CONTACTS/ SUPPLIERS
ARCHITECTS Habitat+ Architects
www.habitatplus.co.uk
BUILDER Build-Shaw Ltd
buildingbetter89@gmail.com
BIFOLD DOOR Lacuna (UK and Ireland)
www.lacuna-bifold.co.uk
INTERNAL GLASS Express Toughening Ltd
expresstoughening.com
PIVOT DOOR Artimatum
artimatum.com
“You never really know what you’re going to fi nd when you start digging but the builders were marvellous and it was like precision surgery”
complication of three companies involved in construction closing down during the process. Tim says: “To be honest, you couldn’t pick a worse three, but we made sure that the project could carry on and they became just more hurdles to overcome, rather than showstoppers. In each case, we advised Frank and Kerry of the risks and they elected to continue.” The collapse of the ground waterproofi ng company the day before they were to begin work created a “critical situation”, he recalls. “The entire programme depended on this installation.”
He adds: “The main contractor managed to
source the correct materials from stock that suppliers had left over and the installation went ahead as planned.
“When something has been carefully planned over several months to protect the client’s risk profi le and at the last minute it goes wrong and creates havoc, it can derail everything very quickly. We ended up losing two weeks due to this, but it hasn’t been a problem.” At the time the company providing the timber superstructure closed down they had fortunately already completed their design work, and the main contractor was cutting and making the frame. Tim says: “We as architects stepped up to ensure the quality control of the timber frame and that nothing was compromised.” The third bombshell was the main contractor going into voluntary liquidation about three months before the end of construction. “We
46
again supported Frank and Kerry to ensure that they weren’t compromised,” says Tim, “but it was another blow and hit the timeline.” Although the company folded, several former employees were able to help fi nish the project as individuals.
As if these issues weren’t enough to deal with,
there was also an unexpected problem around fi nancing something erry is keen to highlight as a warning to other would-be self-builders. “On top of paying for 35% of the project
from savings, we also had a 65% self-build mortgage, which allowed us to periodically draw down against the value of the property as it was developed. “You’d think as you’re putting money into the
project the value of the project would increase by the amount of money being spent on it, but every time the lender assessed the property, the valuation came in considerably less than the money spent on it. “It’s only because we were able to draw on our pensions that we were able to fi ll the gap. Had we relied just on the mortgage and the original 35% we’d have been stuck.” The couple say they haven’t had their new home professionally valued and have no intention of ever selling it, but they expect it to be worth about £1m now. The total sum for the self-build project, including the land purchase, legal and consultants’ fees, rented accommodation and fi nance costs, has been £1.1m.
BALUSTRADE Steve Ellis Cooper (blacksmith)
stevecooperblacksmith.co.uk
PASSIVHAUS DESIGN Beattie Consult & Build Limited
www.beattie.io
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