LSB

just realised it's all about the same couple and then, I can't access after all at the next step

which episode, online i have access to 4 episodes in series 1.

So in the last couple of months we've moved on quite a bit for us. We started on our next section of the build, to be the snug and entrance hall. This is the sticking out part of the 'L' of the build. We removed the roof covering some time ago, so at the start of July it looked like this. Then the 4 layers of floor and internal walls were broken down Then the walls came down and trenches were dug and filled up again Sometimes with building it looks like we do loads of work and then cover it all up again Once that was set, we started on the foundations and while we had access we had to build out the floor to the correct level for everything that needs to go in there. From the DPM we had to go down 650, almost as deep as the foundations at 750 While we were going down and starting to build the walls back, we had 100 ton of this. Crushed by this beast He was worried about our Suffolk Hill, aka a small slope as his machine is 24 ton and totally home made using his built in pecker for some of the tough concrete crusher.mp4 So, quite an active couple of months. Next is to build the floor in what will be our snug and hall, first hardcore with blinding sand layer (wackered down), then cellcore as we have some clay, then 2 layers of mesh and the concrete pour. The mesh and pour needs to be inspected by our BCO. Till next time Adios

what about drugs

we already have 2 layers of mesh 🙂

This guy just knows his stuff and is very practical, he came out and looked at our first trench and told us that with our soil we could have shallower trenches where we have sand, basically we have to go down to 'good ground', anything over 0.5m, he also accepted photos for the 2nd lot of trenches. He's happy to answer the phone or responds to emails the same day. He's been helping us with our floor make up (different thread) and what we need after the SE made an error with the mesh type. He's coming out next week to look at the mesh before the floor concrete pour.

private company in Stowmarket, Gateway Building Control We deal with one guy, which I like, but he's not the only one just who was allocated our work. Our build is very slow, but that hasn't been an issue.

the whole build is 240 sqm but, this has 3 sections each with its own roof. So, section 1 is 6*4, which we are working on now, this is B785 Section 2 is 24*8 and B313 (or something like that, haven't got the email in front of me) is specified as there are steel pillars in the centre of the roof with padstones at the bottom. All bar 2 of these are 'in' walls, but 2 are in the family room. Section 3 is 24*4 and A mesh is specified. We are DIY self building and doing section 1 first including roof and floor (up to concrete) so we can use for storage. We still have the old roof on the rest supported by old walls and acrow props with all our supplies stored. The supplies will be moved to the new bit so we can start on the 2nd section. The build, like many on BH, will take years, hoping to get water tight by the end of next year.

quote is not to scale, we are using 150 also the Cellcore at the bottom helps with insulation

I don't know Russell, I'm just using the SE instructions as that is what the BC is using. SE have re-checked the specs and confirmed what we must use so it's not down to me to try and do something else. It took us a long time to get planning and to get going so we are now just cracking on unless something is obviously wrong.

We went private for the flexibility, our BC is brilliant and really helpful. He also gave us some advice about the SE drawings and told us that they could be 'downgraded' in places, which the SE agreed in some cases. So, he has paid for himself in materials.

again more expensive for me than Jewsons 🙂 I don't even much like Jewson's but their initial price has not yet been beaten, not that I'm going to tell them that.

yes, They have agreed to A393 for part of the build (we are building in sections), but the part we are doing must be B785, he did tell me why, but the digger was going at the time and i didn't fully hear him, something to do with the roof. He is going to followup with an email.

So, got some prices back, Jewson is the cheapest and includes delivery, whereas the suppliers charge extra. We can also call off when we need. I will try the one you used, thanks for that

I've been looking around, delivery is the issue

I spoke to SE today and he has reduced half the site to A mesh but is adamant that the bit we are doing must be B785 I can't replicate anything as BC is insisting that we follow the drawings exactly. Luckily i can get it from Jewsons, but lots of places don't provide it, and it's expensive. Apparently it's to do with the roof, this part of the barn has it's own roof and is 6*4 sqm approx. internally. Our SE is a commercial company more used to doing hospitals so guess to them it's a minimal spec.

At last the SE rang back and admitted that it is B785, so a typo all though the document and double checked by a senior. I also questioned having 2 layers of B785 for a single storey residential floor that will only have household furniture on top. He's now checking if that is really necessary. Shows how much we've learnt since we go the drawings 2 years ago when we just took what they said as gospel.

yep, just rang them again !!!! in a meeting and will call me back, just like the last 3 times I rang. Architect says that they just used what SE said. I don't plan to swop for A mesh, it's just the BC says that we must do as per the SE spec, which doesn't exist. The hardcore is being put in today and then I'm stuck until I can get this stuff.

He is VAT registered, but is a one-man band with a huge home build machine that he just takes from site to site and crushes concrete, I don't think paperwork is his forte in life. He's pretty rough and a very typical 'old Suffolk boy', but he's been really good at what he's doing and even went and found HID for me yesterday when I had a problem when I was on my dog walk, HID didn't have his phone so I rang this guy who went and told him to ring me 🙂 I would happily recommend his work and I'm happy not to be charged VAT as long as any risk is with him. My issue, is: If I buy in hardcore I don't pay VAT, no problem. This guy is crushing our own old concrete floors to provide us with hardcore. So, are we buying a service, which is not VAT exempt, or are we buying hardcore.

We saw a system at a show called Unico which 'does it all', this is a hot air system, HID loved it and wanted to install. We rejected because I'm very sensitive to air flow and couldn't face the thought of it coming in the room. But, it did look quite good. This was at the Swindon House Building show.

thanks, it's just that I'm not sure that crushing concrete is VAT free even though we will use most of it, just not all, what's left will go on the driveway

I have a 'supplier' who has bought a machine and done some work, he says that I don't have to pay VAT as it's a new build. But, just for arguments sake, what happens if he is wrong. Slightly more info he is crushing concrete on site for our hardcore. I know we wouldn't have to pay for hardcore if we bought in, but what about in this scenario. He bought his own crusher and did all the work.

I expect so, waiting on a call back from SE although they didn't' respond to my email I'll chase tomorrow otherwise Shows that even though it is written by A and checked off by B they both maybe missed it. Just frustrating as I wanted to get prices today and I can't really guarantee that I'm looking for the right thing. That's the trouble with working and acting as PM, limited time availability during office hours.

We are converting an old barn, one corner is clay (about 9sqm out of 240), hence the cellcore, but that is also included on the rest which is sand, hey ho. I have gone to the SE, but they haven't come back to me, just rang again and was told no one was available. We had the plans drawn back in Nov 2020 so I think maybe they are not interested any more, the receptionist couldn't find our plans. I wondered about a typo, but B705 is everywhere in all the calcs. when copy and paste doesn't ring true. Pity the architect didn't notice when he did the BC drawings, from the SE drawings. BC said that there has never been a B705 so it's not like Persil, the new improved version. What with the cellcore and high spec mesh (2 layers) the floors are going to be very expensive.

I'm confused, not for the first or last time I know. But, just doing quotes for our floor makeup and looking at the SE & BC drawings, same thing really. Anyway, they's specified B705 mesh, neither BC nor BM have not heard of this. I went back to the architect and he said, that's was SE specified, SE not available. As it is I think this floor makeup is excessive for a single storey building, but BC is saying that we must follow the drawings. What do others think. The screed is only speced at 50, the hard core (not listed) at 200 and the insulation at 150, ignore the bit at the top, that's the existing floor that we have had to dig out to provide more roof height. The nearest spec to B705 is B785, which is £83 per sheet compared with £30 for A rated mesh. thoughts please.