Peace of mind. readers homes new build Method

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1 readers homes new build Method SIPs Build cost 278,000 Location Oxfordshire Peace of mind Alan and Doreen Longworth wanted a stress free project, so turned to a turnkey package company for help. The SIPs system and specialist team meant the couple couldn t have found an easier route to self build Words Gary Ramsay Photos colin poole january 2013 Build It 49 BI indd 49 16/11/ :00:15

2 readers homes new build The house has absolutely met our expectations. We walk around it and it feels just right Creating your own living space is a thoroughly satisfying and life-affirming achievement but sometimes the amount of work involved in planning, designing and building your own home can send the blood pressure soaring. From the get-go this was something that Alan and Doreen wanted to avoid at all costs. After retirement in 2006 and returning from travelling around Australia in a motor home for three years, the couple decided it was time to lay down some new roots. Before retirement my speciality was developing and building houses, says Alan. I had also worked for many years as a project manager for a kit house provider, so I had a clear idea of what we were trying to achieve. I wanted a complete turnkey package based on two important basic issues a certain completion date and a fixed price. Basically I wanted a company that would give us a finished product without any real physical involvement from me. After living in Reading for many years, Alan knew the area well. A perfect opportunity for a new build arose when the couple spotted a plot of land owned by a developer friend that had existing planning consent for a house they snapped up the 350m 2 plot for 236,000. Alongside Alan s trade knowledge, plenty of self build research in their back pockets and a close examination of the UK market, they got in touch with German manufacturer Hanse Haus. We had a very efficient response from our original enquiry and the sales agent, Giles, said I m not going to sell you a house before you go to Germany and see the homes for yourself. In March 2010, the couple ventured abroad to visit the Hanse Haus show homes and factory. When we purchased the plot, it came with detailed consent, which we wanted to modify, says Doreen. We sketched our ideas onto the original architect s design and drawings. Hanse prepared two possible schemes, including everything we wanted, but incorporated an additional living area in the roof, as well as a winter room, which we had seen in some of the show homes. We then passed this onto our own designer who dealt with all the planning and Building Regulation matters for us. That was all cleared by June. A varied choice After formally agreeing the project they were led into Hanse s sampling centre a veritable Aladdin s Cave. You are there for three days to choose everything you need and focus on every aspect of the house, says Alan. They are incredibly patient and offer excellent advice on the products, according to your own ideas. You choose 50 Build It january 2013 BI indd 50 16/11/ :00:57

3 Favourite feature Even though the winter room wasn t part of our original plan, it s become our favourite area in the house, says Doreen. It s the focal point for the open plan kitchen and dining room and seems to be where we end up sitting and relaxing after every meal the bathroom and all the fixtures and fittings. There are items that come as standard with the package, and a set of extras to upgrade to if you so wish. You can handpick all the interiors, too, which is great as you don t have to travel around from one shop to another selecting this and that; you can do it all under one roof. Just be careful about your power points, plug sockets and light switches. My advice is to take lots of photos to help you remember what you have chosen. The electrical aspects do need to be thought out when you put them on the plan. They only things that Hanse doesn t do are kitchens and fitted wardrobes, but we were happy to specify these ourselves. Although the bulk of the major works were undertaken by the package company, Alan and Doreen had to arrange the groundworks themselves and this had to be done to exact tolerances and measurements in preparation for the Hanse team coming on site from Germany. The Longworths employed a team recommended by Hanse, P&P Brooks, who prepared the site in mid-august (for 33,000) ready for the project manager to inspect and sign off the concrete slab. The construction team and house panels arrived in September. Due to the off site manufacture, the rate at which the home was erected was rapid. Allied to this was the approach of the Hanse team. I felt that the working culture of the German crew was exceptional. The ground floor was done comfortably in a day and in atrocious weather, says Alan. The work rate was so high that by the end of the third day, the roof was on. I met with the project manager on site every week for a brief review of the build january 2013 Build It 51 BI indd 51 16/11/ :01:48

4 The ground floor is split level. The living room opens up, via a small staircase, to the kitchen and dining area and everything went like clockwork. The project manager had agreed for our kitchen contractor and carpenter (for the fitted wardrobes) to start work a week before the house was officially handed over, which meant that everything could be completed and ready for us to move in by the end of November. Maximum efficiency The house boasts the Hanse Haus system, which combines the advantages of SIPs (structural insulated panels) and solid wall construction. The walls have a stud every 300mm and they are completely glued on both sides with OSB boards. This makes them load-bearing, so units, including heavy kitchen cabinets, can be secured anywhere. Walls, ceilings and roofs are insulated with glasswool which is made using over 50% recycled glass. The high level of insulation means that the home is thermally efficient and the heating demand is extremely low. The couple wanted to use some sort of renewable technology, and opted for solar thermal panels on the south-facing pitched roof, which satisfy their hot water requirements. The house also benefits from triple-glazed windows and underfloor heating on the ground level. Instead of a boiler, the couple specified an air-to-water heat pump something that they say is virtually maintenance-free. There are no real service costs for this, 52 Build It january 2013 BI indd 52 16/11/ :02:43

5 readers homes new build + What we learned The house is built to the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 which meant that we had to spend a bit more on the build but we ll gain from cheaper running costs. We ve worked out that our total energy costs have been about 4 a day, and that s throughout the winter months unlike with a typical gas boiler, says Doreen. It is very efficient and is ideal for our needs I would definitely recommend it to other self builders. Inside, there is 180m 2 of living space over the ground floor, which is split level, as is the first floor that leads up to the roof space. The winter room stretches the depth of the house with a window in the kitchen overlooking the front driveway. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors in the winter room look out to the paved garden at the rear of the property. All the rooms in the home are have an attractive finish, with a mixture of wood flooring and large ceramic tiles throughout, as well as fitted carpet in the master bedroom and sitting room. An attractive solid beech staircase leads from the main hall area up to the first floor. For Alan and Doreen, the full turnkey option was their dream self build route. They watched the project unfold in front of them in simple, precision stages and the finished product is testament to the expertise of the package company. We ve got a very attractive, contemporary home that is a joy to live in. It was a truly straightforward process from the first phone call to the handover of the door keys, says Doreen. Even with Alan s past experience in the construction trade, he was impressed with the final project. The work is exemplary. The fact you have no sub-contractors to worry about and there is no one else to blame if anything goes wrong is very reassuring. Hanse dealt with everything, he says. At a final build cost of 278,000 with 2,000 reclaimed in VAT, Doreen says it is worth every penny, The house has absolutely met our expectations. We walk around it and it just feels right. It s not necessarily easy to achieve a house that you feel totally comfortable in and love to spend time in, but this is perfect. + + Be open to suggestions from your design team. We hadn t planned useable loft space or a winter room, but they ve really added to our enjoyment of the home If you use Hanse, make sure you get your kitchen details in place, as well as things like fitted wardrobes so that you can bring everything in to play when you go to Germany on a pre-selection visit Hanse s SIPs systems allows for a speedy build schedule. The ground floor of the Longworths home was complete after just a day, and the entire shell was watertight after just three days january 2013 Build It 53 BI indd 53 16/11/ :03:39

6 readers homes new build Floor plans The Longworth file Build timetable House plans re-created using ARCON 3D Home Design Software. Tel: The couple bought the plot, which came with planning permission for a house, in March They changed the detailed consent and submitted new plans in May, and started the project that summer. Schedule of the build JAN Preliminaries Foundations External walls & windows 10 Roof structure & covering 10 Internal walls & doors 10 FEB Floors, walls & ceiling finishes 10 Joinery & fittings 10 Plumbing & heating 10 Electrics Decorating MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Owners Alan & Doreen Longworth Occupations Retired Location Oxfordshire Type of build Self build Style Contemporary Method of construction SIPs House size 180m 2 (1,938ft 2 ) Plot size 350m 2 Land cost 236,000 in 2010 Build cost 278,000 Total cost 514,000 Cost per m 2 1,544 ( 143 per ft 2 ) Date work commenced August 2010 Construction time 11 weeks Estimated value 650,000 Total build cost breakdown Elements of the build Cost % Cost m 2 Total cost* Groundworks and foundations 12% ,000 External Works 11% ,000 House package 77% 1, ,000 Grand total 278,000 Our verdict Right from the start, the Longworths knew they wanted to get a bespoke home without the hassle of a hands on self build project. Employing a package company was ideal for them and provided real peace of mind. 10 Work in progress by year and month 54 Build It january 2013 BI indd 54 16/11/ :04:48