Redoctober

Take a look at UK Oak Doors - based in Lutterworth but do a whole range of door related items.

When they start a course on Hindsight at the local college, please let me know as I will enroll! The way I see it, is as long as there is no Right or Wrong way or doing things, only preferences, then I'm happy. ?

The stone is being supplied by Tradstocks - they have a couple of sites in Livingstone and Stirling -http://www.tradstocks.co.uk/ and the stone is set on 140mm beds. I have found them to be great to work with - No hidden extras - delivery included in the costs etc and very helpful throughout the process. We are having stone lintels and cills for the windows but no JAMBS - the sides of the windows will be stones that have been "dressed" - basically a sharper edge to them to fit better up against the windows. The Stone Man is Borders based and I suppose would travel, depending upon distance - perhaps it is a question I could ask if you wanted me to.

Hi @ProDave This is exactly why I am doing a "blog" detailing my experiences and routes for various aspects of the self build. We will never be embarking on such a project again which is a great shame when you consider the "learning" one gains from such a venture. Yes, I can sit back and reflect on where I could have made a saving and or used a different approach but as long as we get over the finish line without breaking the bank, I shall consider it a successful mission. I just hope others reading this record will be able to consider options they may not have considered, as explained by either myself or contributors such as yourself.

Hi @Christine Walker yes the downside to having UFH upstairs with the biscuit mix was the fact that we had to upgrade out joists to metal web joists. In our case the additional costs for the upgrade came in at around £4k. ?

Cost wise, the actual screed mix cost £250 tops - I did the fetching and carrying, whilst the 2 builders did the other stuff - One and a half days [12 hrs x 2 = £600] work charged at £25 per hour.

The covering will be 22mm egger boarding which went down today - a combination of nails via a nail gun and glue.

A few photos of the stone work that has now started on site, whilst others continue to prepare the upstairs for the first fix. I have also included an image of the "biscuit screed" laid upstairs over the UFH pipes. Close observers and those who have read previous entries, will notice that the windows have been corrected with fire battens fixed. Anyway, the stone is called a local blend and is made up of Perthshire stone, Cumbria stone and Borders Buff. The Quoins have a hint of lilac to them, to have blend in with the colour palette of the stones. The Red things seen in the photos are glass fibre Fire Socks - They fill the cavity at the corners and other strategic locations. Either these can be used or indeed 45mm x 45mm battens.

Yes, I do believe we have been fairly lucky with the trades employed. The one area I thought I could make a saving was on the scaffolding but that just came back and bit my backside. Not a good experience at all with them sadly.

@Christine Walker that is a shame as our roofer did exactly that. He sorted them into heavy & medium at his yard and then transported them in crates to the site. He was an exceptional roofer and his band of 3 men worked tirelessly through the heat and installed them across the entire roof together with the lead work in 8 working days.

Crazy as it may seem, I don't know as I paid the roofer on a supply and fit basis.

Hi these are exactly what we used - very impressed - a quick photo to show how well they sit etc.

that is one cracking location.

Yes sorry @CC45 forgot to mention last time round - It is 8 parts sand and 1 part cement with a splash of water. Tested it today and what was laid yesterday is rock solid.

Unfortunately it was and proved to be quite a work out for someone like me who in a previous life drove a desk! Anyway really pleased with the frame, it's construction and erection. Fleming Homes. Would recommend them.

Thanks. I will know more in the morning as the guy doing the internal bit and the WBS installation will be in site.

Good point @PeterW What are my options ?

@Ed_MK Not sure how advanced you are with teh chimney but as I mentioned previously, ours started today and these photos may be of assistance. The basically show the external chimney being constructed in block work, a cavity and then the blocks on which the external stone will sit on and rise up from. The chimney has been constructed so that it sits flush with the internal panels of the TF.

The battens are 33mm deep and the eggerboards going on top will be 22mm The screed is a lengthy job as it has to be transported upstairs in buckets by yours truly whilst the lad is mixing and the builder spreading ! Should be finished tomorrow though. These pictures might also assist.

Enjoy Sunday lunch and celebrate another milestone / achievement. Well done.

Good point @ProDave I will discuss this with the UFH fitter and screed layers Monday - thanks.

@Christine Walker we are in the Scottish Borders and have recently had a road crossing trench dug and back filled for water. A local company dug the trench, back filled and installed a boundary box the other side of our hedge and stop cock in the plot itself. Total cost just shy of £1k - the road crossing was a single track road, no more than 3 metres wide - see my blog for images -

@CC45 - additional images uploaded under a new entry - hopefully they will assist.

A few more images showing the completed UFH network for upstairs, the servicing battens downstairs and also some additional "supports" to accommodate the fitted kitchen units. I have really been impressed with the UFH fitter - he has even supplied photos of vulnerable positions so there should be no excuse for puncturing a pipe after the screed and boarding has gone down. You will see the areas left "unpiped" in the en-suite and bathroom areas. The manifold is stored in the landing cupboard.

Hi @CC45 - Yes, I will upload the photos over the weekend as the screed mix goes down on Monday. The screed mix will go to the top of the battens and then the egger boards sit across that and the battens.