Ideas Factory/ the foundry

29 on the go · 3 materials
nothing here is finished

The house from the south-west on a summer evening, looking into the corner of the L, with a low sun from the west, a meadow of long grass and cow parsley in front and gritstone edges on the skyline. Two steep dark slate roofs of one ridge height meet in a valley, over walls of vertical larch boards weathered silver-honey with slim dark corner trims. One roof window sits in the main wing's slope facing the yard, near the valley, and a slim black flue rises behind. In the corner, a flagged yard with an old oak table and mismatched chairs, two timber raised beds of herbs and lavender, and the glazed back door standing open onto a lit room with shelves of books. A neat stack of split logs at the west gable, small anthracite-framed windows in both wings, and an old broad tree, dry stone walls, a field gate and sheep beyond.

← the floorSelf-Build House/building it·if / 077

Things to know

VAT, the exposed joists, the valley, the self-build exemption and the heat pump.

The card

building it 05 of 05

Things to know

building it 05 of 05idea_077

The notes

rendered
  • VAT. The DIY Housebuilders Scheme refunds the VAT on materials, but only as one claim within six months of the completion certificate. Live downstairs with building control's agreement, and only ask for completion when the upstairs is done. Keep every receipt from day one.
  • Exposed joists. The ceiling in the kitchen render probably needs fire resistance between floors. That may mean deeper joists or a fire-rated board above them, so check with building control.
  • The valley. Where the two roofs meet is the one joint that really matters. Take it slowly and line it properly.
  • Self-build exemption. Claim the Community Infrastructure Levy exemption before any work starts.
  • Heat pump. This is optional and comes last. The government grant is currently £7,500. Self-builds can qualify, but confirm it with an installer.