Self Build Abroad

Gallery

Every photograph we have published, oldest first, plus some that appear nowhere else. Dates are when the picture was taken, not when it was posted.

The approved plans, drawn before anything was built.
Nov 2022 The approved plans, drawn before anything was built.
The plot before any work began, looking north-east. The container on the left belonged to the property next door.
Jan 2023 The plot before any work began, looking north-east. The container on the left belonged to the property next door.
The same ground looking south-west, with the sea behind.
Jan 2023 The same ground looking south-west, with the sea behind.
Breaking ground. The first trench, cutting away towards the sea.
Mar 2023 Breaking ground. The first trench, cutting away towards the sea.
Footings poured and set out across the plot, with starter bars left projecting for the columns that would follow.
Jul 2023 Footings poured and set out across the plot, with starter bars left projecting for the columns that would follow.
Shuttering and blockwork for a perimeter footing, running the length of the boundary.
Jul 2023 Shuttering and blockwork for a perimeter footing, running the length of the boundary.
Cardboard tube moulds for the round columns, with the rectangular columns already cast behind.
Jul 2023 Cardboard tube moulds for the round columns, with the rectangular columns already cast behind.
Ground floor and uprights complete.
Jul 2023 Ground floor and uprights complete.
Timber props and shuttering for the first-floor slab. The round column in the foreground came out cleanly, before it had to be extended to correct the ceiling height.
Jul 2023 Timber props and shuttering for the first-floor slab. The round column in the foreground came out cleanly, before it had to be extended to correct the ceiling height.
First-floor shuttering and props.
Aug 2023 First-floor shuttering and props.
Exposed rebar on an upright. The green circle marks the defect.
Aug 2023 Exposed rebar on an upright. The green circle marks the defect.
First-floor shuttering, showing the gap left in the round uprights.
Aug 2023 First-floor shuttering, showing the gap left in the round uprights.
Reinforcement for the stairs, fixed inside the shuttering.
Aug 2023 Reinforcement for the stairs, fixed inside the shuttering.
Pour day for the first floor, with the pump boom reaching over the shuttering.
Sep 2023 Pour day for the first floor, with the pump boom reaching over the shuttering.
The first-floor slab the morning after the pour.
Sep 2023 The first-floor slab the morning after the pour.
Shuttering going up for the first-floor pillars.
Oct 2023 Shuttering going up for the first-floor pillars.
Ready for the roof pour, with additional shuttering on the pillars that had been extended.
Oct 2023 Ready for the roof pour, with additional shuttering on the pillars that had been extended.
The roof slab ready for its pour, with blocks, reinforcement and service ducts in place.
Oct 2023 The roof slab ready for its pour, with blocks, reinforcement and service ducts in place.
The roof pour. The cement ran out before the slab was finished.
Jan 2024 The roof pour. The cement ran out before the slab was finished.
The roof slab the day after the pour, with the section where the cement ran out finished.
Jan 2024 The roof slab the day after the pour, with the section where the cement ran out finished.
Blockwork walls going in between the frame.
Mar 2024 Blockwork walls going in between the frame.
Living upstairs, building downstairs, a few days after we moved in.
May 2024 Living upstairs, building downstairs, a few days after we moved in.
The front of the house shortly after we moved in, the first floor rendered and the ground floor still open.
May 2024 The front of the house shortly after we moved in, the first floor rendered and the ground floor still open.
Blockwork starting to fill in the ground floor.
May 2024 Blockwork starting to fill in the ground floor.
Reinforcement for the pool, with a pair of boots hung on top.
Jul 2024 Reinforcement for the pool, with a pair of boots hung on top.
Recycled paving bricks from a demolition, laid as a driveway.
Aug 2024 Recycled paving bricks from a demolition, laid as a driveway.
The view from where we live, with no glazing and no shutters yet.
Sep 2024 The view from where we live, with no glazing and no shutters yet.
The main room downstairs, walled in but still bare.
Sep 2024 The main room downstairs, walled in but still bare.
The pool taking shape.
Sep 2024 The pool taking shape.
Pool reinforcement in the foreground, recycled bricks stacked under the house.
Oct 2024 Pool reinforcement in the foreground, recycled bricks stacked under the house.
Sandstone cladding going on to the uprights.
Dec 2024 Sandstone cladding going on to the uprights.
A December sunset from the first floor.
Dec 2024 A December sunset from the first floor.
Looking down on the pool reinforcement from the roof.
Dec 2024 Looking down on the pool reinforcement from the roof.
The steel roller shutters arrive, eight months after we moved in.
Jan 2025 The steel roller shutters arrive, eight months after we moved in.
The kitchen island going up in blockwork.
Jan 2025 The kitchen island going up in blockwork.
Cement render going on over the blockwork.
Feb 2025 Cement render going on over the blockwork.
The kitchen island clad in local sandstone, waiting for its stone top.
Feb 2025 The kitchen island clad in local sandstone, waiting for its stone top.
Formwork up for the pool pour.
Mar 2025 Formwork up for the pool pour.
Pouring the pool.
Mar 2025 Pouring the pool.
The rough pool shell filled with water to test for leaks.
Mar 2025 The rough pool shell filled with water to test for leaks.
The final cement screed going down on the patio, ready for tiling.
Jun 2025 The final cement screed going down on the patio, ready for tiling.
The ground floor with its final coat, inside and out, ready for tiling.
Jun 2025 The ground floor with its final coat, inside and out, ready for tiling.
Outside rendering finished, bar a minor repair to one pillar.
Jul 2025 Outside rendering finished, bar a minor repair to one pillar.
The roof repair finished, and we hoped watertight.
Aug 2025 The roof repair finished, and we hoped watertight.
A leak after a rainstorm, in what will be the third bedroom and is for now our temporary kitchen.
Nov 2025 A leak after a rainstorm, in what will be the third bedroom and is for now our temporary kitchen.
The view from the roof.
Jan 2026 The view from the roof.
Tiling started in the kitchen and living area.
Feb 2026 Tiling started in the kitchen and living area.
Tiling finished on the first-floor veranda.
Feb 2026 Tiling finished on the first-floor veranda.
Slow progress.
Mar 2026 Slow progress.
The first coat of microcement in the pool.
May 2026 The first coat of microcement in the pool.
The house with its first coat of paint, and the pool wall clad in stone.
Jun 2026 The house with its first coat of paint, and the pool wall clad in stone.