New build project

[Tamino]

Hi,

I'm a first-time self builder and I have a planning permission granted for a project which is about demolishing an existing single storey bungalow and build a new 2-storey house.

I'm thinking to hire a main contractor to do the job minimising my involvement.

I'm wondering if SIP walling is a good option compared to the more traditional masonry building, especially in terms of the total cost and time of project completion as I have a quite limited budget, especially for this project to be economically viable.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[SteamyTea]

First thing to decide is the thermal performance you want from this house.

Then look at the best cost option to achieve it.

All the rest is 'just' detail.

[Jilly]

It depends also if this is your dream home or just a project?

[ToughButterCup]

The advice we can give depends on the brief you give us. 

The more detailed the brief the more detailed the advice. 

 

Let's start with why are you building?  Then, where, roughly? Next,  what would you like this house to do for you?

 

For example you might answer that you want to build a house for your young family.  And that the plot is on an exposed west face overlooking the sea.  Lastly that you intend to stay in the house for many years. 

 

That would give us ample information to help you. We found that the more research we did,  the more we focused on absolute basics. @SteamyTea's point above is critical (as is often the case )

[Tamino]

Thank you very much for your response and advice.

 

Just to answer some of your questions:

 

>why are you building?  Then, where, roughly? Next,  what would you like this house to do for you?

The new build house would be for my own young family. Having been living here in a village in Surrey for some time now we think it's a good place to settle and live here for minimum several years, especially as it'd provide enough space for my family for many years to come, yes, it's kind of a dream home, rather than just a project.

 

>First thing to decide is the thermal performance you want from this house.

As a new build we're required to reduce the energy efficiency by at least 20% while having a tight budget in order for this project to be economically viable considering all sorts of uncertainties in life ahead. Therefore, any U value that meets the government's or council's requirements for the energy efficiency would do as long as the total build cost falls within the budget.