A self build house project diary
by Oliver Cannell

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Check out the latest photos from the build and see all the things that have been going on around the site.

Repairing neighbour's adjoining wall
Repairing neighbour's adjoining wall
15th December 2014
Building Works
The water seems o be draining well
The water seems o be draining well
15th December 2014
Building Works
Roof trim and facia board
Roof trim and facia board
15th December 2014
Building Works
Timber battens on for cladding
Timber battens on for cladding
15th December 2014
Building Works
A muddy building site
A muddy building site
15th December 2014
Building Works
Ensuite - insulation blocks where pipes will go
Ensuite - insulation blocks where pipes will go
15th December 2014
Building Works
Underfloor heating manifold cupboard
Underfloor heating manifold cupboard
15th December 2014
Building Works
Log burner corner
Log burner corner
15th December 2014
Building Works
Dry floor screed in the living room
Dry floor screed in the living room
15th December 2014
Building Works
Everything gets covered to make a level floor
Everything gets covered to make a level floor
10th December 2014
Building Works
Screed is compacted and levelled across the whole interior
Screed is compacted and levelled across the whole interior
10th December 2014
Building Works
Screed poured right over the heating pipes
Screed poured right over the heating pipes
10th December 2014
Building Works
Floor screed (closeup)
Floor screed (closeup)
10th December 2014
Building Materials
Interior floor screed delivered and awaiting wheelbarrows
Interior floor screed delivered and awaiting wheelbarrows
10th December 2014
Building Materials
Only a few pipes needed in the hallway
Only a few pipes needed in the hallway
9th December 2014
Building Works
Space left without pipes in the kitchen for cupboards
Space left without pipes in the kitchen for cupboards
9th December 2014
Building Works
All the pipes leading back to the manifold in the cupboard
All the pipes leading back to the manifold in the cupboard
9th December 2014
Building Works
Underfloor heating pipes in the living room
Underfloor heating pipes in the living room
9th December 2014
Building Works
The heating manifold which will control the water
The heating manifold which will control the water
9th December 2014
Building Works
All the gear needed for the underfloor heating
All the gear needed for the underfloor heating
9th December 2014
Building Works
Closeup of the trays
Closeup of the trays
9th December 2014
Building Works
Underfloor heating trays across the living room
Underfloor heating trays across the living room
9th December 2014
Building Works
Floor insulation in the en-suite bathroom
Floor insulation in the en-suite bathroom
8th December 2014
Building Works
Floor insulation in the bedroom and en-suite bathroom
Floor insulation in the bedroom and en-suite bathroom
8th December 2014
Building Works
Floor insulation in the dining room / kitchen
Floor insulation in the dining room / kitchen
8th December 2014
Building Works
Floor insulation in the living room
Floor insulation in the living room
8th December 2014
Building Works
Floor insulation sheets cut to size as required
Floor insulation sheets cut to size as required
8th December 2014
Building Works
Stud walls protected from damp with plastic sheeting
Stud walls protected from damp with plastic sheeting
8th December 2014
Building Works
Base layer of sand for the whole house interior
Base layer of sand for the whole house interior
8th December 2014
Building Works
Base layer of sand across the whole floor
Base layer of sand across the whole floor
8th December 2014
Building Works
Diagonal look in the corner of the room
Diagonal look in the corner of the room
7th December 2014
Misc
A smaller sink than I'd like, but it'll be fine
A smaller sink than I'd like, but it'll be fine
7th December 2014
Misc
Plenty of space for a decent size bath
Plenty of space for a decent size bath
7th December 2014
Misc
The 'good' insulation clips sourced from Screwfix
The 'good' insulation clips sourced from Screwfix
5th December 2014
Building Materials
And the buckling meant they didn't grip the wall ties very well either
And the buckling meant they didn't grip the wall ties very well either
5th December 2014
Building Materials
Problematic insulation clips buckling due the larger cross-section
Problematic insulation clips buckling due the larger cross-section
5th December 2014
Building Materials
A completed section of wall ready for the outer skin to be laid
A completed section of wall ready for the outer skin to be laid
5th December 2014
Building Works
They are still spaced at similar intervals throughout the block work
They are still spaced at similar intervals throughout the block work
5th December 2014
Building Works
The rough sandy surface of wall ties helps them grip the mortar
The rough sandy surface of wall ties helps them grip the mortar
5th December 2014
Building Materials
The wall ties and insulation clips in action
The wall ties and insulation clips in action
5th December 2014
Building Works
Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) wall ties in our walls
Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) wall ties in our walls
5th December 2014
Building Materials
Stainless steel wall tie and insulation clip
Stainless steel wall tie and insulation clip
5th December 2014
Building Materials
Traditional stainless steel wall ties
Traditional stainless steel wall ties
5th December 2014
Building Materials
Securing it all into place
Securing it all into place
4th December 2014
Building Works
Getting the whole unit upright, before manoeuvring into position
Getting the whole unit upright, before manoeuvring into position
4th December 2014
Building Works
Preparations for lifting the other front windows and french doors into place
Preparations for lifting the other front windows and french doors into place
4th December 2014
Building Works
Half of the main front windows and french doors
Half of the main front windows and french doors
4th December 2014
Building Works
Bedroom and en-suite windows in
Bedroom and en-suite windows in
4th December 2014
Building Works
First window fitted. Big day!
First window fitted. Big day!
4th December 2014
Building Works
Making sure the window is straight before securing
Making sure the window is straight before securing
4th December 2014
Building Works
Attaching the fixing brackets to the windows
Attaching the fixing brackets to the windows
4th December 2014
Building Works
Studwork around the bathroom and cupboard
Studwork around the bathroom and cupboard
3rd December 2014
Building Works
A makeshift bench in the living room and plenty of sawdust
A makeshift bench in the living room and plenty of sawdust
3rd December 2014
Building Works
The complete shape of the ceiling now visible
The complete shape of the ceiling now visible
3rd December 2014
Building Works
Rubber membrane to protect timber from screed
Rubber membrane to protect timber from screed
3rd December 2014
Building Works
Partition wall between the bathroom and second bedroom
Partition wall between the bathroom and second bedroom
3rd December 2014
Building Works
Water flowing off the flat roof section nicely
Water flowing off the flat roof section nicely
3rd December 2014
Building Works
Still a few corners and trims to finish off properly
Still a few corners and trims to finish off properly
3rd December 2014
Building Works
First frosty morning after the rubber is all laid
First frosty morning after the rubber is all laid
3rd December 2014
Building Works
Hopefully this will be enough glue?
Hopefully this will be enough glue?
3rd December 2014
Building Works
Applying the adhesive for the rubber
Applying the adhesive for the rubber
3rd December 2014
Building Works
Drying off the OSB board ready to stick the rubber membrane down
Drying off the OSB board ready to stick the rubber membrane down
3rd December 2014
Building Works
Garden path leading up to the front door
Garden path leading up to the front door
1st December 2014
Building Works
A few steps from the drive up to the path
A few steps from the drive up to the path
1st December 2014
Building Works
The block retaining wall creates a space for 2 cars
The block retaining wall creates a space for 2 cars
1st December 2014
Building Works
Excavating the trenches for the driveway wall footings
Excavating the trenches for the driveway wall footings
1st December 2014
Building Works
Nail gun
Nail gun
24th November 2014
Building Works
Our painted facia boards fitted
Our painted facia boards fitted
24th November 2014
Building Works
Not bad work on a sunny day
Not bad work on a sunny day
24th November 2014
Building Works
Preserving the timber for the facia boards
Preserving the timber for the facia boards
24th November 2014
Building Materials
All the timber and insulation on display temporarily
All the timber and insulation on display temporarily
24th November 2014
Building Works
Lots of tools required to get the job done
Lots of tools required to get the job done
24th November 2014
Building Works
Lower lighting conditions in the winter months, even on a clear day
Lower lighting conditions in the winter months, even on a clear day
24th November 2014
Building Works
Timber upstands to retain the sedum roof trays
Timber upstands to retain the sedum roof trays
24th November 2014
Building Works
They don't look like much for a whole house
They don't look like much for a whole house
13th November 2014
Building Materials
They are pre-glazed so VERY heavy
They are pre-glazed so VERY heavy
13th November 2014
Building Materials
Howarth Timber provided great customer service
Howarth Timber provided great customer service
13th November 2014
Building Materials
The windows arriving all packaged up on the lorry
The windows arriving all packaged up on the lorry
13th November 2014
Building Materials
A rather ugly gas meter box outside the front door
A rather ugly gas meter box outside the front door
12th November 2014
Building Works
Electricity connection made into the meter box
Electricity connection made into the meter box
12th November 2014
Building Works
And the water supplier bringing a connection from across the street
And the water supplier bringing a connection from across the street
12th November 2014
Building Works
The gas supplier also connecting us to the main supply under the pavement
The gas supplier also connecting us to the main supply under the pavement
12th November 2014
Building Works
Connecting us to the electricity cable running under the pavement
Connecting us to the electricity cable running under the pavement
12th November 2014
Building Works
Electricity supplier digging up the pavement
Electricity supplier digging up the pavement
12th November 2014
Building Works
Trench ready for services to be installed
Trench ready for services to be installed
12th November 2014
Building Works
Hopefully the roof insulation will keep things toasty indoors
Hopefully the roof insulation will keep things toasty indoors
7th November 2014
Building Works
All the layers - ply, vapour barrier, insulation, OSB (Oriented Strand Board)
All the layers - ply, vapour barrier, insulation, OSB (Oriented Strand Board)
7th November 2014
Building Works
Timber edging holding the insulation in place
Timber edging holding the insulation in place
7th November 2014
Building Works
Insulation expanding over the 'flat' roof section
Insulation expanding over the 'flat' roof section
7th November 2014
Building Works
100mm Celotex insulation being cut to fit
100mm Celotex insulation being cut to fit
7th November 2014
Building Works
You can get a proper feel for the ceiling height inside
You can get a proper feel for the ceiling height inside
21st October 2014
Building Works
Looking really solid
Looking really solid
21st October 2014
Building Works
The porch detail and roof window for the spare bedroom
The porch detail and roof window for the spare bedroom
21st October 2014
Building Works
It looks like a spider's web from here
It looks like a spider's web from here
21st October 2014
Building Works
Spaces left for the Velux roof windows
Spaces left for the Velux roof windows
21st October 2014
Building Works
The real contours of finished house are making an appearance
The real contours of finished house are making an appearance
21st October 2014
Building Works
Lots of progress on the roof after 3 days
Lots of progress on the roof after 3 days
10th October 2014
Building Works
Some of the interior scaffolding removed, but still very wet under-foot
Some of the interior scaffolding removed, but still very wet under-foot
10th October 2014
Building Materials
Carpenters in action getting one of the roof trusses into place
Carpenters in action getting one of the roof trusses into place
10th October 2014
Building Works
Stainless steel brackets for locating trusses against the external walls
Stainless steel brackets for locating trusses against the external walls
10th October 2014
Building Works
Plates marked out ready for trusses to be fixed
Plates marked out ready for trusses to be fixed
10th October 2014
Building Works
The first trusses go into place on the first day's work
The first trusses go into place on the first day's work
10th October 2014
Building Works
A large delivery of timber waiting to be assembled
A large delivery of timber waiting to be assembled
10th October 2014
Building Materials
Looking along the build from the scaffolding
Looking along the build from the scaffolding
30th September 2014
Building Works
View of the site (from standing on machinery)
View of the site (from standing on machinery)
30th September 2014
Building Works
Services trench awaiting arrival of water, gas, electricity and telephone
Services trench awaiting arrival of water, gas, electricity and telephone
30th September 2014
Building Works
Boundary wall along the rear making progress
Boundary wall along the rear making progress
30th September 2014
Building Works
Lintel and drip-tray above the kitchen window
Lintel and drip-tray above the kitchen window
30th September 2014
Building Works
Insulating around the vertical steel columns
Insulating around the vertical steel columns
30th September 2014
Building Works
Blocks on top of the front steels and some attached insulation
Blocks on top of the front steels and some attached insulation
30th September 2014
Building Works
Packs of cavity wall insulation waiting to be fixed to the blocks
Packs of cavity wall insulation waiting to be fixed to the blocks
30th September 2014
Building Works
Central steels which will support the roof in middle of the house
Central steels which will support the roof in middle of the house
30th September 2014
Building Works
Covered back over with polythene and then soil
Covered back over with polythene and then soil
26th September 2014
Building Works
Filled with lots of rubble from the site
Filled with lots of rubble from the site
26th September 2014
Building Works
The drainage pipe leading into the hole
The drainage pipe leading into the hole
26th September 2014
Building Works
A loosely constructed chamber to hold the water
A loosely constructed chamber to hold the water
26th September 2014
Building Works
Soakaway hole - almost the size of the shed
Soakaway hole - almost the size of the shed
26th September 2014
Building Works
Precision steel construction
Precision steel construction
25th September 2014
Building Works
Welding some joints
Welding some joints
25th September 2014
Building Works
1.. 2.. 3.. lift!
1.. 2.. 3.. lift!
25th September 2014
Building Works
A few minor adjustments
A few minor adjustments
25th September 2014
Building Works
Using a bit of good old-fashioned elbow grease
Using a bit of good old-fashioned elbow grease
25th September 2014
Building Works
Checking that everything is level
Checking that everything is level
25th September 2014
Building Works
Lifting one of the I-Beams into place
Lifting one of the I-Beams into place
25th September 2014
Building Works
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Opinions expressed in this blog are not necessarily shared by other persons, companies or organisations associated with this project.

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