Finally - my first house build finished

[marshian]

TL:DR just a bit of fun - Mods feel free to move if not OK in the section.

 

So my first timber framed house completed, I had some must have criteria for the design.

 

- Open plan

- double height ceilings

- EDPM roof

- OSB walls with wood cladding

- no high spec windows

- main access will remain open at all times

 

Background

 

For every DIY project you end up with leftover materials - you carefully store them in the hope that they are useful one day I had too much in my storage area……

 

Why did I choose self build? (Always a common question right?)

At the back end of winter I had to replace the last section of original fencing (43 years old so it s done well) so I had some featherboard offcuts. In redoing the fence I discovered a hedgehog hibernating in the leaf litter

 

(at that time of the year I wasn‘t sure if it was alive or dead but apparently if they are in a tight ball it s a good sign)

We’ve always had a lot of hedgehogs coming thro the garden they like bamboo leaf litter and we created several entrances and exits that we keep clear so they frequently come thro the garden using it as a short cut to other gardens

 

Anyway with the little critter in my way under foot I had to work carefully round it (gender neutral at this stage) so took me a little longer than normal

About a month ago I was glad  to see the hibernating hedgehog woke up and I was really happy to see it snuffling round the garden (eating slugs) 

 

So last year I rebuilt and re-roofed my shed so had some EDPM off cuts and a fewoff cuts of OSB board from the roof and shed walls

So rather than throw it all in the tip I thought I d build a better shelter as a open air pile of leaf litter isn t exactly a great shelter.

 

So here is an almost finished  hog house   (needs a coat of preservative and I m thinking 70 s flock wallpaper for the interior maybe orange)

Anyway enough background here s the pictures

 

I also have so 75mm celotex left over but figured if the little bugger can survive under a pile of bamboo leaf litter it doesn t need an insulated house

 

[marshian]

Oh and of course people do like to look over the plans so the original submission can be found here

 

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-hedgehog-home

 

I modified them slightly to suit the garden - cladding and preservative coating will match the fence should mean it blends into the background

 

[marshian]

First one finished (second one underway in case it brags about the new home to other locals)

 

 

Decided on a “modern grey” for the interior - apparently we aren’t in the 70’s / 80’s anymore

I’m expecting a visit from the planning department to sign off under permitted development rules 🙂

 

[Gone West]

Hedgehogs don't seem to mind homemade accommodation although they wanted to add leaves to the hay that was already in the box.

 

 

 

[marshian]

2 hours ago, Gone West said:

Hedgehogs don't seem to mind homemade accommodation although they wanted to add leaves to the hay that was already in the box.

 

 

 

I was just going to pile a bit of bamboo leaf litter in the boxes (the one that hibernated under it seemed happy with his nest and it’s not like we don’t have any

 

All done now just waiting on preservative to soak in and paint to dry - anyone got any tips on how to encourage the little critters to use them??

[MikeSharp01]

No idea how to attract residents - have you appointed an agent and have you advertised on ErinaceidaeMove.

[Gone West]

They used the box for sleeping in during the day and they hibernated in it during the winter. We put ours under a large shrub, but if yours like the bamboo area then put it there. Your boxes look much better constructed than mine, so they'll probably be queuing up for a viewing. Put a trail camera there so you can keep an eye on visitors.

[TheMitchells]

i thought it was best to not paint inside?  But i may be wrong.  We had ours occupied for a few days but as we kept checking,maybe it was fed up with being disturbed as i has not been back😒

[marshian]

1 hour ago, TheMitchells said:

i thought it was best to not paint inside?  But i may be wrong.  We had ours occupied for a few days but as we kept checking,maybe it was fed up with being disturbed as i has not been back😒

Not heard that before - but we can be scientific about that and put it to the test because one is painted the other isn’t (because I only had leftover paint and as the ply had been dry stored for a while it soaked up the paint and took a lot more than expected)

[marshian]

2 hours ago, Gone West said:

They used the box for sleeping in during the day and they hibernated in it during the winter. We put ours under a large shrub, but if yours like the bamboo area then put it there. Your boxes look much better constructed than mine, so they'll probably be queuing up for a viewing. Put a trail camera there so you can keep an eye on visitors.

I think Mrs Alien has one of those she bought for a bird table - I bet the battery is dead tho