[
THE SPACIOUS OPEN PLAN KITCHEN PROVIDES A LIGHT, BRIGHT FAMILY AREA WHERE THE ROTHNERS SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME
elements of the house, will be upgraded over time.” The house continues to evolve. Eighteen months ago Damion and Melanie got planning permission to build a linked double garage with rooms above, which they have still to build. “It was great to be able to let someone take
Project summary Renovation cost: £275,000 Current value: £650,000 - £700,000
Cost breakdown Project manager: £20,000 Fees: £3,000 Foundations: £9,000 Windows & doors: £19,000 Timber frame: £30,000 Roof: £11,000 Oak Cladding: £2,900 Kitchen: £10,000 Plumbing: £10,000 Electrics: £10,000 Bathroom fittings: £2,000
Floor coverings & underfloor heating: £8,000 MVHR System: £2,500
over the project management so that we didn’t have the day to day stress of it all, but I think it takes two or three goes to get it just right,” says Damion. “There are a few things about this house we would change, like the position of some of the interior doors and one or two aesthetic adjustments, but nothing we can’t live with.” Damion particularly enjoyed their spell in the caravan. “The summer months were great because of the location, although it got a bit wearing through the winters with two small chil- dren and a big dog living in a small space – the labrador trashed everything in sight! When we finally moved into the house it seemed so big it took weeks to adjust to the space.” For a few months in the caravan they
were also living virtually mortgage-free, although securing funds for the project was a huge challenge. “It was incredibly difficult to get a self-build
mortgage because so many building societies have very strict guidelines about what they will
Contacts/suppliers
Strcutural engineering/timber frame: Oakworth Homes
www.oakworthhomes.co.uk
Heavy materials & second fix: Travis Perkins
www.travisperkins.co.uk
Floor screed: Salop Mixed Concrete
www.smcminimix.co.uk
UFH system: Tailored Heat
www.tailoredheat.co.uk
MVHR system: Villavent
www.systemair.com/xen/Villavent-UK
Oak cladding: Venables Oak
www.venablesoak.co.uk
Standfirst
Bi-folds and windows: Arden Windows
www.ardenwindows.net
Design and planning: Benchmark Self Build
www.benchmarkselfbuild.co.uk
Continued overleaf... selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk 27
and will not cover,” says Damion. “The most stressful period for us was when the money started flowing out and we were getting right up to the budget limit. We ended up using credit cards and personal loans to see us through the final stages. My advice to anyone self building would be to take out a mortgage for more than you think you will need so you have something to fall back on.”
[
“My advice to anyone self-building would be to take out a mortgage for more than you think you will need”
–Damion Rothner
]
But nothing would put Damion off building again. “We are here for the long term, and I’m not so sure Melanie would want to build again, but I would do it all again tomorrow if another great plot came up for sale,” he says.
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