Our home renovation project - Opposite of MSE philosophy!!

ThisIsWeird

gzoom said:

 We have windows and walls….some anyways….

Original plan was to have all the glazing installed this week, but delays with the roofer meant scaffolding still everywhere, so rather than risk damaging expensive glass as the build carries on, the glazers installed what they could and rest will come probably end of Jan 2024. 

Still what’s gone in looks good, and the view from the bedroom will be great (once the scaffolding is gone!). 

Internal walls also appearing, first fix electric and plumbing will start soon.

Our builder is the eternal optimist, he still thinks we’ll be done by Easter 2024, I’m not so sure, as long as we are in before summer turns to autumn 2024 I’ll be happy! I can see now why Kevin McCloud talks about building sucking in the energy of their owners/builders etc, and why most sane people don’t try this kind of thing……..but where the fun in the life without a bit of insanity .

Wow! That looks huge!

It makes you realise just what goes into a proper build. Fab.

MikeJXE

What a refreshing change from chasing interest rates and stashing money away for so long, not being unable to spend it all in later years or even popping your clogs before you retire 

Well done you 

FreeBear

gzoom said: Our builder is the eternal optimist, he still thinks we’ll be done by Easter 2024, I’m not so sure, as long as we are in before summer turns to autumn 2024 I’ll be happy! I can see now why Kevin McCloud talks about building sucking in the energy of their owners/builders etc, and why most sane people don’t try this kind of thing……..but where the fun in the life without a bit of insanity

• Quality
• On budget
• On time

Pick two out of the three as you will never get all of them as Mr McCloud often points out.

gzoom

MikeJXE said:

What a refreshing change from chasing interest rates and stashing money away for so long, not being unable to spend it all in later years or even popping your clogs before you retire 

Well done you 

Well that was us preCOVID - Partly why we have been able to afford the build, but ultimately before you know it life is done, and honest who really cares what’s in the bank account at that point? 

The house is going to be around for long after anyone we know, or living today is 6ft under. 

gzoom

FreeBear said:

gzoom said: Our builder is the eternal optimist, he still thinks we’ll be done by Easter 2024, I’m not so sure, as long as we are in before summer turns to autumn 2024 I’ll be happy! I can see now why Kevin McCloud talks about building sucking in the energy of their owners/builders etc, and why most sane people don’t try this kind of thing……..but where the fun in the life without a bit of insanity

• Quality
• On budget
• On time

Pick two out of the three as you will never get all of them as Mr McCloud often points out.

We will happily settle for the top point alone

grumbler

gzoom said:

FreeBear said:

gzoom said: Our builder is the eternal optimist, he still thinks we’ll be done by Easter 2024, I’m not so sure, as long as we are in before summer turns to autumn 2024 I’ll be happy! I can see now why Kevin McCloud talks about building sucking in the energy of their owners/builders etc, and why most sane people don’t try this kind of thing……..but where the fun in the life without a bit of insanity

• Quality
• On budget
• On time

Pick two out of the three as you will never get all of them as Mr McCloud often points out.

We will happily settle for the top point alone

Well, add a million or two to your budget then - and you can get both the top and the bottom.

gzoom

Been playing on the iPad with visualising some of the design decisions on lighting, banisters, and radiators. 

Realistically its going to take us years to get the interior decorations rights, especially with all the wall space in the atriums, but need to get the electric/plumbing fixings decisions made. 

Doozergirl

Looking good.   If the house is going to be insulated to current regs, why not go for underfloor heating instead of radiators!

babyblade41

Doozergirl said:

Looking good.   If the house is going to be insulated to current regs, why not go for underfloor heating instead of radiators!

Absolutely this, we have an ASHP, concrete floors and UFH, although we have lots of glass the insulation is beyond and exceeds expectations...insulation, insulation, insulation... it's the only way moving forward 

FreeBear

babyblade41 said: although we have lots of glass the insulation is beyond and exceeds expectations...insulation, insulation, insulation... it's the only way moving forward 

Probably a bit late for gzoom, but yes, insulate above and beyond current regs. If BC stipulate 150mm of Celotex in the floor slab, bung in 200mm or even 300mm. The cost of doing it now will be minimal, but will cut the heat loss. If funds allow, use foamed glass for the hardcore layer and get a bit more insulation in the process.

Insulating the walls & roof along with high performance glazing means that the floor contributes a greater proportion of the total heat loss. So it is worth spending a bit more effort & money on it as retrofitting is near on impossible a few years down the line.