WELCOME TO ROOKIE SELF-BUILDER

Doing it blind!

We all dream of building our own home. Well, I’ve found the land and got the plans so now it’s time to get going. The only problem is I haven’t a clue! Find out what happens - and maybe learn things along the way!

Explore

Home: Welcome

Search

Ian Pilkington

Nov 27, 20242 min read

It’s Been A While…but it’s happening!

The last post was in July and so much has happened since then - not least our plan to be by (wait for it) Christmas. Yes, 2024!! So,...

2 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Jul 20, 20242 min read

Dreams and Hopes

This build was never planned, though we’d always dreamed of doing something like this. My earlier posts tell how it came about but this...

9 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Jul 18, 20241 min read

Artisan Walling

I already knew that Russ, the builder, was a star but when he suggested building the retaining wall outside the LGF patio doors from...

3 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Jul 18, 20242 min read

Efficiency Embodied

Over a year ago I was searching around for companies to install the underfloor heating. I got prices from quite a few and even looked at...

2 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Jul 17, 20242 min read

Drying Out

No, the title does not refer to my membership of the Temperence Society, simply the long wait from getting the roof and windows fitted to...

1 view

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Jul 17, 20241 min read

A Balustrade To Be Proud Of

We’d always wanted to have a frameless glass balustrade to the balcony: no metal to spoil the view across the woods and the valley. It...

1 view

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Jul 17, 20242 min read

Pump Up The Volume!

Well, the heat actually! From the very beginning we decided we’d have an air source heat pump rather than gas. This was not only decided...

2 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Mar 28, 20243 min read

Where’s The Mrs?

No, I don't mean "where was this photo taken?" but for the many millions of you following this blog 😂 there will be the burning...

3 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Mar 28, 20242 min read

And so to watertight…

It's been a long time coming but we are watertight...(ish). After weeks of waiting for windows to be delivered, the balcony being...

2 views

0 comments

Things Happening and the Pot is Empty (Again!)

Ian Pilkington

Mar 15, 20242 min read

Things Happening and the Pot is Empty (Again!)

It's been a while, but things have been progressing however draininage is not the most glamorous of things - especially fitting a huge...

7 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Feb 22, 20242 min read

Soooo Near!

It's been a while but things are happening, not least that the roof is finally on even though the fall pipes are still to be fitted. The...

1 view

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Jan 4, 20242 min read

The Lid Is On

True to form, Cladproof in stalled the roof in no time on the 3 January 2024. No storms, no ill-fitting panels and, best of all, no...

3 views

0 comments

So this is Christmas and what have we done?

Ian Pilkington

Dec 27, 20232 min read

So this is Christmas and what have we done?

It is wrong to say we regret starting on this build and what we've experienced is unusual, born out of professional incompetence rather...

5 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Dec 22, 20232 min read

Sod you Storm Pia!

Just when we thought things would be watertight by Christmas, a bloody storm swings in and wrecks the plans (and bits of the roof). After...

7 views

0 comments

If you like it you'd better put a roof on it!

Ian Pilkington

Dec 8, 20232 min read

If you like it you'd better put a roof on it!

After what seems like an epoch, the roof arrived today. Here was the plan: the roof would arrive on a small truck which could get down...

4 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Nov 19, 20232 min read

An Apology

For those of you visiting to find practical advise about building your own home...I apologise. For anyone landing on this page hoping to...

5 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Oct 27, 20231 min read

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

With Kool and the Gang ringing in my ears, I read the email from the solicitor - the money from the mortgage had been transferred to our...

7 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Oct 17, 20231 min read

So near…so far!

Friday 13 October 2023 Today has been a momentous (but totally frustrating) day! After nearly a year we seem to be on the threshold of...

12 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Oct 8, 20232 min read

Roof-a-Ready!

By now you will appreciate that what has been achieved so far has been done without any external support from banks, building societies...

2 views

0 comments

Ian Pilkington

Oct 7, 20232 min read

More Great Guys

It's amazing what serendipity exists in the world! Following on from my last post, things looked dim - potentially no roof. I must say,...

4 views

0 comments

Home: Blog

Home: Instagram_Widget

US! A NORMAL(ISH) COUPLE AND SPROG

We live in West Yorkshire in the beautiful Colne Valley. We love where we currently live but have always dreamt of building our own home. It’s only when the reality begins to bite that you feel a dampness in your pants and realise you haven’t a clue about all this!

Home: About

BUILD A RELATIONSHIP

Thanks for your interest in Rookie Self-Builder. For more information, feel free to get in touch and we will get back to you soon!

rookieselfbuilder@icloud.com

Home: Contact

PRIVACY

Click the link below to open our Privacy Policy.

Privacy Policy

Home: Privacy Policy