You want to build but how do you find the right builder for your project? Whether it be a small extension or a full new house?
Decide if you are willing and capable of being a project manager and employing many different trades as required at each stage of the build or do you want to employ one 'builder' who will have their own labour or sub contractors to get the build finished. Which ever route you decide there are some similarities in how you will choose: - You need to get references and if possible, even better, go and see examples of work and talk to the owner of the project. - Ask questions to your builders, do they give you confidence in their ability, can they answer your questions? - Do you know anyone who can personally recommend a builder? - Research the company, do they have a website, any social presences, do they look professional and look able to offer all the services you require. These are just a few simple suggestions and your gut instinct will also play a role in your decision. If you have any doubt and can not remove it from your mind then move onto the next and keep searching until you are happy. The right builder is a big decision that should not be made lightly.
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You've spent months if not years finalising your plans and preparing your drawings, you have every detail decided but have you thought about Building Regulations?
Your build must comply with all the minimum standards contained within the Building Regulations and each must be signed off at each appropriate stage by an inspector. Approved inspectors can be found through your local authority or you can used an approved inspector. Either way you need to use one. Remember if you do make alternations during the build these two will need to be compliant and reinspected of they have been signed off before the change was made. There are instances when when compliance with the Building Regulations is not required - for example repairs to existing - but if in doubt ensure you check. The Building regulations cover all aspects of the Build from Structural Safety in Part A to Electrical Safety in Part P. The main inspection stages are are as follows: - Commencement - Excavation of foundations - Foundations - Oversite preparation - Damp Proof course - Drain testing - Occupation prior to completion - Completion. No matter the size of the project, the health and safety of those working and visiting and passing by site always needs to be a priority.
As a contractor can you demonstrate that you run a safe site and if employing a contractor are you confident that health and safety is on their priority list at all times? Recently a Hertfordshire construction company was fined around £144,000 after a labourer fell from a roof during demolition works. The cause the fact that no scaffolding had been erected and there was no supervision. Even weeks later when the HSE visited the site there was still no supervision. The cost of being Health and safety conscious is far cheaper then the cost of an accident both in financial terms and reputation terms. Just the thought of getting though the Planning Permission procedure may fill you with dread but it will be worth it - imagine having to knock down your finished furnished extension.
It is right that not all building work needs Planning Permission. Whatever you are planning it's always good to get your neighbours on side from the start. Don't let them see the details stuck to their lamp post, from the first idea go round and tell them all about it - they are ones who can make your break your dream! Research if your build requires Planning Permission, speak to your council, builders and neighbours who have had similar works done. Some of the times when Planning Permission is not required are listed below: - Building materials are similar to existing - Additional footprint does not exceed 50% of the total area of land associated with the house - Alterations, installations to chimneys, flue or soil and vent pipes. - New eave height does not exceed existing - verandas, balconies or raised platforms - Elevation not onto a highway - Height does not exceed 4m or have a width greater than half that of the width of the house - Maximum eaves height is 3m and within 2 metres of the boundary If you are unsure seek advice, don't risk your time, money and extension. Rural Design and the Isle of Skye holiday home.
A holiday home letting business on the Isle of Skye are again inspired to self build a holiday home for their clients to stay in. Studio Fiskavaig is the third commission to Rural Design, the first two being their timber clad holiday home – Hen House and the business owners own home – Black House. With each project the couple have become more and more involved, they were involved from the very start with the third project. The brief was for a small and simple building that they could construct from the ground up themselves and have it completed in no more than one year. The Architect considered the landscape and existing structures to create the 30 square metre holiday home suitable for two people but it can also become a second workplace for the business owners too. Final cost of the project was £34,000. You have the vision of a wonderful extension that will make your home perfect for your family and their needs, but is it really that simple, consider the following:
1 - If you are planning a new bathroom, wet room, kitchen or utility room have you thought about the services required in that room and where they are located in your original home. Services are generally grouped together it could be costly to join up to services if your new room is not adjacent to the services already in place. 2 - You've always wanted to add a conservatory but will it be useable all year? Consider reducing the amount of glazing in the finished room and the construction of the roof. These will both enable the conservatory to stay warm in the winter and cooler in the warmer months ensuring you can use it all year round and it wont add hugely to your fuel bills in the winter to do so. All designs will still need to be approved by building regulations. 3 - If you are extending to increase the number of bedrooms, have you considered how many bathroom/WC's you may need? For your needs just staying with the original bathroom may be enough but when it comes to resale if a larger family are considering your home they may be expecting more than just the family bathroom. Can you fit in en-suites or an entirely new bathroom too? 4 - Although you don't need planning permission for all extensions, all building work must comply with Building Regulations. It may soon be a lot easier to make your self build dream a reality in Bristol. South Gloucestershire Council is going to be one of the first to try out a new scheme. Self builders will be asked to sign up, once a plot is available they will be contacted. Individual or community self builders are all welcome to sign up. The scheme is designed to match up self builders with land owners trying to sell their land. Planning Permission and all associated legalities will still apply. The scheme is called the Self Build and Custom Housebuilding Act and was introduced in 2015. This act requires local authorities to retain information of those interested in finding suitable plots of land for self building purposes. Funding may also be sought from the Homes and Communities Agency through The Custom Build Serviced Plots Loan Fund. Interested parties can sign up to the Local Self Build Register at localselfbuildregister.co.uk. The Welsh Government's One Planet Development policy is a forward-thinking approach to driving a move towards more sustainable lives. We spoke with Mark Waghorn, lead architect of the Mark Waghorn Design practice in South West Wales, about the challenge of meeting stringent environmental standards, and encouraging lower consumption.
The policy is about Wales' aspiration to live within its global means within a generation. Waghorn explained: “Management plans have to be submitted showing how you will use local resources, grow your own food, manage waste – and the dwelling has to be removable. It's a radical approach about minimising environmental impact, and it's not just about CO2. It assumes all the world's resources are shared equally and pushes you to live within your means. You have to include information about consumer purchases and transport as well. “It's suitable for individuals, couples or families, and is perfectly achievable using current building methods and technologies. There have been six or seven applications approved so far.” Widening the appeal All undoubtedly noble objectives, but with numbers of sites being developed to the demands of the policy currently low, is it an approach that's reaching the numbers of people it needs to? Waghorn said: “It's well-known among people who are interested in living this way, but the average person perhaps wouldn't know about it. As part of the One Planet Council, we're exploring how people could implement this in less remote areas, on the edge of a settlement. This would be for people who want to live a more sustainable lifestyle but perhaps would want to maintain a full-time job. “The current standards demand growing 35 per cent of your own food, with another 30 per cent of needs catered for from the profits from another on-site source. We hope to be allowed to come up with a less stringent specification that would be low energy, but not quite all the way.” A light footprintWhile negotiations on this adaptation of the policy continue, Mark's firm has come up with two designs to meet current standards: the One Planet Monopitch Home and One Planet Caravan. The modular home made from locally-sourced timber was the first to be conceived, and it features pad foundations that can be removed. It's also super-insulated, and can be taken apart and reused or recycled. He explained: “The planning policy requires you to demonstrate that what you are doing is reversible; if you left the site you would leave it in the same state you found it or better. You're not talking about building with a concrete base, it has to sit lightly on the land. This is a good philosophy to have anyway.” All text and details taken from: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/blog/sustainable-self-build-homes-likely-future-welsh-developments Good news for self builders! West Berkshire District Council and Reading Borough Council took it upon themselves to challenge a government policy which no longer found developments of 10 or less houses exempt from the Section 106 Contributions to Affordable Housing.
The High Court found the changes of November 2014 as unlawful and so will ensure builders and self builders building 10 or fewer homes will be exempt from additional building costs which could have put an end to a project before it have even begun. This could result in a saving of around £15,000 per home. |
Whether you are thinking about undertaking a Self Build Project, a Home Renovation or Home Extension, yourHomeBuild provides you with expert advice and guidance. |