Cost of self build

motorguy

victorfirst wrote: »

As a footnote i think Heat recovery ventilation at 5k will NEVER PAY FOR ITSELF

+1

Crazy Money. But then if you're aiming for Zero Carbon then maybe thats one of the things you 'have' to do. I dont know. We didnt go that far.

We went for a couple of Drimaster 2000's (needed 2 due to size / shape of house) which allowed us to not have trickle vents and letter boxes, so it basically was close to a zero cost installation, but improved our air tightness.

Ecobuilder

Hi there,

I work for a timberframe company who specialises in building affordable energy efficient homes.

As said before, how much a house costs is "a piece of string" question. Style of house, location, contacts, ability to self manage, level of finish all play a big part in a ball park figure.

The big thing i have found is not just the cost of the house but the cost of the heating system and the annual expected cost to heat the house. You can build a home at £65 per sq ft but have an expected annual requirement of 30,000 K/wh which means £50,000 over 15 years. You can build a house that meets the "longstop" elemental values set by Building Control, but that alone will not be good enough to pass SAPS. Ultimately this means that you will need to invest in solar panels/efficient heating/air/source/MHRV system in order to get final Building Control certification.

Typically i have found that taking this approach you will end up spending £68-£80 per sq ft on a house and you are gambling or over engineering in the hope that the house might be as efficent as possible

We specialise in building a house correctly. We build he structural and thermal envelop and you self build/ contract the rest (block work, tiles,windows, internal joinery, plumbing,electrics, sanitary ware, kitchens etc). This means you have more control over you budget.

In the last 5 years we have built a number of homes across the UK and Ireland which have such little heat loss that they do not need a central heating system, just a small heat source. This means that an open plan house of +3,500 sq ft with north facing picture windows and no curtains, built at £75 per sq ft with a constant internal temp of +20 oC had a space heating bill of £350 using a 5.5 kw pellet burning room heater. A 2700 sq ft house using a 5 kw multi fuel stove last year used £130 of logs/briquettes. We have plenty more examples of how by building homes of between 1500-4500 sq ft, the heat requirement to maintain an internal temperature of 20 oC when it is -5oC outside is .5-7 k/wh repectively. All at a sensible budget with no catchs!

We use a MHRV system to completment the very low heat loss to maintain a comfortable level of heat throughout the house, included in the price. To say that this doesn't pay for itself is a little simplistic. If you have an airtight house, you will need mechanical ventilation. Ventilation without heat recovery is heat loss. A good MHRV system is well worth its investment in ventilation, heat recovery, heat movement and overall comfort.

Building a turn key home today to minimum standards today should cost a ball park £70-80 (variable on the above points) but building an energy efficent home should cost the same if you have the right partner. Heat loss, scientifically understood as through fabric and draft, taking into account the problems thrown up by interstitial condensation, acoustic transferance and cold bridging, can still be delivered cost effectively because every £ has been put where it makes a difference.

Drop me a line if you have any questions.

A

motorguy

Reported as SPAM

If others can do the same.

Thanks

Ecobuilder

motorguy wrote: »

Reported as SPAM

If others can do the same.

Thanks

This seems to be aimed at myself.

This thread is about someone with planning permission looking advice about building a house.

As someone who works in the industry, with a vested interest in making sure people are supported to get as much transparent information as possible, I believe i have every right to post.

Could you get back to me as to why you think that my comments are spam?

saverbuyer

TyroneTimberframes wrote: »

This seems to be aimed at myself.

This thread is about someone with planning permission looking advice about building a house.

As someone who works in the industry, with a vested interest in making sure people are supported to get as much transparent information as possible, I believe i have every right to post.

Could you get back to me as to why you think that my comments are spam?

You are trying to advertise you're company/service. Touting for business. This is against forum rules. You can post anonymously.

motorguy

TyroneTimberframes wrote: »

This seems to be aimed at myself.

This thread is about someone with planning permission looking advice about building a house.

As someone who works in the industry, with a vested interest in making sure people are supported to get as much transparent information as possible, I believe i have every right to post.

Could you get back to me as to why you think that my comments are spam?

Because you're blatantly advertising the business you work for, both via your name and logo and also (by inference) that people should contact you at your business direct. That is against forum rules.

I'm a motor trader and whilst i try to advise people on cars on these forums, i dont do so in the context of trying to promote my business.

Ecobuilder

saverbuyer wrote: »

You are trying to advertise you're company/service. Touting for business. This is against forum rules. You can post anonymously.

I take on board what you are saying but I wouldn't say that I am touting to be fair, that suggests that I was offering an un-solicited proposal. The OP was asking for info and i thought it was fair to give it.

Does it make more sense for someone to give a personal opinion or someone to give free proffesional advice that can save people hassle/money/time

I'm not trying to be a smart !!!! but does this mean that i am better not being transparent in my advice and risk appearing shady just to give a positive answer?

Any, if thems the rules I'll become a caped crusader and post anonymously. Sorry for any harm caused.

motorguy

TyroneTimberframes wrote: »

I take on board what you are saying but I wouldn't say that I am touting to be fair, that suggests that I was offering an un-solicited proposal. The OP was asking for info and i thought it was fair to give it.

Does it make more sense for someone to give a personal opinion or someone to give free proffesional advice that can save people hassle/money/time

I'm not trying to be a smart !!!! but does this mean that i am better not being transparent in my advice and risk appearing shady just to give a positive answer?

Any, if thems the rules I'll become a caped crusader and post anonymously. Sorry for any harm caused.

I'm a motor trader, but i dont post here under my motor trade business name, and i try to offer impartial advice.

Its not a matter of 'causing harm' per se, but if one person is allowed to do it, then very quickly this forum becomes just people advertising their own business, which is not what its about.

Ecobuilder

motorguy wrote: »

Because you're blatantly advertising the business you work for, both via your name and logo and also (by inference) that people should contact you at your business direct. That is against forum rules.

I'm a motor trader and whilst i try to advise people on cars on these forums, i dont do so in the context of trying to promote my business.

Fair point. As said in the post above, apologies and i will change my log in and pic. Sorry for any rule breaking

motorguy

TyroneTimberframes wrote: »

Fair point. As said in the post above, apologies and i will change my log in and pic. Sorry for any rule breaking

No probs.

You might well have to get the mods to change your forum name, and i'd remove the logo if i were you as they wont like that either.

They have to be hard on that sort of thing otherwise everyones at it.

Kind Regards

Paul's Car Sales
"where quality cars cost less"