New Build - What's the build quality really like?

Sulphur_Man

Hello,

I'll cut out the background story, but for the first time, we are looking at potentially moving to a new build house on a new development. The location and pricing seem good, we know the area well enough already.

However, I'm interested in any feedback on the general quality of a 3/4 bed new-build townhouse compared to say older, period property - which is all we've ever lived in. No doubt this sort of question has been asked numerous times before.

Having looked at the specs, the fixtures and fittings are all fairly generic, but thats not too concerning. The general insulation, window fittings and overall construction quality is what we're interested by. Basically, are the latest homes built to last, like the old ones. Might be a dumb question, as regulations should cover this....

Any real experiences and feedback much appreciated.

FYI - The developer is RedRow.

brit1234

From building them no, quality 0f interrior/exterrior walls poor, room dimesions smaller as well. Better getting an older property and revamping it.

BitterAndTwisted

I've heard some nightmare tales about new-builds and if I was looking to buy a house (which I'm not) I certainly wouldn't consider buying one. Apart from poor-quality workmanship and finish some of them are no bigger than doll-houses. Beware of viewing anything either empty or furnished with smaller than standard fixtures and furniture! Take along your furniture dimensions and a tape-measure and treble-check they will fit.

However, Redrow might be the Gold Standard in house-builders, you never know. If I was seriously considering buying one, I'd find some other Redrow developments, preferably houses built ten years ago or older and knock on doors and ask people.

jonewer

Sulphur_Man wrote: »

. Basically, are the latest homes built to last, like the old ones.

No. They are built for maximum profit.

iamana1ias

In general they are thrown up rather than built.

Don't try to hang anything on the walls :eek:

amcluesent

>are the latest homes built to last, like the old ones<

Certainly not! Materials are skimped on, the mortar mix is mostly sand, thin soft-wood battens, chipboard everywhere. Build quality is usually bad, foreign labour on piece-work.

SouthCoast

I live in a recent build that is made from cardboard glued to a steel frame.

When the wind blows the building creaks.

jonewer

There was a program on ITV last year called "New Homes From Hell" which was quite revealing.

Probably the most interesting thing was how the NHBC guarantee is worth less than the pixels its typed on.

Be very careful about buying new builds built on posioned land, landfill, marshland etc..

googler

I watched a flatted development being built not far from me. They did the ground works, then put up a timber frame. Ground floor, first, second then third, and up to roof level.

Not a sign of any stone, metal nor brick.

Then the rains came. Some of the heaviest rain in years. The timber frame got soaked. Absolutely drenched.

Not long after that, the deliveries of 'Architectural Brick' and 'Architectural Stone' arrived on site. If I'm not mistaken, this type of brick and/or stone is described thus because it's not load-bearing....?? Or perhaps someone will correct me on that one.....

So, at the core of the building is a sodden mass of timber, with some decorative stonework thrown around the outside.

Would you buy a flat on the top floor !??!?!

slobs

We lived in new build for a while - never again.
Hubby leant on the dividing wall one day and the nails popped through the plaster. You couldn't hang anything on the walls at all. Soundproofing between us and neighbours was awful, could hear them using toilet and having nookie in the bedroom. Soundproofing inside was awful too, really noisy when people went up the stairs or walked around over your head.
We moved in just after Christmas and first storm we had, most of the houses on the estate (including ours) lost roof tiles, which took ages to get sorted. Double glazed windows steamed up inside and despite several visits to rectify, were still the same the day we left.
Garden was tiny and flooded when it rained as the house was built on heavy clay, took days to drain each time. Room sizes were really small, it was 3 bed house but would fit twice over into the 3 bed we have now.
Now living in 1950's solid brick house, can't hear a thing from neighbours, all interior walls are brick and it's much bigger too.

mqandy

I've rented a home on a 'luxury' new build estate, and have to agree with the other posters.

While some of the homes can be nice, I have come to really despise developers. What they think they can get away with is sickening.

Sometimes however, the price and location does make up for it.

If that's the case and you do decide to go for one, then fine, but make sure you fight the developers to get every last fault corrected as soon as you discover it within the first 5 years or so.