Good Architect/ Grand Designs

ludermor · July 06, 2009, 04:41:48 PM

Do not even attempt it unless you are willing to listen, learn and waste 2 years of your life away. Too many people try to do who havent a fuckign clue and think its simple. Thye deserve all the hardship they get. If you are going self build and have no knowledge get yourself a good project manager, again a decent one wont come cheap but will save you in the long run and let him deal with the day to day hassles.

Trevor Hill · July 06, 2009, 05:05:50 PM

Quote from: sammymaguire on July 06, 2009, 04:36:37 PM
any thoughts on going into a self-build rather than using a building contractor when you do not come from a construction background.

i reckon on a £300k build, the buggers are adding on 20%, approx £60K which goes into their back pocket

major pro's and con's on this one but open to any advice

Must be a hell of a house if it is going to take £300k to build.

Doogie Browser · July 06, 2009, 05:19:51 PM

I built with the help of a contractor, I haven't a Danny la Rue about construction so ruled out self build right away. You know a contractor is making a fortune out of you, but better that than making a balls of it yourself. Just ensure you get a reputable contractor (yeah I know).

Tony Baloney · July 06, 2009, 05:28:54 PM

I got the brother in law to pm my build as I wouldn't have had the time or clue to oversee it with a full time job and two wanes. I think it was a good compromise as I saved money on the quotes I got from contractors and the brother in law obviously made a few quid out of it.

There were a few balls ups with the builder and plasterers which would have cost me days off work. The project manager is paid to sort these out.

Bud Wiser · July 06, 2009, 09:38:02 PM

Drive around the countryside 'till you see a nice house you like then go to the relative county council office and ask to see the planning application files and copy them, or in the case of most councils, look up the plans on the internet and either rob them from the council or download them. Polish lads are great workers and they would throw her up in about three weeks.

sammymaguire · July 07, 2009, 08:26:17 AM

Quote from: Trevor Hill on July 06, 2009, 05:05:50 PM
Quote from: sammymaguire on July 06, 2009, 04:36:37 PM
any thoughts on going into a self-build rather than using a building contractor when you do not come from a construction background.

i reckon on a £300k build, the buggers are adding on 20%, approx £60K which goes into their back pocket

major pro's and con's on this one but open to any advice

Must be a hell of a house if it is going to take £300k to build.

It is I suppose cos its a 6 bedroom 4500sq ft two storey with double garage. had great plans before this recession kicked in, now the reality is that things are a bit tighter I was considering saving a few quid but don't want to compromise the work by going the wrong route.

is timber frame a better option that block build?

theskull1 · July 07, 2009, 08:38:27 AM

If I were you I'd focus on intelligent design and quality material finishes sammy. 4500 is a wild size of a house that in all fairness is not needed IMO

You should first sit down with your missus and draw up a written specification of what you want in the house and how you want it to work. If you do this in enough detail you'll be giving your architect a proper chance to draw up the design your after from that. A conversation is not good enough.

sammymaguire · July 07, 2009, 09:00:35 AM

plans already passed skull1, everything ready to go other than my uneasiness about the economy. When you say intelligent design, the house is ideal for us (maybe slightly excessive if I was totally honest as no family really needs to live in a house this size) and has taken 12 months to put together and get through planning permission (on this topic; architects have cost over €15k which is steep but the plans are impressive and have been passed so I suppose they have done their job). Scale is the question as I would prefer not to have to spend over 300-350k on putting the thing up and I know I have the option of reductions and then applying for retention on any changes which would be a formality.

The house has a large entrance hallway, staircase area and bathroom upstairs which takes up alot of space, bedrooms and living rooms are on 2 wings either side of the main entrance and are certainly not excessive as we have looked at making changes to take the overall size down to closer to the 4k sq ft region but its not as easy as just zooming from 100% down to 90% when you take the height of ceilings, roof construction, and rooms that are already as small as we would want them to be.

Tricky to know what is the best thing to do when it comes to PM, building contractor, self-build as getting the job done right in relation to materials and workmanship on a house like this is a major factor and we know the work afterwards on finishing the house off will also take a number of years and a few more £££

Trevor Hill · January 05, 2010, 12:50:48 PM

Plans v Working Drawings

Having already paid the architect a small fortune, do I need a set of "working drawings" or can any prospective builders work from a set of plans. I dont want to be a skinflint but money is tight and I think 4 grand is a bit rich for another few sheets of paper.

Jimmy · January 05, 2010, 01:38:12 PM

You will have to make a full building control application to the local council and they will require a set of working drawings in order to give their approval. So yeah you will have to get them done. However if you just want to save the site by putting the foundations in you can make a building notice application by using the planning drawings. Few people I've come across are doing that and then going back and doing the full set of plans at a later date when economic times are a little easier. There are risks with this method in that when you do your full plans you might find you need a bigger/reinforced foundation if there are any structural engineers requirements and have to take out the foundations that you've put in.

Thats assuming you live in the north. I don't know what the requirements are for the republic in terms of building control.

ha ha derry · January 05, 2010, 02:28:37 PM

Try getting a price from a reputable timberframe company. They should be able to advise on specification i.e. u-values, fire ratings etc. They should also be able to provide a designated contracts manager for your project. If you have any queries about this PM me.

bingobus · January 05, 2010, 02:39:22 PM

Not exactly same issue but the Sister-in-law and her husband are in some tight spot.

They engaged a local contractor to build their house. Its been a nightmare from the start, he has been paid for work that he hasn't done and he hasn't paid subbies for work they have done. The house is about 60% finished but they won't pay him anymore money, as he has been paid almost all he was due to be paid. He claimed to have been made pay subbies up front but it has emerged he was paying off subbies/suppliers from other jobs and from building his own mansion out in Carlingford. Its turned well nasty and so has he, telling them he doesn't give a dam about their house and is more worried about his own. They've had to secure the site, as some subbies/suppliers have landed to remove stuff from site.

They've taken legal advice but have been told it'll be costly and they are more than likely joining a long queue. Very harsh on them, I'd be inclined to engage another builder to finish the job (i'm sure in current climate a good price could be got) and move on. Easy saying it when its not your money already gone.

thebigfella · January 05, 2010, 02:49:53 PM

Quote from: bingobus on January 05, 2010, 02:39:22 PM
Not exactly same issue but the Sister-in-law and her husband are in some tight spot.

They engaged a local contractor to build their house. Its been a nightmare from the start, he has been paid for work that he hasn't done and he hasn't paid subbies for work they have done. The house is about 60% finished but they won't pay him anymore money, as he has been paid almost all he was due to be paid. He claimed to have been made pay subbies up front but it has emerged he was paying off subbies/suppliers from other jobs and from building his own mansion out in Carlingford. Its turned well nasty and so has he, telling them he doesn't give a dam about their house and is more worried about his own. They've had to secure the site, as some subbies/suppliers have landed to remove stuff from site.

They've taken legal advice but have been told it'll be costly and they are more than likely joining a long queue. Very harsh on them, I'd be inclined to engage another builder to finish the job (i'm sure in current climate a good price could be got) and move on. Easy saying it when its not your money already gone.

I'd firebomb his so called mansion in Carlingford.

bingobus · January 05, 2010, 02:55:01 PM

Quote from: thebigfella on January 05, 2010, 02:49:53 PM
Quote from: bingobus on January 05, 2010, 02:39:22 PM
Not exactly same issue but the Sister-in-law and her husband are in some tight spot.

They engaged a local contractor to build their house. Its been a nightmare from the start, he has been paid for work that he hasn't done and he hasn't paid subbies for work they have done. The house is about 60% finished but they won't pay him anymore money, as he has been paid almost all he was due to be paid. He claimed to have been made pay subbies up front but it has emerged he was paying off subbies/suppliers from other jobs and from building his own mansion out in Carlingford. Its turned well nasty and so has he, telling them he doesn't give a dam about their house and is more worried about his own. They've had to secure the site, as some subbies/suppliers have landed to remove stuff from site.

They've taken legal advice but have been told it'll be costly and they are more than likely joining a long queue. Very harsh on them, I'd be inclined to engage another builder to finish the job (i'm sure in current climate a good price could be got) and move on. Easy saying it when its not your money already gone.

I'd firebomb his so called mansion in Carlingford.

I didn't want to put that in writing "in case" it happened

FL/MAYO · January 05, 2010, 03:15:27 PM

http://www.clevermike.ie/index.php

This website was recommended on another forum about construction.