Top 10 things not to say when someone you know is self-building!

We've haven't ranted that much on this blog, so now we're about to make up for it!

If you know someone who's building their own house, and when we say building it, we mean them and not a builder (big difference) here are a few tips on what NOT TO SAY!!!!

Our 'Top 10' of the most annoying and testing things you can say to two people who have devoted the last three years of their lives to building a house are:-

1. I remember having the extension built on our house, such hard work (key difference there....having it "built" for you).
2. What are you doing this weekend? (The same as we have been doing for the last 150 odd weekends).
3. It's taking a long time to do isn't it. (We're building a house in our spare time).
4. Still doing DIY? (Don't even get us started on the difference between self-building and DIY).
5. Why don't you just do it this way...? (You honestly think we haven't thought of that?)
6. When do you think you'll be in? (Soon. And it's been soon since the 16th July 2009).
7. I couldn't do it (well don't then).
8. You need a team of people to help you (and you'd get another list of 10 reasons why that is a disaster waiting to happen).
9. You must be tired. (Tired happened Christmas 2009, try again.)
10. Can't you just move in anyway? (Occupancy certificate? Structural warranty sign off? Building Control approval? Insurances? Shall we go on....?)

We've heard them all, several times. We know people are just trying to empathise and be supportive (most of the time). But please. Enough now.

One of the best things that you can say, which was said to me last week, is quite simply....

"Wow. You are amazing. Well done".

And then prepare for that person to burst in to tears!

And There's Still More Colour......

The painting is finished! Only the odd touch up to go in the corners, but other than that, we have rooms with colour, real colour in a real home!

Cloakroom

Master Bedroom

Guest Bedroom

The Study

These photos come with the usual caveat 'bear with it until it's finished, you're not thinking what we're thinking'!

We had all the skirting and architrave delivered on Saturday so the next step will be hanging the doors, and fitting the skirting and architrave, and glossing. Our internal doors are being delivered next Saturday (hopefully) and that will move us on a bit more.

We also sat down this afternoon to make a list (if you haven't realised by now I am the List Queen) about what we would like to do before our two weeks off in August, what we need to get, and do a bit of a stock-take on where we are. If you write really really small, everything between now and when we move in just about fits on one side of A4!

Surely that's a good sign.

The Hormanns From Hell

Note to self for fitting any future remote controlled roller shutter doors - DO NOT follow the instructions but use the common sense you were blessed with.

We had fun and games fitting these Golden Oak Decograin Hormann Doors.

The instruction book contains 'Maintenance and Operating Instructions' in over twenty different languages (2 pages for each language), and is then followed by 16 pages of diagrammatic instructions. All the manufacturers stipulate you need in order to fit the doors is 90mm around the opening to fit the frame on to. What they don't tell you is you also need room either side of the door frame in order to attach various Important Parts that require nuts to be done up.

After 4 1/2 hours of frustration with barely the four outer parts of the frame attached, and mutterings of "I'd like to see their guys try and fit our doors in six hours", and announcements of new words not currently included in the English (or Australian) Dictionary, we decided to abandon the instructions, and do our own thing!

Ta Da! A lot easier, which is reflected in the construction times. Door 1 = 12 hours, Door 2 = 2 hours

Notice the painted white ceiling and 'Stone' walls.

Despite all that we're very very pleased with them!

Ssssshhhhh...!!!!

Decided we're sciving today, but don't tell anyone.

Going to wear normal clothes AND blow dry my hair! Woo hoo!

Rain Stopped Play

Just a quick note to say that photos are on the way as promised. We only just finished before the rain came down about 3.30pm and I didn't manage to take photos. I will do tomorrow and post them on here.

A good day today on two counts; bricking done to the middle of the dining room doors AND we found a blackberry bush in the garden laden with berries!

More tomorrow if we haven't been washed away by then!

High Maintenance Porta-Loo

If you have contractors working on site you are required by law to provide 'welfare facilities' so in our case this is a toilet and running water. There is a public toilet about five minutes walk away but that doesn't count.

We have a very attractive bright green porta-loo which so far has spent more time just sat on site than actually being used. These odd toilet trips we've had and our contractors have had probably work out about £2 a time, if not more. That's expensive relief!

This loo is a bit of a diva on the quiet too. Because we are set back from the road and the loo cubicle itself is too heavy to carry, it takes three people to load it on to a trolley and wheel it down the courtyard to the road where they service it and do whatever else it requires and then it's loaded back on the trolley and wheeled back up again. Only to sit there under the Beech tree.

But, as Darran keeps reminding me, it's that or people water the plants. I'd rather have the loo.

Reflection

We thought we'd do a post reflecting on our experiences so far with the build, a bit of an insight in to what goes on behind the blog posts.

There is no denying that it has been exceptionally hard work so far and a struggle at times. From first agreeing the purchase up until today, really! It's not just the physical aspects, they're the easy bits by comparison, it's the organising and dealing with the contractors and suppliers that can be so frustrating. For instance, how many times do you think you'd need to tell a window manufacturer that you would like stained wood windows and not white? Four. And then to add to your exasperation you receive a revised quote and one of the windows is still white! And, if you received a letter instructing you to erect scaffold on site and ready for use by the 3rd August, would you do it ready for that date? The majority would, but as in our case the firm thought we wanted it erected on the 3rd August. Where in the letter did it say that?! Point to it and show us!

Is it rewarding though? Absolutely. Without a shadow of a doubt.

As soon as we step on site the feeling that we are building our own house and will eventually live in it is a mixture of excitement, achievement, and if I'm being really honest slightly pleased with ourselves that we are doing this and have come this far (with the added bonus of still speaking to each other!). We promised ourselves we would enjoy the build and not turn it into a chore, we've clung on to this promise with our finger tips at times, it has been stressful, pressured and we have been slightly short sighted on occasions. Taking two weeks to put the frame up was physically exhausting, but then Darran beat his personal best by standing the roof trusses in a week (with a little help!).

The more the build progresses the more it is easy to get overwhelmed by the enormity of what is ahead of you and what's to be done. We've done some of the hardest bits physically (apparently!) but there is still a lot more to go. We're now looking at each bit individually and ticking them off as we go (lists, I love lists!), breaking things down in to bite sized chunks. This is all very well but you still need to have an eye on what's coming up next and getting the next step in the pipeline. What we have learnt is that you don't need everything, including the shape and size of the heated towel rails, in the pipeline at the same time!

You can read all the self build magazines, go to seminars, watch Grand Designs, read so called 'self build bibles' on the subject, but none of these prepare you for what you're taking on. The only way to learn how to do it is to take a deep breath, close your eyes, jump, and hope the bottom isn't too far down!

We've got a lot more to come, there will be more struggles and frustrations and a lot more excitement. But above all we're both still very happy we made this decision to own our first home together this way.

What's In A Name?

Deciding on what to call our house has been very difficult. We know the address, but we also want a name to give it a bit of identity rather than just being a number.

Severn Trent Water are now ringing fairly frequently because they want to bill us for our water usage but can't at the moment as they need a registered address. They have given us to the end of the month!

Options we have had......

• Dundealin and Needle Cottage because of what was found here (you'll be pleased to know these were never considered seriously).
• Berry House due to how much my Blackberry has been used to build the house and the fact that we plan to grow berries in the garden.
• The Garden House because it's built in the garden of the main house.
• On a bad day it has been just No. 3 which is it's number in the courtyard.
• The Hideaway, because the house is hidden away.

After much deliberation we have decided on The Garden House. This seems the nicest and the most suitable.

Now we have to write to the Council who then register it and send the details to whoever needs to know. We'll also be putting a post box on the security fence at the weekend for any thing that finds its way to us by mistake.

A New Home

Look what Gramps has made for us!

A lovely bird box which is already up in the Silver Birch tree ready for the first occupants. We decided to put it here as the front bedroom is going to be our office/study and we can see it from the front window.

Thank you Gramps xx

First Signs Of Life

We said here that the foundation contractors had found a maple tree when they were clearing the site for the garage. They replanted it near the back fence. When we were building the timber frame the leaves were brown and crispy, it had a bit of a lean and it didn't look well at all.

But now look! Life!

It's hard to tell from the picture but the leaves are red which will be lovely. There is a lot of new leaves, even at the top, so we're sure the tree has taken in its new spot. Nice.

House Built By Blackberry From Orange

I wasn’t a fan of the Blackberry at all. They always seemed a bit all singing all dancing for me, all I need is a phone that I can call and text on, and maybe take a photo. I also hate the fact that 90% of those who own a Blackberry have it constantly attached to the end of their arm, almost like one hand has morphed into the latest model.

Anyway, Darran persuaded me that I might like one when I came to upgrade my phone last year, and after checking out the buttons (they have to be right) and how big they were, I thought I’d give it a go.

Before I go on I would like to point out I am not one of the 90% mentioned above. But…..

My Berry has been worth double its weight in gold. The facility to receive and send emails on it has been so helpful with the project so far. The architect and I exchange emails daily, we can respond to quotes from suppliers as they come in, and Buildstore can say ‘yes’ on the emails too! We are sure that things have happened a lot more quickly and smoothly as we are able to respond quickly, otherwise we would have to wait until we got home in the evenings, and then we’ve lost a working day. In some cases this doesn’t matter, but at other times it’s helpful to respond to keep the momentum going if certain professional friends seem to be on a roll!

Can't Quite Reach

During all the turmoil and letter issues this week with Buildstore and the Council, we still managed to have a laugh.

The Building Control Officer at the Council mentioned to our architect that all residential properties should really be within 45m from a fire service hydrant at any one point within the boundary of the plot. We were nearer the 52m mark. Building Control suggested that we put a piece of hose in the ground at the boundary that the fire service could use to connect to the hydrant or as an extension to their hose, and that would then be long enough to reach any point on the plot should they need it.

I know I’m always worrying if I’ve left the gas on, but this seemed a bit extreme!

The good news is the Fire Service has now been consulted and the Chief Fire Officer has confirmed there isn’t a problem and they can access the property without the need for additional hose or hydrant.

The funniest part of all this is we are probably only about 60m from the actual fire station itself!

Buildstore Said Yes!

We finally got the OK from Buildstore yesterday morning that the letter the Council has eventually produced would be good enough for our Stage 1 drawdown. This is just as well as we have to pay our foundation contractors half the overall contract value in two weeks.

We’re in the money! Well, strictly speaking, we’re in the money for about two weeks!

We have had such a battle trying to get the right documentation together. Buildstore will only accept either full Building Regulations approval, a Building Warrant or a Notice to Commence Works. We’re currently going through building regs and a Building Warrant is something that you only get in Scotland, so this left us the Notice to Commence Works option.

So our architect wrote to the Council notifying them that work will start in 48 hours. We sent this off to Buildstore together with documentation on other matters so they could see the Council were aware of our build and what was happening.

Buildstore came back to say this wasn’t acceptable as they needed something from the Council stating the work could commence on site, understandable when you think about it. Then the fun started! Our Council don’t just write letters like that, they only write if they’re not happy about something, if everything is going as it should they’re happy just to let it carry on. We tried several other ways but Buildstore were still wanting this particular wording, it could appear in any letter, but had to state that work could commence on site.

Almost at our wits end, our architect contacted the Environmental Officer at the Council who had been out to inspect trial holes and had verbally stated that work could proceed and the foundations could continue, hence effectively signing off the pre-commencement condition (why our architect didn’t do this anyway still remains a mystery). We were confident (well, one of us was!) this would fulfil what Buildstore needed. And we were right.

Two weeks later, a few sleepless nights and a few big important count-ups of our loose change just in case, we got it and Buildstore said yes!

Phew.

During a conversation with Buildstore today they explained that the lender will now instruct an inspection of all stages prior to the next stage release being draw down. This inspection literally means someone just turning up and checking the foundations are actually there, and then the frame is up etc. They don’t interfere with anything further and will not stop a release unless you’ve been naughty and there is no evidence on site that you have built what you’ve said you’ve built. This is because some self-builders were asking a dodgy architect to sign their Certification of Work forms to say stages had been completed when they hadn’t, and then running off with the money.

I’m telling you this because I think it is very sad, and something else hard working legitimate people have to endure for the sake of the plebs of this world.

We’re looking forward to shedding blood, sweat and tears for our house (only blood to go already by the way!) and having the satisfaction and the scabs to look back on.

Flowers

Two red tulips picked from under one of the trees on the plot.

Forms and Phone Calls

All we seem to be doing at the moment is filling in forms and making phone calls.

When will the fun stuff start? The stuff that you can actually touch and say "this is our house" even if it is only a length of 4in x 2in!!


We still have excitement bubbling away in the background, and as much as we keep telling ourselves that all this form-filling is all part of it, it doesn't really 'do it' for either of us!