Redoctober

I share @JSHarris concerns regarding spending money chasing shadows. Perhaps more detail is required as to the circumstances would be useful. Was it a simple case of money being paid up front on the promise of work which was never carried out? If so, then the case would be worthy of pursuing. Or is it a case where work has been carried out but doesn't reflect the money paid? If so, this could be a touch more difficult. My personal experience of this type of behaviour goes back a number of years - In a former life, I arrested a builder on the basis of a fraud after a couple had been left with a part built extension. They had paid money up front and in advance of works. The building work wasn't fit for purpose and few other builders wouldn't take it on in its current state - they much preferred a complete knock down and restart. Bottom line was the builder claimed incompetence rather than anything criminal. He argued the money spent did represent the work carried out. Who was to argue this wasn't the case. Certainly the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] weren't interested.

It does seem an unnecessary amount of money as you say. Thankfully ours was free of charge. As for Royal Mail Posties being put at risk, well what a load of nonsense. We live in a very rural part of the Borders and on one occasion we had a tradesman's dog running about the plot when Postie arrived. His response was to produce a doggie biscuit from his pocket and hand to said dog. Common sense applied and everyone was happy!

We were referred to the Royal Mail by the council [ Scottish Borders] when we made an initial approach regarding an address. So we just informed the Royal Mail via their website of our new address. They kept it on file until we informed them that we were ready to move in. Up until that point we just used "plot 1" etc., and all deliveries found their way to the development without any issues. I informed the council that we were building a new house and would inform them again, when it was we were intending to move in. They were happy with this and the Council tax didn't kick in until that date arrived.

The quote, even with the weekly visit included appears pretty much near the mark to me. If it helps, I paid £5k for the set up in the attached photo and that was for a 10 week hire. However, it did include a front and back set up for a single storey stand alone car port.

We have just recently received our sign off certificate - [ 2-3 weeks ago] and prior to applying for it, I contacted the local authority involved and was informed via an e-mail that they require the following items to be submitted online - Most Councils have a system where this can be completed and submitted electronically. Building Scotland Act 2003 Applicant Name: Plot 1 - Scottish Borders Please forward the following items for completion; · Electrical certificate · Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) - [I received this once the Air Test had been completed] · Sustainability Label – a copy, along with the EPC, should be displayed within the dwelling, a cupboard for example. [Again, an online form] · Form Q from structural engineer – this relates to the timber roof trusses certificate. · Air tightness test results. · Completion Certificate Submission Form. Please state the true address for the property. Upon completion, I received ma visit whereby the areas relating to the Building Regs were checked - Thankfully, there were no issues and the certificate was forwarded on.

Plus 1 to that. [SEPA]

From our experience of the build last year, all the trades were happy to sit in their vans for their various breaks. No power tools were left on site overnight as they took them home with them. Once the "house" became secure, they felt more confident to leave the odd power tool inside but not until. We were fortunate enough to have a stand alone car port / shed built and we made a point of having that built first. The trades did use this but only during the height of the summer. As said, they seemed happy to sit in their vans.

Congratulations on getting to this stage. An exciting time and things will change fairly rapidly from this point on. Good luck with the build and look forward to seeing / reading about it as it unfolds.

Yep agree with @Tennentslager, it really does look cosy and warm. Cracking shot of the outside too. I may have missed it but what heating system are you going for? Presumably UFH is not an option with a suspended floor or is it ? [excuse my ignorance on these matters! ?]

WOW - would be interesting to see the arc of the Sun.

Yep, we went for a biscuit screed upstairs and have found it to be very beneficial especially as we have stone tiles in the bathrooms. But as mentioned above by @newhome it did come at a cost, which was unforeseen by us at the time - details can be found at -

For completeness I thought I would tidy this thread up with my findings at 0730hrs this morning. We were once again awoken by the "noises". Ready for them this time. I climbed the ladder to the attic space, flooded it with light and looked - nothing other than the sound of a creaking frame! I know this because the noises continued whilst I was up there. I think the weather plays its part. Although frozen outside, the sun was already having an impact on one side of the house. Whatever, I am more than satisfied there were no visitors as such upstairs which has reassured Mrs W.

For balance especially since they have been mentioned on the thread heading, I would like to bang the drum for Fleming Homes. We too looked at a number of TF providers and one thing we soon learnt was that it was nigh impossible to compare them like for like!! Flemings got the nod for many reasons - They offered various options, which as complete novices and wanting to minimize as much risk as possible, was of benefit to us. Anything from supply only, of a TF through to a near "turnkey" product. Again, for us, they maintained good channels of communication, always available on the phone and welcomed visits to the factory / office. On top of that, they are just 10 miles from our plot! Good luck researching the pro's and cons but I fear it won't be easy. Decide what you want and not only who can deliver it for you, but most importantly I suppose, who you feel you can do business with, on a personal level.

Thanks for this very informative blog. I wish you luck with your decision and look forward to this project unfolding. If the blog continues in this vein, it will be of much use to others, I'm sure.

Hi - take a look at my blog - From the photos down the bottom you should be able to see exactly what you have described above and this is the way forward. You may also be able to see the window manufacturers stub cill resting above our stone cills. Ours was a TF and as soon as it was ready, the windows went in from the inside.They protruded sufficiently to tie in with the battens which framed the opening, These battens are called fire stops which serve the same purpose as those red "socks" you will see in the photos too. I hope this helps.

I agree with the above and have had first hand experience of what @JSHarris says. One builder I contacted said he wouldn't price the job up because he heard we had already approached two others!! His loss I know but he was one of 5 we contacted. Of that 5 only 3 came back with quotes. I choose to keep the groundwork's tied in with the builder, simply to reduce the number of "parties" involved and therefore reduce the risk of a "not us mate" situation arising!

Hi @Ian - I believe it to be creaking noises - ever so subtle but all over the space, as opposed to in a particular area so to speak. This though has convinced the OH that there is something flying about bashing into the timber structures. It is a cold roof structure with 2 layers of 140mm insulation laid throughout.

Those who follow this forum know we moved in at the end of November 2018. Fast forward a few weeks and it seems that the OH is convinced that we have some "visitors" in the loft / attic space of our TF house. I can't deny there aren't noises coming from the space above but having spent a good 20 minutes in the area the other day, I couldn't find any evidence of any visitors. There is no way such guests could get in as it is fully "enveloped". But she is not convinced. I believe it is just the timber etc re-acting to the weather or settling down so to speak. Has anyone else suffered such "noises" or what are the general thoughts of the collective?

We also have a staircase and a flat landing just like @joe90 but we ordered ours through Jeldwen. They didn't supply the landing so our Joiner created one out of left over 22mm eggerboard. Along the same lines as @ProDave. The support for these cut to size boards are very similar to what is shown in the photo supplied by @joe90.

I agree with the others. Not worth the bother - Your time and effort over something like this - no contest in my eyes. https://www.slingsby.com/Access/Ladders/Single-section-ladders/BASE118062Single-section-aluminium-Ladders_BASE118062.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQiAj4biBRC-ARIsAA4WaFjfcFwsiN4hcPUbGPRzqCYJon6uNRjnF2wxj4c4PfK1yzAxv8CsDWgaAgVREALw_wcB

Ouch!! Good luck with reviewing the remaining budgets. I'm sure there are savings to be had across the board and all will come good in the end. I suppose now that you are out of the ground, you can have a bit more control over the budgets as the ground works were always going to be the unknown quantity!

If it helps, we had our mains water enter the house to where the utility sink would be but then realised we needed a water supply to the cylinder which was some 2 metre away in the same room. To resolve this issue, a connecting piece of blue MDPE was laid across the floor and and the finished screed poured on top. The builder, plumber and heating guy, all independent of each other were happy with the arrangement. It wasn't ducted either. Not saying it was the right thing to do but that is what we have done.

I enjoy reading your blog entries as it reminds me so much of what we embarked upon during the spring and summer last year. The shot of those rolls of insulation certainly brought it all back ? If memory serves me well, it was the blue rolls for walls and the green ones for the loft spaces. Pleased t hear you are where you wanted to be at this stage of the project. It seems you are on top of things so good luck for 2019.?

Gut wrenching news indeed. Some very sound advice though from @nod and @AliMcLeod. Unaware that this was an option to be honest. I would have certainly used this method had I known about it as during our build, I paid for most things via bank transfer and on a couple of occasions ahead of any delivery or work done. That said, these decisions were made based upon many factors and I suppose a degree of "luck". But sadly, as @Weebles has found out at his own cost, there are no guarantees in life.

Ha, yes, once you have finished your bathroom!! So which August ? ?