Bungalow knock down and rebuild in Worcestershire

[mads]

Hello all,

Been lurking a little while and more recently joined to be part of the community. We moved into our property in late 2023 with the initial intention of going up and making it a two storey bungalow. However, we quickly realised that given the amount of work that needs to be done (full rewire, new heating, lack of insulation, poor layout and flow, poor plot siting, majority of internal walls and some external to be knocked down, new roof), the compromises we are likely to have to make, the unknowns as we start to strip it back etc, we have decided to knock it down completely and do a rebuild of a two storey house (first timers with this).

 

The architect has taken a fabric first approach and we are also going with the full technology spectrum i.e. PV + storage, EV charging, ASHP + UFH, MVHR, as well as ensuring it is fit for the future e.g. conduits for internal fibre runs.

Not being in any of the trades required to do a house build (I work in data and AI), will be getting a main building contractor to do the majority of it (we are hands-on so will likely be doing some things ourselves). Also, I like to get involved so increasing my knowledge in various aspects to be able to make as many of the right decisions that we can, hence joining this forum and benefitting from the collective wisdom (and hopefully contribute where I can to others' journey :))

 

Thank you in advance and apologies for any less-informed questions

 

Edited Tuesday at 07:59 by mads

[markc]

Good morning and welcome, knock down and rebuild seems like a big drastic decision but you will thank yourself later on.

[FarmerN]

Hi

Thats exactly what we did.

Do you already have Planning Permision, or have you submitted plans?

Good Luck.

[jack]

2 hours ago, mads said:

... we have decided to knock it down completely and do a rebuild of a two storey house (first timers with this).

 

We did just this with a tired old 1950s bungalow in 2015. It's almost certainly the right decision - far fewer compromises on both design and construction, plus you derisk the job considerably.

 

You'll be amazed how quickly you pick things up.

 

Good luck!

[Iceverge]

2 hours ago, mads said:

The architect has taken a fabric first approach and we are also going with the full technology spectrum i.e. PV + storage, EV charging, ASHP + UFH, MVHR, as well as ensuring it is fit for the future e.g. conduits for internal fibre runs.

 

Fabric first. This really means a good form factor, good insulation (including thermal bridges) and AIRTIGHTNESS!!!!!!!!!!  Get these right and you can burn baby Panda's and still have a very low impact house. 

 

Congratulations on the decision to knock and rebuild, It's absolutely the right one. 

 

 

I too had no experience in building but like @jack says you'd be surprised how quickly you'd pick it up, especially as you have a technical mind already. 

Plumbing, MVHR, Airtightness are all jobs that can save you £1000's and with the products available don't require any extraordinary skills. 

 

 

 

Have you decided on a build method you'd like to use? The best one of course will depend on the house design, location etc. 

 

At the moment my favourites are 

1. Stick build on site
2. Masonry
3. Maybe ICF but I'm still reading about it. 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 10:38 by Iceverge

[Tony L]

Welcome to the forum, @mads.  I'm doing the same as you - the bungalow has gone & the new build is just out of the ground.  Have you got planning permission, yet?  If not, you really don't want to be racking up architect fees on the design of every last detail of your new home, until you know the planners are going to let you have a house that's the size, shape & ridge height you're hoping for.

 

Looking forward to hearing more from you, in future.

[G and J]

I posted this in another similar thread a few days ago….

 

”Welcome.

 

In ‘91 we bought a plot, got full PP, and I promptly got quotes from several builders.  
 

The most highly recommended of which called me a moron.  He had asked me why we didn’t build it ourselves, getting in trades as needed.  I answered “well I’m not in the trade”.   That’s when he called me a moron, but he was smiling.  He said “if you’re in the trade you know one trade, so you have to learn the other ten.   You have to learn an extra one - so what? “
 

Sage words it turns out, and that was before YouTube.  Get in there.  “

 

I suggest doing the main contractor thing may be right for you for many good reasons, but I suggest not being in the trade is not a good reason.  
 

We start demolition in just under two weeks. F Scary. F exciting too.   Soon after that we start building what will be our second self build and I’m principal contractor and principal designer, may god help us. 
 

Oh, and when we did our first self build, with no main contractor but helped hugely by some really great guys, I was in IT and had no experience whatsoever.  

[mads]

Thank you all for the warm welcome

 

 

On 04/03/2025 at 09:06, FarmerN said:

Hi

Thats exactly what we did.

Do you already have Planning Permision, or have you submitted plans?

Good Luck.

 

Yes, planning permission already granted. Took a year to get to but done so now on to the more exciting, and nervous, phase of more detailed design.

 

 

 

On 04/03/2025 at 10:25, jack said:

 

We did just this with a tired old 1950s bungalow in 2015. It's almost certainly the right decision - far fewer compromises on both design and construction, plus you derisk the job considerably.

 

You'll be amazed how quickly you pick things up.

 

Good luck!

 

Yep, ours is a 1960s bungalow which has been extended a couple of times and done with varying quality and thought. Our neighbours when we moved in had done the same and said similar to you so decided to go for it.

 

On 04/03/2025 at 10:37, Iceverge said:

 

Fabric first. This really means a good form factor, good insulation (including thermal bridges) and AIRTIGHTNESS!!!!!!!!!!  Get these right and you can burn baby Panda's and still have a very low impact house. 

 

Congratulations on the decision to knock and rebuild, It's absolutely the right one. 

 

 

I too had no experience in building but like @jack says you'd be surprised how quickly you'd pick it up, especially as you have a technical mind already. 

Plumbing, MVHR, Airtightness are all jobs that can save you £1000's and with the products available don't require any extraordinary skills. 

 

 

 

Have you decided on a build method you'd like to use? The best one of course will depend on the house design, location etc. 

 

At the moment my favourites are 

1. Stick build on site
2. Masonry
3. Maybe ICF but I'm still reading about it. 

 

 

Yep, absolutely made it clear to the architect that we are not aiming for a passivhaus but want to adhere to the principles so making sure we are covering those elements and not compensating with technology.

 

We are going with traditional block and brick. Decided against SIP as not convinced on its longevity personally. We are also incorporating some metal cladding into the design.

 

16 hours ago, Tony L said:

Welcome to the forum, @mads.  I'm doing the same as you - the bungalow has gone & the new build is just out of the ground.  Have you got planning permission, yet?  If not, you really don't want to be racking up architect fees on the design of every last detail of your new home, until you know the planners are going to let you have a house that's the size, shape & ridge height you're hoping for.

 

Looking forward to hearing more from you, in future.

 

Oooo... will have to follow your build closely and take notes. Planning is all done and tbh other than some minor alterations, and a to-and-throw with highways, it went through as we had designed. We made sure we got support from local parish, which I think helped. Plus there was some precedence from our neighbour who did the same 2 years ago.

 

 

12 hours ago, G and J said:

I posted this in another similar thread a few days ago….

 

”Welcome.

 

In ‘91 we bought a plot, got full PP, and I promptly got quotes from several builders.  
 

The most highly recommended of which called me a moron.  He had asked me why we didn’t build it ourselves, getting in trades as needed.  I answered “well I’m not in the trade”.   That’s when he called me a moron, but he was smiling.  He said “if you’re in the trade you know one trade, so you have to learn the other ten.   You have to learn an extra one - so what? “
 

Sage words it turns out, and that was before YouTube.  Get in there.  “

 

I suggest doing the main contractor thing may be right for you for many good reasons, but I suggest not being in the trade is not a good reason.  
 

We start demolition in just under two weeks. F Scary. F exciting too.   Soon after that we start building what will be our second self build and I’m principal contractor and principal designer, may god help us. 
 

Oh, and when we did our first self build, with no main contractor but helped hugely by some really great guys, I was in IT and had no experience whatsoever.  

 

I hear what you are saying and to be honest, if I had the opportunity I am quite certain I could PM it myself. I grew up helping my parents do up properties so learned a lot. The challenge I have is that with a young family, we do not want to be in a caravan on-site for longer than needed. And I think I can bring more value by earning money to fund the build rather than do the PM. Perhaps once this one is done, I can convince my OH to do another one

 

 

[Iceverge]

2 hours ago, mads said:

We are going with traditional block and brick. Decided against SIP as not convinced on its longevity personally. We are also incorporating some metal cladding into the design.

 

Good stuff, we built with blocks too. 

 

Plans ( scrub off your name and address ) are always appreciated for a nose!