self build help

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self build help

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bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 10:50 am Post subject: self build help

Last weekend my OH decided that we are never going to find our ideal house and any plans that we have to move to New Zealand are very long term.

He has decided that he would like to have a look at the feasability of building our own house with a little bit of land.

Are there any books/mgazines/websites that anyone can recommend - we are both complete novices and need to do some reading and research to decide if it is viable for us

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45671
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 10:56 am Post subject:
There's a magazine called Self Build summat or other to which I have a now useless subscription to, I'd be happy to forward them to you. There's also an excellent book that Jonnyboy (wossit called??) recommended to me which I'm more than happy to send you. I also know someone in Shropshire who has just built an EXTREMELY eco-house recently that would be useful to chat to if you get that far.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45671
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 10:58 am Post subject:
I'd also join the AECB, they have what can be a fairly useful forum as well as an interesting quarterly magazine.

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 11:03 am Post subject:

Thats brilliant Tahir - you are a mine of useful info

I would definitely be interested in having a read of the mag and book and will PM you my address if that is OK.

have you decided that self build is not for you now? We are not sure if it is going to be for us but think it is worth having a look at. Not looking forward to trying to find a suitable plot!

Whereabouts in Shropshire is the eco-hoiuse?

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 11:07 am Post subject:
There's a magazine Called Home Building and Renovation (or similar) they have lots of stories about self builds but more useful at the back they have advice on planning etc, typical costs and even plots for sale.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45671
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 11:13 am Post subject:

bernie wrote:

have you decided that self build is not for you now?

Only because the finances that we had sorted sort of evaporated before we got to 'em. (long story, you don't want to know)

I'd have no hesitation in doing a self build if I could.

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 11:34 am Post subject:

Hi Bernie,

We've finished the first stage of our new house, and are dithering about the design and use of stage 2 whilst waiting for this really dry and hot weather to let us start digging foundations.

We've tried to make the house as "green" as possible, with solar and wind for electricity, solar & wood for water and space heating, straw bale and wool for insulation etc.

There are a few 'photos of the house under construction in here:

https://www.totalfrance.com/france/gallery/hwh_newbuild

I'll help in any way I can.

HWH

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 11:39 am Post subject:
Thanks for the offer of help HWH Just had a look at your pics they are fab - truly inspirational That is one huuuuge house you are building there - it looks lovely

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 11:52 am Post subject:

tahir wrote:

There's a magazine called Self Build summat or other to which I have a now useless subscription to, I'd be happy to forward them to you.

There's also an excellent book that Jonnyboy (wossit called??) recommended to me which I'm more than happy to send you.

I also know someone in Shropshire who has just built an EXTREMELY eco-house recently that would be useful to chat to if you get that far.

Tahir, the book was the house builders bible which is available HERE

Bernie, there is a downsizer article Here on self build, although it is obviously UK biased, there are also some links.

If you have any specific questions, do ask.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45671
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 11:57 am Post subject:
That's the one. Gimme your address and I'll send you my copy.

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 12:03 pm Post subject:
Thanks for all your help - we had already read you article JB and I had shown the pics of your house to OH which has really spurred him on I am definitely more wary than him - I will definitely be asking loads of questions I am sure

Aled

Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Anglesey

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 05 12:30 pm Post subject:

Hi Bernie,

I'm a little way down the process in that we've decided to self build, have a piece of land, but are battling with the planners for the right to build there.

I've been doing a lot of research, though, so if you have any specific questions I may be able to help. The most useful resource I've found is a book called The Housebuilders Bible - it's got pretty much everything you'll need as far as I can see. There's a few magazines out, all of which seem to vary in usefulness monthly - Build It and Selfbuild and Design are two that I can remember off the top of my head.

Good Luck!

tawny owl

Joined: 29 Apr 2005
Posts: 563
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 05 12:31 pm Post subject:
And don't forget the Homebuilding and Renovating show! In particular, check out the alternative building methods such as Beco Wallform. www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/ (honestly, I have nothing to do with it; I just thought it was really good when I went to it)

catalyst

Joined: 03 May 2005
Posts: 6

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 05 10:27 am Post subject:
these people are good, may be of help: https://www.segalselfbuild.co.uk/index.html andy

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 05 11:40 am Post subject:

Just to put in something to amplify previous comments, and build this resource...

The Housebuilder's Bible (linked above) is a real goldmine of info on practically every aspect of building. But its *not* a tutorial on plastering, bricklaying, electrics or anything of that sort.

What it does do is discuss the pros and cons (and costs) of different approaches. Ways in which regulations may affect your choices, and where it makes sense to exceed minimum requirements (like insulation).
The book is updated most years.
Its focus is on conventional building, relating everything to how a commercial developer (Bellway, Barratt?) might do things, the reasons for that choice, and why, and at what cost, you might choose to do things differently.
Even if your focus is on 'alternative' building techniques, you'll need to learn about the regs, and the basic ways in which things are normally done.

For anyone contemplating a building project, the 'Bible' makes a damn good starting point...

Its also worth noting that the Grand Designs website has many links to the products, suppliers, architects, etc, involved with the featured projects. Their magazine, however, seems more aimed at interior decoration and designer objects...
https://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/grand-designs/index.html

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