How To Self Build During A Recession - My Experience Of Building A Large Family Home

Time for another update on my self build!

I mentioned recently that I would be mailing lots of construction companies for quotes. I have sent them all letters that contain a link to my plans online. They then download the plans and give me quote based on the dimensions and assumptions on anything I haven't mentioned or included. Here are the stats so far:

ICF manufacturers

10 companies mailed
2 responded
conversion rate = 20% - I am counting the responses here as those through the post. A lot of ICF people called me to discuss the project.

Glass manufacturers

20 companies mailed
7 responded
Conversion rate = 35% - I mailed these companies for both structural glazing for the huge glazed areas at the back and front of the property and for hardwood windows. Those who could not help with both or either recommended local companies I should contact which has been a great help.

My PA Denise, used to work for a curtain walling company who amongst other things did all the curtain walling for Hong Kong airport and most of the canary wharf commercial buildings. She will be talking to her old boss for some help. My architect and structural engineer will work out whether steel will be needed to support the glazing (likely as there is a lot of it), whether to frame with aluminium or steel, the type of glass to specify, whether to support with fins or portals and so on.

SIP manufacturers

5 companies mailed
1 responded
Conversion rate = 20% - again I had a few calls here for more information. My impression at the moment from the quotes I have been getting is that SIP's are NOT a cheap form of construction. They are however quick, efficient, environmentally friendly and supremely airtight. I will keep investigating. Also need to check which mortgage lenders accept SIP's.

Timber frame manufacturers
107 companies mailed
27 responded
Conversion rate = 25% - the reason for the low conversion rate here is that I mentioned enveloping the timber frame with SIP panels as an option that they could quote me for. A lot of manufacturers thought that I specifically wanted SIP panels and because they did not have any involvement with SIP's decided not to quote. I will do another mailing this month and this time I will leave out and mention of SIPs.

Basement manufacturers

8 companies mailed
4 responded
Conversion rate = 50%. The companies mailed were:

Basements (UK) Ltd
Beco Products Ltd
CETCO Europe Ltd (these guys only produce the material for waterproofing a basement)
David Ball Group
glatthaar fertigkeller ltd.
Hanson Building Products
Midland Tanking Ltd
ThermoneX

When I get quotes in from timber frame or SIP manufacturers, I need to ADD the cost of the basement on top. Here's an example. A green oak frame for my build will cost around £120k including erection. A basement from someone like thermonex would then be another £80k-£100k on top.

Now let's look at a softwood closed panel timber frame. That would come in at around £50k. You can then construct the basement yourself using block-block, ICF, concrete panels etc and waterproof it with something like Waterproofing Products | Voltex. That would cost in the order of around £40k if you did most of the work yourself. Quite a saving however if you want to go down this route pay for someone experienced to at least come in and guide you.

Me personally, I am not sure yet which way I will go. I will leave some of the build to the experts and others I will use my own team, as I know some good tradespeople locally. A couple of my school friends are now civil engineers so I will show them what I intend to do well before we break ground to get their opinions.

Digger hire for demolition

On the way to the gym yesterday, I stopped by a plant hire firm. The hire manager quoted me £300 for a digger for the day plus another £300 for delivery. I can probably negotiate that down to £400 all in for both digger and delivery to site. I can get a driver for around £70 for a days work. So overall I am looking at £470 for the demolition in a couple of months time if I use a full size digger. Having said that I know some guys with their own JCB's - I'm sure one of them can pop down and sort it out for a couple of hundred pounds for the day. I just need to find someone with an extendable arm JCB for getting up to roof level (we demolish after we've stripped the roof tiles and taken the timbers out).

Planning permission update

The yellow planning permission notification for local residents has gone up on a tree outside the plot. It's purpose is to let local people know that somebody has applied for planning permission, what I am applying for and how they can comment on the application. It's pretty easy - they can go online, type in the application number and type their comments into a box. I am also attending the parish council meeting on the 4th of March where my application will be discussed.

In terms of the application itself, the planning officer has been very helpful. She made some suggestions on our initial application, which we amended and resubmitted. We now have around 2 months before planning permission is granted assuming all goes to plan.

To wrap up this update…I am busy at the moment collecting quotes from all the different tradespeople - including electrician, roofer, and landscaper etc to help me plan the build. My aim here is to lock people in on fixed prices to give me reasonable confidence in the projected cost of the build give or take a contingency.