My Self Build - Dorset

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anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
quotequote all
I've been asked my a number of people to put a build thread together so this is it. I'll try to keep it updated weekly or, more importantly, when things happen and hopefully it won't bore you all to death.

I've wanted to build my own house since 1999 but have never been quite in the right position to do so. I've bought and sold five houses over that time but deep down knew I'd have to build at some stage as the desire kept nagging at me.

In June 2008 I finally took the plunge. I sold my house and moved into rented accommodation believing that I'd find a plot within 12 months. After 3 years I gave up hope and decided to buy again as I was feeling too unsettled. As is always the way with these things, after 6 months in the new house I heard about a garden plot, which had finally got planning permission after many years, and began negociating with the owner. In October 2012, after managing to sell my house in 3 months, I finally owned my plot and moved back into a rental.

The plot already had planning permission for a 4 bedroom, 2 story house but the design did nothing for me. After searching for so long I really wanted to build something unique so began working with an architect on a single story contemporary house of approximately 1800 sq feet.

I finally got my planning permission in December 2012 and since then I have spent another 6 months finalising building regs and, more importantly, trying to get permission to actually start the build due to exposed tree roots across the entrance to the plot.

Last Thursday evening the tree officer finally accepted that we could cut the roots at the entrance and get machinery on site.

And so the adventure began.

So to start with these are some of the pictures to set the scene from the last few weeks right up to today.


Firstly, the plot as purchased. it's the end of the rear garden of a 1930s detached house in Canford Cliffs, Poole.





The location is in a quietcul-de-sac:


And when it's finished it should fit in like this:



The planning application drawings:

Site plan: Luckily it's a wide plot so can take a single story property but we've tried to maximise the width.


Front elevation:


Floor plan:




3D renderings (some small changes since these were done but it's pretty close0:




The dreaded roots that held us up for months:



Plot all boarded out:



Finally, we can start, Yay!!!:



Today with trenches dug:


And the concrete gets poured.


Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 31st July 15:57

scenario8

6,554 posts

178 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
quotequote all
The long awaited build thread begins...

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
quotequote all
scenario8 said:
The long awaited build thread begins...
Tell me about it!!! At one stage i never thought it would happen with the issues with roots.

scenario8

6,554 posts

178 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
quotequote all
You've waited so long you've since upgraded your rendered 3D jag to a Range Rover.

herbialfa

1,489 posts

201 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
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Poole????

Build it sell it & retire!

Neil - YVM

1,310 posts

198 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
quotequote all
Looking forward to watching this. Good Luck.

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
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Nice area - I've a few clients round there, had one or two in Western Ave for a start.

worsy

5,776 posts

174 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
quotequote all
Bookmarked smile

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
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One of my favorite parts of the country, looking forward to this. Good Luck. I have roofers down there too !biggrin

Muncher

12,219 posts

248 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
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Bookmarked!

Nick Grant

5,409 posts

234 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
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I think you posted up the plans before. Very cool. Reminds me of the Incredibles.

z4chris99

11,218 posts

178 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
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canford cliffs is pretty £££££££££££

good luck will enjoy seeing it grow

Streetrod

6,468 posts

205 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
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Good luck with this, is your neighbour a Huf Haus?

pidsy

7,958 posts

156 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
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Good luck mate.

A real dream of mine.

matc

4,714 posts

206 months

Thursday 13th June 2013
quotequote all
Good luck, looking forward to the updates!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Friday 14th June 2013
quotequote all
Hooray. Congratulations. May the early mornings and sleepless nights begin wink Our is just about ready to move in to - same as you, taken us years to find.
Good luck!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Friday 14th June 2013
quotequote all
Streetrod said:
Good luck with this, is your neighbour a Huf Haus?
Yes, the Huf Haus is opposite the plot.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 14th June 07:20

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Friday 14th June 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for all your kind wishes. I think I've had more sleepless nights in the last 6 months than I care to mention.

Every day seems to involve various decisions and even when it doesn't you find something to worry about smile

But it sure is exciting.

Enjoy moving in Skintemma - I may have to change my login to SkintGary at the end of mine wink

Pixel-Snapper

5,321 posts

191 months

Friday 14th June 2013
quotequote all
Loving all the build threads at the moment.

Really nice design that Gary.

Bookmarked.

jdw1234

6,021 posts

214 months

Friday 14th June 2013
quotequote all
Nice design and I think it will age well.

Question: There is no loft. Where will you store xmas decorations, ski stuff, luggage, vaccuum cleaner, ironing board etc.

Where will you store lawn mower etc?

I reckon a spiral wine cellar would be useful in a cool place like that.

Also, I bet a place like that would rent out in seconds if you ever needed to.

Really like the woody feel of the road. For some reason, it reminds me a bit of Cameron's Dad's house from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

You could also imagine Don Draper from Mad Men living there!

Thumbs up!