Another valuable self build learning experience

[SimonD]

What seems to be aeons ago I started my self build - a bungaloid conversation which pretty much ended up as a full newbuild with a few remaining old walls because we couldn't change the planning for newbuild when we found out how bad things really were. We're weather and water tight and this summer finally moved out of the caravan into the house which still needs lots of work. We're still on temp electrics with extension leads everywhere! Athough we've had hot water for a while, I'm installing rads this weekend to give us some heating. The last couple of days has just brought the house down to a little chilly and my wifes wants some comfort.

 

Anyway, to the moral of the story.. I had no building experience before taking this project on and I've done everything myself so far. When it came to the heating system I applied what I've now learned is a common self-builder trades scepticism and decided to do that myself, especially when I saw the prices involved. Our budget had already been hit because it was set for a 126m2 conversion and then had to now cover 196m2 so the truth is we ran out of money especially due to recent material price inflation.

 

Mid Covid lockdown I decided to embark on a Gas Safe training course and after 18 months passed my ACS and installed our gas boiler, following which I've registered with Gas Safe and started up a small one man band to earn money to complete the build. I'd never even dreamed of going in this direction in my life so it's all down to doing the self-build. Surprisingly I've been run ragged by work, almost from the off and I've recently done 2 fairly major installation jobs, at least for a newbie.

 

Doing this work has meant I've had to learn a completely different mentality which has beena bit of struggle. For example, trying to source materials and products at the best price is just too time consuming. Trying to make everything up myself instead of buying packaged/complete products has gone out the window because when customers are paying for my time, it actually ends up more expensive, both for them and for me - for example, making up my own ch or water distribution manifolds versus buying ready made manifolds. Buying for convenience has become so much more the order of the day. It's also incredibly difficult to balance quality and cost for the customer - I'm torn between trying to be perfect in the work I do and the associated costs to the customer. It's difficult not to drop standards in the rush to finish a job when the customer wants it done and when seeing the poor standards of so much work out there, even in such a regulated area like gas..

 

This has given me such a different perspective which is also changing the way I continue to build my house. Maybe I won't try to get everything so perfect and actually appreciate more convenience even if there's a minor financial cost to it. I might even get some trades in to help me finally finish the house off!

[ProDave]

Well done for keeping going and getting the gas safe.

 

Being in one of the building trades is handy as you get to know a lot of other trades working with them, and you get to know the ones you would be happy working in your own house, and the ones you would not let in the front door. So when you do want to employ someone, you know who to choose.

 

And yes one of the things I hate most about being self employed is ordering all the materials for a job, not always as easy as it should be.

 

[Kelvin]

Well done on getting the gas safe certification. Due to similar stories I am considering doing similar with some of the trades for our self-build. My dad taught himself every trade as he didn’t trust anyone in our house 😂 

[SteamyTea]

Well done.

Part P next.

[markocosic]

You and me too.

 

Blame the tax system for screwing up your perspective on make vs buy / DIY vs pay.

 

When working for others "the cost is the cost" and you make rational decisions to buy kits, prebuilt assemblies etc.

 

When the government takes a fat wedge* you end up making what would otherwise be irrational decisions because your time to yourself is effectively only worth 1/2 of what it is to somebody else.

 

Congrats on having the ticket! If you're literate you're going to be run ragged indefinitely I suspect. Heat pumps next though? Loads of gas fitters out there. Few competent heat pump folks. Even I'm tempted to start fitting the things. Or would be if it weren't for all the MCS paperwork needed to chase grants in the current climate. Once they quit subsidising them and the paperwork overhead disappears the installs will start getting fun/cost effective/profitable all at the same time...

 

*20% in VAT and 30% for basic up to to the best part of 50% in income taxes past £50k (straight income and employer/employee ni or income/ni/corp tax/divi tax - it's all much the same)

 

 

[SteamyTea]

3 minutes ago, markocosic said:

*20% in VAT and 30% for basic up to to the best part of 50% in income taxes past £50k (straight income and employer/employee ni or income/ni/corp tax/divi tax - it's all much the same)

Minus a lot of your inputs i.e. van, fuel, consumables, marketing etc.

[markocosic]

Those inputs are largely the same whether working for somebody else or yourself though?

 

(dominated by consumables unless you're a trade that actually requires a van - most of the sparks and plumbers that I know run around in personal unmarked cars and arrange for lumpy stuff to be delivered straight to site)

 

£1000 boiler costs £1000 of personal income for which you'd need to earn £2000 in company income. Therefore to pay somebody else.to do this they'd need to ask £2000 for time that is to them or to you worth only £1000 if you earned it by working for others?

[SimonD]

On 20/11/2022 at 16:52, ProDave said:

Well done for keeping going and getting the gas safe.

 

Being in one of the building trades is handy as you get to know a lot of other trades working with them, and you get to know the ones you would be happy working in your own house, and the ones you would not let in the front door. So when you do want to employ someone, you know who to choose.

 

Thanks, yes that wi be handy. As we moved to this area to do the project, we didn't know any trades which is such a risk. I think that's part of why I just did it mysef in the end.

 

On 20/11/2022 at 16:52, ProDave said:

And yes one of the things I hate most about being self employed is ordering all the materials for a job, not always as easy as it should be.

 

I wish I knew a short cut to this, although I'm starting to find the suppliers who make my life easy with good ordering facilities and local delivery. They might cost a few quid extra but the convenience factor is so good. There were a couple of merchants I tried to begin with where everytime I went in either to order something or pick something up, there were a couple of plumbers leaning on the counter talking crap and asking the most ridiculous questions while other staff members come and go without even acknowledging my existence. 45 minutes later I escape wondering whether those plumbers haven't actually got work to do.... it's like walking into a hell like dimension!

[SimonD]

On 20/11/2022 at 19:28, SteamyTea said:

Part P next.

 

Don't know about that but knowing me I'll probably end up doing it just because I'm interested and it might make my life easier at some point.☺️

[SimonD]

On 21/11/2022 at 08:34, markocosic said:

Congrats on having the ticket! If you're literate you're going to be run ragged indefinitely I suspect. Heat pumps next though?

 

Thanks! Yes, I'm currently booked on for some of the heat pump modules starting in January. They keep on adding requirements to the courses though and if I couldn't book the courses directy with my current training company, the new requirements say I need 3 years practise to get onto them - but I'm sure providers might turn a blind eye to that

with the promise of money. There's definitely been a bit of upping the bar for the MCS training programmes lately with a separation between installer and designer courses and qualifications, which could be either a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it.