Four Walls not yet a Ceiling
End of August and the walls are up and being filled.
BECO Walls being filled
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Out of the Ground
Works finally started on the 2nd August and the walls are up! The delay has simply been because our main contractor has been on holiday and the ground took quite a while to prepare.
Anyhow, at last progress has been made and we are still optimistic that we will be watertight by the end of September. That is assuming the window suppliers come back from holiday and actually answer emails.
Foundations dug, gravel base down
Isoquick base constructed
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Revised Plans
As often happens in our lives, serendipity oozes from every corner. Two good friends of ours have ended up renting another Lodge on site and we got to stay there for a weekend. This sunset on the West caused us to change our mind about which windows go where.
Our architect friend Steve came to visit too (and we played the course for the first time - far too many balls lost). Having stayed there, we made the big call to make the lodge a three bedroom as opposed to four bedroom. This gives two large bedrooms, each with ensuite upstairs and the spare bedroom can always be divided later if requirements change.
New Ground Floor Plan
New First Floor Plan
New Side Elevations
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Going Passive
There's been a bit of a gap and a hiatus on the blog while we've been getting numerous quotes in from traditional builders and several timber frame suppliers. All were coming in well over budget but we've zeroed in on a design and build solution we had not quite expected - and that we can afford. We are going Passive!!
We came to this decision primarily as the couple who are building the next door lodge, have built a passive home already so know what they are doing - which we don't!! Also by joining forces, we can make cost savings with suppliers.
The build will now start early August and we hope to be watertight by the end of September. Here's the components of the structure:
Isoquick Foundations
BECO 375 Walls
MVHR Ventilation, Heating and Cooling
The Zendher unit we are installing will also give 5 degrees lower than ambient cooling in Summer (power provided by solar PV panels on the roof). The system is also...
Visiting the plot
Now we own the plot, it was time to meet the one of the potential builders today to get a quote based on our drawings.
Here's Lodges 9 and 7 and it was great to have a look inside plot 9 as it has many layout features we've planned.
And you can just see Lodge 9 in the distance, Lodge 11 will be somewhere near the bushy tree
And nice to see what we're aiming at
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Drawings Arrive
Just a couple of weeks after meeting Dave Cleverly, and a day before we completed on the plot, the drawings arrived.
All that majorly changed from our virtual walk-throughs was we've moved the utility room so it backs on to the kitchen. This is to accommodate an idea for a walk-through pantry.
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Ground Zero
So here's the view of the plot in February 2016 when we came to meet Dave Cleverley who drew up the plans for us. Doesn't look much but there's the view from the ground floor.
And here's the overall plot dimensions ...
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Virtually There
After a bit of a search, we found the most brilliant 3D modelling app for the iPad, called Chief Architect Room Planner.
It was so good that the architect proper said that he had little to do when we met him on site.
Here's a few screenshots ...
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