LSB

The final roof is still a couple of years away. We broke the conversion down into 3 phases. The big stables done first, then this end of the build which was pig housing. The final phase is still standing and is on clay, a case of leave the worse until we have more experience. We live at the site in the host house, this was a barn that we have converted.

As a literal self builder everything delays us, but we continue to slog away. There is a field where the footpath is going past our build as the farmer won't clear the proper one. But, you know you are progressing when the church people on the palm Sunday walk all commented on how much we've done. Since my last update last summer (remember that - heat) when it looked like this. It now looks like this We had a pretty major disaster last Autumn when a 70 mph storm came right over the field and a wall came tumbling down. For context that's the wall by HID and dog. To say that was a low point is a huge understatement. Comments over the dinner table included knocking everything down and reinstating the stables. The corner was left but we just knocked that down as well and when it was rebuilt then we've only gone up to 5 blocks so it's not such a wind target. Obviously, in hindsight we shouldn't have built one wall so high with no support and we are now going up one layer at a time all round. This disaster also cost us lots in money as the 'wall' is now on the rubbish heap along with the lintels. I've not got any photos after it fell as I was just too peed off. We also lost another month because the BCO wanted some technical details of the slab confirmed by the SE as he was concerned that we didn't have the right grade of mesh and it turns out that this was a verbal discussion and I couldn't find anything written down. It turned out fine, but it took weeks for the SE to get around to confirming this. It was only when I threatened to go to his office to discuss that they suddenly arrived. One corner of the site (not yet touched) is clay, everything else is sand and the SE had originally specced for all clay when the BCO said not necessary. The SE came to site and met with the BCO, but it was all a conversation with no official documentation. To replace the look of the barn we have a sloping flat roof and this middle wall is going to hold the joists for each side. These are 140 wide rather than 100. We are looking forward to having the temp window and internal door frames in place soon as that will really start to look like a house. We reckon that at our usual rate of progress that the walls will be up by end Sept. As we want to put the whole roof on at the same time we are going to put up temp joists to ensure that all walls are held together. Then we have a lot more concrete to break and the clay area to consider. Being a hands on builder can be satisfying, but it can also be very stressful and slow. Back again at some point in the future with another update.

definitely,

well done Geoff, not that far from the finish line, just as it warms up for the rental.

where shall we do this.

ours was 120 with an extra 600 for pump regardless of how much we had. we had 3 lorry loads. they co-ordinated themselves, sent one and then the other one despatched whilst the first pouring and same for the third one as not enough room for multiple lorries We've found, not sure why, that we've needed more for every pour than we originally thought. First lot was mix on site, next 2 were ready mixed. There is a company near here who are slightly cheaper, but they are supplying Sizewell C build and a huge wind farm and I wasn't convinced that we would be treated seriously. the guys were brilliant and worked really hard in 30 degree heat, anyone remember that last summer 🙂 But, not perfectly level due to drying very quickly, but as we need insulation and screed for UFH it's fine.

we have been building ours block by block ourselves, we also have a blog, little stud farm. its been going on for years and will be many more before finished, but the only external people is concrete and the (very expensive) preliminaries, planning, drawings, architects, building control. I must get around to putting our latest blog update as I think the last one is months ago.

Our barn conversion is 120m from the road. Bins will go road side same as our host house, bit of a trek down a slope, but hey ho. We have to have sprinklers with their own water supply. So we have normal house water on a meter and a separate bigger supply just for sprinklers. Both pipes run from the road up the slope. No way a fire engine could turn, but was approved because of existing building and conversion with sprinkers.

One of my daughters is currently looking to buy in Felixstowe, but will only consider new build. This is despite me sending her details of lovely older house that are bigger and cheaper. another daughter bought a new build near Bristol, heap of rubbish, flooded downstairs bathroom, garden full of rocks and lots of other issues. And now she can't sell it because of the offers from the developers for new ones mean that she would need to sell for 25k less than she paid 5 years ago and she can't do that with her mortgage. Another daughter bought new in Oxford where the oven wasn't attached and they had to pay to have it fixed as developer wouldn't take responsibility and being young they didn't make a fuss like I would. So, yes youngsters like new, even when their dad is a builder and can help with an older one. That said, another one had just bought a 17c listed house in Suffolk. Yes, I have lots of daughters 🙂

We use a combination of heavy and thermalite blocks. Anywhere that we are likely to need to attach internal fittings to the wall (kitchen cabinets) we use heavy, but where it will be just a blank wall then we use lite. This keeps our SAP lower without the risk of blocks not being strong enough.

Sounds like a good plan. Baby pram is for grandchild no. 4, not for me in my 60's 🙂

If alan can't make 5pm them we could meet later somewhere else. I'm pretty free today apart from looking at baby prams 🙂 at lunchtime

Needs to be in daylight it we go to yours, so 5pm.

We'd love to see your place, but didn't Johnny B say yes as well. And the poachers is good as well.

Are we meeting tomorrow. If so where and when

as in the 19th ? fine for us

We can do this.

Just found this and it really struck the situation. At the moment we are laying about 2 blocks per day mainly due to the wet, but also health and apathy. Somehow things never seem to move on as they should. I'm part of the Suffolk meet up and that's good to have, another one being planned. Sometimes I forget to connect to BH as I spend lots of time on the puter working and so don't want to spend more. But, thanks to everyone who has helped us, particularly when we make another mistake and how to solve it. I'm considering the GP route at the moment, but getting an appointment is like searching for cold and I can't bring myself to tell the 'care navigators' what my issue is. That's why I want a doctors appt. We went to Diss yesterday to TWgaze auction to view and it wasn't quite pitch black when we got back at 5pm so it is getting lighter. Not that this makes us work any longer when it's cold and wet. I would love to go away somewhere hot for a break, but trouble with building is that it takes all the money. Take care everyone and ask for help if you need it.

sounds like a plan if we are free, when suggested

well done Geoff

Hi Geoff, thanks, I'm not around much in the day, but if I happen to be in Woody then I'll stick my head in. Hope everything is going well and progressing as wanted. Have a great Xmas and see you soon.

So, are we meeting up tomorrow and if so where and when Jill

My Henry was one I acquired from a company that went bust when I was 23, my first job after uni and it wasn't new then. It's still going strong now and I'm in my 60's so it's in its 40's. Cleaned the fire out with it today.

We can do the 11th as long as we are back by 10:30pm to lock up the village hall so leaving at 10pm. We are IP17 so Woody would be best for us.

when and where and we'll try and make it, can't promise as depends on other commitments though