Joanna Susskind Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 Hey everyone! So happy to find this site. My husband Ben and I are building a house on Bantaskin Street in Maryhill, in the city of Glasgow. That's right - in the city! We are right by the canal,, and the river, with a view of the Campsies. So there are 6 self builders in total - we have bought the plot and moved onsite in to our static caravan a few months back. We are building the house ourselves. Ben is a carpenter and I am an animator/film maker. We run a creative agency together and have completed a couple of very successful renovations together here in Glasgow. We have designed the house ourselves. Ben and his friend/colleague Craig will be doing all the carpentry onsite (hopefully on the slab, later this year) and erecting the Douglas Fir timber frame, along with the help of some more strong people, and perhaps a crane. Glasgow City Council have initiated this project and plan to do a lot more, but we are the guinea pigs. So far so good: We bought our plot which is 600m2 for 45k. The plots are serviced. Well...almost serviced. There is a little work to be done, but it's basically there. Our build budget is 175k (max) - we simply cannot go any more than this. I think we can do it for 140k. We are brave and resourceful people! We are currently trying to finalise our foundations and trying to find someone who will do all of the following: Clear/scrape the site, dig the holes/piles/build the ringbeam/pour the slab. Could you guys advise...? Are we best to find someone for each stage? Which parts could we do ourselves? Should we bring in one company to do all of this? We dont want to spend 20-30k on founds as our house is simple and small (100m2 on the ground, 150m2 including the mezz). Anyway happy to be here and would love thoughts, ideas, comments...all of it! Attaching our designs. Joanna 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamieled Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 Hi Joanna. We used to live round the corner from your plot, before we moved north for our own build. We saw some diggers around that area, so good to see it's being put to a good use! Lots of nice green space around. People will have varying opinions on the best way to go about the groundworks and founds. Unless you can do a lot of the work yourself, I'd be finding a single company to pick up either the lot or the bits you can't do. Mainly because it's easier to compare costs, it avoids any blame games and also avoids repeat costs like plant transport (which admittedly for you will be relatively cheap). There used to be a lot of industry round the canal, do you know the history of your site? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 Hi and welcome to the forum. Nice to see more multiple plot self build projects, and unlike that well known one in Oxfordshire, sensibly priced plots. re the ground works, Ben sounds a practical chap, so he could do what a number of us on here have done, and buy your own digger. Then sell it when all the work is finished. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_r_sole Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 (edited) . Edited September 26, 2019 by the_r_sole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeSharp01 Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 Welcome to THE forum for self builders. In Glasgow recently and there again soon - sounds like a perfect spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recoveringbuilder Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 Welcome, we are in Carluke so not a million miles from you, our build is complete more or less, still got a garage to build and drive/landscaping to do. Will be interesting to see if you can stay within budget! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna Susskind Posted August 22, 2019 Author Share Posted August 22, 2019 @ProDave Thanks for this! I am keen... Ben not so much. Who would/could guide us on how to go about the digging? We are piling, so surely we can't do this ourselves? Can we dig the holes for the piles to go in to...? Or perhaps we have a company do this stage, then we build the ring beam/pour the slab? Would love to hear what everyone else did and how they went about it, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tennentslager Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 Hi Joanna, I was brought up around the corner. Is it worth talking to the digger drivers who are currently working on the new builds across the road? It may be that since they are 'on site' so to speak you might get a homer done on the cheap...worth asking maybe. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_r_sole Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 (edited) . Edited September 26, 2019 by the_r_sole 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrerahill Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 20 hours ago, Joanna Susskind said: Hey everyone! So happy to find this site. My husband Ben and I are building a house on Bantaskin Street in Maryhill, in the city of Glasgow. That's right - in the city! We are right by the canal,, and the river, with a view of the Campsies. So there are 6 self builders in total - we have bought the plot and moved onsite in to our static caravan a few months back. We are building the house ourselves. Ben is a carpenter and I am an animator/film maker. We run a creative agency together and have completed a couple of very successful renovations together here in Glasgow. We have designed the house ourselves. Ben and his friend/colleague Craig will be doing all the carpentry onsite (hopefully on the slab, later this year) and erecting the Douglas Fir timber frame, along with the help of some more strong people, and perhaps a crane. Glasgow City Council have initiated this project and plan to do a lot more, but we are the guinea pigs. So far so good: We bought our plot which is 600m2 for 45k. The plots are serviced. Well...almost serviced. There is a little work to be done, but it's basically there. Our build budget is 175k (max) - we simply cannot go any more than this. I think we can do it for 140k. We are brave and resourceful people! We are currently trying to finalise our foundations and trying to find someone who will do all of the following: Clear/scrape the site, dig the holes/piles/build the ringbeam/pour the slab. Could you guys advise...? Are we best to find someone for each stage? Which parts could we do ourselves? Should we bring in one company to do all of this? We dont want to spend 20-30k on founds as our house is simple and small (100m2 on the ground, 150m2 including the mezz). Anyway happy to be here and would love thoughts, ideas, comments...all of it! Attaching our designs. Joanna I wondered why they were clearing that bit of land and building a new access road - assumed it was something to do with Scottish Canals. I pass your plot hauling rubbish to the tip - you will be handy for getting rid of waste for free! Would be keen to pop in and see you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrerahill Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 3 hours ago, Joanna Susskind said: @ProDave Thanks for this! I am keen... Ben not so much. Who would/could guide us on how to go about the digging? We are piling, so surely we can't do this ourselves? Can we dig the holes for the piles to go in to...? Or perhaps we have a company do this stage, then we build the ring beam/pour the slab? Would love to hear what everyone else did and how they went about it, thanks! I can probably help you with names, businesses, advice, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrerahill Posted August 22, 2019 Share Posted August 22, 2019 3 hours ago, Joanna Susskind said: @ProDave Thanks for this! I am keen... Ben not so much. Who would/could guide us on how to go about the digging? We are piling, so surely we can't do this ourselves? Can we dig the holes for the piles to go in to...? Or perhaps we have a company do this stage, then we build the ring beam/pour the slab? Would love to hear what everyone else did and how they went about it, thanks! Also - go and get on the chat with the guys at J W Grant's literally 2 minutes from you - everything more or less we have bought for the build has come from them. Also, excellent sheet material and building timber specialist round the corner from you in Anniesland. They do all the cladding and have their own mills they work with so can make any shape or size. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna Susskind Posted August 22, 2019 Author Share Posted August 22, 2019 @Carrerahill Yes! We have dogs too so Dawsholme has been an absolute haven for us so far! Although they've just closed the wood/greens/mdf dumping pit for 3 months...!!! Would love to show you around - we will be there most of Saturday. It's actually an open day for the Self Build project at Maryhill Burough Halls and we've said people could come chat with us and see the site. Great idea re the diggers across the road, maybe I'll pop over and see what they say to that. But would love to chat to you if you have some names and any advice. There could potentially be 6 of us doing founds together but the rest are quite far behind, so might just be us - we want to break ground and get the slab poured before the frost... Exciting! Thanks so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna Susskind Posted August 22, 2019 Author Share Posted August 22, 2019 @Tennentslager I love this part of the city... just outside, but still close. My husband says the diggers are away from over the road, they're basically finished... That would have been a great shout though!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna Susskind Posted August 23, 2019 Author Share Posted August 23, 2019 18 hours ago, the_r_sole said: who's your engineer for the project? do GCC give you soil test/trail pit results with the plots or have they already tamed engineers to deliver on the plots? It's an interesting design that you've gone for, it's very rural in character - is your big window looking to the canal? Hey, so we had a friend looking after our SER etc, but she isn't managing to do the work quick enough on the side of her job, so we're now chatting to David Narro - would love any recommendations in Glasgow if you have any! We dug our own test pits a few months back, but GCC did quite an extensive contamination report. The house is designed just like a barn, yes. Feels a bit like a ranch here already with dogs, cats, deer, frogs, foxes... All in the city! The glazing faces south, towards the canal, yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna Susskind Posted January 23, 2020 Author Share Posted January 23, 2020 On 22/08/2019 at 14:27, Carrerahill said: Also - go and get on the chat with the guys at J W Grant's literally 2 minutes from you - everything more or less we have bought for the build has come from them. Also, excellent sheet material and building timber specialist round the corner from you in Anniesland. They do all the cladding and have their own mills they work with so can make any shape or size. Hey, we did exactly that - they are great... and SO HANDY! Groundworks finishing up tomorrow, thank goodness... It's been a long winter ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrerahill Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 17 hours ago, Joanna Susskind said: Hey, we did exactly that - they are great... and SO HANDY! Groundworks finishing up tomorrow, thank goodness... It's been a long winter ? Is your build the one with the big gazebo over it? If I am passing and see you I will pop in. A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna Susskind Posted January 24, 2020 Author Share Posted January 24, 2020 Just now, Carrerahill said: Is your build the one with the big gazebo over it? If I am passing and see you I will pop in. A Yes, that's us! We are the only ones who have started on the street. No sign of movement on the other 5 yet. The marquee is for doing all our carpentry. 12 cubic metres of Douglas Fir arrived onsite this week! We'll be in the tent marking out and making all the joints for the frame for the next 8-10 weeks. My husband Ben and his friend Craig will be there most days - do pop on by. We're hoping to do the stick framing and insulation afterwards ourselves, but have quite a reasonable quote from Fleming Homes to do the lot. Any advice on that anyone? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simplysimon Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 if you have the time then you're not paying labour on the manufacture of the kit, what's the insulation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna Susskind Posted January 25, 2020 Author Share Posted January 25, 2020 13 hours ago, Simplysimon said: if you have the time then you're not paying labour on the manufacture of the kit, what's the insulation? Pavaflex/pavatherm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperJohnG Posted February 7, 2020 Share Posted February 7, 2020 Welcome @Joanna Susskind only just noticed you were on here. I'm actually following you in insta already. Great forum and you'll get loads of good info. Heard good things about Fleming homes I'm sure @Redoctober used them. He has a blog post about the build and all went well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna Susskind Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 Thanks @SuperJohnG! We have actually heard from Fleming to say they can't help us now since we've already started on our carpentry.... Which was a shame! But I think they are used to working with Carpenter Oak and Oakwrights where they have a lot more flexiblity, money and time, than us. We sadly lost our site caravan to a fire a few weeks back, then our marquee to the storm! So many set backs!!! But the guys are onsite building again now. I am on the case trying to find a good reasonably priced source for Pavaflex/Pavatherm so if anyone can advise, please do! Thanks all. Joanna p.s. What's your Instagram name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Welcome. Looks like an interesting project. Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperJohnG Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 1 hour ago, Joanna Susskind said: Thanks @SuperJohnG! We have actually heard from Fleming to say they can't help us now since we've already started on our carpentry.... Which was a shame! But I think they are used to working with Carpenter Oak and Oakwrights where they have a lot more flexiblity, money and time, than us. We sadly lost our site caravan to a fire a few weeks back, then our marquee to the storm! So many set backs!!! But the guys are onsite building again now. I am on the case trying to find a good reasonably priced source for Pavaflex/Pavatherm so if anyone can advise, please do! Thanks all. Joanna p.s. What's your Instagram name? @Joanna Susskind I'd seen that had happened, not great but seen you guys had just brushed it off and got stuck back in, good on you. I'm actually Superjohng on insta - but we (wife and I) now share our 'official self build insta which is self_build_ayrshire. I'm always trying to remember to switch accounts when I comment. ? Can't help with the pavaflex stuff, but I do know that @ProDave used a woodfibre type material to put his render on, if it's the same stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanna Susskind Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 10 minutes ago, SuperJohnG said: @Joanna Susskind I'd seen that had happened, not great but seen you guys had just brushed it off and got stuck back in, good on you. I'm actually Superjohng on insta - but we (wife and I) now share our 'official self build insta which is self_build_ayrshire. I'm always trying to remember to switch accounts when I comment. ? Can't help with the pavaflex stuff, but I do know that @ProDave used a woodfibre type material to put his render on, if it's the same stuff. Oh heyyy, yes I know you on Insta! Would love to come out and see your plot! Thanks for the encouragement so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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