Intro
This blog is about the start of my journey as a property developer, following the build of my first big project and what I’m learning from it. Hopefully you’ll get to know the basics of how it all works as well! Read More ...
About the project
My first project is to build 3 x 2 bedroom terraced houses on the site of a couple of existing garages, parking and garden space Read More ...
Building Blox: Week 13 – Roof structure cont. and ground floor screed
What we did: Roof timber structure cont., Ground floor screed. After last week’s heated dispute, we were all friends again. The chippies continued with the roof timbers and started installing some of the insulation, whilst the rest of the team Read More …
Building Blox: Week 12 – Roof timber structure kicks off
What we did: Roof timber structure started, Finalised roof window positions. This week the carpenters, or ‘chippies’ as they’re called in the trade arrived on site and began putting together the roof structure. The main guy, a seasoned pro, took Read More …
Building Blox: Week 11 – Roof steel ridge beams and design work
What we did: Roof design Roof steel beams installed. With the brickwork completed up to the top of the roof, this week the steel ‘ridge beams’ which make up the roof structure could go in. A slight issue was that Read More …
Building Blox: Week 10 – Brickwork to roof ridge, repairs to existing properties
What we did: Brickwork to roof ridge Excavation for utilities Repairs to existing properties. When hiring someone to do something you can’t, you’re often told that anything is possible. However, often you want to know what is possible, within a Read More …
Building Blox: Week 9 – Roof, utilities started & Property Technology
What we did: First floor brickwork, Roof brickwork, Excavation started for utilities. It’s amazing how much the site has transformed over the past week. We’ve gone from a single-story building on Tuesday morning to a double story and part of a Read More …
Building Blox: Week 8 – First floor construction
What we did: Scaffolding erected First floor boards installed Building Control visit The building site this week transformed to the next stage with the addition of scaffolding to get above head height for the first floor. Before this we had to Read More …
Building Blox: Week 7 – Ground floor taking shape
What we did: Brickwork to ground floor ceiling Steelwork installed Timber joists installed to form first floor Many of us are used to working in environments where details are key; everyone is expected to read up and cross-check. In the fast-moving Read More …
Building Blox: Week 6 – Brickwork sees solid progress / The construction racket
What we did: Bricks delivery Beam and block floor installation Brickwork to ceiling Site management and Community service Whilst listening to the fantastic weekly property-technology podcast (warning: the theme-tune is weirdly catchy) I was reminded that… The industry is inefficient And Read More …
Building Blox: Week 5 – The complicated client-contractor-surveyor love triangle
What we did: Oversite Drainage layout Bricks finally ordered(!) Lessons in diplomacy and drainage… The tangible nature of property development is a major thing that draws me to it, but construction, at least in the mainstream, is a very labour and Read More …
Building Blox: Week 4 – Bricks, blocks, beams and more bricks
What we did: Brickwork up to ground level Block and beam delivery Brick selection This week was another reminder that despite having a main contractor who on paper is responsible for conducting all the works… …in reality I have to take Read More …