mike2016
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mike2016 last won the day on March 15
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https://passiveirishhome.blogspot.com.
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Ireland
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I was trying to motor on at 50% but the last delivery did me in! Now aiming for 100% before I pull in some help and keep an early warning eye out for any issues and have a plan to tackle them at that point. Much better today but still finding getting out of the car an issue.
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Great job Susie. Looking forward to further updates on the build!
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That looks like a slightly scary prop for the ridge steel but I'm sure it's ok!! Just don't slam the door too much!!!! Great work and hope you're enjoying the paddling pool! We had to knock out a corner of the foundation as it was taking too long to brush out a hole we'd drilled which would get clogged up fast. The soil pipes weren't cut down at that point. Hopefully no ducks made their home there?! It's those calculations and little gaps that can cause such headaches, well managed though!
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Not posted an update in a while but was focused on getting the outside of the house rendered, painted, guttered and drill vented before the scaffolding came down. It was off hire on a Monday and I worked 11-12 hours days on the Saturday and Sunday to get through a few tasks including chain drilling the MVHR vents (2) among other things. Basically anything at height. Anyway, while peeling the masking tape off the soffit while lying down on my side I moved to all fours to get up and my back went into spasm! I was still able to move around but the next day it was sore. Off I went to the Chiropractor the next day and he thankfully sorted me out. A few weeks later and I was putting the floor down in the new attic and again lying down while slightly propping myself up to secure the T&G OSB with screws and I felt my back get sore. The next day again I was in agony and off to the Chiro the next day. The following week I took a different approach to finish the attic, very carefully, and remaining standing on the ladder all the time working backwards towards the hatch opening. Thankfully this avoided any further injury and I completed the task. Fast forward a few weeks later and I visited my mum, contracted covid and while propped up in bed the OTHER side of my back went. And this was no fun. No Chiro for me while testing positive (had to wait another 7 days) and it really set itself in. As soon as I tested negative I booked in to the Chiro but despite two visits it was still sore. I could do a 1/2 day at the weekend and a good nights sleep could repeat but it was hindering me. I'd booked 30 x 2x4 and 100 2x6 for delivery this week before the latest episode and had taken the week off work. After they arrived on Tuesday (I insisted on a HIAB thankfully so they could be dropped inside my boundary where I could secure it) I moved the thirty 2x4's inside but felt my back beginning to go again. I lay down but it was getting worse so I covered the remaining lumber and headed home. A few bad days to follow. I tried one Physio my neighbour recommended on Wednesday but it didn't shift the slow, gradual healing along much. I tried Panadol, Ibuprofen, even CBD oil but nothing was helping. I went to a local Physio yesterday and have received some treatment and exercises so I'm resigned to 2-3 months of recovery (my estimate, not theirs) to make sure this is really healed but start Pilates as soon as the Physio says I'm ready. I've been resting up all week and just have to accept I'm the weakest link! In an 18 month project so a few weeks isn't that much but I'd hoped to crack on this week after covid etc. Not to be!! Yeah, so take care of yourselves, especially if you are solo. I've accomplished so much over the last 10 months to get here, it was just one deadline where I pushed my body too hard and am now paying the price. It was a fear of mine but now its here I'm just going to rest, get back to work, wait for my back to be comfortable again (it's still sore) and take things easy for a while (I can plan electrical, home automation etc in the meantime!). How do people in their 60's even do this?!! I'm in my 50's and finding it hard! Fair play to those folks!! Anyway, Off to lie down, I'll call a few favours to get the lumber indoors when I fell I can help at least a little and only tackle jobs when I have a good back regime in place. I reckon it's 8 more months to finish. Can't wait!!!
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Hi! I’m a first time self-builder!
mike2016 replied to Berkshire_selfbuid's topic in Introduce Yourself
No mancave in the basement?! Looks impressive though! -
MVHR and fire safety
mike2016 replied to Bramco's topic in Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR)
What I'm hoping to do is link up the AICO smoke/heat detector network to home assistant and have a power circuit via a Shelly Relay I can turn off to kill the MVHR unit in the event of a fire. So at least the MVHR fans aren't spreading the smoke. I would like an intumescent vent in each room but not sure if they are compatible with the system I'll be using. BPC have some here you could consider: https://www.bpcventilation.com/metal-fire-protection-valve-supply -
The Architect originally specified a drainage channel across the top of the driveway. There is a 0.5 meter drop to the house. The road has a slight dip and the excess water always tends to flow down the estate rather than over the threshold of the new driveway. Now construction at this area could change this behaviour but should I move the drainage channel to in front of the house, or keep it at at the top of the driveway? Or even do both?! Thoughts? Parted ways with the Architect. Thanks.
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Sure, a standard two piece where one runs inside the other and you can vary the length. The key is managing risk and safety. How are you with heights? Search YouTube for the essential craftsman video on ladders, I learned some great basic tips there. Have a spotter the first few times to secure the base and supervise. Don't climb alone.
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If you just want to to clean them out what about a gutter cleaner & extension wand for a power washer? Do it all from the ground, Safer. If repairs are needed then a two part ladder with a standoff but I wouldn't like to mess around with resting it against that glass or trust resting it on a spongy gutter climbing up and down. Tricky. You can hire a van that has a bucket in the back for a day but unlikely to help around the back. Or just pay the local leaflet crowd who do the cleaning for you? There's always someone offering those services around the area.
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We're featuring on Grand Designs next week 🎥
mike2016 replied to thefoxesmaltings's topic in Property TV Programmes
Just caught up watching the episode. Awesome job and what a result! Can only imagine the fears and worries building something of that scale! Hats off to both of you, what a team! Hope you get to give a talk at a self build exhibition someday. You would be inspiring to listen to. -
AeroBarrier - a shortcut to air tightness?
mike2016 replied to LnP's topic in Energy Efficient & Sustainable Design Concepts
Something about atomization makes me worry about long term health effects as you have sealed your fate? Will it off gas for years? Like spray foaming everywhere, doesn't appeal to me! Interesting technology though. -
What is the age of the property? Any older photos available from Google, previous sales etc with a clue about age or size/extent of cracks? How many previous owners? Condition of surrounding houses, speak to neighbours? Compare. There is a risk, just how big though?!
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You can get legs / stilts to put the new floor on and rest these on the ceiling joists but as your setup sounds unusual a photo may better confirm where the structural support comes from and if there a gap between the two layers?
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Am doing weep vents into cavity just below dpc which is 150mm min above ground level as specified.
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Bathroom finally completed
mike2016 commented on MikeGrahamT21's blog entry in Back on the self-build waggon...
Wow - great job! Latest skillbuilder video said he spent 10K on his bathroom renovation which horrified me, 4K is much more reasonable and a steal for the quality you delivered, amazing!