Finally we're ont'elly... how did that happen?

11 months from when we first put a hole in the ground to start the foundations, we managed to move in and along the way build our dream home with the help and skills of some fantastic, friends, family and trades. We managed to do quite a bit of the work ourselves, found skills we didn't know we had, build it on budget (which was good, because we didn't have an extra few million to cover an over spend) and on time - not bad for someone who fixes cars!

Over the last few weeks I have contemplated what we have achieved (with the help of a quite few others) and it feels amazing to finally be living in our house. We poured our hearts and souls into the build and with the exception of the garden there isn't that much left to sort out. On the whole, I think we managed to stay pretty positive throughout the build with the relatively small issues experienced paling into insignificance when we look at what we've managed to do. Managing the build alongside working has been very challenging, emotional, sometimes frustrating, really exciting, great fun and at times very tiring, but extremely rewarding. Every success and imperfection we've had a significant part in. Not many people are lucky enough to build their own house and we feel very privileged to have done so. If anyone gets the chance, is prepared to make sacrifices and put in some hard work they should jump at the opportunity!

We were lucky enough to have our build recorded by the talented (not just with the camera) and generally nice fellow Lee Chapman. Thanks to Lee's filming along with the input from the rest of the True North Production team our house build will be visually documented forever. Lee who was on site with us regularly throughout -  helped us to adapt to being filmed with a massive lense in our little faces, keeping it relaxed and interesting and without impacting on progress. It is nice to think we have made a friend through one of the most significant 12 months of our lives and I am sure we will keep in contact in the future. Charlie, Christian, Stokey, Sally, Hayley among others at True North made our self-build journey fun, kept us (and some of the trades) on focus and on time along with providing us with some fantastic improvements to our home, which we wouldn't have thought possible and/or affordable - thanks for that Charlie, we didn't see it initially but in most cases you (and Fliss) were right.

While building, Fliss also managed to plan our wedding and while I moaned and groaned about help with the house on times, she managed to pull off a perfect day and the start of the next (hopefully slightly more relaxed) chapter of our lives together.

A massive thank you to everyone at True North and the friends, family, work colleagues, companies and trades who made it all possible. Here are some sneaky pics of our house which will be on later today, Tuesday 21st October 2014 - 9pm on More4 "Building the Dream."

 House designed, frame and shell erected by Border Oak with design drawings tweaks by Owen Hicks Architecture 

Open plan living space

Oak stairs made by Courtyard Designs, brushed Nickel handrail from Ironmongery direct and glass  from Balustrade UK

Liv's wardrobe handmade by Stuart Carter Furniture and painted by us

 Josh's bedroom not too messy yet

Bathroom tiles from Devant Designs, Hereford, Bathroom suit etc mixed and matched from various suppliers including reclaimed.

We love our new home. I hope you enjoy the programme as much as we enjoyed being part of it...

I will compile a list in a future blog with links where possible of the trades, companies and suppliers who we used along the way. Bye for now...

Preparing for plasterboard

Well it's been nearly 5 weeks since the last blog and this has been a result of slower progress on the build as things are being are being tidied up prior to plasterboarding and also being very busy coming towards the end of financial year in work (www.oldfieldsgarage.co.uk). I've also been back to the 90's on a friends Stag do. We also visited the Homebuilding & renovating show at the NEC last weekend, but I will write about that in another blog - some interesting ideas gained (some we wish we thought about earlier) and we've also found a few finishing products.

The slower progress I've just mentioned however, might not be as slow as I thought because I've just scanned through the last blog photos and actually we have done quite a bit (it has just felt slow).

We are very pleased with how level the screed finish is - which is exactly what we were hoping to achieve! It still won't be completely dry, but you wouldn't know from the how it feels on the top.

The external weatherboarding is completely finished - and we love it.I did underestimate the number of board slightly and we were 3 boards short. Fortunately because we used a local supplier (Powell & Co, Kingsland) we got it delivered as we needed it so it didn't hold us up. The only downside is that it isn't painted so we'll need to do this when we touch up the rest of the boards.

 Weatherboarding finished!

Oops a few boards short

We've also had the handles fitted on the windows and doors - again we are very happy with the look of them. The only drawback is that fitting the handles has uncovered a problem with some of the handles catching the frames (but this is going to be resolved middle of next month and then they'll be re-finished to rectify the paint finish issues straight after).

 Pewter door handles

Matching window furniture

In the last few weeks we've started and completed the insulation downstairs (a lot easier than the roof, which still isn't quite done) and it's now ready for the vapour barrier to be fitted. We've again used 100mm Kingspan Kooltherm, with the exception of a few areas where wiring made that difficult to get a good coverage and we've used Knauf frame insulation. Wherever possible we've topped the Knauf with  40mm Kingspan Kooltherm - it might be a bit over the top but as I've said before we aren't planning on ever moving so don't want to skimp on insulation.

If me doing any work makes it on't telly those 4 panels were what I was doing when it was filmed - anyone would think I saved some easy ones for filming purposes??!

My workshop by night

We've also taken delivery of the kitchen, not ideal timing - it either means we're a little bit behind where I thought we would be now or I was a little over enthusiastic on timescales! We'll need to work around it until the plasterboard is done, which isn't perfect (but at least a delay isn't going to hold us up when we need it I suppose?!). The kitchen delivery man told me "our house looks sick" which is a positive!

Kitchen in the bedroom

We've got the plasterboarding and drylining scheduled for the fortnight from 28th April, so just need to finish the insulation upstairs (I've left the worst bits until last), make sure all the noggins are in place ready for plasterboard and anything we need a good fixing for on the walls (like wall mounted TVs). We've also got to fit the sound deadening between the floors and in the stud walls. The stairs are due to be fitted on the 10th May - which is really exciting as well.

In the next week though the internal brick wall will be built, we've loaded the bricks out ready to go and we'll also have the plumber doing the final bits of first fix. We are also starting to organise the external waste/drainage and a bit more moving soil around in the garden. 

What a difference a week makes...

Surprisingly we've had another dry week... We've gone from being topless (and I'm not talking about parading in the winter sunshine earlier in the week) - to the bulk of the roof structure being in place. 

The attic trusses took a bit of handling because they were delivered upside down and had to be turned around in a small space before being lifted into position on the ready erected frame. 

 Attic trusses being manoevered before being turned around and lifted into position.

Attic trusses form the bulk of the roof, giving us space to fit two good sized rooms a bathroom and a landing. They came pre-formed, which meant that the significant transformation took place very quickly. 

The first 4 trusses in position. 

Rooms taking shape, with the view through the window. 

Attic trusses in position prior to securing.

The centre section of the roof is being made on site. It's obviously a much slower process, but it's amazing how much Neil (the carpenter looking after the roof carpentry) has achieved in a relatively short space of time. It's good to have people on site who can see beyond just looking at the drawings and help ensure things move forwards smoothly. 

With a temporary deck down we've been able to stand in the upstairs bedrooms, peer through the trusses where the roof light windows will be and stand on the beam which will form the internal balcony. 

Frontal view from upstairs

Upstairs view of the rear

I also managed to squeeze in a spot of filming for Building the Dream. Fliss wasn't here this time, but Lee was able to capture a little bit more of our story and the significant change since the last visit where the oak frame was being erected. 

"Up on the roof", Robson & Jerome have nothing on me

The internal balcony taking shape

Truss ends shaped to match the oak on site by Neil

End of week one of the roof carpentry works

And there we are; another week on and very visible changes. I hope the weather holds again next week!

Ta ta for now, Tim