My Self Build - Dorset
Discussion
Latest update after a two week hiatus in build activities whilst the engineer and architect argued about stuff 
The garage foundations are starting today (no pics yet) and yesterday part of the steel frame went up. Rest goes up when we build up the walls over the next few weeks. It's interesting to see some height appear, makes the whole thing seem a little more real. Hopefully the pace of the build should pick up from here!
Me pretending I'm helping out!!
Frame as seen from rear of plot.
The garage foundations are starting today (no pics yet) and yesterday part of the steel frame went up. Rest goes up when we build up the walls over the next few weeks. It's interesting to see some height appear, makes the whole thing seem a little more real. Hopefully the pace of the build should pick up from here!
Me pretending I'm helping out!!
Frame as seen from rear of plot.
Latest Update - 29 July:
Since last time the preparation has been going on for the block and beam floor to be installed at the front of the house; the suspended slab for the lower rear and the garage slab.
The block and beam is happening today - hopefully - as it's tipping it down!
View from front. All pipes for drains and rainwater (all internal) are in place.
Now that the rear is ready for the slab to be poured, it's all looking big again.
The garage slab was poured yesterday too. It will be at the same level as the front of the house as its on a pad supported ring beam due to tree roots.
Hopefully all the floor will be completed in the next week, so I will update the thread then.
Since last time the preparation has been going on for the block and beam floor to be installed at the front of the house; the suspended slab for the lower rear and the garage slab.
The block and beam is happening today - hopefully - as it's tipping it down!
View from front. All pipes for drains and rainwater (all internal) are in place.
Now that the rear is ready for the slab to be poured, it's all looking big again.
The garage slab was poured yesterday too. It will be at the same level as the front of the house as its on a pad supported ring beam due to tree roots.
Hopefully all the floor will be completed in the next week, so I will update the thread then.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 30th July 11:21
5potTurbo said:
The footprint of the house looks a LOT larger than I thought it would be.
Watching with interest.
It's really interesting how it changes depending on what's happening. Watching with interest.
Trenches dug - looks big.
Lower walls in place - looks small.
Steel up and floors prepped - looks huge.
According to this, the next stage will be a 'looks tiny' one
So in the last week the block and beam floor has nearly been completed. Just a few of the outside blocks to be put into place now.
The big slab to the right of the first picture is the floor of the garage which is at the same height as the front of the house and sits on a pad supported ring beam.
Yesterday the steel mesh reinforcement and damp proof membrane was laid for the lower section of the house (the rear) slab to be poured this Thursday.
We had a bit of a downpour yesterday so the membrane is a little wet right now.
I'll update again as things progress.
The big slab to the right of the first picture is the floor of the garage which is at the same height as the front of the house and sits on a pad supported ring beam.
Yesterday the steel mesh reinforcement and damp proof membrane was laid for the lower section of the house (the rear) slab to be poured this Thursday.
We had a bit of a downpour yesterday so the membrane is a little wet right now.
I'll update again as things progress.
The RLP is in the cellar The lower section slab was poured last Friday (9th) and following some prep being done this week the walls should start going up next.
Slab on Friday, nice and wet.
Slab on Saturday, nice and dry. Note on the last picture the lovely creative footprints of a mad seagull in the bottom right corner that wanted to make this his landing strip
Slab on Friday, nice and wet.
Slab on Saturday, nice and dry. Note on the last picture the lovely creative footprints of a mad seagull in the bottom right corner that wanted to make this his landing strip
So we had a week pause in the upward progress whilst the services were all being laid and some adjustments were made to the steels. Then the brickies returned on Tuesday and the walls have started going up. It's quite amazing, especially using blockwork, just how quickly things happen.
This was Wednesday of this week.
The strange mix of bricks and blocks is due to fact that this will all be clad in a stone finish.
Basically there will be two courses of engineering bricks visible and then cladding and render above.
And this was last night - Friday 24th.
This is the rear of the property. Kitchen/diner on the right and living area to the left.
Length of the side wall looking from rear to front.
Master bed on the right where the steel is, my office on the left.
This was Wednesday of this week.
The strange mix of bricks and blocks is due to fact that this will all be clad in a stone finish.
Basically there will be two courses of engineering bricks visible and then cladding and render above.
And this was last night - Friday 24th.
This is the rear of the property. Kitchen/diner on the right and living area to the left.
Length of the side wall looking from rear to front.
Master bed on the right where the steel is, my office on the left.
Hi Sid'sDad,
To answer your questions:
Planning was actually very easy. I managed to get permission in 7 weeks from submission. However, that was mainly because there was already planning permission, that had been gained at appeal, for a taller two story house. My single story design was therefore much more desirable to the neighbours and as a result I had no objections. In addition, Poole planning are very progressive and really do embrace new and exciting architecture.
In terms of budget I could not do this for £600k around here as plots are very expensive. The design, being very open plan (lots of steel)
with lots of aluminium framed glass and zinc roofing, means it's also an expensive build of around £200/sq foot.
I've also gone for some high quality elements, such as the kitchen and the stone cladding, and some industrial scale elements such as the patio doors at 2.9m high, which have a pretty big impact on costs.
If you can find a plot for around £220k then your budget is realistic. Otherwise you can always scale back the build.
At the end of the day there are always ways to reduce costs to a certain extent - it really depends what you want and what you can afford and finding a happy compromise.
I wish you all the best.
Gary
To answer your questions:
Planning was actually very easy. I managed to get permission in 7 weeks from submission. However, that was mainly because there was already planning permission, that had been gained at appeal, for a taller two story house. My single story design was therefore much more desirable to the neighbours and as a result I had no objections. In addition, Poole planning are very progressive and really do embrace new and exciting architecture.
In terms of budget I could not do this for £600k around here as plots are very expensive. The design, being very open plan (lots of steel)
with lots of aluminium framed glass and zinc roofing, means it's also an expensive build of around £200/sq foot.
I've also gone for some high quality elements, such as the kitchen and the stone cladding, and some industrial scale elements such as the patio doors at 2.9m high, which have a pretty big impact on costs.
If you can find a plot for around £220k then your budget is realistic. Otherwise you can always scale back the build.
At the end of the day there are always ways to reduce costs to a certain extent - it really depends what you want and what you can afford and finding a happy compromise.
I wish you all the best.
Gary
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 26th August 11:22
2 5HAN said:
Hi Gary
Just saw this, looks great and very exciting.
When are you looking to complete?
Are you using local builders?
Hi Shan,Just saw this, looks great and very exciting.
When are you looking to complete?
Are you using local builders?
We'll definitely be in by February with a very slim chance of a Christmas completion. At the moment, with the weather so good, things are really motoring so the roof could be on in about 5-6 weeks with the windows pretty close behind that. I'm going for February so I won't be disappointed.
Using a local builder who I've known for many years and who built my last house (although I did not know him at the time as it was a purchase when I moved to Dorset from Berkshire).
So it's been just over two weeks since my last update and things have really been moving along quite fast.
The external and internal walls have all gone up as far as they can without scaffolding, so that was erected yesterday morning.
This was the inside chaos on 31st August
And this was a phhto from the rear on the same day showing the heights of the internal walls. This is the kitchen/diner.
Sept 2nd - showing my parents the master en-suite
And another of the rear on Sept 2
Internal wall on Sept 2. You can see the height difference between front and back where the steps go down to the living areas.
And this is from last night after the scaffolding was completed. We're now ready to block up to the roof height.
This is a view from the front scaffolding across to the rear of the house
A view from the front left corner (as viewed from outside the house) across to the right. The garage is the rectangle in the distance.
Across the front of the house to the cul-de-sac.
From the rear right hand corner looking to the front.
And last, but not least, a view from the road into the site yesterday.
The external and internal walls have all gone up as far as they can without scaffolding, so that was erected yesterday morning.
This was the inside chaos on 31st August
And this was a phhto from the rear on the same day showing the heights of the internal walls. This is the kitchen/diner.
Sept 2nd - showing my parents the master en-suite
And another of the rear on Sept 2
Internal wall on Sept 2. You can see the height difference between front and back where the steps go down to the living areas.
And this is from last night after the scaffolding was completed. We're now ready to block up to the roof height.
This is a view from the front scaffolding across to the rear of the house
A view from the front left corner (as viewed from outside the house) across to the right. The garage is the rectangle in the distance.
Across the front of the house to the cul-de-sac.
From the rear right hand corner looking to the front.
And last, but not least, a view from the road into the site yesterday.
2 5HAN said:
Looking good
Very exciting times when the build is moving forward like this.
Will be keeping an eye out for the next set of pics
Yes, very exciting times indeed. Very exciting times when the build is moving forward like this.
Will be keeping an eye out for the next set of pics
The decision making process starts to really accelerate as you get further into the build and I am so glad that I spent the months between planning and building doing research and sorting things like the kitchen and bathrooms.
NYE on the beach Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff