Just a quick message to say, no we’re not dead and the project is still progressing. We are waiting for the Builder to get back to us with a quotation, a process that has been a bit delayed by easter, suppliers and life in general. Hopefully not too much longer before we can agree the contract and actually start building!
Things are starting to gather pace now at an excitingly alarming rate. The Team have finished the RIBA Stage 4 tender pack which is now with the Builder – yes we have a preferred builder, more on that later.
Continue reading “A lot, and I mean A LOT, of drawings”
The team are working hard on finalising the pack of documents so the Builder (more on this later) can pull together their costed proposal. Our part in this has been finalising our choices on the different finishes we want – floors, ceiling and so on which feels very surreal given we have yet to dig any (proper) holes. It will however smooth the build process if this can all be agreed up-front.
In the course of all this, the architects suggested we take a look at an environmentally friendly, mineral paint for our walls. This then led us to getting distracted for days in the fascinating and confusing world of colour.
Continue reading “Yet another shade of blue?”
A wise friend told us that building a house is a seemingly never ending series of hurdles but eventually there be none left and the house is finished. This week’s unexpected hurdle has been fire safety. Apparently the fire brigade have minimum requirements for access to domestic houses and needless to say we appear to fall short against these. However there is a solution … install sprinklers!
Continue reading “An unexpected turn of events”
No great leap of progress to report at the moment but many, many things are progressing. In no particular order the team have:
… we have started negotiating with a Builder. More soon.
For no real reason other than it was raining and we wanted something to do, we have made a card model of how the tin and stone barns will look when finished.
Continue reading “Old school distractions”
Lots going on at the moment as we try and work out which builder to go with, balancing (expected) cost, experience, availability and a host of other considerations. Not really appropriate to write about all this yet so instead here is why we are going to be spending a fortune on miles of magic tape.
Continue reading “It all comes down to magic tape”
One of the key requirements of a PassivHaus or in our case something built to the EnerPHit standard, is air tightness. To achieve the thermal efficiency required, we need to be obsessive about cutting out any air leakage and with it our precious heat. Once you’ve sealed your house up and made it air tight you then need a plan to prevent the air going stale, oh and for making sure the occupants can still breathe.
Continue reading “Balancing Act”
A new year has arrived and a lot has happened over the past 12 months so I thought it was worth recapping the story so far for you loyal followers – yes all 7 of you.
Continue reading “Year 2”
The house project rollercoaster continues with great leaps of progress in some areas (design) while elsewhere we appear at times to be no further forward (amendments to our planning permission). Lockdown 2.0 has at least given us some enforced ‘stay at home’ time which we have put to good use reviewing the huge amounts of detail that is being produced and assembled by the team.
Continue reading “The big book of words”
