Wiltshire self-build nearing completion

[Vesa]

It was after two and half years looking for land when we finally found a decent plot and embarked on a self-build on a very tight budget. We have now created a 150 square meter house on two floors doing pretty much all the work ourselves. A lot of the materials and building methods were chosen with ease of construction and energy efficiency in mind. We used Kore insulated foundations, Durisol ICF for the walls and Thermohouse warm roofing panels. There’s an air source heat pump with underfloor heating and MVHR. 
 

We moved into what was pretty much a shell about a year ago. The interest-only self-build mortgage was costing ridiculous amounts of money and we decided to move away from rented accommodation. We have now finished  putting in all plumbing and wiring etc. and are close to completion - which we desperately need so we can get the final stage payment released and then move on to a normal mortgage and finish the build. Air tightness test was done last week with 2.7 permeability, which should get even better when all the plasterboard has been put up and the last remaining gaps properly filled. Electrician will be signing Part P certificate next week and then we still need the MVHR balancing and commissioning. 
 

I do have a questions about MVHR. Can you self-certify (the aim here is money saving) for building control and how would you go about it? Last year I found an online course for MVHR commissioning with access to certification paperwork. All for £80. Should’ve done it then because now I can’t find the course anywhere… Anyway, I’ll see if I can find the right forum here to post my question. 
 

Thank you for having me. I look forward to browsing the site!

[Nickfromwales]

Hi and welcome.

 

Try to get that airtightness score down and DO NOT assume that plaster-boarding will help out a huge amount.

 

 

[Nickfromwales]

@Vesa

 

Have a good read here. Ignore the title and scan through until you see that chat go towards airtightness etc. 👍