Learning from our experience...

[Mulberry View]

Whilst our battle to resolve our Zinc Roof problem rumbles on, I want to try to understand how we get our project on track as it feels slightly off the rails. Keep in mind we are actual self-builders, mostly building it ourselves, I am the main contractor.

 

We did have an Architect on board, but now estranged from the project. We have plans in hand to RIBA Stage 4a (Building Regs Plans). We have managed to get most of the structural shell up and services in without needing any trades or more detailed plans, but do we need to onboard another Architect to take our plans forward to a more technical level or is it sufficient to address elements as needed as we progress with the project? Or do people manage to build with the level of plans we have? I am already trying to improve the spec where I can, so things are changing and certainly need the window detailing to be properly considered. I have a conversation ongoing with another Architect about taking the project over to fill in the blanks, but I don't want to go too far and waste money.

 

With our Zinc roof, we obtained 3 quotes, decided on which we preferred and instructed by email. People speak of contracts etc, what is the normal process of bringing a trade in? Something different to what we did? Should we be drawing up some sort of contract each time we need a trade? Or is email instruction sufficient as a contract?

 

I would be grateful for some other input on this, I just want to get the place built, but am plagued on a daily basis about whether we're just winging it too much and procrastination is definitely causing delays.

 

 

[Alan Ambrose]

Besides the window detailing, which are the other areas which are not resolved to your satisfaction?

[nod]

Once the structure is up 

There’s little point bringing in an Architect Unless you have money to burn 🔥 

Regarding trades You will scare them off if you start talking contracts 

You can get a detailed heating and electrical drawings  done But if your partner is anything like mine drawings would need to be very flexible 

If Your watertight Your on the down hill part of the build Two thirds done 

[Mulberry View]

27 minutes ago, nod said:

Once the structure is up 

There’s little point bringing in an Architect Unless you have money to burn 🔥 

Regarding trades You will scare them off if you start talking contracts 

You can get a detailed heating and electrical drawings  done But if your partner is anything like mine drawings would need to be very flexible 

If Your watertight Your on the down hill part of the build Two thirds done 

 

That's what I thought regarding contracts. I've never even considered it, but now we're in dispute all people seem to be saying is 'what is your form of contract?' and 'what were the T's & C's?'

 

We aren't water-tight yet, we are close to confirming the window order, but the roof fiasco has definitely scuppered us pretty badly.

[nod]

1 minute ago, Mulberry View said:

 

That's what I thought regarding contracts. I've never even considered it, but now we're in dispute all people seem to be saying is 'what is your form of contract?' and 'what were the T's & C's?'

 

We aren't water-tight yet, we are close to confirming the window order, but the roof fiasco has definitely scuppered us pretty badly.

Yeah it’s different with a main contractor with sole control of the build 

Subbies would just blame each other 

[Mulberry View]

43 minutes ago, Alan Ambrose said:

Besides the window detailing, which are the other areas which are not resolved to your satisfaction?

 

 

It's really just re-consolidating the wall and floor build-up now that I have made some insulation/performance changes, to make sure everything works and I'd also like to get deeper into air-tightness detailing, but again beyond what my Architect did and beyond my knowledge. We also have a couple of relatively minor design matters that need reconsidering, but are beyond my own ability.

 

[Nick Laslett]

Besides the superstructure, we have done most of the build ourselves. We stood down our architect after the foundation design and the building regs submission. This was many months before we broke ground. 
 

We had the CAD versions of our drawings and my wife had also drawn the house in SketchUp. (Prior to this she had made a physical model.) We were very confident in the details of the build. Because every part of the superstructure came from one supplier, their technical manual covered any questions we might have had. 
 

Over the course of the build we’ve had every kind of arrangement you can think of; from a day rate quote by text, to a detailed contract with phases and full materials breakdown. Some have come to visit the site and made a number up on the spot. Sometimes we’ve already had the materials, others they told us what to buy, some bought the materials and passed on the cost.
 

Most recently a trade wanted the first 1/3rd paid up front to secure the booking. 
 

We have taken a pragmatic approach, and tried to work with trades that could see what we were trying to achieve. 90% of the time it has been a great experience. I try to understand how to do each task, which I hope means that when I talk to the trade they respect the job I’m asking them to do. There is no rhyme or reason behind the pricing, the spread between 3 quotes can be 100%. 
 

The story of each trade, is really the story of the build. Stuff goes wrong, not sure if excessive blame does anybody any favours. Our interior door supplier went bankrupt, taking the deposit for 11 doors. The insulated foundation UFH was not installed as per the drawings, I only found this out much, much later. I liked the lad that did the work, and he also managed the foundation pour and the power floating. So overall I was pleased with most of his work. The foundations were level and the concrete smooth. 

Your build is not far from mine, if you want a sounding board, happy to lend an ear, send me a PM. Please appreciate that my knowledge is puddle deep, this is my first build and this forum is the crutch I lean on.