Without trying to be over critical SH, your post above worried me a bit. "The insulation seems decent." Did you not specify what you wanted? "apparently agreed in my contract with them." This sounds as if you have signed something without being sure of what you were signing. My experience of self builders is that they sometimes run into difficulties because it is outside their sphere of understanding. Far too many programmes on TV making it all look so easy.
No I have an excellent architect who is overseeing the build, I am also using one of the best local builders for the main build who has built many substantial properties, some with my architect. The insulation complies with the latest building reg standards so I am relaxed about the choice. I have also done some very large projects in the past so whilst not being in the trade I have bags of practical experience of house building. A new build is certainly much easier than some projects I have done. I'm a bit to old to do too much now but intend to do the hard & soft landscaping with a mate with a bobcat. The LABC contract was rushed as some concrete was poured before the contract was signed leading to a slight increase in cost of the premium. The architect informed me today that the builder had already signed up to a 12 month structural guarantee on my property so I would expect the problem to be solved once the LABC agreement clearly portrays this fact. Next time I would let the builder take out the insurance, even paying for his mark up.
I am pleased that you are happy with the way things are being controlled. I was just a bit worried as you have indicated that you were acting as the project manager which self build normally means.
Common problem with these projects, people getting ahead of themselves then having to play catch up with the paperwork... which can be expensive, time consuming and worrisome.
The brick supplier who I had been planning to buy from, at least two years, let us down at the last minute as they introduced an allocation system due to a shortage, obviously the very large builders get priority. This led to the planning officer having to approve another, almost identical brick, which she was minded to refuse. You can see why there are delays in the UK building the require housing.
To act as project manager was my original intention but I'm glad somebody else is now taking responsibility. Thankfully my project is still legally regarded as a self build for total VAT and CIL relief. I will organise much of the outside groundworks, kitchen and decorating myself after having several stupidly expensive quotes, I hate being ripped off. My knees feel dodgy this morning I'm not looking forward to laying patios next Spring. If only I could find some cheap Eastern European labour...............oh dear, where are they?
We only had a few spots of rain last night, my naked rain thanksgiving dance around the plot has been postponed. Not a pretty sight.
Building materials are indeed in short supply, bricks and blocks for several years now and in a JIT basis... which is to say weeks if not months after they were needed on site. Ditto PIR. The problem is that manufacturers (bricks) are either unable or unwilling to hold stock like they used to. PIR is a different thing with the aftermath of Grenfell and the major fire at a manufacturing plant in Germany being a double whammy.
Yeah - went to Sydney in July once. It was about 18 or 19 and the Brits were wearing shorts and tee shirts and all the Aussies even had bobble hats on
Morning all. The forecasters suggest that we might see a shower this afternoon. Looking upwards all I can see are vapour trails that are not blue. We also have yellow alerts in place for thunderstorms, although they are not supposed to arrive during the day. To water, or not to water, that is the question.
That's because Aussies are soft. Go to Dunedin in August when it is snowing ang a gale is blowing straight from the Southern Ocean and you will see reel Kiwi blokes in shorts and flip flops. Mind you, real Kiwi blokes tend to be lacking in every department except the being able to cope with cold weather and the ability to drink copious quantities of very bad beer.
Good morning all from a damp and warm Norwich city.I had a great night out with some good friends and witnessed a huge thunder storm, the air is a little bit fresher now but still very warm! Have a good day!
Morning all from a much cooler and fresher rural France. Once again there is a chance of a shower this morning, but no forecast of any decent amount of rain. I had a very good view of the lunar eclipse last night, made all the more dramatic with flashes of lightening in the far distance. I cannot say the moon looked very red, more of a sludgy brown. Enjoy your day whatever you have planned.
