metre, he used a specialist moisture-resistant roll insulation to the depth of the joists. The former bungalow had an EPC rating of G


(“horrendous” as Paul rightly says,) but as a result of the renovation, including the extra-insulated north facing walls and loft, plus the renewables, it is now an A+. As the roof faces almost directly south, “solar PV and solar thermal was a no brainer,” says Paul. The solar PV can be diverted to the heat store, and he says the bills are “min- imal” with most hot water provided by the renew- ables during the year.


Windows on the world


The large bi-fold windows to the living area were one of the biggest challenges, and not just financially. The builders installed the bi-fold to the


bedroom including the necessary RSJ but Paul decided he would tackle the joist installation in the living area, with some help. “It needed to span a 3.5 metre gap, and effectively hold the roof up, so you have to have two RSJs bolted together to provide the width, and that’s a lot of steel. That was me, family and friends, and who- ever else I had on site helping.” Now they provide a fantastic open vista,


only slightly impeded by the mainly glass balustrade, built by a local fabricator with spindles in a tasteful dark grey to match the windows. A delay installing the new win- dows led to an experience that Paul now looks back on with amusement, and which is no doubt familiar to many self-builders. As a result, Paul found himself sleeping on a camp bed (with the family terrier Pippin) in a house with no windows,


while doing renovations in the depths of November. He comments: “I’d lock the door and laugh because there were no windows anyway”. The view which has resulted from opening up


the side of the house makes it all worthwhile, as Paul agrees: “It’s terrific, I wouldn’t ever have imagined I’d ever live in a place like this. I can’t imagine I’d ever get bored looking out at it.” It no doubt helps makes things like the trials Paul and Sam experienced with ‘vanishing’ builders and plumbers disappear into distant memory every time they look out on the Teign estuary. Paul remains a genuine enthusiast for self-


build, shown by several successful projects, but he’s convinced the family is staying put. “It is something I enjoy – it’s nice to be your own boss, and building a home is quite a privileged thing to be able to do.”


Contacts/suppliers


Wavin Hep2O www.wavin.co.uk/web/solutions/potable-water/plumbing-


systems/pushfit.htm


Worcester Bosch www.worcester-bosch.co.uk


Gledhill www.gledhill.net


Celotex www.celotex.co.uk


Everbuild www.everbuild.co.uk


Cementone by Bostik www.bostik.co.uk


British Gypsum www.british-gypsum.com


Knauf Insulation www.knaufinsulation.co.uk


Catnic catnic.com


Prysmian uk.prysmiangroup.com/en/index.html


Scolmore Inceptor micro (LED lights) www.scolmore.com


Velux www.velux.co.uk


McPherson paints www.macphersontrade.co.uk


Dulux Weathershield paints www.dulux.co.uk


Mastercrete www.tarmac.com


selfbuilder & homemaker www.sbhonline.co.uk


23


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52