Self Build Diary - Day 11

Today I had a major breakthrough!! After a record breaking 67 calls I have finally got through and got an answer from our good friends at the electricity board. They have brought the dates forward to the 10th and 11th for electricity install!

At this point I decided that I should not get involved in anything more to do with the House today as this was surely the pinnacle of the day, nothing could improve the levels of success I had achieved at this point.

But alas I needed to get things done so we cracked on....

Mrs G has spent a lot of time looking at kitchens, talking to kitchen people, dreaming of kitchens and planning kitchens. It would seem that a lot of that time has been wasted! Not because of the hard work and effort that she has done but due to lack of listening that "kitchen experts" do! Our kitchen is about 6m x 3.8m and "kitchen designers" just want to fill it high and low with units!!! Nobody in their right mind would be able to fill this cupboard space with things! We would be able to rent out storage space to our neighbours if we had that many cupboards!

Beware of the expert, especially if the do not look like they have ever cooked a meal for themselves!

We have finally been listened to and on an email full of cad drawings mrs Gs dream kitchen arrived to her joy!

Thank you to magnet for listening and being suprisingly competitive!

Work to do still on it but it is on the right track.

Last day at work tomorrow, then its time to down tools and enjoy some festive cheer!

Neil

Self build diary day 10

Busy day today at work but in between all of this I have:-

- rung ce electric 12 times - returned calls zero!
- organised to meet the electrician over the new year.
- chased down a could of window quotes
- confirmed to the scaffolder that we are going to tent
- discussed with the builder and the architect whether we should go with the Ufh between the joists or on a floating floor.

The last point there is quite a tough one and needs to be decided before we start, if we go for the floating floor, the installation costs are lower, the scheduling is easier but the doors need lifting up by 35mm and the stair calcs change, we also lose 35mm height in the rooms.

Needs some thinking about!

So thats about it for tonight! Not much to report I'm afraid, I hope to have completed all the chasing this week so I can plan next week! At some point I'm going to have to jump down a drain too with a camera to find out where our connections are, but at least it will make for sme good blog photos!

Neil

Self Build Diary - Day 9 - underfloor heating overload

Well thanks to a good friend I have been full briefed in underfloor heating and all types of screed!

Who new that there were so many different types! And why does it have to take so long to dry!!!

So we are looking at concrete screeded system on the ground floor and a dry fit system upstairs.

So I have learned a lot today, I have learned that there is still so much I don't know! I'm glad I have good people around me I can trust! Architect, structural engineer, builders, contractors and most of all I have met people who have done this before, not least as recently as people who I have met and spoken to since setting this log up.

I can see why so many people get their fingers burnt in doing something like this as it is and absolute minefield of information, detail and skill. Some of this skill and talent can only be executed by professionals who have done the job and been trained to do the job! Its those people who I now rely on and it's toes relationships that will determine the success of this project.

Am I daunted....... Of course not!! I'm excited and I'm ready to learn and learn fast!

Still no news from the electricity board! I'll badger them again tomorrow! I think I'll get more luck buying them at a game of festive monopoly!

Neil

Self Build Diary - Day 8

Well I can tell ou that ce electric are officially the most difficult company in the world to get hold of! I was even told it would be easier to post my comments in and they would be dealt with accordingly!! I'm impressed!

So still no further with pulling the dates forward with the electrical supply.

So this week is all abut getting as much information pulled together as possible, however almost all of the construction industry now have their Santa hats on and one foot firmly into the festive celebrations!

But we have made some progress with our budget costings and have a few gaps to fill and squeeze but this is hopefully the week to do it!

Will update you tomorrow on what's been achieved and what industries are already to drunk help!

Neil

Self build diary - days 5, 6 and 7

Well this could turning into the worlds most boring blog over the next two weeks!

What has happend since the steel turned up....... Nothing! Well we have done
Loads more chasing up and have developed more wisdom in dealings with the utilities providers!

Water.

Yorkshire water won't do anything until you have paid them, then they won't do anything unless you badger them daily! But we are now booked in for connection on the 9th jan.

Electricity

Despite the main running on the edge of our plot, they can't fit us in until the 19th jan! I have rung and rung but after 15 calls still haven't had a message returned. Monday will be kicking the electricity grid until I get to speak to someone!

Never underestimate how hard it is to get something simple from these huge firms!

What's happened on site! Well two things:

A portable loo has turned up!

The steel is there too, but it's a lot smaller than I was expecting.

This weekend, me and mrs g have looked at internal finishes for joinery and flooring, just so we can add the finishing touches to the budget. Hopefully we can now start making decisions on what contractors we are using etc.

It looks like nothing will go on now until the new year on site, which is a shame, but 2 weeks of finishing off planning, quantity calcs and budgets as well as festive celebrations and relaxing won't be poorly used time.

In true grand designs style we also have a baby due in feb so we really need to be organised and ready!

I will return on Monday - day 8 - to update you on northern power grids hold music!

Neil

Self Build Diary - Day 4 - SNOW! and Steel

Well, well, well! We have steel on site, despite the doctor who delivery information from the steel contractor, it has arrived! on site this morning THREE days after it was completed, despite their 2 day delivery time and despite them confirming it would be 4 days!

The only downside is the three inches of snow that arrived overnight before the steel turned up. Well as fast as it turned up the big thaw dispersed the snow by sundown and we are hoping to be on site tomorrow assembling steel!

Looking at the forecast overnight i will not hold my breath!

Quiet day today chasing contractors, electricity board and the water company in order to get them to do the tings that they are meant to be doing, it gets increasing obvious that the whole project needs driving and things can get out of control very quickly just by not keeping an eye on everything.

The plates are certainly spinning!

Tomorrow will hopefully bring contractors to site to start making progress, and ill post some photos tomorrow to make sure this momentous occasion is documented!

Neil

Self Build Diary Day 3 - wind and heras fencing don't mix!

Not a lot to report today although the high winds and the heras fencing don't mix!

After 30 mins of picking it up and weighing it down, I felt a sense of satisfaction! Until tomorrow......

On Monday I had a lengthy dialogue with the steel benders (for the raft foundation) who said that the steel was done but would take two days to deliver (I.e. Wednesday) but they kep saying it would be there on Friday! A discussion ensued regarding how long 2 days is, there was me thinking that a day was an internationally recognised unit of time, however it would seem that in the world of steel bending, this digit of time can vary depending on who you speak to.

The steel should be with us on Friday we agreed, however the delivery driver rang today and said it will be with us tomorrow.

With nothing happening on site today an important lesson has been learned! No matter how organised you are no matter how well you have planned, there will be someone or something that can and will happen that is out of your control. Even the length of two days is up for question if you get the wrong person on the end of a phone!

I'll let you know if the steel turns up!

Neil