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Answer the burning question... how much does a barn conversion cost? (Pt 1: the building, Pt 2: architects & plans and Pt 3: the conversion)

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Building Progress ~ March 2009

Category: Barn Conversion Journal April 16th, 2009 by mbc

(Oh no I’ve done it again; my March progress report is late just like February’s was - sorry)

The two main developments this month are the completion of the flue that I’ve already mentioned and the water mains connection being brought into the barn - previously it only came as far and an external tap.

As I’ve said before, I’m really pleased with the flue and the choice we made to run it internally, rather than going back to planning for permission to install it externally. Warmer, easier and I think all-in-all neater and easier on the eye. I’ve not actually personally lit the stove as yet, I know the men who installed the flue have tested it - in my minds eye the white plume of smoke arising above the barn will signal a new era in the life of the barn…

(not a new Pope emerging from the Vatican…)

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

Building Progress ~ November 2009 on December 23rd, 2009
Finishing treating the untreated oak stairs and banisters is proving a real pain - the banisters along the landing have all been whitened & waxed,...

tag: 'Progress' category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' title (5)

Building Progress ~ March 2008, week 1 & 2 on March 16th, 2008
We've now arrived at the stage where I need to get start getting services installed into the fabric of the building - first fix electrics...

category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' title tag: 'Progress' (5)

Building Progress ~ March 2008, week 3 & 4 on April 8th, 2008
Progress has become a rather abstract term recently.

category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' tag: 'Progress' title (5)

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Stairs

Category: Barn Conversion Journal April 13th, 2009 by mbc

Pleased to say that the stairs are now in, which changes the whole feel of the building - makes it start to feel like somewhere that may one day be habitable. Although I miss clambering up and down a ladder.

they started off as a pile of bits of wood (this is just some of them):

Then took shape:

They take up much less space in the main room than I thought they would and consequently dominate the room less, which is good. Looking at the first of the three pictures, I thought they’d extend a foot further to the right - that they don’t is by far preferable. I also thought that they’d cut across the ventilation slit higher up and so cover up the bottom of the slit - like this the lines are far nicer.

The quality of the wood and finish is as good as I hoped - all in all very happy with them. But then they have cost the same price as a (very) small car…

Perhaps things are moving on … we’ll get there!

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

Building Progress ~ March 2009 on April 16th, 2009
(Oh no I've done it again; my March progress report is late just like February's was - sorry) The two main developments this month are the...

category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

Stove - Flue - Chimney on April 1st, 2009
Hey, in the words of the song, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

Building Progress ~ February 2009 on March 23rd, 2009
As it's already embarrassingly late I'll make the February update a whistle-stop tour of what progress has been made.

category: 'Barn Conversion Journal' (1)

Posted in Barn Conversion Journal | 1 Comment »

Selling Excess Renewable Electricity

Category: News April 8th, 2009 by mbc

On the grounds of affordability and cost effectiveness, I’ve discounted any foray into the world of microgeneration of electricity from renewables to date.

I don’t think I’m about to change that stance, but I think an interesting angle on this comes from the offer from ecotricity to buy surplus electricity from microgenerators.

ecotricity.co.uk
ecotricity.co.uk

ecotricity will buy excess electricity from microgenerators with Solar PV, small wind turbines, or small hydro power schemes under 10KW capacity.

Now I guess the 12p per kWh of electricity you generate isn’t going to make you into the JR Ewing of renewables, but it’s an interesting option. I’d be interested to work through the figures and wonder if it can be made to pay…

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

MBC Photos now on Flickr on November 2nd, 2008
With the somewhat baffling success of our YouTube videos now playing on Channel MBC.

category: 'News' (1)

MBC goes Twitter on March 30th, 2009
Seems everyone is doing it so why not MyBarnConversion.

category: 'News' (1)

My Barn Conversion Is Changing... on October 30th, 2008
We'll be making a few changes to My Barn Conversion over the coming weeks.

category: 'News' (1)

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Stove - Flue - Chimney

Category: Barn Conversion Journal April 1st, 2009 by mbc

Hey, in the words of the song, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad … I can do stove & flue, but chimney is outside …

From MyBarnConversion 2009

I really like this photograph as is shows both floors in one picture and the progression of the flue, from the stove, up through the first floor bedroom [...]

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