What's a reasonable build time in these unreasonable times, and what can I do to improve things?

[puntloos]

While we seem to be normalizing the world somewhat (even though covid is well on its way to a new peak, Ukraine, etc etc) I was wondering:

 

- What is the average build time for a 250m2 Non-TF, but high insulation new build?

From the first day onsite to the first day you can 'properly' sleep in the new house. (water, power, heating all ready, but snagging underway)

Any major drivers that will make it longer than normal, e.g. does it take ages to do airtightness testing, or should we not insist on brand X or special paint color Y

 

- What are the major reasons for delays?

I imagine timely foundation digging, window/door deliveries, since if they fail to complete, everything else has to wait. Stock and/or manpower shortages due to Covid?

What can we do to prevent ourselves becoming bottlenecks? Any choices we should make "now" so we don't hold up progress while we're umm-ing and ahh-ing?

 

- Any war stories? What unique things held up your build and how could you have avoided this delay if you only .... ?

 

 

Edited March 20, 2022 by puntloos

[Mr Punter]

Windows and external doors can take an age.  I once got delayed on some Hardie cladding pre-covid.  It held up the job for 3 months.  Waiting for contractors can be annoying.  I often find gas connections hard to sequence and it can end up going in last, which delays landscaping and paving.  12 months if you are using a main contractor.

[JohnMo]

We were almost exactly 2 years from digging footings to our first night in the house.  1 storey, 190m2.  No principal contractor, quite a lot done my self.

 

We had six months prior to this getting a hill side plot ready to build on.  Cutting down trees, cutting a road, soak aways etc.  Started on site March 2020, within a couple weeks we were in first lockdown.

[Faz]

Main issues at the moment are windows, services connections (while the price cap is in place) and appliances.

 

I see the appliance situation getting worse not better - all down to the chips (mircro processor rather than the McCoys!)

[bgmill]

This is timely. We're hoping to break ground in the next 6 weeks so it might be worth getting the windows and appliances on order now and store them ready for fitting.

[Buzz]

Roof tiles , in particular clay roof tiles , ordered ours June 21 for October 21 delivery last 4 packs didn't arrive until February 22 , 3 month delay on the build .

[SuperJohnG]

Power. I planned ours well but it was a year to get sorted, albeit I had three fields to cross and my own transformer. 

 

It didn't affect schedule just took a while. On the day they ran the lines it was mega quick. 

 

I'm currently 15 months in and outside nearly complete. It's slow now plodding along at weekends alone, but I enjoy it.

 

Windows will hold you up, and contractors. 

 

The other thing that held it up is me, wanting to control all aspects of the build and be there and oversee people. 

[shuff27]

7 hours ago, Buzz said:

Roof tiles , in particular clay roof tiles , ordered ours June 21 for October 21 delivery last 4 packs didn't arrive until February 22 , 3 month delay on the build .

 

I can second that - ordered my clay tiles in November & latest estimate for delivery is end of May.  I've had the roofer put on a temp cover but will have to keep the scaffolding up at least 2 months longer than expected = extra cost.

[Conor]

For us, 18months.

 

Main delays:

Steel measurement and fabrication (6 weeks at two different stages)

Windows (5 months I think)

Waiting on our preferred renderer, 3 months, but didn't hold anything else up, just scaffolding hire.

 

Could have done the build done in a year if it wasn't for these delays. On hindsight would have ordered the steels before walls completed and ensured walls built to meet steel spec. Couldn't really do anything about the windows or the renderer.

[patp]

All the utilities. We have moved in (woo hoo!) and still don't have a phone line! Mobile signal is rubbish. So far have had three lots of £50 compensations. Try organising a build with no communications Electricity was going to take three months to install a meter until I told them of husbands extreme bad health when it duly arrived the next day! We were told that all electric suppliers are ceasing the supply of meters. At the time no one was sure who was going to do it (!) but we think, now, that it is UK Power. Worth finding out though.

[Happy Valley]

We are 11 months in and got about 3 months to go. Have a main builder and source plumbers electricians and others myself. 

 

We have a metal roof so used a specialist there and there have been some delays in supply of their materials and their labour but nothing that stopped other work. Structural steels come from a local company and no delays there. 

 

Overall we have only had one 2 week delay when we were doing the ground works.

 

Ordered the kitchen appliances last November and they are coming next Monday!! Ordered the windows/sliders early August and they were fitted Jan/Feb although initially were planned were late Nov/early Dec.

 

Trying to plan ahead all the time and so far so good but also expect some hold ups/hic ups. 

[JohnMo]

Further to my previous post.  If you can afford it and have storage or can get supplier to store, buy well ahead of when you think you will need it.

 

I had a garage full of bits, I purchased as the first lockdown was looking like starting.  Full PV system, full ventilation system, full heating system including UFH.  Slate roof and wood stove was purchased just before brexit and stored at suppliers for six months.  Floor insulation was stored at site for around 3 months before being used (allowed to degas).  Durisol blocks, stone cladding were on site around three months before ready to use.

 

Delays, wood cladding (3 months), kitchen (1 month) extractor (3 months, it was damaged on delivery and then another 2 months), internal doors (6 weeks).  Most things didn't slow the build down as there was always plenty to do.  We moved in without the extractor and a couple of internal doors, just had no fried food for a couple of months.

 

Things finished off while in house, stone cladding, 30% of the wood cladding, plenty of internal painting.

[puntloos]

Storage, well, of course I have a plot, on which I can put "a shack" but I'm not sure if it's safe enough (burglary?) 

I suppose storing some roof tiles might be a sensible and not-too-easily-stealable thing? 

Appliances seem to be not too problematic stock wise?

[Faz]

Plan in a break as well - you will run yourself into the ground otherwise.

 

Appliances are a real problem - many retailers are showing 'in stock' but, when you order them, you get told they can't get the supplies they were expecting from the manufacturer and then get a possible delivery date well into the future.  They know this but they continue to lie...

[Buzz]

1 hour ago, Faz said:

Plan in a break as well - you will run yourself into the ground otherwise

Although ours was unplanned having most of December and January with not much happening was in hindsight a good thing , gave us chance to spend time inside the build and really see how much space we have and mark in chalk where everything will go and then reflect on our original thoughts knowing that we had time and plenty of chalk . 

 

 

[Pocster]

On 20/03/2022 at 17:42, puntloos said:

What are the major reasons for delays?

Lack of skills

incompetence 

work 

going to the gym 

procrastination 

lack of skills

lack of money 

taking it easy

back ache 

lack of skills

waiting for Friday 

going on holiday 

lack of skills 

[TecTrevor]

I would suggest you create a program of Works to plan out your build, I used a free download from https://www.selfbuildnewhomes.com/downloads-page to build a multi million pound development in Surry, looking on a spreadsheet, you can easily plan the main construction, snagging and testing appliances before handover.

[SuperJohnG]

On 20/03/2022 at 17:42, puntloos said:

Any war stories? What unique things held up your build and how could you have avoided this delay if you only .... ?

Lots of war stories.. but too many to list.

 

One big one is just generally procrastinating and not making quick decisions. 

 

I can be very guilty of completing a detailed market analysis for basic things like buying a box of screws....which albeit I.may find the best ones at the right price. But I've wasted three hours doing so and not made any headway. Sometimes you are better just buying what's there and quickest (provided it's nit a rip off). Get organised with big purchases and make decisions and go for it. 

 

Also I find the constant need to having to drive to toolstation and screwfix eats lots of time...especially when I have to go twice because I run out of stuff. 

[MJNewton]

2 hours ago, SuperJohnG said:

Also I find the constant need to having to drive to toolstation and screwfix eats lots of time...especially when I have to go twice because I run out of stuff.

...and I do wonder if sometimes I make such trips on purpose to get out of doing 'real' work! 

 

I've found myself increasingly buying some things from Amazon with free next day delivery when that still suits as my nearest SF/TS is a nearly-30 mile round trip. 

[SimonD]

On 21/03/2022 at 19:57, pocster said:

Lack of skills....lack of skills...lack of skills....lack of skills 

I prefer to call my many lacks of skills opportunities to learn...whether I actually manage to take advantage of those opportunities is another matter, which I refuse to discuss 😁

 

2 hours ago, SuperJohnG said:

One big one is just generally procrastinating and not making quick decisions. 

 

I can be very guilty of completing a detailed market analysis for basic things like buying a box of screws....which albeit I.may find the best ones at the right price. But I've wasted three hours doing so and not made any headway. Sometimes you are better just buying what's there and quickest (provided it's nit a rip off). Get organised with big purchases and make decisions and go for it. 

 

Also I find the constant need to having to drive to toolstation and screwfix eats lots of time...especially when I have to go twice because I run out of stuff. 

 

Yes, procrastination is a big one.

 

1. I find myself procrastinating because I'm worried I've made the wrong decision so leave it some time to make sure it's the right decision. God, what a hole that is to get into.

2. Another one is 'organic design' or in other words, designing things as you go and changing your mind, a habit that feeds the procrastination of No 1. (Mind you, this way you do eventually get exactly what you want.. so far me and my whole family have been very happy with the decisions that took this route. It's some of the quick and poorly considered ones I regret.)

 

Another thing for me is that stupidly optimistic tendency to think it's going to be easier that it is. I can now never forget the time honoured advice of Lao Tzu from over 2000 years ago that said something along the lines of: always plan for a journey to be much harder than you think. I wish that'd been at the forefront of my mind when I started, but we live and learn.

 

Now I'm aware that writing this post is a form of procrastination because I'm trying to fit a cutting list as efficiently as possible onto some sheets of plywood and I can't decide whether to use the very expensive Birch plywood or some cheaper softwood plywood to build numerous kitchen drawers to go in carcasses that I'd originally planned to be cabinets....🙄

Edited May 7, 2022 by SimonD

[SimonD]

46 minutes ago, MJNewton said:

...and I do wonder if sometimes I make such trips on purpose to get out of doing 'real' work! 

 

I've found myself increasingly buying some things from Amazon with free next day delivery when that still suits as my nearest SF/TS is a nearly-30 mile round trip. 

Screwfix and Toolstation are a scourge to productivity. It is just far too easy to justify getting a couple of pipe connectors, a single paint roller sleeve, drill bit, or packet of screws, and then driving half way across town to pick it up during the afternoon instead of doing something far more important. I now really try to be more organised and save up the orders to just get them delivered next day free.

[Pocster]

14 minutes ago, SimonD said:

I prefer to call my many lacks of skills opportunities to learn...whether I actually manage to take advantage of those opportunities is another matter, which I refuse to discuss 😁

 

 

Yes, procrastination is a big one.

 

1. I find myself procrastinating because I'm worried I've made the wrong decision so leave it some time to make sure it's the right decision. God, what a hole that is to get into.

2. Another one is 'organic design' or in other words, designing things as you go and changing your mind, a habit that feeds the procrastination of No 1. (Mind you, this way you do eventually get exactly what you want.. so far me and my whole family have been very happy with the decisions that took this route. It's some of the quick and poorly considered ones I regret.)

 

Another thing for me is that stupidly optimistic tendency to think it's going to be easier that it is. I can now never forget the time honoured advice of Lao Tzu from over 2000 years ago that said something along the lines of: always plan for a journey to be much harder than you think. I wish that'd been at the forefront of my mind when I started, but we live and learn.

 

Now I'm aware that writing this post is a form of procrastination because I'm trying to fit a cutting list as efficiently as possible onto some sheets of plywood and I can't decide whether to use the very expensive Birch plywood or some cheaper softwood plywood to build numerous kitchen drawers to go in carcasses that I'd originally planned to be cabinets....🙄

I blame this forum . Spend all my time posting crap and commenting on crap . If it wasn’t for this forum would of finished my build years ago . Tempted to sue for compensation but haven’t got time as I need to reply to this post .

[SteamyTea]

9 hours ago, SimonD said:

Birch plywood

Pick that.

[ToughButterCup]

On 20/03/2022 at 17:42, puntloos said:

...

- Any war stories? What unique things held up your build and how could you have avoided this delay if you only .... ?

 

Lets start with the basics, and then move down the hierarchy:

• Naivety
• Optimism bias
• Great Crested Newts
• Male learned helplessness
• Mendacious tradespeople
• Criminal behaviour
• Exceptionally bad weather
• Osteoarthritis
• @pocster's car-crashes.

If you can be bothered, detailed evidence of the above items can be found in my previous posts.  

 

Delay can , with a bit of effort, easily be turned to advantage.  

[SteamyTea]

45 minutes ago, ToughButterCup said:

Delay can , with a bit of effort, easily be turned to advantage.  

Not when it is the last firetruck from hell.