eandg

Thanks - appreciated. Hopefully being in an urban area changes the dynamic a bit. The interest-free loan and RHI makes the economic case attractive even at a premium.

How airtight do these need to be and are they looking for absolutely everything to be costed? Spoke with mine's at lunchtime who advise they'll need quotes but I'm not necessarily at the stage of QSing everything and don't want to negotiate with builders merchants and contractors on everything before we put in a final application.

Anyone in Scotland used an EST loan for AHSP? Is there a significant premium on MCS accredited (supply and) installers?

I would definitely give a lender a call and work back the way. I had a wee bit more comfort that I would be able to borrow but having just got off the phone to one knowing we can spend the standard £1500/sq.m if required gives me some comfort to plan, particularly as initial costings for the shell are well on budget.

Just wondering if you've any advice (or experiences to share) around selecting a supplier for your superstructure (or contractors more widely). In most trades you want your retailers to be really keen and engaging but with construction (for repair/refurb anyway) the general rule is if they're available and keen then they might not be that good. We've started to engage with companies and have had a mix of completely uninterested (two companies who've not even acknowledged an email enquiry, were then contacted in person/by telephone and have still not followed up) to fairly professional and detached to really keen and maybe a wee bit too salesmany. How did you pick/pursue your supplier?

Thanks Andy - that would have some planning implications (as it would be considered as forming part of the GIA) so we'd need to cut back on space elsewhere. Think you and Ali are right and we definitely need to speak with an SE. Current plan will be to see which build route is best for us once estimates come back and we can compare spec and cost, then appoint an SE from there and redesign as required.

Thanks - that's helpful.

Yes but depends on the build route/manufacturer as some provide drawing services as part of the package. We've had a quote from a SIPs company which seems to includes all glulam/steel beams specced by a structural engineer within the price, which may be interesting!

Thanks again. I am a bit bitwix and between on appointing an SE as the advise elsewhere is to use an SE with experience in your build method. I'll see if I can find someone for an informal chat and go from there.

Looking at those numbers it looks a bit of a no-brainer. You'd need to build your founds out of gold to trouble those sort of valuations where I am!

If I was in your position Bob then I'd work back the way from what you can borrow. The bank won't lend you anything that you can't viably finish within budget - they want security on a house not a building site.

Thanks for your comments - much appreciated. Would build route have any impact on the cost of incorporating a balcony/hiding any steel required and the relatively open floorplan - i.e. would it be easier to do so using ICF or brick and block than in timber kit or SIPs? Having looked at A/GSHPs and MVHRs at the weekend we are definitely going to heed we are definitely going to heed your advice on the utility and make it into a bigger plant room - and maybe think about resiting it so that we don't have ugly vents out to the front of the house.

Should also say they go interest free for the period of the build too if you want (and seemingly on the same basis - ltv, rate, fees etc. - as their repayment product). Advisor I spoke with said they've got into self build in a big way in the past 18 months and see that as their niche in the market. Guideline lending is 3.75x joint income or 4.25 x main income and 1.25x second.

Have you tried Hanley Economic? I've arranged a telephone interview with then (and Ecology) for later in the week and they seem fairly keen and flexible - very few restrictions on build types, reasonable fees.

Spoke with them yesterday at a show. Their sales pitch is that all they do is triple glazed rooflights, all components made in their factory. The quality did seem excellent (and aesthetically appealing) and they didn't strike me as expensive, particularly if you were to work around some clearance stock.

So no need for the maintenance contract?

And on the vents, presumably they're not the most attractive so for aesthetic reasons you'd want to keep them to the rear or at least sides of the property?

They were for design, supply and commission (but not install) with separate maintenance agreements. Install quoted as between 1.5-3k (the higher end advised it'd be daft to get them to install it for that cost).

We don't (or didn't) intend to ask for a quote for a warranty until we have a design costed and ready to go. 1) should we liaise with the warranty providers first and 2) what would be a ballpark cost to budget - 3k or so? 200m2 house, nothing too complicated.

Having spoken with a lender today I'm a wee bit worried about this as they check your plan against QS costs - which is all good and sensible but if you expect to, and are budgeting for, coming in say 20% below then that may well leave you a bit tight on what you can borrow. Any real world experience of that?

Had some discussions with mvhr suppliers today, all of whom advised they were 'at the expensive end' though their estimates for design and supply ranged from 4-8k for a two storey, 200 sq.m house. And one advised I'd need an external vent whereas the others didn't. Any rough guesstimates and do you need to design in an external vent?

Planning on - costs depending - having a 1m overhang (in the form of a balcony from the first floor) over the ground floor. And in Glasgow which isn't necessarily the warmest place most of the year. But we will have - again costs depending - a passive slab and very efficient walls/roof. So a bit of a mixed bag.

We are thinking double in the sliding/bi-fold doors in the living areas to allow for solar gain and triple in bedrooms to make them a bit cosier. But then would this leave the rooms around the big expanses of glass feel a wee bit cold?

Thanks, presumed as much but think I've mixed my notes up then as I've taken that as a price for windows but we were also looking at a sliding door which it may refer to (as surely windows have different heights).

We were at a show today and spoke with various manufacturers, one of whom gave a price per 'linear metre'. Never picked up on it at the time but not sure what it means?