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my barn conversion

Keep track of what's happening with my Progress Updates.

If you read only one book before designing your conversion or renovation, then I recommend that you make it this one. I love patterns!

Location, Location, Location! pah, that's old hat we all know that the new mantra of home-building is Insulation, Insulation, Insulation.

Read more about - Lime mortar, VAT on conversions and managing woodland for fuel.

Tiling tips - learn from my mistakes!

Around an ongoing barn conversion project, this website draws together advice, information and references to aid all would-be and current barn and non-residential building converters and renovators.

Our approach takes on board 'healthy house', sustainable, ecological & environmental concepts to as great a degree as timescales and budgets allow.

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Environment for Children

Whitewashing update 2010

Built in bed

Building Progress ~ February 2010

Step 8 = roof

Step 7 = high level design

Stoneworks

Downstairs tiled floor

Coppicing ash trees

Tree Planting - Winter 2010

Latest Comments

On White-washing? by Whitewashing update 2010 | my barn conversion on March 16th, 2010
[...] wall. After finding it was ‘infested’ with stalactites and stalagmites, I considered whitewashing the wall, then eventually it was...

On We have stalactites in our walls! by Whitewashing update 2010 | my barn conversion on March 16th, 2010
[...] do about the leaky, south facing gable end wall. After finding it was ‘infested’ with stalactites and stalagmites, I...

On Boxing Clever? by Built in bed | my barn conversion on March 12th, 2010
[...] of practicality and desire. Practical because part of the construction can be used to solve my tricky carpentry challenge...

On Travertine tiling - pictures by Downstairs tiled floor | my barn conversion on February 18th, 2010
[...] time and money in planning, sourcing and then fitting. It’s been completed for a while now (since August 2009),...

On Gas Pipeline Woes by The four new English “eco-towns” | my barn conversion on February 10th, 2010
[...] my first thought was ‘glad they’re not on my doorstep’ , but then I have a bloody big gas...

On Building Progress ~ August 2009 by Building Progress ~ January 2010 | my barn conversion on February 8th, 2010
[...] foray into the world of tiling can be quicker and more effective than the last one, the thought of...

On Insulation by Logs | my barn conversion on February 5th, 2010
[...] Location, Location! pah, that's old hat we all know that the new mantra of home-building is Insulation, Insulation, Insulation...

On Logs 2 by Future Fuel | my barn conversion on February 5th, 2010
[...] Logs 2 [...]

On The Healthy House by Green Business on February 2nd, 2010
Thank you for this checklist - I might use it in future when building a green house of my own!...

On Air Source Heat Pump by Feed-in tariffs … coming soon to a roof near you!? | my barn conversion on February 2nd, 2010
[...] On Air Source Heat Pump by Pete on January 12th, 2010I'm in a barn conversion with a GSHP supplied...


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    Meet the architect

    Category: Barn Conversion Journal July 19th, 2006 by mbc

    I’ve always fancied the idea of engaging an architect (if I’m honest, inspired by Kevin Mc of TV fame), so I went to speak to one today.

    My route in was the RIBA website (Google RIBA), which offers a referral service. Of the three on my list I managed to speak to two (one of whom chased me on a Friday night which is a refreshing role reversal).

    I went to meet the first of them today and can’t say I was disappointed. I found the experience confidence building and somewhat inspirational. I now feel a whole lot more certain about the project. Although the costs seem to keep growing (the architects ‘cut’ around 14% of the total build) the project as a whole seems more achievable.

    If you enjoyed that post, then read these...

    Damn the architect on February 26th, 2007
    Having weighed up the pros and cons over the past few months of employing an architect in a 'full service' capacity we've decided to go...

    category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' title (2)

    The case for coal on November 6th, 2008
    Now here's a conundrum... First the facts: The barn lies just outside of the South Wales Coal Field. Our heating system will comprise of solar thermal water heating...

    category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

    Corner bath? on November 25th, 2008
    The bath I bought doesn't quite fit into the bathroom if it's place along the same wall as the shower.

    category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

    Building Progress ~ November 2008 on December 3rd, 2008
    So apparently stoves are like hens teeth these days, demand for them has rocketed in line with spiralling fuel bills.

    category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

    Items 'ordinarily' incorporated in a building on November 11th, 2008
    Having spent much time pawing over VAT documentation in preparation for my VAT reclaim I discovered that the HM Revenue & Customs definition of items...

    category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

    Posted in Barn Conversion Journal | No Comments »

    Where have all the builders gone?

    Category: Barn Conversion Journal July 17th, 2006 by mbc

    Having embarked on this crazy journey I thought we should try to firm up on exactly what it will cost.

    Easier said than done - my list of builders, kindly compiled by my father, has proven to be a series of unanswered calls and conversations with wives and children.

    bbbrriinngg,bbbrriinngg…bbbrriinngg,bbbrriinngg {echoes in my ears}

    If you enjoyed that post, then read these...

    Where have all the builders gone? Part 2 on July 2nd, 2007
    Déjà vu…. I seem to have been here before…. With detailed plans and a bill of quantities all worked out, quotes from builders are the latest task...

    category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' title (5)

    Building Progress ~ November 2008 on December 3rd, 2008
    So apparently stoves are like hens teeth these days, demand for them has rocketed in line with spiralling fuel bills.

    category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

    Corner bath? on November 25th, 2008
    The bath I bought doesn't quite fit into the bathroom if it's place along the same wall as the shower.

    category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

    The case for coal on November 6th, 2008
    Now here's a conundrum... First the facts: The barn lies just outside of the South Wales Coal Field. Our heating system will comprise of solar thermal water heating...

    category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

    Items 'ordinarily' incorporated in a building on November 11th, 2008
    Having spent much time pawing over VAT documentation in preparation for my VAT reclaim I discovered that the HM Revenue & Customs definition of items...

    category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

    Posted in Barn Conversion Journal | 8 Comments »

    Step 3 = property

    Category: Steps along the way July 7th, 2006 by mbc

    Start the ball rolling Visit estate agents and search the internet for properties in your chosen area.

    Find something that you like in your own time. I hate the stress of needing to find a property. Let it happen, it will.

    If you enjoyed that post, then read these...

    One small step.... on August 13th, 2007
    Despite the various pieces of tinkering and potching that I've committed over the past months, I never really felt that we'd made a real start...

    title (1)

    Step 6 = define your design ethos on November 4th, 2008
    Decide upon your design ethos.

    title (1)

    Step 5 = project management on March 22nd, 2007
    Answer these: Question: So once you've started, who will bring it all together? Question: Can you handle the potential loss of control of the project of delegating...

    title (1)

    Step 4 = design owner / design implementer on February 26th, 2007
    (or ... will you employ an architect?) We have some strong opinions about how we wanted the conversion to be. We're keen on a natural finish,...

    title (1)

    Step 2 = the root of all evil on July 7th, 2006
    Money! Get financing agreed in principle, this will allow your to set you budget.

    title (1)

    Posted in Steps along the way | No Comments »

    Step 2 = the root of all evil

    Category: Steps along the way July 7th, 2006 by mbc

    Money!
    Get financing agreed in principle, this will allow your to set you budget.
    If you enjoyed that post, then read these…Where have all the builders gone? Part 2 on July 2nd, 2007Déjà vu….

    I seem to have been here before….

    With detailed plans and a bill of quantities all worked out, quotes from builders are the latest task… [...]

    Posted in Steps along the way | No Comments »

    Step 1 = questions, questions, questions…

    Category: Steps along the way July 7th, 2006 by mbc

    First answer the following questions:
    1. Do you really want to do this?
    2. Where do you want to do this?
    3. Can you afford to do this?
    Okay?…
    Then proceed…
    If you enjoyed that post, then read these…One small step…. on August 13th, 2007Despite the various pieces of tinkering and potching that I’ve committed over the past months, I never [...]

    Posted in Steps along the way | No Comments »