The purpose and content overview of this blog

I'm thrilled to share my knowledge through this blog! I truly believe I was one of the top site managers around. I absolutely love working on site, diving into health and safety, and conducting quality checks. I've learned so much about doing things the right way, and I always strive to follow the rules.

I don't see why smaller construction companies can't operate like the big players. Maybe they already do. If I get customers, I'll run my small sites with the same rigor as large ones, ensuring everyone's safety and success.

My blog is divided into eight exciting sections. You'll find their titles and descriptions below, all accessible on my blog page.

1. Garden Room - We just wrapped up our exciting self-build project for our garden room! In this section, I’ll share every thrilling detail from planning permission (April 2024) to the grand completion (September 2024).

   I designed the pub, and David (my husband) jumped into action, starting the build during his paternity leave in June 2024, right after our son was born. He juggled his full-time job and still managed to finish the build by September! I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished, though looking back, there are a few things I’d tweak if we ever did it again!

2. Extension or Loft Conversion - I’ve just embarked on the exciting journey of planning our loft conversion or extension. I’m still deciding which to go for, and this section will dive into my decision-making adventure. As we kick off the build, I’ll document every step right here. We’re planning to expand our home, and David (my husband) has a brilliant idea to modify the existing roof and create a cozy suite for us, while our two little ones will get their own rooms downstairs. I have a wild idea to take off the roof and add two stories—how fun would that be! We’re in the very early stages of planning this home extension, and I’m thrilled to share the entire journey on this blog, including all plans, materials, drawings, and costs. I can’t wait to see where this adventure takes us!

3. Preconstruction - The importance of planning and designing, creating and managing build programs. Learn how to plan your build efficiently and budget smartly for almost everything. Too often, projects start and then surprise costs hit, which can be a real setback. Self-building is totally doable, but getting expert advice is always a great idea. Remember, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail!

4. Subcontractors and Builders - How to choose the perfect one, what to look for in a stellar contractor, and red flags to watch out for. In this section, I’ll share invaluable tips, personal experiences, and opinions to guide you in selecting the right contractor or builder. This is a monumental decision, and it’s crucial not to let excitement cloud your judgment. Take your time, do your research, and choose the perfect company for your project!

5. Health and Safety - No, it hasn’t gone mad. I’m passionate about health and safety! Method statements, risk assessments, weekly and monthly inspections, competency checks, CDM regulations, and the Build Safety Act.

   No one wants to make that dreaded phone call to a loved one due to poor culture and lack of planning.

6. Quality Control - How to snag Trade in your home, best practices, bad practices, and which stages you should inspect during the build. How is quality controlled on site? When to release payments to contractors.

7. Lessons learned - I’m eager to share the lessons I’ve learned along the way to help others avoid the same pitfalls. A wise man once told me that Mercedes are made by machines, while houses are built by humans—we’re not perfect. I’ve learned many lessons the hard way, and I hope this section of my blog will help others avoid making the same mistakes.

8. Home Improvement - This section details all the fantastic ways we’ve improved our home. What’s not quite right with our current home, and what we’re doing to fix those issues. This section will showcase all the work we’ve done on our properties, including a full cost breakdown. David and I are lucky to have a fantastic combined skill set—I design and plan, he builds! There are plenty of non-specialist jobs you can tackle yourself to save money.

I have over 120 articles that I'm absolutely thrilled to document! This list is constantly evolving, and I'm committed to attempt keeping up with the latest legislation. My goal is to help everyone become aware of their responsibilities!

There are countless YouTube videos out there showing how to build, with so many different opinions. If you want something built, let's just build it! But don't forget the most crucial step: Planning. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!

I'm going to guide you through how to plan, plan again, redesign if necessary, plan some more, and then build!

I am absolutely buzzing about this journey, and I truly hope I can help people avoid making the same mistakes that I did!

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