Hi everyone

[Daveattavistock]

We initially moved into our self-build in 2003. 

At that stage it had no internal doors, no carpets, no external landscaping, no driveway and was undecorated.

Over the following years we moved from room to room as and when we had saved for more materials.

Apart from excavation, scaffolding, blocklaying, bricklaying, screed and plastering teams, I put in (some might say foolishly) over 12,500 hours of personal hands-on work for all the rest (including the design, mortar mixing and block stacking) over an extended construction period.

I also had a separate full-time job

As you all know, it includes a lot of highs a few lows and not a few mistakes.

The plot cost £65,000 and the basic shell plus roof and including a basement storey cost less than £10,000 for materials and labour (sounds like the good old days I hear you say)

Now land costs around half the market value of a finished house.

[BotusBuild]

I think you may have just taken the crown for length of build 🙂 

I presume this is an old photo and that you do now have the downpipes from the guttering 🙂 

 

It all looks very neat and tidy

[Daveattavistock]

Hi Botusbuild,

 

thanks for your reply.

 

Yes, it's an an old photo and the downpipes are now in place.

 

Single-mindedness is certainly an asset in this business but often real life gets in the way (if you want to avoid divorce)

 

Also, the old quality / cost / time triangle in project management is inescapable (unless you are very well-heeled)

 

The house is 3 storey, 3,600 sq feet and was built with high quality materials, minimal external labour costs and no architect involvement.... hence the time factor has to increase.

[SteamyTea]

22 years, double what @Pocster has managed so far.

Well done 

[Pocster]

18 hours ago, SteamyTea said:

22 years, double what @Pocster has managed so far.

Well done 

Bast ! . I’m not technically finished yet . So I’ll keep plodding …