HALLWAY
Roger knew from the word go that he wanted to incorporate a striking circular hallway
established: “Passive stack ventilation, using the prevailing wind to take away hot air from high- level vents, has been used very successfully in other, hotter parts of the world for centuries.” To help achieve the low energy targets for the house, the timber frame of the house was installed with 300 mm Warmcel cellulose insulation, which is made from recycled paper. In addition, the house has a cold roof system, again featuring 300 mm of insulation, while the timber-framed windows are triple glazed. The roof has been fitted with 32 solar photovoltaic panels with a potential output of 10 kW, providing more electricity than Roger and Lucy need on most days. Overnight, the house runs off surplus energy stored by a Tesla battery. All of these measures mean that while the basement does feature a gas-fired wet heating system with radiators, the only heating above this level is provided by a wood-burning stove. Another investment in sustainable technology is the 7,500 litre rainwater harvesting tank buried in the garden. A pump takes the water gathered there back into the house, where it is used to flush all the toilets and supply the washing machine. However, the couple do have the option to switch to mains supply in the event of a prolonged drought.
The other sustainable choices the couple have made in their self-build include a porous resin driveway (to counter flooding) and LED lighting throughout. Teak wooden flooring from the bungalow has been relaid in the new property and windows from the bungalow will eventually be used for a new greenhouse. Says Roger: “We’re happy with the green credentials of the new house – we’re pretty proud of what we’ve done.”
january 2020
“Curved does mean extra work, and it can add to the cost”
LEARNING LESSONS
Looking back on their self-build journey now, Roger does think that his professional contacts within the housebuilding sector was an advantage: “I know contractors, what they do, their prices and track record and I was able to use that to get what we wanted.” Nevertheless, he and Lucy did learn some lessons the hard way. He says: “In hindsight we would have been more present throughout the build process. We did hire a project manager and he was very good. However, the devil is in the detail, and many things could have gone more smoothly and snags been caught before they became problems had one of us been onsite.”
Besides the costs already mentioned, the bill for professional fees and construction came in at close to £1.2m. The couple used savings, inheritance money and the proceeds from the sale of their London house to fund their self-build, and are now debt-free. Roger says: “It’s a dream come true and the whole project has been a real passion for me. We now have a house built around what we want and which is suited to our lifestyle, rather than something that a construction company thinks we need.”
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