Redoctober

We have oak beams internally and although they have been treated with Osmo when installed two years ago, I haven't touched them since. Not that they need doing but is there a general rule regarding treating them again every so often, or do I just leave them? Thoughts welcome.

I'm a bit late to this thread but I just want to say how interesting it is and to thank @DavidHughes for his view / findings on an MVHR system. I know a lot of members on here are converts and I can understand why that would be but for those members who are debating whether or not to install one, the arguments being out forward by David are valid..After all, it is my understanding that he isn't questioning the benefits of such a sysyem, he is just pointing out that they may not represent good value etc. As I have previously stated, I haven't installed one because on balance i could / didn't believe it represented good value and I took my lead from a well established House building Company who also shared the same view. Therefore we should thank David for putting such an argument forward to allow others to become more informed etc??

Hi @Mike_scotland Looks good. One observation though - why the need for two doors going into the attached garage? Unless there is a specific reason, wouldn't it be better just to have the one door from the utility going into there?

Well that is a question! There is plenty of discussion in previous threads regarding the installation of such a device, suffice to say that it is considered to be best practice, IF ones budget can stretch that far. There is also a lot of folk who would advocate the DIY approach, but when you consider the importance of such a device within the general running of the house, I would argue that it should only be installed by a competent DIYer. A bit like UFH I suppose. Our budget didn't stretch that far and even if it did, I would have to say that I'm in the camp that feels that our house, which is well insulated and fairly airtight, didn't need it. I know and appreciate the advantages but it just wasn't for us. That said, we are more than happy with life without one and don't appear to have suffered as a result of not having one. Good luck with your research into this particular matter and perhaps the "search " facility on this forum could help.

Exactly - it’s all in the details. Tread very carefully ?

Looks good to me, although I would question why you need a wall leading into the boot room from the rear vestibule. Why not just have it "open plan" so to speak. Therefore saving some ££££'s in the process.

Hello and welcome to the forum. Whereabouts in Scotland are you intending to build? There are a few of us on this forum already established within the beautiful Scottish landscapes. @newhome has beaten me to it but to re-iterate, and I too assume you are going for a Timber Frame? If so, then the cost of getting to after tight stage doesn't normally include the foundations / slab. Yes the utilities and treatment plant are extra as well as the drainage system. If you are going through a TF supplier, then please ensure you read the package details carefully as there are often hidden extras / or things you would expect to be included, which aren't. Ask the questions / seek advice via this forum as we have all been through that process and have good advice / guidance to offer. Good luck.

There you go @Jeremy Harris a nice little project for you. Seems there could be a market for such devices for those competent self builders out there!?

We have a timber framed carport and combined shed that is built upon a concrete slab with a twin dwarf wall. The bricks are a range of heritage bricks from a builders merchant so nothing specific as to needing to be an engineering brick etc. We dont have a damp proof course between the supporting bricks and the oak posts as they are protected by the external larch cladding. I'm sure a competent bricklayer / builder / DIYer could lay the bricks. See images below. Although everyone has their own reasons for doing something or not as the case may be for @Carrerahill, I'm very pleased with our timber frame construction. It is oak framed with larch panels, so I don't intend it to be going anywhere anytime soon! That said, I won't be doing any welding in it either. ?

I have to agree with @nod. Accepting I don't not know the shape and design of the house, I would expect a 115sq m house to be "pretty" straightforward in it's design, therefore allowing you to rely on the good relationship you have with the trades and the safety net offered by BC. Again, having built a 165 sq m house without an architect whatsoever and no previous self build experience, I can't help but think that the scheduled visits are an expense too far and perhaps a justification on their part. to charge you whatever it is they are charging for their services. Take a look at my blog if it helps you remove some of the risk / mystery to self builders which others are all too keen to emphasis for their own purposes, sometimes.

We didn't spray the walls but hand painted them with a roller etc. Make sure your very first coat of paint is a diluted trade paint - Two or three coats are considered best practice. Only then can you think about applying top / finished coats. Failure to do so will cause all sorts of problems with the plaster etc.

Sorry for the delay in responding but this is coming on a treat - You must be very excited as the big moving in date looms.

Hi @sean1933 welcome to the forum and also thanks for actually coming out of the shadows following a long spell of researching etc. This forum thrives because people like you are happy to share your experiences. I would imagine the journey through the planning stages for a plot that didn't have any permissions attached would be of interest to some. This looks a fantastic project and I wish you luck with it. Hopefully your progress will not be confined to Instagram as there are still some Luddites like me out there!!

Yes, just taken a look and have to agree - well done - sadly I'm not in a position to assist with your questions but I'm sure these drawings will certainly assist you in obtaining fairly accurate costings etc. ?

The whole UFH system is powered by an ASHP and only comes on when the temps drop below whatever it is, we have set the various rooms for. That said, two of the bedrooms are simply guest rooms so not in use for best part of the year. Therefore the temps are set at a level that they very rarely come on during the winter months, as it is pointless heating a room not used so to speak. The same is said of the "guest" bathroom but for our bedroom and en suite, the heating is set to come on more regularly. They are set at no higher than 20 degrees and I have to say I only notice the heating coming during the late afternoon / early evening. The en-suite has a stone covered floor and I am more than happy to walk bare footed on this even in the mornings.

@Moonshine for an alternative approach - not suggesting that it is the most appropriate one, but an alternative nonetheless, you may wish to read through this blog entry. https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/blogs/entry/380-the-build-insulation-ahead-of-1st-fix-update/

Hi @DerbyLad welcome to the forum. Perhaps some further details of what it is you are intending to build - the materials involved and build route might encourage others to offer some advice / guidance or indeed share their experiences.

Hi @Jamesi and welcome to the forum. Take a look at these threads I have copied in below - they may give you a starter / others thoughts etc., as to which TF supplier to go with. https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/topic/12161-which-timber-frame-company/?tab=comments#comment-204611 https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/topic/11684-timberframe-suppliers/?tab=comments#comment-196475

Hi @Stewpot we too are in the Scottish Borders and have been since 2018. If you wish to pop along to discuss any aspects of your build etc,. drop me a PM as I would be more than happy to assist. We used Scottish Water and found them to be OK to work with but that said, they were the more difficult to do so out of the utility companies. Like you, we wanted a likely cost of connections before committing to the plot. Our connection to the mains was across a single track country lane. Having identified it made the application a touch easier and I eventually got a cost out of them. They don't do road trenches etc - that said I found a local company which are Highways approved. They were more than reasonable and I believe the cost of digging up the road etc and making the connection in readiness for SW was about £900 - SW charged me just under £1k for there parts. If you haven't already done so, take a look at my blog - it might be helpful.

Welcome to the forum - I was born and dragged up in Windsor so know the area well - Left after 24 years and still return to visit family. Great area. Now becoming established in the Scottish Borders following retirement and a new built house back in 2018 - Any way enough about me - Good luck with your project and I'm sure you will be suitably advised once you start firing off your questions.

Yes hello and welcome - we are based in the Scottish Borders, so in your area. Our build experiences are now about 18 - 24 months old but some aspects may be still relevant depending upon what stage you are at - if you have time, take a look at my blog, which details the whole build process. Good luck with your project and enjoy the ride this forum offers!!

wow - and @zoothorn thought he had a problem - best not go there! ?

For what my input is worth, I would be a touch concerned that the Family / kitchen room along the back could end up looking quite long and narrow - I think @ProDave raises an interesting point about its location, given the orientation of the house. I also agree with @Thedreamer regarding the front elevation and the benefits of that bit jutting out. If budgets are tight, then the fewer angles and corners etc the better I would have thought. Again, it is difficult to advise as we do not know your specific requirements - do you need 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms upstairs? If so great, if not, then a re-configure might be able to save some money. If you can get away with fewer bedrooms then layouts such as mine, @ProDave,@Thedreamerand perhaps @joe90might assist. Finally, we have a utility room / boot room with a door and have found it to be the most useful thing ever. That said, it ties in with the outside car port and drive etc, so again, as @PeterWsays, a door may or may not be useful depending upon how it fits in with the outside space.

Yes I agree with @Big Jimbo - your figures appear light but that said, it is hard to offer any advice without an indication of the spec level you are hoping to achieve and the size of the rooms being considered. You will always find someone who can fit out a bathroom or kitchen on XYZ budget but without any known variables, it is hard to compare.

One should be careful of what one wishes for!!!