Feedback on Dan Wood build

[RCbuild]

On 09/01/2025 at 19:31, RCbuild said:

Just signed contract for delivery of a Danwood house.

 

Happy with the process, have a fixed price and one supplier for 90% of the house

 

Re Kitchens I believe it is because one of Danwood's (a Polish Company) main markets is Germany and German's move their kitchen's when they move house hence why the quality of German kitchens is so good.  So Danwood don't have a supply chain set up for kitchen's.

All the building products are continental hence "different" to UK look eg the Door's,.  As we lived in Poland for 2 years we were happy with the look.

Their electrical fittings are continental back box https://www.swtch.co.uk/installation-rocker-switches-gira/?srsltid=AfmBOorbLAu9dpU3B1vTHknFC9o7GJLxnjqX_XCGlSsymDWlOdSS0-FW from a German Company Gira https://www.gira.com/en/en/ which has smart house options but not directly available through Danwood but can be upgraded I hope.

Windows are all triple glazed tilt or turn but open inwards, easier to clean a pain if you have traditional UK curtains in the way

Foundations slab needs to constructed to +/- 5mm which some engineers struggle to understand/deliver on we had to have our slab redrawn 4 times.  Will see if the groundworks Company can deliver on it 🙂

Pricing has been fair we were given a reduction when the cost of solar panels dropped.

Their design centre is tempting we added approx. £50k from upgrading from their standard finishes/choices in areas important to us eg large format tiles, glass balustrades, dimmer switches, outside power sockets etc.

 

Cost of the house approx £1,800 per SQM includes 4 bed, 4 bathroom

 

Will update again once house is built and we move in

 

[maison d'etre]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing the photos.

[New to this]

On 21/01/2025 at 15:01, Rosslyn said:

Good to see your finished house and looking forward to getting there this year.

I am just about to sign the contract with Danwood. I had a shock getting a quote from one of their recommended foundation companies. It came in at £66k! I'm hoping to get a much improved cost from a local company even though they have not worked on a Danwood project previously.

My next step is to get the Geotechnical survey as clay and tree roots may mean I have to go for deep pile. Still trying to find a structural engineer and then to appoint the foundation designer. Welcome any advice from others experiences.

@Rosslyn just wondered how you got on with your foundation design? We too are getting close to that stage; highest plasticity clay and a hedge the full length of the house with tree species has me a tad worried!! 

Edited 8 hours ago by New to this

[saveasteading]

3 hours ago, New to this said:

hedge the full length of the house with tree species has me a tad worried

Plants in a designated hedge should never become the full trees on which foundation depths are based. So it should be OK.

 

Is the hedge in your control and how close to  the nearest point of the building?