Adrian’s Plectrum Build
““As a Civil Engineer, the plan pack is concise and professionally presented, well laid out, thorough and generally easy to follow.””
Civil Engineer Adrian purchased our Plectrum plan pack and started his self-build in October 2025. This page documents his entire journey.
Why Adrian Chose DIY:
The Numbers:
Installed Plectrum: £17,500
DIY from plan pack: ~£7,500
Saving: £10,500
Adrian's Review of the Plan Pack:
Background:
Adrian is a Civil Engineer with professional experience reading technical drawings and managing construction projects.
His verdict:
✅ "Concise and professionally presented"
✅ "Well laid out and thorough"
✅ "Generally easy to follow"
✅ "The glossary is great for explaining the numerous terms used"
✅ "The Quick Guides are great for providing an overview of what the drawings are showing and how to read them"
✅ "The build sequence is very helpful"
✅ "I particularly like the addition of the checklist, which will no doubt be useful during the build stage"
What impressed him:
“The plan pack build sequence gave me a good idea of what to expect so no big surprises.”
Constructive feedback:
Adrian identified 8 minor improvements (graphical errors, dimension clarifications, parts list updates), which we implemented within a few days and issued him with a revised document. This is exactly why we want more Founder's Circle members - real builders making our product better.
The timeline:
Ground screws:
2 hours
Structure:
2 days
Total project:
Ongoing
Build Diary October 2025:
Ground Screws:
Time: 2 hours
Cost: ~£1050
Installer: Great British Ground Screws
Adrian's notes:
“What surprised me most was the speed of install. 2hrs total from nothing to 9 ground screws installed and no mess whatsoever. I would definitely recommend ground screws to anyone.”
Key learnings:
Ground screws offer ±10mm accuracy - The brackets have built-in adjustability for perfect fit with SIPs panels - No concrete, no excavation, no mess - Faster and more sustainable than traditional foundations - The solution is cleaner, greener, and less labour intensive
Technical details:
“Our ground make-up is topsoil on clay on stiff to very stiff clay, which GBGS told us is their preferred ground make-up as the screws actively screw into and pull themselves into the ground.”
Build Diary December 2025:
SIPs floor and wall panels erected
SIPs complete and weather tight membrane fixed
Structure Erected:
Time: 23 hours over 2 days
Team: 4 people
Materials: SIPs panels from Ecologic
Adrians Notes:
Day 0 (~3 hours): Prepared the area around the ground screws by removing old brick surface and turf to ensure approximately 50mm below the top of all ground screws. Placed membrane to prevent weed growth beneath the structure.
Day 1 (~10 hours): Pre-built the floor, walls and roof SIPs panels according to Ecologic build drawings. Applied expanding foam insulation to timber splines, glued internal OSB faces and nailed external OSB faces.
Day 2 (~10 hours): - Lifted floor panel into place (initially upside-down) - Stapled Tyvek UV weatherproof membrane to underside and lapped up edge - Turned floor panel right way up and lowered onto ground screws - Floor panel checked - perfectly level in all directions and bearing onto all ground screws - Fixed floor panel to ground screw brackets - Stapled DPC membrane to floor panel - Fixed SIPs wall panel sole plates to floor - Lifted each wall panel in sequence, sliding into adjacent wall panel spline - Used ratchet strap around perimeter to pull all panels together - Checked all wall panels for plumb and level - Lifted roof panel onto wall panels (4 persons required) - Wrapped entire structure with Tyvek UV weatherproof membrane - Placed temporary tarpaulin over roof
“All walls ended up being perfectly plumb and level! The WorkAway construction pack suggested minimum of two persons for roof lift - in reality due to the height and weight of the lift I would suggest that a minimum of three and ideally four persons are required.”
Key learning:
SIPs construction is remarkably precise when foundations are properly set out. The ratchet strap technique effectively closed all internal joints for a tight, weatherproof assembly.
Current status:
Weathertight shell complete, awaiting continuation after Christmas break
Next stages:
EPDM roof membrane application - Corrugated aluminium cladding installation - Natural ventilation installation - Oak glazed door installation - Electrical panel fit-out - Floor lining (phenolic ply) - Interior finishing - Desk and shelves installation (Work Ready package)
Technical Feedback & Improvements:
Adrian's professional input helped us improve the plan pack:
Issue identified: Ground screw level specifications were unclear
Resolution: Ground screws level clarified by diagram in plan pack
Issue identified: SIPs corner fixing details not shown for angled walls
Resolution: Added fixing diagram to build sequence diagrams.
Issue identified: Membrane lap specifications contradicted between drawings
Resolution: Standardised all membrane laps to minimum throughout documentation
These improvements are now included in all plan packs, benefiting future builders.
Want to Follow Adrian's Journey?
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Want to Build Your Own?
What's included:
✓ License to build one pod
✓ Full architectural drawings (plans, elevations, sections, details)
✓ 21-step build sequence with checklists
✓ Glossary of 60+ construction terms
✓ Complete parts list with supplier links and product codes
✓ Email support throughout your build
✓ Guide to reading architectural drawings
✓ Planning permission flowchart
Join Our Founders Circle Now - Limited spots remaining
Build at 40% off (£350) in exchange for documenting your journey like Adrian:
✓ Priority email support
✓ Free 1-hour consultation
✓ Featured on our Instagram
✓ £100 cashback on completion
✓ Help improve the plan pack for future builders
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does Adrian have construction experience?
A: Adrian is a Civil Engineer, so he's familiar with reading technical drawings and managing construction projects, but this is his first garden office build. His professional background helps him follow the plans precisely.
Q: Is Adrian doing all the work himself?
A: Adrian is doing most of the work with help from friends and family for key stages requiring multiple people (roof panel lift, wall panel erection, etc.).
Q: How is Adrian finding the plan pack?
A: "The plan pack build sequence gave me a good idea of what to expect so no big surprises." He found the glossary, quick guides, and checklists particularly helpful.
Q: What tools and equipment are needed?
A: Standard DIY tools (drill, saw, level, tape measure), plus some specialist items like ratchet straps for wall assembly. Ground screws require specialist installation (GBGS provides this service).
Q: How long will the complete build take?
A: Adrian's targeting completion by spring 2026. Timeline depends on weather, available time, and complexity of fit-out. A weathertight shell took just 2 days.
Q: Can you build in stages?
A: Yes - Adrian took a Christmas break after achieving a weathertight shell. This is one advantage of DIY - you control the pace.