Self-builder - Roof Joists

As I previously mentioned we initially had a few problems with a groundworker. Well, due to the fact that he couldn't use a tape measure the shape of the extensions for the barn weren't quite the same as on the plans.

When it came to ordering services or materials, that required accurate measuring i.e. the block and beam floor and roof joists, we used a local company who would come out a check the measurements for us. We didn't feel that it was worth the risk in measuring off plan and we weren't absolutely certain where the measuremets needed to be taken from. It also meant that it was the company's responsibility if anything was wrong when the materials arrived.

Self Builder - Other trades

As we chose a good brickie - with him came the other trades too. I couldn't recommend this enough. As we were not local people we did not have contacts to use and it would really have been a matter of sticking a pin in the ads and choosing some-one - we learnt our lesson with the groundworker!

The advantages of this was that all the trades worked at a team even though they were employed separately. They communicated with each other, as well as me, which saved an awful lot of hassle. The only trade which we chose that was not recommended by our brickie was the plasterer - which in hindsight we shouldn't have done. Even though he was good at his job the lack of communication between him and our electricians caused us problems and very nearly a great more expense.

I am sure the team of trades weren't perfect as we had some teething problems with them too but the build did progress efficiently.

Saving money on the roof

As we were converting an old barn - but also extending it - we had to decide whether to use the old slates or not. It turned out that we had good quality Welsh slates, but there wasn't enough to cover the extension of the barn.We had a couple of options open to us 1. Buy more Welsh slates and mix them in with the existing ones or remove all the existing slates and buy a complete set of new ones. Now we did get a price for reclaimed Welsh ones however financially and aesthtically it made better sense to buy a whole new set. Since the original slates had been on the barn for best part of 90 years were decided that their intergrity could not be relied on.We bought Brazilian slate in the end and to ofset the cost we sold all our existing Welsh slates to a reclamation yard.