boys. John remembers an early self-build project – they started off in a bungalow, then built their first house, followed by four more, as well as many other renovation projects along the way. “We had the building inspector come round to see the footings one afternoon, ohn says. “He wasn’t happy with them and asked for them to be redug. So I sharpened my spade and set to work. I got Sue and my sons taking the muck away with the wheelbarrows and we got it sorted there and then. I rang the building inspector the next morning and told him it was done. He couldnt believe it. All the couple’s projects have been built


around this pocket of West Norfolk. Over the years they have assembled a crack team of builders  arnes and Edwards from Kings Lynn did the brickwork, with amie Lunney on windows and roofing  and other local tradespeople they trust, including carpenter joiner Wayne Jackson, decorator Darren Johnson, and BJ Plant Hire in Wisbech. Everybody pitches in, working together, with professional services brought in as necessary. For Beech House, 4D Structural Engineered Design Solutions, a structural and civil


sep/oct 2024


engineering company in Kings Lynn, were commissioned to undertake a soil test and do the structural design. The soil conditions comprise medium plasticity silty clay so a traditional strip foundation at one metre depth was specified.


“Sue can drive a forklift, she’s got a teleporter telescopic handling licence, ohn says proudly. “We’ve done groundwork – it’s almost second nature to a farmer, digging foundations. I can weld. As I’ve got older, I’ve done a bit less. I’ll have the trades in, the brickies and the doors, all the finishes, plasterers as well. ut there is a hell of a lot you can do, I was on the roof with the chippy, screwing things together. “ Local contacts are vital, he says. wo of the boys we had on this one said they weren’t going to do any more self-build projects, but they came to work for us, and I think that says something.


o is this fifth selfbuild their final project ever say never, ohn laughs.  enjoy it, its good fun. ouve got to organise your finance, you’ve got to organise the boys, and then you’re off. And Sue cannot sit still, she likes a challenge. e enjoy doing them, they fill the aturdays and undays up.


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