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I'm trying to source some traditional looking doors for my build for the ground floor hallway. I was hoping to get a couple of 840mm x 199mm half glazed Downham style doors with frosted glass and I also have to get a 1680mm x 199mm double glazed door from hallway to kitchen. The problem is that I'd like these to be quite traditional styles which would be no problem if they didn't also have to be fire doors (FD30). I've found the range of residential glazed fire-doors really very restrictive (not to mention horrendously expensive!) Can anyone recommend a supplier who has a decent range of traditional designs for glazed FD30 doors?

So pleased to find this forum. We built our first house in Ireland just 10 years ago, moved back to UK two years ago with the intention of building here. Delighted to get planning permission two weeks ago - which took 6 months and lots of paperwork (and fees!) and now the real work starts. Plan to spend at least 6 months in preparation, now at the detailed drawing stage. No idea yet whether we employ a main contractor, project manager or mix of the two. Our last build was timber frame and wouldn't go that route again, on other hand the MHRV was the best thing we did so that is top of the list along with UFH, heat pump and solar PV. Looking forward to joining the self build community!

Hi We loved this house and its location in east Cumbria, so bought it and moved in - a week before storm Desmond (2015) laid waste to much of northern England. Near the top of the watershed, we thankfully avoided being flooded by digging a relief ditch from the garden and bailing the patio through the night - what a great way to meet the neighbours! After a year of getting a feel for our new home (damp) we decided to embark on a refurbishment - which has slowly morphed into a full-scale renovation & remodelling project. Ever since buying my first house in Oxfordshire in the mid '80s I've always been renovating and whilst I feel confident in my designs which I know to work well, and being familiar with the concepts of sustainable homes and eco-building, I still feel like a 'newbie' in so many areas of the build process, plus physically no longer can I cope with day-after-day hard labour. So I'm really pleased to have local (younger) neighbours who are builders, and I hope to draw on the expertise I've already seen on this site. We decided to move out whilst the work is done and are lucky enough to be able to stay in my wife's parents' old house - leaving one of the cottages just 'liveable' for me to stay during the working week. It's an amalgamation of two 1850s farm cottages plus 4(!) extensions in a sheltered spot just below the top of a small hill protecting us from cold easterly winter winds but also preventing a view of the Pennines (you can't have everything!). The idea we now have is to demolish the oldest smaller SW extension (little more than a shed yet with '70s planning permission!) and the rear conservatory and build a highly insulated timber-frame extension with an outshut roof to lean-to against the back of the two cottages thereby making their cold rear walls internal. We're retaining the other end extension - just improving its insulation markedly. We're keen to get a mix of modern and traditional by using sustainable methods and materials in the newer parts of the project, whilst reverting to traditional materials in the renovation of the cottages. Whilst applying some of the practices, we don't feel able to attain the standards rquired of EnerPHit but we'll get as close as possible in terms of energy efficiency - insulation and standards of airtightedness. To give you an idea here's a photo from back in 2007 - showing the SW extension and cottage and half of the NE cottage - the Leylandii have all been felled ...

Calling all people with past or current experience in timber frame and brick and block construction.  As part of my degree I am required to research a topic of my choice. My chosen area is; productivity in housebuilding. I am trying to determine why brick and block cavity wall construction still remains the most dominant method of construction for house builders. It would be much appreciated if you or anyone with experience in this field could please complete my short questionnaire. Simply click on the link below, it comprises 12 questions and will take less than 3 minutes of your time to answer. I am more than happy to share the results with anyone who would be interested The information you provide will anonymous and will be treated with the strictest confidence. Please pass on or share to anyone who would be able to help.  Thanks in advance. https://www.quicksurveys.com/tqsruntime/main?surveyData=r4lva2rxrwxQVGKkc7VdDr4ScfR0NkzsWxj1PYyl1SP0pqFJPiLmStZ659V5n7R8

Came across this earlier c/o a Homebuilding and Renovating Ad post. Fascinating outfit and based on traditional Northern vernacular...I understand that these modest houses wouldn't suit the massive collection of sofas and picture window brigade but hey what a great starter or retirement home...It's an excellent website too extending to options, interviews and videos of processes etc. Well done the team and Lady behind it all. http://theweehousecompany.co.uk/