beginning digging out for the groundworks and foundations in July. They did all this themselves, as well as wheelbarrowing in all the aggregate and sand – necessary because the narrow site meant they couldn’t get the digger round the back of the site. “One of Tom’s best purchases were car ramps so we could take the digger over the trenches dug for the foundations,” says Elaine. To save on cost, they bought the digger as well as the scaffolding (which Tom was able to erect himself) rather than hiring them. As a bonus, they sold them on for virtually the same as the purchase price at the end of the project. The foundations were dug and the site


was prepped, including the suboor slab, by Christmas 2019. It was then a case of waiting for the Scotframe kit to arrive, which it did just in time  eactly three weeks before the first Coid lockdown in March 2020. “We weren’t bored!” Elaine jokes. “We had everything we needed, and we just got stuck in; Tom knew a joiner, and we got a crane.”


Although for the most part the build went smoothly, they encountered one problem with the frame when they discovered the main beam for the roof was 40 cm too short. Scotframe took care of it quickly, arranging for a new beam to be manufactured in Southampton – and ferried by lorry overnight.


They also faced an issue with how to deal with rainwater, when Scottish Water changed their policy right after they got planning, meaning discharging rainwater into a combined drain was no longer allowed. “After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, we did eventually get consent so our rainwater was allowed to discharge into the combined sewer via a 10 mm opening,” Elaine says. “But that almost sunk the entire project.” Saving on cost was the primary driver behind taking on the majority of work themselves. They were funding the build with their pensions and savings, on the basis they would replenish it when they sold their existing house. They had


72 www.sbhonline.co.uk


While Tom did a lot of the physical work, Elaine took on the project manager role, as well as labouring wherever she could


a rough budget in mind, with some money put aside as a contingency.


Although looking to keep costs low, Elaine says they didn’t skimp on important things. “We got good quality, low maintenance triple glazed windows and oak stairs,” she says. “We spent money where we felt we needed to.” They were also able to be cost effective; the kitchen is from IKEA, and they chose laminate ooring oer the underoor heating downstairs, with tiles in the bathrooms. By this point Elaine said she was struggling to make decisions, and figured laminate would be easier to replace if she changed her mind. Where contractors were required, Elaine made


sure she was onsite at all times supervising, and correcting if anything wasn’t being approached correctly. One of her biggest tips is to not assume that the professionals always have the best solutions. One such example was the SuDS surface water attenuation tank, which the structural engineers had proposed to satisfy Scottish Water. It was huge, taking up almost the entire area to the front of the house. “I panicked every time I thought about it,” she says. Eventually, she spoke to Building Control who advised using more of the ground as a soakaway, meaning less attenuation tank. “I


nov/dec 2022


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