Wrekin1

Did you use the standard VP400 or the VP400 Plus LR?

If I turn out to be one of those two clients someone needs to take me out and shoot me!

Thanks, that's a big help. I seem to be in the right ballpark. The intention is these will be "good" but not "dream house" 4 bed, new build TF with a service area between the TF and plasterboard and on a site with easy access.

Food for thought. Thanks for the inputs.

Apologies for pulling this thread a little off topic but do you mind if I as if the figures you quote for a "good 3/4 bed..." and "verses a cheaper spec..." are for the full job including material and labour? Just that it will help me validate (or otherwise) some of my cost estimates.

Thanks. An interesting option. The houses have to have external chimneys, or at least the structure, as requirement of planning to fit with similar other properties in the area so would gas be a better option? I know I have the cost of installing a flue which I wouldn't with the bioethanol, but I'm thinking that giving the future buyers greater flexibility in what they may choose to have installed in the future might not be a bad thing from a selling point, even if their choice is not something we may choose to use. The one consideration is that the chimneys will be on the opposite exterior wall to where the gas lines will come into the houses and what issues/restrictions I should be aware of with running the gas line even if I decided just to run the line and install the flue to give that future flexibility?

All, Thanks for the interesting thread and discussion points. I for one certainly hadn't realized the effects were this bad and had been planning installing wood burners as a selling point in the houses I'm planning to build. Now, as a result of reading the above, I'm seriously wanting to avoid this option. Do you have any recommendations of alternatives? I would be looking for something that would give a realistic 'fire', reasonable and efficient heat output and thus focal point for the room and where the wood or coal effect materials don't look obviously fake. I would prefer floor mounted but would consider wall mounted if there are good energy reasons for doing so. Thanks

I've just had (this morning) exactly the same correspondence with my accountant. My brother and I are in the same situation as you and your husband and are considered developers as we are building 3 houses for sale and apparently, as such, we are responsible for checking that all our contractors are registered for tax appropriately. I'd rather take this conversation offline at the moment but am happy to share some of the feedback and thoughts we have had on this type of situation. PM me if you would like to follow up. Similarly with anyone else who picks up this thread now or in the future.

Sensus hi, Do you have companies you could recommend to me? I have just undertaken an introductory HSE course and I do feel that for my project I need to appoint one. Thanks

Morning everyone, Thanks to all the contributions on this topic and related HSE / PD topics which for myself, as a complete novice, were a good eye opener. After reading the various threads at the end of last year I took the plunge and signed up for an HSE course with a company local to myself but who work nationwide. My project is for 3 houses for resale and will go over the 500 man hours will be notifiable. I will be client and later in the construction phase PC for the project,. I have a strong background in HSE from my career in oil and gas but nothing specific to house building and for myself the introduction course which I took last week over 2 days was excellent, both in terms of the HSE risks but also the various legal obligations. For my part the cost of the training was very reasonable and they have an optional annual fee (again I felt it was very reasonable especially spread over the cost of 3 houses) which I have also signed up for. For that I have a full HSE package including all HSE documentation and they will walk me through my (and other contractors) Phase Plan and all the other elements of HSE as well as providing (at a fair cost) regular site visits should I feel them necessary - I'm sure I will. Having undertaken the course I would very much recommend this or similar to any novice builder especially if they will have a notifiable project though I would recommend the HSE sections for everyone. First aid training next at the end of the month. I would happily recommend the company if it is of interest or permitted (guidance sought here from one of the site admins please). David

Hi, Did you find a good supplier? I'll be looking for one early next year for Shropshire. Thanks

Just tried checking this and it seems they have ceased trading?

Peter, Just as a quick reply to your question on the litres, and in case someone else may be interested in the future, the litre reference came from the table in the link you sent me but also from the HBB Mortar mix chart (Table 2 - What's in a m3 of mortar - p 293 of the 11th edition) where, for example, for his OPC/Lime mix (1:1:6) he gives the following quantities: Sand 1000 l, Cement 175 l, Lime 175 l.... with the equivalent weights of: Sand 1,600 kg, Cement 245kg, Lime 105kg.... thus the 1:1:6 ratio comes from the litres volume rather than the kg weight.

PCC? Excuse my ignorance.

Sorry Peter, I probably wasn't clear. I mean to go to the QS / estimating service after I have all my own estimates (I want to understand what the QS says) but before going out to tender from contractors.

Once I get my final costings I was planning to go to use a QS to give a sanity check for the lenders. They seem to want that type of reassurance but I'll check the service you suggest. Yes the intention is to build concurrently at least up to timber frame or watertight but then to stagger the various fit stages in order to help the cash flow. It means a real stretch in the short term but the savings in ground works and placing one contract for the frame should be a longer term gain.

Thanks guys! Sometimes I can get too bogged down when I don't have the details and it's good to be reminded not to do so on something where the cost impact on the whole project is so small.

When I looked up SPONS on the internet I found 3 books. Is there one in particular that you refer to? So far I've used the HBB (an electrician friend who converted a chapel recommended it) and I think for a complete novice like myself it is a good starting point. As someone has already mentioned it's easy to read and digest. Of course an actual build will have a many variables but I have found the way it breaks the elements of a build down a really useful starting guide especially for building up cost estimates. I would say however that some of his tables are more 'deliberately' vague in their source numbers than others for anyone seeking to understand this from scratch. I have found supplementing the budget cost pages of the Homebuilding&Renovating website a good supplement and check though note that some of the pages are quite old now so the prices they quote may not always be so relevant. (sample https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/electrics-cost-guide/ ) Tomorrow off to check the two books mentioned by curlewhouse and those by TheMitchels as they seem they look like they will address the next gaps of my ignorance in the actual builds and site management

Peter hi, Thanks for this. I've some follow up questions. The table appears to give a mix ratio of 1:3.5 or is this because I need to calculate the kg weights of the sand and mortar in the table to litres? The amount of m3 required appears linear between the 100mm, 140mm and 215mm blocks per the table, Am I safe to extrapolate up to a 300mm block? What if I want to change the mix to a 1:5? I am probably being too detailed over something which in the grand scheme of costs isn't enormous but as I have to submit my costings to my lender I don't want them finding unnecessary holes in my calculations. Also just because of my background I struggle to accept calculations off a website without understanding them fully Finally does anyone has advice on the correct mix above OPC for blocks for the outer skin above DPC? They will be rendered over so the colour of the mortar is not important. Again many thanks.

Hi, I'm looking for information on quantities of mortar I'll need for my costings. I have found what, to this newbie at least, looks a great table from the Mortar Industry Association website for bricks (http://www.mortar.org.uk/documents/info-housebuilders09.pdf) but cannot find anything as specific for blocks. I'll be using a mix of 300mm 140mm and 100mm wide blocks for the foundations and outer skin but other than a few generic references to 1m3 of mortar will do 800 100mm blocks and I should use a mortar/sand mix 1:3 below DPC and 1:6 with a Pasticer mix or 1:1:6 for an OPC/Lime mix above ground all from the HBB or various websites I'm struggling to find anything more detailed / specific. If anyone has more advice or anything more detailed such as the link for the mortar for bricks it would be most gratefully received. Thanks

Hi all, I'm looking for some help/advice. I've run into the situation with the potential companies financing my project (3 new builds for sale) that they want me to have either a builder or project manager involved as I have no previous experience in order to be able to secure the finance I need. My intention has always been to parcel up the various major stages of the build and manage the majority of the procurement and contractors myself and had definitely wanted to avoid having a full time builder involved as I believe that with the contractors I know and will use that this will be an unnecessary and large expense. However the lenders are willing to consider a part-time project manager, one who is capable of ensuring the initial plans (costings, build schedules and HSE etc..) are appropriate and then is able to be onsite on an occasional basis at key stages of the build and can be available at the end of a phone as and when I may need. Initially I was not keen but as I've read through the various sections on here and as, in any case, they have me over a barrel, it looks like I've come round to the idea. Has anyone any advice to offer on using PM's, type of experience they must have that I should look for, or even where to look to find one? Alternatively If anyone has the name(s) of a good PM who they think would be willing to take on this type of role (the build is in Shropshire) I would be more than happy to be contacted. Many thanks in advance. ps for the Mods please let me know if I'm posting anything inappropriate and I'll modify.

ragg987, This is very late from my part. In the end I made my own up - using Excel - but I just wanted to say thanks very much for your kind offer. Best regards

I'm at the early stage of my project, but making preliminary costings whist the final drawings are prepared as a gauge to what we can and cannot afford. Related to this topic I've just been looking at bathrooms. My preference, if the final budget will stretch, is for wet room style showers as I lived with them for a couple of years in an apartment I was renting and loved the ease of maintenance/cleaning/safety. In researching prices I came across this this company As they seem to have the best prices I could find I would be interested if anyone has feedback on them? Also I'm not sure (I'm a complete novice in this building game) whether to go for a full wet room floor as in the picture or a low profile tray and would be grateful for any thoughts on pros and cons and things I should consider when choosing either option. Thanks

Hi, Has anyone used or can anyone recommend a project planning software suitable for a novice. I'm not looking for anything fancy and certainly not expensive, just something that can help me keep an easy and visual track (Gantt chart or similar) of the various key stages of a new build project, and if possible other key data at the same time, tenders sent and quotes received, contact details etc.. I can find many examples doing searches in google but would rather get some recommendations if possible as I will be a novice at this though am happy I have the various stages of the build broken down OK for cost budgeting purposes. Many thanks in advance. wrekin1

Ferdinand hi, All good advice.... and yes I fully expect to make mistakes Fortunately I seem to have dropped lucky with a builder/PM who does a lot of work in the village where I'm living and who has offered provide advice and feedback for the odd pint or two.