How to make best use of...

[Mulberry View]

...my own ability. That's the question.

 

I'm in a shitty work situation thanks to the pandemic, I'm a small business owner within a specialist recruitment field, I've earned nothing since the pandemic began, with little prospect of improvement and the probability that I'll have to fold the business, eventually returning to employment.

 

However, we are in the fortunate position of contemplating a build, which is now starting to gain traction. We have appointed an architect, but are in the lead-in phase currently.

 

I want to use my intermediate DIY skills and the current situation to bring about a cost advantage to our build. I am confident at many aspects of the day-to-day work of a self-build, but want to think about construction methods that will allow us to make use of my downtime. We're currently favouring ICF. I'm confident that I'll be able to erect the structure and deal with contracting the pour, thus removing a hefty amount of labour, sub-contracting and mark-up. We also feel that it will give our architect a fair bit of design scope. However, like most we spoke to, ICF isn't high up her list in terms of preference, though this could be because most of her clients are not confident self-builders. She has not suggested she's against it, she just hasn't done many of them (if any?).

 

Are there any other construction methods that we should consider that will make good use of the 'free labour' that I can provide?

[joe90]

My build was brick and block (for many reasons) and my main contractor had two guys working here full time and I was gofer, tea maker , project manager (making sure it was done the way I wanted ). I worked full time with them fir a whole year making sure they had what they needed and didn’t waste time doing what I could for them. After they left I did all the fitting out, tiling etc, it’s amazing how you can contribute in non specific ways.

[Mulberry View]

Just now, joe90 said:

My build was brick and block (for many reasons) and my main contractor had two guys working here full time and I was gofer, tea maker , project manager (making sure it was done the way I wanted ). I worked full time with them fir a whole year making sure they had what they needed and didn’t waste time doing what I could for them. After they left I did all the fitting out, tiling etc, it’s amazing how you can contribute in non specific ways.

 

That's great, but do you think it represents a real-world cost saving? I imagine a contractor will quote regardless of it.

 

I'm confident with most of the rest of the build, I expect I'll have to sub some jobs out, but the shell build is likely to be a big number and if my own input can substantially reduce it, it'll justify my existence.

[Declan52]

Don't underestimate how important the organising aspect of a build is. Materials and labour are needed at different times and it's a juggling act making sure the right materials are on the job when the right trade needs them. No other person you will employ will do the amount of leg work to save as much money as you will.

Plus a clean and tidy site makes a job run much smoother. An hour with a brush and shovel really works wonders.

If you really want to use ICF and your architect doesn't then change your architect.

 

[joe90]

If you want to take on major work then great, do it, unfortunately because of health problems and age my build would have taken me way too many years to complete (plus I had the money to pay a main contractor to shorten the timescale). I would say do what you can if you feel able, there are plenty of people here to give advise if required.

[Mulberry View]

Just now, Declan52 said:

Don't underestimate how important the organising aspect of a build is. Materials and labour are needed at different times and it's a juggling act making sure the right materials are on the job when the right trade needs them. No other person you will employ will do the amount of leg work to save as much money as you will.

Plus a clean and tidy site makes a job run much smoother. An hour with a brush and shovel really works wonders.

If you really want to use ICF and your architect doesn't then change your architect.

 

 

She doesn't appear to be against it, in fact she might be on board with it, we won't really know until we get into the concept phase over the next few weeks. When we mentioned it, she just didn't have much to say about it.

 

I advised her of my desire to contribute heavily, so I'm sure she'll line up with that, this is more me trying to anticipate what else is out there. I only learned about ICF recently, until then we'd assumed it would be brick/block, but how about timber/SIPs?

[joe90]

23 minutes ago, Mulberry View said:

how about timber/SIPs?

Depending on budget a timber frame co could erect a water tight shell in a short time leaving you to all (most) of the rest to do yourself, don’t underestimate the plus of having a watertight shell to work in.

[Bitpipe]

12 minutes ago, Mulberry View said:

 

She doesn't appear to be against it, in fact she might be on board with it, we won't really know until we get into the concept phase over the next few weeks. When we mentioned it, she just didn't have much to say about it.

 

I advised her of my desire to contribute heavily, so I'm sure she'll line up with that, this is more me trying to anticipate what else is out there. I only learned about ICF recently, until then we'd assumed it would be brick/block, but how about timber/SIPs?

 

I don't see how your chosen build method impacts the design your architect produces which should be about how to create a dwelling that works for you as a home, looks appealing from the exterior, makes the most of the site and most importantly gets planning permission.

 

How you build it comes second really. Your structure will need to meet or exceed building regulations wrt insulation and airtightness, which all the current build methods can do. Also you can combine any exterior finish (brick, stone, render, timber) with any build method if desired. Most of the methods net out at the same cost as some are material heavy and labour light (e.g. SIPs or TF) and others are more of an even split (ICF, blocks etc).

 

Once through planning we looked at everything from ICF to SIPs to bock before settling on a passive standard timber frame and cast in situ concrete for basement. At that point we'd parted company with the architect as they were no longer adding value to the project.

 

We discharged our own planning conditions and managed the build thereafter, saving at a min the 20% overhead that a general contractor would use and were able to pick and choose the trades we wanted vs being lumped with the ones the contractor chooses. Plus we drove down the budget across the board with a lot of deal hunting.

 

We commissioned our own SE to do the basement design and took that spec to contractors for quote. I did a few bits and bobs like insulating the exterior of the basement and the MVHR plus wielding the broom.  

 

Choosing a timber frame package was best for us as it was a turnkey package and got us quite far along (airtight shell once windows had gone in) in a short time. They produced all the necessary drawings and their own SE calcs to satisfy building control.

 

However had we gone down the ICF route, our SE was happy to produce the detailed designs for the whole house.

 

So keep an open mind and choose the option that suits your circumstances.

 

Best of luck on the employment front. The self employed and small business owners / contractors etc do seem to have been overlooked.

 

[Bitpipe]

One further thought - tell your architect that you're open minded on the build method and to specify a nominal wall thickness for the design. This can change later and at worst may eat a little internal floor area.

 

Some designs are more economical to build than others  - acres of frames floor to ceiling glass, curves, complex angles, funky roof designs etc will be expensive to realise whoever is building. You can often get the same effect in a more effective way e.g framing a view with several smaller windows, high level horizontal windows to let light in etc. This is where your architect can earn their money.

 

Just be careful when you're designing areas like kitchens and utilities where you will be dealing with the usual cabinet / appliance widths of 600mm - don't make it too tight!

 

Also, if you have runs of built in wardrobe, design it around the IKEA standard dimensions as you'll save thousands doing that vs 

[dangti6]

29 minutes ago, Declan52 said:

Don't underestimate how important the organising aspect of a build is. Materials and labour are needed at different times and it's a juggling act making sure the right materials are on the job when the right trade needs them. No other person you will employ will do the amount of leg work to save as much money as you will.

Plus a clean and tidy site makes a job run much smoother. An hour with a brush and shovel really works wonders.

If you really want to use ICF and your architect doesn't then change your architect.

 

 

I agree with this. 

 

I've supplied all the materials for my extension and brought trades in on a labour only basis. Lots and lots of research has enabled me to know exactly which materials are required in advance therefore been able to shop around and get the best value possible. A wealth of information exists on here, google in general and also via the LABC technical manual.

 

As suggested with the juggling, it's not just about knowing what you need and ordering it, it's making sure you allow for the lead times of certain items and also not having everything too soon if space/storage is going to be a concern. The pandemic has not helped in that regard.

 

When it's you that's holding up the trades, it's you that's getting the blame.  

 

Boils down to the time poor / cash rich or vice versa. 

[ToughButterCup]

49 minutes ago, Declan52 said:

...

An hour with a brush and shovel really works wonders.

...

 

Could not agree more. Its a real pain, but speeds up workflow no end, and reduces trip hazards.

 

Here's a broom and shovel story which might lighten up a horrible Friday. Enjoy.

[Thorfun]

to save money I decided to get a timber frame company to supply an open-panel timber frame so we can add the insulation ourselves. when I was going through the quotes I calculated this could save us between £10k - £30k depending on the TF company! I thought this was a good way to save money especially as it doesn't seem a highly skilled job that we can do when it comes to it.

 

it all comes down to how much time you have to put in to it and how long you want the build to take. we are getting quotes to sub-contract all the post-watertight components but will make decisions nearer the time as to whether to get trades in to do the work to save time or to do it ourselves to save money. I think it's going to be quite a balancing act to it all.

[ToughButterCup]

4 minutes ago, Thorfun said:

.... I think it's going to be quite a balancing act to it all.

 

And to be doing it now: you have my respect and sympathy. Keep going ! 

[SteamyTea]

I am dubious of the time saving, and performance, benefits of ICF.

Just because it looks like Lego, does not mean it goes together easily, or correctly.

 

I never did get to properly make my Lego, or Mecano crane.

All the bits where there, along with instructions and pictures.

[Thorfun]

4 minutes ago, ToughButterCup said:

 

And to be doing it now: you have my respect and sympathy. Keep going ! 

ahh....not actually started yet but thanks. still waiting on quotes for the groundworks but I feel we're not far away now. ?