20 Lessons for Self-Build Success - Part Two

Read Part One

11.

"Designers sometimes forget about the complexity of the plumbing behind the design. Plumbers do, however, need to be able to get to the root of a problem quickly — which can often be inhibited by poorly thought out designs. In order to prevent problems in the future, make sure you design in easy access to the following areas: the taps and waste; heating boilers; water softeners; waste-disposal units; built-in American-style freezers with ice makers; shower controls and waste; toilet cisterns; and any electric pumps for showers or jacuzzi-style baths." Richard Clarke, Chairman of 1st Action Heating & Plumbing (0800 1123 999).

12.

"Getting your project budget right is even more important now, as lenders are more reluctant to provide additional borrowing by means of a ‘further advance’ during your project, if you run out of money," says David Murphy of BuildStore Financial Services (0845 223 4888). "Spend extra time planning your project and make sure that you add a decent contingency fund to cover unforeseen costs and ‘spec creep’ — 15% of build costs is recommended for a selfbuild, and 15-20% for a renovation or conversion. Consult a specialist who can help you work out your project budget."

13.

Building good working relationships with professionals, tradesmen and suppliers was the key to the success of Paul and Jean Armstrong’s Georgian farmhouse self-build in County Durham. "Trying to deal with everything over the phone doesn’t work, because you are just another voice among many," reflects Paul. "It’s much better to deal with people face to face — you are much more likely to get results that way. We also learnt to be decisive about changes to the design as we went along. It’s important that you try to understand the build process and how the changes you make will affect the progress of the build. It leads to a much better working relationship all round."

14.

Build a home which is flexible enough to evolve with you. Using attic trusses in the roof will facilitate a future conversion, while designing in the potential for a ground floor en suite bedroom will be of benefit in later life.

15.

"Get the budgeting right," says David Snell, author of Build Your Own Home. "Never bite off more than you can chew financially — don’t kid yourself that it’ll be cheaper for you than anyone else. Start with the budget and work backwards — the plot, the design, the specification should all flow from the budget, not the other way around."

16.

"If you want to build an eco house, first define what you mean by ‘eco house’," says H&R’s green expert Tim Pullen, who runs eco consultancy WeatherWorks (weatherworks.co.uk). "Is it energy efficiency, low CO2 emissions, sustainable materials, low running costs — or all or none of the above? Having clear in your own mind what it is you seek to achieve will enable you to communicate that to your designer."

17.

If the groundworks will create lots of spoil, look to including it within your landscaping scheme — to absorb the costs of carting it away (which can be considerable). Or find a local landowner in need of infill.

18.

"It’s a false economy to undertake electrical DIY work, with risks far outweighing the benefits of doing it on the cheap," says Philip Buckle, Director General at Electrical Safety Council (0870 040 0561). "Rewiring a plug or changing a light switch is fine, but things like installing a central heating system, lighting point or a new socket outlet require a professional to avoid serious accidents. Use an electrician registered with a Government-approved scheme to carry out any electrical installation work."

19.

"Beware of picking the cheapest price from a builder who can start tomorrow. They might have forgotten to include some materials or labour. It may be cheaper in the long run to select a dearer quote, rather than risk an aggrieved builder skimping on the job to recoup losses — so you end up with a badly done job or paying for lots of expensive extras." Ian Rock is author of Build Your Own House Manual (Haynes).

20.

Prioritise creating a low-resource home (with a low-energy demand) before specifying renewable.

Read Part One

Further Reading:

• What It's Like to Self-build
• Britain's Most Famous Self Builds
• Starting Out: The Practicalities of Self-building