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So starting on the timber work today. Got the sole plates down and started erecting the 4” posts from there! Not plumbed up yet. posts are secured with 8x 4” nails (2 on each face) and 2x angles brackets nailed in with square twist nails. Loads to do but made a start and are chuffed with that.

No rush. Gives me hope for my extension!

You’re going an incredible job there @RobH71

Lime is used for its breathing properties. Old houses need to breath. Depending on your bricks, they can become damaged by frost if cement is used. Lime is more flexible

Could have bowrrowed my old mans mixer but thought I wouldn’t be mixing much to bother... yeah should have gone and got it. Never mind Yeah I will be screwing down the timber. I like the frame fixings which you drill the 6mm hole first and the screw self tap into the bricks/ blocks. Had good...

So next job is to bed a 4x2 sole plate on to the block work. Going to bed it on with a thin layer of cement and DPC to make sure it’s level. Then we’ll be flying.

Bought about £150 quids worth of screws, nails, brackets etc from screwfix and iron mongery direct. Bought a breather membrane off eBay £60. 1.5x50m so should get the whole thing wrapped externally in 1 roll. Bought a thicker insulated foil backed type of stuff for internally prior to boarding...

The timber is sat waiting for me to start anyway Had to stack it in the garage to keep it dry. But again it was already **** wet through Timber cost £1050. Was happy with that price in today’s market. But a year ago when I first stated getting quotes it’s was that price including 20 sheets...

Please don’t judge my block laying skills hahaha The weather has been bad. My blocks have been so heavy and saturated. And perfecting a motor mix using wet sand and mixing in a bucket or wheelbarrow was a pain in the arse. I know it’s not a conventional bond either and probably isn’t as...

The finished block work

Second course coming along

Been fighting rain the whole way through the block laying

using phone so having trouble uploading again

First course done

A few more

You’re going to be disappointed with progress to be honest,,, first blocks down

Yes just need to load pics. Will try do it this weekend

I had the same thoughts and convo with my wife. Break it down to individual tasks and sub out the hard stuff to trades as and when required. And just get a bare waterproof shell up using a bricky and roofer. Only trouble is, my wife is impatient haha. We’ll get there.

Your extension is actually bigger than my side extension. However I have a first floor extension at the back with quite a few steels etc that I think add a lot to the price. I might just stick with the side extension and do the rest at a later date

So I have had regs drawings done and structural calcs. After contacting several builders, probably a dozen or so... I have received my first quote. Months later. Builders round here don’t seem to want work. Anyway. To cut a long story short, the quote is £200k. I nearly choked. Didn’t know what...