CalvinHobbes

Yep it is deffo 3 phase and the plan is for the new buildings and have passed planning permission.

Thank you and darn. So if we move the entrance a few feet over and let the pole be on the edge even for now - what if one of the lorries coming in with blocks/trusses etc hit it? (As I have seen with entrance pillars a lot when lorries are concerned)? I will tie a high vis jacket around it to try and avoid it but if it did happen who would pay, what would happen?

We have a 3 phase electric pole right smack in the centre of our would be entrance, it's located on a strip of verge owned by the council. There is a stay which stretches around 4m into our land where our drive should be. This evening an electrician friend suggested it was a clear health and safety risk and if we said that to the network company they would have to move it. I was going to email them tomorrow but was wondering what exactly is the risk? Is it that a vehicle could hit it (particularly if we had the entrance a few feet to the side, or perhaps someone could easily walk into it? You really could either walk into it at eye level, neck level or further along trip up over the darn thing.There are currently 2 old coal sheds which are to be demolished and they are immediately behind the pole, I am really concerned the digger could cause damage to it. The guy from the electricity company suggested he could move the stay nearer the pole but still - it's in the way. It would still be obstructive. It also would be an eyesore. We really need that entrance to get the splay and I have someone with significant mobility issues so getting them inside the property, beside the entrance massively diminishes risk when moving them. Any suggestions re the right terminology to use?

Had the meeting which was very reassuring. He answered all the questions and encouraged me to ask more anytime and will keep an eye on the builder. Fair play. A good soul.

Good thinking. Right, I will send the plans to cousins husband (another engineer, he normally does bridges etc) and ask him to bless it.

Yay, thank you! Just ordered it. That will help stop all the quizzical looks and weak grins I have been getting. 🤣

Thanks,duh I must be using the wrong terminology...so its a groundwork guy not a substructure guy (or woman of course).

Yikes, just saw an email from the structural engineer who said they don't mark it out that the contractor would do that. Presumably then the very highly recommended substructure guy will do it?

Thank you, so if you don't mind me asking - who took responsibility for h&s /cdm? I was kind of hoping they could do it themselves if there was no one else on site.

Thanks, right that in my plan.😁

Back to the architect tomorrow, hopefully he can assist about the metal roof. Preparing some questions. So how does this sound? Could we get it done in these stages and if necessary price them separately Stages: 1 demolishing (if there is any asbestos removal work it would be done prior) 2 substructure 3 blockwork, floors and trusses 4 roof metal or tiles 5 windows 6 first fix 7 second fix Was kinda hoping the first few stages could be done cdm wise without our necks on the line with the people all doing it cover their own health and safety. Unsure of the terminology for this. I am currently chasing up the structural engineer to get the foundation layout (it's not on the plans) and following advice by the QS we should get him onsite when the digger is there to ensure all is well (nasty surprises can be minimised) and of course to mark it out. I also need to get an engineer to tell us about the ventilation as in where to put the holes/pipes as the blockwork goes up. Sorry, just thinking out loud. I know all this is obvious to all of you but it's a steep learning curve for a pleb like me. Anyway, anything springs to mind - please say.

The brief to the architect was to keep everything standard and nothing expensive. Somehow a great big zinc roof that extends over the sides was put in, I had no idea it was so specialist and eye wateringly expensive (double price of tiled). We are through planning and QS and a contractor both suggested we get it changed to a tiled roof. *Bangs head Presumably that means going back to planning and the structural engineer, architect etc etc? Gone someone say something good.

We changed our plans re the stripping. Didn't take the tiles off etc but did get them to board it up to keep it safe ( a few stones lobbed through windows). Focusing on safety and planning it right. Cheers, looking at the contracts.

Dear God.

Better half has talked me out of it. Get it tested, if it's the awful stuff - pay a professional to deal with it. Have rejigged budget and it's totally doable. Problem solved. I bought some ppe but I will use it for painting, when we get that far.

We are through planning but the zinc roof is giving us a serious headache due to cost. The builder suggested we change it for an ordinary tiled roof. QS agreed and said it should only cost a small planning fee. However what about all the other fees like structural engineer, saps etc? At this stage just trying to reduce costs so if it saves 30k we are interested.

What happened? Did you start?

Thank you, just got the reolink. Waiting for a sim.

I strongly suspect we have some so getting a company out next week to give me a quote. Terrified of the size of hole it will blow in our budget. Was also thinking of dressing like a nuclear scientist, been looking at this https://www.protectivemasksdirect.co.uk/jet-stream-switch-go-unit-8hour-en12941-1999-th2psl-dust .

Right, I will. A massive cheers.

Really good points, thank you - very appreciated. I will indeed be careful about straying from being a client into being a contractor.*Note to self So Conor were you officially a project manager for your site?I think I have to do it. I think the qs has a local h& s consultant lined up for me, I will find out tonight. Thank you for the recommendation though, if he hasn't I will call her. I think I have all the signs too but the offer was very decent of you.

I dont think will we have 20 workers there at the same time at any stage. At least now we have self build insurance on and heras fencing with signage.

I have adhd so sometimes things can read a bit strangely to me. So we haven't done any contract for the actual build yet. Meeting qs and architect to get it and other paperwork done including notification for it to properly start in Jan. Asked the builder we think we will use to come in, secure site (a few windows have had stones thrown at them) help me get a security camera up and dig a trench so we can get temporary consumer unit in and also plan for welfare unit etc. I had already myself removed fruit trees,sheds, brambles, hedges, doors, kitchen, skirting etc in frustration at the delays. So asked him to tidy some left over debris from that too. He suggested he could get the roof tiles down. I know the big digger will tumble cottage in Jan and do foundations etc but would taking the tiles now off be counted as demo? Quite a few are loose or fallen already. Thinking if there was a high wind it might be safer to have had them off. (He was a roofer for 20+ years). Also if its just him and 2 others for a few days or a week in this standalone basis is it notifiable now? I want to keep things right. Tbh my main worry was I don't want children in when no one is around over Christmas holidays. I needed it secure. I just don't know if the wording refers to a stage or the whole thing.

Thanks visited another site today and the foreman said he detested portaloos and suggested we get a garden shed and stick a loo and a sink in it. So yep - deffo preferable. Our water supply is handy enough as is the sewer. I think together with a caravan as somewhere for them to have a break/site office, that would do it. Will get on to it. Thanks all for the advice.

Are you allowed to send workers to nearby petrol station (2 doors away) I asked the guy in charge of it he said it was fine.....or is that silly?