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my barn conversion

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

Read more about - Lime mortar, Insulation, Insulation, Insulation, 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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It’s cold outside…

Category: Favourite Things January 31st, 2010 by mbc

It’s been a very cold Winter so far…

But at least it’s warm inside!

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

Insulation ~ Extruded Polystyrene on December 23rd, 2009
Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) is made by mixing polystyrene and a blowing agent under pressure and then forcing the resultant fluid through a die.

category: 'Favourite Things' (1)

Insulation ~ Expanded Polystyrene on July 6th, 2008
Expanded Polystyrene insulation is made from small beads of polystyrene that are heated to expand them.

category: 'Favourite Things' (1)

Insulation ~ Glass Fibre on November 26th, 2009
Similar to mineral wool insulation, glass fibre is one of the most common forms of insulation in the UK - everyone knows that rough, itchy,...

category: 'Favourite Things' (1)

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Building Progress ~ December 2009

Category: Barn Conversion Journal January 20th, 2010 by mbc

Back to my old tricks and late as heck again…here we go…

From November 2009:

Finishing treating the untreated oak stairs and banisters is proving a real pain - the banisters along the landing have all been whitened & waxed, but the stairs themselves along with the banisters running down the stairs still need finishing, they’ve been whitened but not waxed. The problem is getting the timing right (never my strong point) and being organised enough to be able to wax the stairs as I’m leaving and not returning at least overnight - haven’t managed that yet.

Well I managed to get the stair treads waxed as I was leaving the building a few weeks ago and very fine they look as well (even if I say so myself). I’m glad I went to the trouble of using the whitening to keep the oak lighter than if simply waxed. Still some bannisters to do but they aren’t too urgent.

Skirting boards have been completed (fixed, under-coated and painted) and a carpet fitted in the bedroom and dressing area. The carpet was fitted professionally - carpet fitting is one of those jobs that I know would be beyond me and would frustrate the life out of me.

I also completed the boxing-in of the various exposed plumbing pipes in the en-suite. Took me for ever with my rusty, ropey carpentry skills, but I’m pretty happy with the results.

My oak flooring that was lost at sea for some time was eventually delivered between Christmas and New Year. Due to the cold damp weather I’m going to give it a month or so to acclimatise rather than the recommended three weeks so plan to fit in February. The colour looks good and I’m looking forward to the job. Shame the supplier, who will continue to remain nameless for now hasn’t responded to my email regarding the missing parts of my order!

Travertine tiles (a mix of ‘brick’ shaped and mosaic) have been ordered for the kitchen splash backs and back panel for the hob - another job for 2010.

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

Building Progress ~ September 2009 on October 2nd, 2009
Straight in this month, no excuses and no delay.

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Building Progress ~ August 2009 on September 6th, 2009
The rainy damp Summer of 2009 continues.

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Building Progress ~ October 2009 on November 9th, 2009
Ah, October - seems like a long time ago now.

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A Place of My Own

Category: Reviews January 20th, 2010 by mbc

For anyone with an interest in building, conversion or renovation, or in just getting your hands dirty, Michael Pollans ‘A Place of My Own’ is a great opportunity for some self reflection through Pollans written account of his own experiences in constructing ‘a room of  [his] own making‘.

 

The book is an insightful, introspective diary of experiences in building a writing hut (a shed with a desk in it) in the woods behind the New England home of the author.

Pollans style is chatty and assured. His journey from hopeless sub-DIYer to trainee craftsman gives hope to us all, even those of us with two left thumbs.

This is a book for the interested, if this sounds like a journey you yourself would like to take then it’s thoroughly recommended, otherwise you may find it deadly dull.

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

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

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My tiling has soul! on June 26th, 2009
I came across this quote from one of my favourite authors on architecture and design, Christopher Alexander, author of A Pattern Language in a book...

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My Old Kitchen Floor on May 25th, 2010
What is now the kitchen in the barn was once a chicken shed, before that it housed larger animals in the two stalls.

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Self-builders need some encouragement…

Category: News January 14th, 2010 by mbc

I occasionally ‘page’ through the ecologist website and came this article that piqued my interest:
We need a citizens’ housing revolution
Whilst a little short on content the sentiment - that the development of new housing can be partially entrusted to self-builders who should be ‘helped to create vital, sustainable communities’ - is one that I totally [...]

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In the bleak mid-winter…

Category: Barn Conversion Journal January 11th, 2010 by mbc

I’ve never known such a long, cold period in Wales…

The snows been here so long that we’re getting quite bored with in…

Roll on spring-time.
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 - [...]

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