JoeM Posted Saturday at 15:12 Share Posted Saturday at 15:12 New member here, I felt at first that information would be sparse and protected tightly by gatekeepers. I'm so happy to have found this community! We area mid 30's couple who are outgrowing our small home and sick of looking at new builds that have dreadful finishes, are placed on cramped estates and charged those wild west 'management fees'. So we have decided we are going to look seriously at securing some land and building a forever home, that is as eco friendly self-sufficient as possible. With that said I am trying to cost everything down to toilet roll holders as a starting point and then add on some contingency for issues (25% at the moment though happy for you experienced builders to give me a % that I haven't plucked out of the air!). I can't find an itemised list of everything to think about and have tried to piece it together myself, I wonder if someone could reorder my list below so they make sense and in terms of which step should follow so I can research expected cost of each stage? e.g. because it's in the wrong place or I have missed something crucial. Thanks in advance Identify suitable plot with loose idea of final structure Outline planning permission and check for any ransom strips, overages etc. Purchase Plot on positive outline permission response Check ground ahead of foundations Develop full house plan with engineer/architect (could use some info here, is this two different people?) Gain full planning permission Begin excavation for foundation Lay foundation Fix internal drainage system Ground floor insulation Internal concrete pour as base for sructure (is this done at foundation stage or is it a secondary pour?) Internal blocks up to first floor Services to ground level (electricity, gas (hoping to be fully electric so may not require this, water, tv/internet?) External brickwork up to level 1 Scaffold up to level 1 Lay floor of first floor Continue connection of drainage Insulate first floor Internal block shell up to roof level External brickwork up to roof Roof on Insulate roof Tile roof Pump insulation into cavity walls (or find a better insulation system) Insulate loft space Fit all windows Fit external doors Plaster house Begin decorating the inside (fixtures and fittings) I'd be very surprised if this list is exhaustive and so would be grateful if anyone could help flesh it out! Alternatively, if the answer to this is on an FAQ or has been previously answered, I'm happy to do the reading if you could point me in the right direction Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted Saturday at 15:22 Share Posted Saturday at 15:22 Hi and welcome to the friendly helpful forum. No gatekeepers holding back the secrets here. Your location, at least approximately would help as obtaining a plot to build on is the No 1 big hurdle, easier in some parts of the UK, near impossible in others. Don't get too fixated on build method at this stage. It is perfectly possible to build a really good house by any construction method, but in many cases it is local traditions and methods where you are building that makes the decision i.e. build with what tradesmen in your area know. And as you are doing a self build because you want a good house finished well, don't forget to read up on and discuss insulation and air tightness, something a lot of people here, me included, think is very important. Welcome to the start of what could be a long, and often frustrating journey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G and J Posted Saturday at 15:24 Share Posted Saturday at 15:24 6 minutes ago, JoeM said: New member here, I felt at first that information would be sparse and protected tightly by gatekeepers. I'm so happy to have found this community! We area mid 30's couple who are outgrowing our small home and sick of looking at new builds that have dreadful finishes, are placed on cramped estates and charged those wild west 'management fees'. So we have decided we are going to look seriously at securing some land and building a forever home, that is as eco friendly self-sufficient as possible. With that said I am trying to cost everything down to toilet roll holders as a starting point and then add on some contingency for issues (25% at the moment though happy for you experienced builders to give me a % that I haven't plucked out of the air!). I can't find an itemised list of everything to think about and have tried to piece it together myself, I wonder if someone could reorder my list below so they make sense and in terms of which step should follow so I can research expected cost of each stage? e.g. because it's in the wrong place or I have missed something crucial. Thanks in advance Identify suitable plot with loose idea of final structure Outline planning permission and check for any ransom strips, overages etc. Purchase Plot on positive outline permission response Check ground ahead of foundations Develop full house plan with engineer/architect (could use some info here, is this two different people?) Gain full planning permission Begin excavation for foundation Lay foundation Fix internal drainage system Ground floor insulation Internal concrete pour as base for sructure (is this done at foundation stage or is it a secondary pour?) Internal blocks up to first floor Services to ground level (electricity, gas (hoping to be fully electric so may not require this, water, tv/internet?) External brickwork up to level 1 Scaffold up to level 1 Lay floor of first floor Continue connection of drainage Insulate first floor Internal block shell up to roof level External brickwork up to roof Roof on Insulate roof Tile roof Pump insulation into cavity walls (or find a better insulation system) Insulate loft space Fit all windows Fit external doors Plaster house Begin decorating the inside (fixtures and fittings) I'd be very surprised if this list is exhaustive and so would be grateful if anyone could help flesh it out! Alternatively, if the answer to this is on an FAQ or has been previously answered, I'm happy to do the reading if you could point me in the right direction Thanks again Welcome JoeM. I personally am very wary of bottom up cost builds. If I’m costing up a small project then I’ve got half a chance of remembering to include most of the elements - hopefully all the big ones. But building a house has a big shopping list. So….. many peeps rely on area based budgetary estimates then factor in extra bad things like piled foundations or party wall agreements or an expensive kitchen habit or whatever. The per m2 figure you use is the next question, and they range from just under £1k/m2 (do everything oneself) to maybe £4K/m2 (appoint an architect and accept the keys when it’s ready). Keep reading, part of the power of this forum is that by sitting watching the posts flow by you learn all kinds of things you didn’t know you didn’t know…. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redoctober Posted Saturday at 15:53 Share Posted Saturday at 15:53 37 minutes ago, JoeM said: I wonder if someone could reorder my list below so they make sense and in terms of which step should follow so I can research expected cost of each stage? e.g. because it's in the wrong place or I have missed something crucial. Thanks in advance Hi and welcome - Your list is a good starting point and as @G and J has mentioned, keep reading stuff. That said you may wish to view my blog - link below - it may assist you as we undertook this process some 6 years ago. Bear that in mind though, when you come across costs etc.🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted Saturday at 15:53 Share Posted Saturday at 15:53 Welcome. Are you going to be 'hands on' or just pay for everything. Maybe somewhere in-between. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nod Posted Saturday at 18:42 Share Posted Saturday at 18:42 Just to add The larger your build the cheaper it is to build per m2 Many of your costs will be the same for a very large house as a they will be for a quite modest home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeM Posted Saturday at 20:14 Author Share Posted Saturday at 20:14 @SteamyTea I think somewhere in between, for example the painting and tiling I'm happy to have a go myself and probably have a go at project managing too. For parts of it, I just wouldn't feel comfortable putting others at risk (e.g. electricity and gas). @ProDave We are in the west midlands/shropshire and I think we'd like to stay around here for links to family/friends... @Redoctober Thanks for the link, I will definitely have a look! Thanks to you all for the info and welcome! I will definitely keep reading, until I drive my partner mad anyway (then maybe a little more). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted Saturday at 20:41 Share Posted Saturday at 20:41 25 minutes ago, JoeM said: electricity and gas We will try to convince you that you only need electricity. Depending on what free time you have while you are looking for a plot, you could go down the local technical college and see what courses they are running. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeM Posted Sunday at 15:52 Author Share Posted Sunday at 15:52 Oh that is something I need to do some research on, because ideally we'd use solar and a heat pump to eliminate the need for gas! So more than happy to be convinced @SteamyTea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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