Got the hollow core up yesterday. I had a bit of tidy up to do before the 2 artic lorries came at about 11. They took about 3 hours to get all of the slabs in place using a mobile crane. They had a bit of cutting for doing around the chimneys. It all went off without a hitch despite the weather being a disaster with driving rain and strong winds.
Grouting
After that was done, the hard job of grouting the joints needed to be done. We did it the following way in which we managed to do it without killing ourselves up and down ladders. While the slabs were being lowered onto the house we went to Westport to get a trailor fix of sand, aggregrate and cement. When the slabs were in place and the crane was free, we filled a large container with the mix and got the crane to lift the container onto the slabs. Then we emptied the container. We did this 4 times until the trailor was empty. We shovels and a brushes we filled in the joints with this dry mix. Fortunately, it started to rain heavily and the rain that fell allowed turn the mix into concrete. A hard job done quite easily.
Propping the slabs
We had to prop the slabs downstairs for the long span to support the blocks for the upstairs. We put in place a temporary stairs for the moment.
Whats up next?
Upstairs blocks are starting today so, lets see how much will get done before xmas. Plan to start the slates on the garage next week.
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Nearly up to hollow core!!
After a couple of weeks of fine weather (typical since its November) the blocks have been started on the house. We're nearly up to hollow core level after only a 2 and half weeks.
Prior to starting the blocks my head was wrecked trying to figure out the cavity wall insulation. As i was have a 150mm cavity, i could have either fully pumped bead or board insulation. I wasn't gone on the pumped solution due to the rumours of them sagging over time and this would lead to a build up of insulation which could act as a conductor from the outer leaf to the inner leaf. I also felt, that the pumped solution is suitable for existing houses where they have no choice and that they are trying to get in the new house builds. I decided for a 100mm board insulation due to the fact that the rigid boards have been around for a long time and will not sag over time. Also, they allow a 50mm cavity in which think is the idea. Depsite the boards being more expensive i think i've done the right decision.
Another consequence of having 150mm cavity was that the block layer could not use the standard wall ties for the exteral walls. So i had to buy the 300mm wall ties which to my surprise are quiet expensive.
My engineer advised me to put in a lite block on the first line of blocks of the inner leaf of the external wall and all internal walls. This is to reduce heat loss from the walls to the raft foundation. Sounds like a relatively new concept but from heat loss point of view it makes sense. However these blocks are quite expensive in comparison to the normal blocks. I used around 300 of these.
I'm getting the hollow core from Trotters in Leitrim and a rep came to measure up for this last week. They were the best priced for this work.
I put the window cills as the blocks were being done as it was much easier to do and its much more effective to put the Damp proof course around the cills.
While the blocks were going up on the house we got the roof on the garage felted.I plan to put in the windows this week. It was a good idea to do the roof as i feel it is good practice for the roof on the house which we'll attempt when its readt. Having the garage also means we have a place where we can store things and a place to have a cuppa tea. We'll slate this some time in the future.
I post more relevant photos of the build later.
Prior to starting the blocks my head was wrecked trying to figure out the cavity wall insulation. As i was have a 150mm cavity, i could have either fully pumped bead or board insulation. I wasn't gone on the pumped solution due to the rumours of them sagging over time and this would lead to a build up of insulation which could act as a conductor from the outer leaf to the inner leaf. I also felt, that the pumped solution is suitable for existing houses where they have no choice and that they are trying to get in the new house builds. I decided for a 100mm board insulation due to the fact that the rigid boards have been around for a long time and will not sag over time. Also, they allow a 50mm cavity in which think is the idea. Depsite the boards being more expensive i think i've done the right decision.
Another consequence of having 150mm cavity was that the block layer could not use the standard wall ties for the exteral walls. So i had to buy the 300mm wall ties which to my surprise are quiet expensive.
My engineer advised me to put in a lite block on the first line of blocks of the inner leaf of the external wall and all internal walls. This is to reduce heat loss from the walls to the raft foundation. Sounds like a relatively new concept but from heat loss point of view it makes sense. However these blocks are quite expensive in comparison to the normal blocks. I used around 300 of these.
I'm getting the hollow core from Trotters in Leitrim and a rep came to measure up for this last week. They were the best priced for this work.
I put the window cills as the blocks were being done as it was much easier to do and its much more effective to put the Damp proof course around the cills.
While the blocks were going up on the house we got the roof on the garage felted.I plan to put in the windows this week. It was a good idea to do the roof as i feel it is good practice for the roof on the house which we'll attempt when its readt. Having the garage also means we have a place where we can store things and a place to have a cuppa tea. We'll slate this some time in the future.
I post more relevant photos of the build later.
Monday, 7 November 2011
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Blocks started
Following a couple of bad weeks with rain, I finally got started with the blocks at the start of week. I have block layer on site to do the job.
I decided to start with garage as to provide a secure place for storing materials (and a place to keep dry before the roof gets covered which looks it will be after xmas) and also it it something i know could be done in a few weeks. When the blocks are up to wall plate level then we can timber the roof while the blocks get started on the house.
To save some costs before the blocks starte on the garage I went to a windows and doors store to pick up some seconds windows (prefectly fine windows that were returned back to the store for some reason). Once i had these windows i could build the walls around the windows.
Hopefully the blocks will start for the house in the next week.
I decided to start with garage as to provide a secure place for storing materials (and a place to keep dry before the roof gets covered which looks it will be after xmas) and also it it something i know could be done in a few weeks. When the blocks are up to wall plate level then we can timber the roof while the blocks get started on the house.
To save some costs before the blocks starte on the garage I went to a windows and doors store to pick up some seconds windows (prefectly fine windows that were returned back to the store for some reason). Once i had these windows i could build the walls around the windows.
Hopefully the blocks will start for the house in the next week.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Despite the heavy rain in the morning, the weather cleared up to allow the raft to be poured. Between the house and the garage it took approximately 65 meters of concrete.
For my geothermal systems i left out 2 lengths of 6 inch wavin pipe in my utility room. This was inserted at an angle of 45 degrees too allow any sort of system get into the house.
The photo above doesn't show the concrete too well so i'll upload another one later.
Next step, is to get ready for blocks.
Monday, 3 October 2011
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Friday, 9 September 2011
Mortgage Approved!!!!!!!!!
Finally, we got approval for our mortgage. Now we start thinking of the build.
Background, my site is not a straight forward site as its on a slope and its too level so this'll need to be done first.
Theres not too much soil on the land as there is alot of broken rock under the surface (about 1 meter).
What i plan to do in the next 3 months -
I've a digger lined up to level the site and get it ready for the raft foundation for the house. The garage may be done also..
Stockpile any top soil to be used at a later date. Any rock/stones that are dug up will be used for the drive way.
Put in all drainage that needs to be in.
Investigate if Geothermal heating system will work or not due.
Get steel for foundations and put in the raft.
Get the house blockwork to the first floor level provided the above goes to plan and the weather isn't too bad.
Get the garage blockwork done and roofed.
Maybe I'm ambitous as we're running into winter so i'm hoping winter won't be too bad.
By the way, i'll start uploading photos shortly at the different stages.
Background, my site is not a straight forward site as its on a slope and its too level so this'll need to be done first.
Theres not too much soil on the land as there is alot of broken rock under the surface (about 1 meter).
What i plan to do in the next 3 months -
I've a digger lined up to level the site and get it ready for the raft foundation for the house. The garage may be done also..
Stockpile any top soil to be used at a later date. Any rock/stones that are dug up will be used for the drive way.
Put in all drainage that needs to be in.
Investigate if Geothermal heating system will work or not due.
Get steel for foundations and put in the raft.
Get the house blockwork to the first floor level provided the above goes to plan and the weather isn't too bad.
Get the garage blockwork done and roofed.
Maybe I'm ambitous as we're running into winter so i'm hoping winter won't be too bad.
By the way, i'll start uploading photos shortly at the different stages.
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
No start yet. Planning done but Mortgage hiccup
The latest news is that the planning has gone through and has been granted and i can start whenever i can. That is great news.
However, the bad news is that the mortgage application is taking longer than expected. As expected, the banks are reluctant to give out money so they are delaying the full approval of the mortgage. I'm unable to get enough on my own so i need look for a joint application with my fiancee. We haven't given up yet but will continue on until we get it. Until then, we won't start the self build.
At this rate, we'd be lucky to get the site work,foundations and the first floor block done before xmas. Luckily, we're in no big rush but would like to get started sooner rather than later.
However, the bad news is that the mortgage application is taking longer than expected. As expected, the banks are reluctant to give out money so they are delaying the full approval of the mortgage. I'm unable to get enough on my own so i need look for a joint application with my fiancee. We haven't given up yet but will continue on until we get it. Until then, we won't start the self build.
At this rate, we'd be lucky to get the site work,foundations and the first floor block done before xmas. Luckily, we're in no big rush but would like to get started sooner rather than later.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Planning Approved Finally!!!
Finally planning has been approved. Standard conditions apply so thats great news. Have to wait 30 days before any work can start, so that'll give us time to sort out the mortgage and some other paper work.
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Still waiting for Planning
I was requested by the planning authorities in the County Council to submit a letter indicating that their request for further information was not required and unnecessary.
I submitted this letter over a week ago. This know means I must wait a further 4 weeks before a decision is made, even though there is no change in my application since it was last re-submitted in mid May.Sounds like alot of unnecessary paper work is involved here and its being drawn out alot longer than expected but hopefully it will be resolved shortly.
Only after that, can i look into getting my mortgage approved. Fingers crossed.
I submitted this letter over a week ago. This know means I must wait a further 4 weeks before a decision is made, even though there is no change in my application since it was last re-submitted in mid May.Sounds like alot of unnecessary paper work is involved here and its being drawn out alot longer than expected but hopefully it will be resolved shortly.
Only after that, can i look into getting my mortgage approved. Fingers crossed.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
16 June 2011 - Introduction
This is the start of my blog. This blog is dedicated to a self build in the West of Ireland.
I intend to maintain it but who knows how'll long i'll continue it for!!!!
Planning application was submitted on the 14th Feb and still waiting for decision due to requests for further information. Touch wood, we get it in the next few weeks.
Mortgage application is pending planning permission but that hopefully will be decided in the coming weeks also.
As requested by one of the readers, here is a brief introduction of my plan.
For obvious, i'm not going to disclose too much personal information and the individual costs of material or labour.
House Plan
My house plan is an L-Shaped house which is a Story and a half with 4 dormers.
Approx 300 square meters.
The orientation of the house is south facing in which I have large windows in my living area. To the north of the building i have small windows.
I'm not going 100% green with my build but will be putting a high standard of insulation in the walls, floor, ceilings.
Downstairs will comprise of
A large open living area comprising of kitchen, living and dining area.
A utility room off the kitchen, sitting room , bathroom with shower (wetroom) and a bedroom.
Upstairs will comprise of
Bathroom with shower and bath (wetroom), master ensuite bedroom (with walkin wardrobe), 2 standard bedrooms, office and a hotpress.
I will put in a concrete stairs which includes a gallery landing overlooking part of the hallway infront of the main door.
I plan to build a 60 sq meter garage with a good size garden in the front of the house and a smaller garden at the back.
Heating system
Geothermal heating system with underfloor heating upstairs and downstairs. Haven't decided on either horizontal or borehole.
A stove in the living room and sitting room.
I plan to have standard electrical,plumbing and carpentry second fixing.
I will slate the roof with natural slates due to their look and their durability (despite being more expensive).
I will have a natural stone finish to parts of the house, such as the projected parts of the house.
I do not work in the construction industry but i have worked on roofs in the past and will be able to roof my house with some help from my family.
I plan to be involved in all parts of the build but will need to subcontract the work out to the likes of the blocklayer,plasterer,electrician,plumber....
I intend to maintain it but who knows how'll long i'll continue it for!!!!
Planning application was submitted on the 14th Feb and still waiting for decision due to requests for further information. Touch wood, we get it in the next few weeks.
Mortgage application is pending planning permission but that hopefully will be decided in the coming weeks also.
As requested by one of the readers, here is a brief introduction of my plan.
For obvious, i'm not going to disclose too much personal information and the individual costs of material or labour.
House Plan
My house plan is an L-Shaped house which is a Story and a half with 4 dormers.
Approx 300 square meters.
The orientation of the house is south facing in which I have large windows in my living area. To the north of the building i have small windows.
I'm not going 100% green with my build but will be putting a high standard of insulation in the walls, floor, ceilings.
Downstairs will comprise of
A large open living area comprising of kitchen, living and dining area.
A utility room off the kitchen, sitting room , bathroom with shower (wetroom) and a bedroom.
Upstairs will comprise of
Bathroom with shower and bath (wetroom), master ensuite bedroom (with walkin wardrobe), 2 standard bedrooms, office and a hotpress.
I will put in a concrete stairs which includes a gallery landing overlooking part of the hallway infront of the main door.
I plan to build a 60 sq meter garage with a good size garden in the front of the house and a smaller garden at the back.
Heating system
Geothermal heating system with underfloor heating upstairs and downstairs. Haven't decided on either horizontal or borehole.
A stove in the living room and sitting room.
I plan to have standard electrical,plumbing and carpentry second fixing.
I will slate the roof with natural slates due to their look and their durability (despite being more expensive).
I will have a natural stone finish to parts of the house, such as the projected parts of the house.
I do not work in the construction industry but i have worked on roofs in the past and will be able to roof my house with some help from my family.
I plan to be involved in all parts of the build but will need to subcontract the work out to the likes of the blocklayer,plasterer,electrician,plumber....
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