[KRS_SN]

We are lucky to live in a home built by a housebuilder who has over 100 years in the business and many of their homes around us from the 1920's etc are in a perfect state.
With builders who are chosen how does one make assumptions about long term quality/ stability of these things.

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

With builders who are chosen how does one make assumptions about long term quality/ stability of these things.

As long as the builders build what the structural engineers have drawn, using the specced materials I suspect most modern build will last far longer than anything built in the past.

The amount and size of steel in our build is simply because the structural engineers have done their job with following modern building regulations and than added some more margin.

Our builders have worked with the same structural engineers and architect for years, and don't deviate away from drawings. The reality is though you probably build some thing that looks the same as what we are aiming for on the outside but with half the structural support and no one will know anything different till its really tested by with time or extreme events.

For our build, I have no doubt the building will out last us, and anyone we know who's alive now.

[NotGotABimmer23]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

As long as the builders build what the structural engineers have drawn, using the specced materials I suspect most modern build will last far longer than anything built in the past.

The amount and size of steel in our build is simply because the structural engineers have done their job with following modern building regulations and than added some more margin.

Our builders have worked with the same structural engineers and architect for years, and don't deviate away from drawings. The reality is though you probably build some thing that looks the same as what we are aiming for on the outside but with half the structural support and no one will know anything different till its really tested by with time or extreme events.

For our build, I have no doubt the building will out last us, and anyone we know who's alive now.

Building reg are already hugely OTT, building in additional margin on top is just costing you money.

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by SpeedyPro

Building reg are already hugely OTT, building in additional margin on top is just costing you money.

No offence but I rather trust SEs whos being on site, done the calculations etc than someone on the internet .

The money will be forgotten very quickly, the house will be standing for hopefully quite for quite a while.

[gangzoom]

We now have the start of a roof, Velux windows are now on order and openings formed

Plenty more work to be done at the front still, and 2 more bits of steels to install next week. Builders is optimistic we’ll be water tight before winter hits, which would be very welcome.

[gangzoom]

Front of the house now taking shape, old walls gone, and my wife can finally visualise the 1.5 height atrium over the central corridor that will over look both the kitchen and front hall way.

Plenty of roof rafters in now, all windows ordered, off to Grand Design live next week to work out what kind of stairs to get for the new hall way. Very slowly getting there .

[Ennoch]

For all your extension looks like it's going to be a great place, it's actually your back garden that jumps out at me gangzoom, it looks lovely. Those sprawling, flowing mature shrubs just look very calming.

[gangzoom]

Ennoch 100% Agree, the garden is what sold us on the house, and in reflection it took me 3 house purchase to realise its not the house that matters the most in any move, its the plot, otherwise known as ‘location, location, location’ .

We really lucked out with the plot, and the decision to spend so much effort on the renovation was because the plot ‘deserves’ a good house to do the garden justice. We have new build estates going up around us like mad, but the area we can see from our plot is all in a conservation area and trees protected by various charters, so even when the local ‘village’ inevitably gets swallowed up by the city, our view/privacy wouldn’t change on bit, which ultimately the true value of the plot.

It doesn’t matter how nice the house if you wake up to this ‘view’ every morning, we cannot wait for the building works to finish.

[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

Ennoch 100% Agree, the garden is what sold us on the house, and in reflection it took me 3 house purchase to realise its not the house that matters the most in any move, its the plot, otherwise known as ‘location, location, location’ .

We really lucked out with the plot, and the decision to spend so much effort on the renovation was because the plot ‘deserves’ a good house to do the garden justice. We have new build estates going up around us like mad, but the area we can see from our plot is all in a conservation area and trees protected by various charters, so even when the local ‘village’ inevitably gets swallowed up by the city, our view/privacy wouldn’t change on bit, which ultimately the true value of the plot.

It doesn’t matter how nice the house if you wake up to this ‘view’ every morning, we cannot wait for the building works to finish.

I totally agree. Sadly my current view is similar to your photo, and to be fair always has been, but I was lucky to spend a lot of time on my grandparents (now my parents) croft growing up and so always appreciated what a nice garden and space could do for making you feel free. I always feel penned in like a battery chicken when you look out on all the identikit houses, except in Scotland they're not bare bricked like down south but hideously coated in pebbledash, like fish batter.

When I eventually move north it's 100% going to be location that I go for. You can always renovate and improve a house to make it a home, but you can't change the view. Fields, hills and woods are the criteria for me, and preferably ground surrounding that is completely unsuitable for developers too. A friend of my dad's recently flattened his old house completely and spent the best part of 750k rebuilding a dream home on what must be one of the best views in the country. What you see out your window and feel beneath your feet is such an important thing and has such an impact. Your whole property will be brilliant once it's finished, especially with all the glass that allows you to see the greenery that lies beyond.

[Pond]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

We are lucky to live in a home built by a housebuilder

That is a 'contradiction in terms'. Since about 1960 there have been no new houses built 'properly' in the UK, except those built as one-offs IMO.

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by Pond

That is a 'contradiction in terms'. Since about 1960 there have been no new houses built 'properly' in the UK, except those built as one-offs IMO.

You're probably right. 5 years living in Miller homes new build from 2012-17 wasn't great loads of issues.
Macmic homes from 2017 to now has been zero maintenance. Sad to see they've fallen and been taken over by Springfield homes.

[gangzoom]

I'm pretty sure the bits of the bungalow we had to pull down was pre 1960s build, utter 'rubbish' in the words of our builder, parts of the building has no foundations!!!

But that's all in the past now. Some glazing has gone in, and work on the roof really progressing. The gable glazing however will take time to produce, install date isn't till early December....still water tight before Jan 2024, that's OK with me.

[Pond]

Can't help wondering if your SE company have shares in British Steel, or are on a percentage. There is an awful lot of unnecessary steel there IMO. Steel has virtually no thermal value, so will leak heat like a bastard.

Don't wish to 'piss on your bonfire' but it does look extremely OTT from my POV.

[MY340i]

More importantly, how is the garden always looking so good? Never seen one kept like this on a building site

[Bryans69]

Must say I'm quite enjoying the updates, although still struggling to see what you are actually getting.

Do you have any before and after floorplans? I know you posted something a while back, but that I think was quite cluttered and largely the structural ones.

Reminds me a bit of our extension a few years back. Nothing on this scale, and not entirely needed, but massively changed the dynamics of the house for the better.

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by Pond

C
Don't wish to 'piss on your bonfire' but it does look extremely OTT from my POV.

Always nice to see everyones view, but the SEs are the same ones who worked on the architects and builders own houses. So you can probably understand why I have a good amount of faith/trust in them .

They have been onsite multiple times now and not charged extra fees etc, they openly acknowledge its one of the most complex domestic project they have done. But as I've said before, what's the fun in life if you are just going to copy everyone else. We 100% didn't need any extra space, so this was all about 'design' and feel of the building.

It's actually quite amazing to now see all the steels fitted in place. I cannot wait to get the thing water tight now so we can start interior works, hopefully the glazers can deliver on their estimate of early December.

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by Bryans69

Reminds me a bit of our extension a few years back. Nothing on this scale, and not entirely needed, but massively changed the dynamics of the house for the better.

On paper we are going from a 4 bed detached bungalow with a large family bathroom to a.......4 bed detached bungalow WITHOUT a large family bathroom

But the cost/change is making what was a dark/un-used front entrance the heart of the house - literally, as the main entrance hallway and kitchen is essentially now one joint 1.5 story space/atrium, with a mezzanine floor/corroder joining the two bed rooms upstairs. You will be able to see the back garden from the front of the house, even without opening the main front door - totally unnecessary but why not .

The 'main' bedroom is also where the biggest changes will be, with double aspect views of the garden via large gable/Juliet balcony and 2.2 meter tall side window. The dressing room and overly sized ensuite was my wife's 'requirements' to the architect .

Now waiting for quote/design from the stairs company for the stair case, not sure exactly the design we are after yet though, so will depend on quotes etc.

[gangzoom]

All the steels are finally in!!

Finally able to properly visualise the entrance hall, atirum, and kitchen. It's one massive space, builders now pushing to have roof done and windows in before Xmas.

Quite excited now, slightly worryingly cost no longer seem to feature in any discussion, its just yes let's get it done!!

[JD6]

Looks good. I like the 900x3000 roof light in particular - I had to Google that to see what they look like.

[un1eash]

Looks great so far and nice to see something different built to your exact requirements.

[gangzoom]

Steady progress, interior space is now appearing, main master bedroom gable will have quite a view. The interior view from the main upstairs corridor should be pretty nice too, entrance hallway one side, kitchen the other.







The ‘extra’ costs do keep on coming though. Originally wasn’t going to touch old roof on the front gable, but the difference in just the truss width between the old vs new meant it became an easy decision just to remove all of the old roof…….so much for houses being better ‘quality’ in the olden days .

Next update should include roof tiles and hopefully most of the glazing…..

[gangzoom]

Getting really excited now. Roof tiles go on next week, glazing following week. Aiming to have some 'keys' before Xmas, might even spend a few hours in the house on the day......Still loads of work to go, but highest risk bits are nearly done.

I can really now see what the architect was visualising with the main bedroom and the mezzanine corridor overlooking both the kitchen/glazed front entrance porch.

Cannot wait for December to come, I feel 10 years old again waiting for Xmas