Thedreamer

Good progress, I remember the convoy of trucks arriving for our connection.

I had the mortgage done and dusted in the early spring and made the first drawn down in early Autumn when Wind and Watertight. You will need to have an good idea of the costs in order to complete the mortgage application. I had some rough costs in my head but once the building warrant detail was prepared I was able to provide a reasonable estimate of the costs to satisfy my lender. Once you have obtained planning I would be getting services installed. This will eliminate any unexpected costs and make sure on day one your builders have access to water/electricity.

https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/topic/6851-a-guide-to-the-vat-reclaim-process/ @Canoehq the thread that @JSHarris mentioned.

5%, I take it your going down the main/building contractor route supplying labour and materials. I would do plenty of research here so you are fully aware of the VAT position (and then make sure your contractor is as well!), so you don't have any unexpected surprises.

@Canoehqare you up to speed on VAT rules for barn conversions?

Hopefully soon I'll be able to sit in a chair (and not whilst painting!) enjoy the views and reflect on this decade long journey.

Planning permission, building regulations, architects, this all seems very over the top. Just to build a non load bearing stud wall. I would have just built it and not got the others involved, what is the worst that would have happened?

Time for another update. Our joiner has pretty much finished the plaster boarding. Here are some photos of the progress made. Kitchen/dining room Our bedroom. Our joiner has started to construct the internal partitions, we now have an ensuite and some cupboards. Living room Triple velux arrangement Upstairs kids living room My favourite view had been covered by a dust sheet for a long time. Looking forward to seeing boats go by. The house has a fair amount of south glazing which warms the house. Once opened these big velux windows work well to bring the temperature down. Both bedrooms upstairs have two windows to ensure a good circulation of air. The storage container went this month on a hiab truck. I was a little nervous watching a couple tonnes of steel on chains so close to the house. This has now opened up the window views from the master bedroom and living room and also allows the house to be viewed by itself for the first time. With the recent great weather I’m back to painting. I much prefer sitting in a chair compared to being on a wobbly scaffold. To finish off here is a shot of the Loch. Next up, a few more partitions need to be created, taping/filling, installation of our treatment tank and adjusting the levels around the house.

With the roof membrane is not when it's being fitted that when it gets wet and then freezes it causes a problem?

Yes as @Conor suggests get services sorted before you start building. Usually contractors who come on site when doing quotes, ask about services being on site then? IBCs and asking neighbours kindly for use of their hosepipe? I would get the ball rolling on the electricity connection now.

@jamieled we used roof shield. There a video in the link below that shows how it works. https://www.proctorgroup.com/products/roofshield From my understanding with a lot of roofing membranes the problem is when they get fitted in frosty conditions.

Yes plasterboard where you mentioned. We have decided to go for the white mdf, we will now need to wait and see how it looks.

Strange why am I so good at sweeping the house site but not at home????

Yes, definitely. Really I just want to come home from work and sit in a chair and switch off.

Thanks Nick much appreciated. Can't believe I'm thinking about floors thought the day would never come.

Hi Nick, thanks for the reply. The chipboard went in once we were wind and water tight so hasn't ever got wet. This is the style of product that I'm interested in getting. https://www.howdens.com/joinery/floors/flooring/vinyl-flooring/quick-step-livyn-single-plank-light-grey-oak-luxury-vinyl-flooring-2105m-pack-sdh3681 I plan to use this the Howden Vinyl underlay. https://www.howdens.com/joinery/floors/underlay-and-damp-proofing/underlay/howdens-click-vinyl-15mm-luxury-tile-extruded-polystyrene-foam-underlay-10sqm-obj-sku-family-sdh0926 Howdens also suggest a barrier paper as well, but I wonder if this is overkill, given that the chipboard is moisture resistant and the underlay is described as being a moisture barrier.

Where to start with deciding on the window stills and aprons? I was thinking white mdf, which I'm planning for the skirting board and also it might be difficult to get a cill and apron that will match the flooring and window frame.

Hello, I've made up my mind on the Vinyl flooring and underlay, but does anybody know whether I can put this onto the 22mm TG chipboard already installed or whether I should put a layer of plywood (4.4m, 5m or 9m?) down on top?

That's great. I'm just about to take the samples back to Howdens, I think we have pretty much decide that it's going to be vinyl. @Oz07 - what style did you go for and how is it wearing?

Yes I had to get a pad of paper when the fees were listed to me. Good call on the home builders buyer, I have a copy of this as well. We started this ball rolling for us when I was 22 ?

I looked at build store, try the Scottish Building Society, for us much better value for money. I note your aged, I'm 33 and have two young kids. It can be done but you have to be prepared to sacrifice family time. Also worth considering the self builder's triangle, you have three sides, time, cost and quality. You can't have all three just two, might be worth thinking which are most important to you.

Can't decide between engineered oak or Vinyl for most our flooring downstairs. Any body fitted good Vinyl recently? I have samples from Howdens in front of me and the Vinyl feels like a real contender.

Have you obtained a mortgage yet?

When we were put in our water connection, our groundworks team arranged with BT and a reel of cable appeared. It went into the trench and that was that. I'm yet to pay for an actual connection.

My container was actually lifted off site yesterday! In our situation my joiner who has done the majority of the work owned this and arranged for this to be on site.