Self build forums

[bmt216a]

Hi,
I’ve just been granted class q planning permission to convert an agricultural barn into a dwelling. Can anyone recommend any forums I can read/ask questions. Will be my first build, complete novice so I need to spend many hours reading up on best materials, schedule of works etc.

Kinda regards
Ian

[worsy]

Self build is still very rare in the UK. When I was doing mine most of the self build forums were very quiet. You might have more joy drawing on mine and other self build experience on here. there is a wiki pinned at the top with various projects, I'm sure the OP for the ones that are of interest would be happy to help.

[Equus]

In terms of forums, the best is probably buildhub.org, but bear in mind that they're all amateurs, so while there is a lot of genuine expertise there, there are also quite a few 'experts' who come across as authoritative, but only know enough to be dangerous (but then the same goes for the internet in general), and many have a particular 'hobby horse' view that they are bent on promoting - usually based on their experience of the one and only project they have ever handled.

As a source of online information about construction project management, the Designing Buildings Wiki can be useful.

[V8RX7]

I couldn't find any good ones.

I've found the Farming Forums helpful as they have converted a few barns.

Builders Merchants can be helpful - talk to a few, as can the right Warranty and Building Inspector - go Private.

I got most of my Trades from other Trades and advice on how they usually do things from Trades and Merchants - all double checked via google

I made the mistake of getting IG to spec the lintols - they massively overspec'd them, when I complained I got a 80% discount.

[bmt216a]

Thanks for the heads up. I’ll look into that.