gone because it means draining all the water and possibly heating water as well. But with insurance excess it's not worth claiming. At least it hasn't delayed the real build as we had phase 2 trench fill yesterday so needed to be left to harden and it rained all morning. So, hope your days have gone better.

Another day / date sounds like a good idea to us

bet that's a bit costly

We would be happy to go to the Cherry Tree depending on work commitments as not clear about something in the diary and the person to ask is currently in Lanzarote.

Excellent progress 🙂

Good progress, well done

Our build planning said we must have sprinklers so it is possible without the turning need

Well done Geoff, Woody won't know what's hit it 🙂 Take care Jill & Dave