“We were confined to a mobile home in lockdown, it was hard”
problems there.”
They also decided they wanted to extend the lounge area after the shell had been constructed, which meant appointing a specialist concrete cutting company – at a “considerable cost” – to move one of the single storey walls. “The density and weight of a 150 mm wall is considerable and requires specialist cutting equipment and telehandlers,” he explains.
Although annoyances at the time, none of these things caused huge delays – in fact most only a handful of days – and Mark is pleased with the pace at which they got the build done. The house was ready for them to move into in August 2021, with a vast chunk of the build taking place after the initial construction halt caused by the first lockdown, but while Covid was still at a peak. For the self-build, says Mark, “it was perfect, we had staff furloughed and couldn’t meet clients, so we had more time.” He had also taken a risk and ordered the materials a few months prior to planning being granted in April 2020, when there were signs of potential supply issues. “It was a big risk, but it was the right decision!”
He says the budget was “loose,” and admits they went over. One reason was the stonework,
may/june 2022
which is “very expensive,” Mark admits. They had stone slips, sourced from Black Mountain Quarries, attached in individual layers to the ICF. Being slips, it’s “better for the environment, as it uses less stone, and it’s easier to lay,” he explains. “It looks fantastic, but it’s expensive.” The financial challenge meant Mark had to make a sacrifice, and has postponed installation of the air source heat pump; at the moment they are using LPG. “It’s set up so that we can change the boiler to air source, which I definitely will,” he says. The boiler feeds the underfloor heating up and downstairs, and the radiators in the attic space. An MVHR system has, however, been installed; he believes it’s essential for fresh air when building using ICF, as the house is so airtight. A further sustainability move was ensuring doors are triple glazed, installing solar PVs, plus using the original well as a water recycling source. Mark and Sharon had sold their previous, self-built house prior to beginning work, and spent just under two years living in a mobile home onsite with their two children, aged 19 and 21, from October 2019 until August 2021. “Being confined in the mobile home in lockdown was hard.”
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