MBC build- a year later

[Rossek9]

@dogman 

 

I've spoke and had prices back from a few timber frame companies but our plot is made up ground and because of this our structural engineer has stipulated we do trench fill foundation to hard ground. Problem is our borehole samples for the soil came back with hard ground being at depths of up to 3m...........needless to say this is having a large cost impact for our standard standard strip foundations. Passive raft foundations seem all the more attractive!!!

 

I have no worries about MBC given the feedback on here and ebuild..................my concern is my own talents at attempting to arrange all the other trades around them 

Edited April 9, 2017 by Rossek9

[Bitpipe]

We're probably a bit unique in that because we built a basement, we didn't take the slab element from MBC - that said, we found it straightforward enough to mimic the MBC passive slab detail (200mm EPS, 300mm RC) in the basement walls and we went for a timber suspended floor, provided by MBC by designed by our basement SE. 

 

We had MBC work off the SE's drawings and they did a final on site measurement of the basement box before our frame went into production.  A few of the 10m steels that made up the floor were slightly too long but it was easy enough to widen the pockets we'd formed in the walls and all was good. 

 

Follow on trades, especially the tackers were very complimentary about the quality of the internal framing and battening  - made their life easier.

 

On the PB sub thread above, our tackers just moved all the board they needed into place as it arrived - they even made shifting the sound block board look easy

[dogman]

In reality if MBC are doing your slab and frame, you sit back grab a cold one and watch your house go up. you then have a rush to roof, windows and any services such as MHVR you want hidden or need to go through the walls.

They have asked i put all the service points through the walls before they come back so they can seal them

[dogman]

Started roofing yesterday. We decided to hire a Bumper

 

 

However we had a very frustrating day as it would only run for 2 minutes before it cut out. A quick trip to Selco and a larger transformer fixed the issue.

 

Today was more productive About 600 slates loaded onto first roof and made good progress (for me)

[Triassic]

Nice slates, what are they?

[dogman]

http://internationalslate.co.uk/spanish-slate/casaio/

 

came in at just under 97p each and £2.16 for slate and a half

 

so far they very consistent in thickness and totally flat. As normal there are shouldered slates in each pack but i use these for the cut courses 

Only 1 broken in first crate. 

They are a thin slate around 6mm

 

[dogman]

A couple of photos by way of an update.

 

All the slates and ridge tiles are up.

 

2000 odd laid.

 

I am off to the land of no internet for a few days 

Yes sunny Norfolk where my parents live BT is so slow they don't even offer broadband

And there is no mobile signal unless i walk down the road for half a mile.

 

[Barney12]

Looks great. Have a good break!

[TerryE]

And I see Kytun edging strips as well.  All very neat.  Looking good ?

[jack]

1 hour ago, dogman said:

... they don't even offer broadband

And there is no mobile signal unless i walk down the road for half a mile.

 

Have a good time.  That sounds like my idea of heaven - my wife might even stop looking at her bloody phone! 

[Onoff]

5 minutes ago, jack said:

 

 - my wife might even stop looking at her bloody phone! 

 

Nah, she'd be using it to photograph all the six fingered, web footed locals.

 

NFN!

[Simplysimon]

hi @dogman, what are the clips for holding bottom edge? is it due to being laid on battens?

[Barney12]

4 minutes ago, Simplysimon said:

hi @dogman, what are the clips for holding bottom edge? is it due to being laid on battens?

 

Looks like @dogman has used slate hooks rather than nails.

i.e. https://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk/product/100mm-black-coated-slate-hooks-point-driven-304-grade-box-of-500.html?gclid=CPS5sNPAsdMCFRe3GwodLuoKRw

[dogman]

Quick update for those interested

 

Had a delay in the solar panels (importer not fitter) 

Fitted last week so can now finish the roof

 

 

 

Not only that but the cupola was two weeks late. 

 

managed to get it up and fitted after the panels

 

 

Hopefully will get the roof finished this week.

 

Other delays are the windows. Munster shut for Easter and could only carry out the site visit on the 26th. Announced that the two week wait is now at least 5 weeks.

Not happy.

 

 

[Barney12]

16 minutes ago, dogman said:

Quick update for those interested

 

Had a delay in the solar panels (importer not fitter) 

Fitted last week so can now finish the roof

 

 

 

Not only that but the cupola was two weeks late. 

 

managed to get it up and fitted after the panels

 

 

Hopefully will get the roof finished this week.

 

Other delays are the windows. Munster shut for Easter and could only carry out the site visit on the 26th. Announced that the two week wait is now at least 5 weeks.

Not happy.

 

 

 

Well I never knew they were called Cupola's! How do you wind the clock and does it chime?

I feel your pain regarding windows, the manufacturers all seem to work in a different time zone! 

[dogman]

I was trying to be posh  Clock is synchronised to something??? so should never need changing. even updates after powercuts. Could have had a chime but didn't want to annoy the neighbours

[Onoff]

4 minutes ago, dogman said:

I was trying to be posh  Clock is synchronised to something??? so should never need changing. even updates after powercuts. Could have had a chime but didn't want to annoy the neighbours

 

Syncs with the National Physics Lab's "atomic clock" time signal I think.

[dogman]

Spent the afternoon playing with my big red snake

Had to get wife to help by pulling it.

 

 

Got a big problem with swallows. The birds that is.

Decided they like the house and want to move in

[dogman]

Had MBC on site again today. Having finished the MVHR pipe work they wanted

to install the membrane and battens inside

 

 

We now have 2 very angry swallows who need to find a new roost. At least they didn't get chance to build a nest

 

 

 

 

 

[dogman]

So its been a few weeks since I posted an update.

 

Frame is 90% battened and sealed. MBC left as windows and doors had not been fitted.

 

Roof is finished including gutters fascias and soffits etc.

 

 

The windows and doors are a different matter.

 

Its been and still is a bit stressful. Don't want to say much as it is still ongoing.

Do have a couple of pics.

 

 

Hopefully we will make some progress with the windows and doors next week.

 

As you can see with the sliding doors there is no glass fitted so house is not secure. As we have night time visitors i dont want to order in equipment until it is.

 

 

 

[PeterW]

Are you having blown in cellulose insulation ..?

[dogman]

Yes i am. 

 

is this a fire question

Edited June 17, 2017 by dogman

[jamiehamy]

Another doors and windows saga. :-( good luck.  Mine lasted 9 months,  if you need a sounding board drop me pm. 

[PeterW]

1 hour ago, dogman said:

Yes i am. 

 

is this a fire question

 

No I just wondered with the MVHR pipes going the way they were and how they had finished the ceilings ..!

[dogman]

I think it was @Mikey_1980, who put me on to the pipes in the insulation layer. 

 

Mbc were quite happy and have sealed the pipes as they go through the air tight membrane