New build deviating from plans…

New build deviating from plans…

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Discussion

Mr Whippy

29,049 posts

242 months

Saturday 11th February 2023
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Toaster Pilot said:
Promised Land said:
The brickies on that site must be on a good price per 1000 to lay those though, they look nice but look awkward to build.
They’ve not built many in these materials - the majority on the site so far are red brick or render.
Render being concrete blocks underneath?

I just can’t help but get the feeling that a lot of the current stock is going to be worth a lot less in 20 years as it deteriorates and just looks horrible.

Many new builds just look tired after 5 years, but some are now starting to look tired at completion.


There will be hang-wringing and whinging and bailouts over all this imo.

We’ve got leasehold issues. Then management company nonsense. Shoddy quality, but new build warranties due to change to 15 years, pushing insurance costs up, so higher prices, or even worse quality.

Yet we seemingly celebrate this ‘industry’


Are our children meant to be grateful for this legacy of utter wk housing stock that’ll blight that land?



OP, how come you’ve bought a big expensive new build off plan?

Toaster Pilot

Original Poster:

14,619 posts

159 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
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Mr Whippy said:
OP, how come you’ve bought a big expensive new build off plan?
A smaller, cheaper one didn’t provide what I wanted….

Not that I need to justify my choice to strangers on the internet obviously.

I often wonder if the “lol new builds are st M8” folk ever consider the fact that the vast majority of houses built over the past 100 years or so that aren’t one off Grand Designs style things can all be criticised for one reason or another?

Pflanzgarten

3,960 posts

26 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
quotequote all
Toaster Pilot said:
Mr Whippy said:
OP, how come you’ve bought a big expensive new build off plan?
A smaller, cheaper one didn’t provide what I wanted….

Not that I need to justify my choice to strangers on the internet obviously.

I often wonder if the “lol new builds are st M8” folk ever consider the fact that the vast majority of houses built over the past 100 years or so that aren’t one off Grand Designs style things can all be criticised for one reason or another?
They're also idiots. The houses I'm building now aren't even comparable to what we were building twenty years ago for standards and quality. That's before you talk about efficiency.

blueg33

35,948 posts

225 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
quotequote all
Pflanzgarten said:
Toaster Pilot said:
Mr Whippy said:
OP, how come you’ve bought a big expensive new build off plan?
A smaller, cheaper one didn’t provide what I wanted….

Not that I need to justify my choice to strangers on the internet obviously.

I often wonder if the “lol new builds are st M8” folk ever consider the fact that the vast majority of houses built over the past 100 years or so that aren’t one off Grand Designs style things can all be criticised for one reason or another?
They're also idiots. The houses I'm building now aren't even comparable to what we were building twenty years ago for standards and quality. That's before you talk about efficiency.
Indeed

crofty1984

15,870 posts

205 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
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Toaster Pilot said:
Seems they can follow the plans sometimes - didn’t realise this one was at the stage it is

Just looking at that makes me sad.

M11rph

576 posts

22 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
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That's not the most difficult fix, grumble at the right person and it'll get done. I think it's an attractive house and you'll make it a nice home.

I've recently moved into a new build and there were a few issues. Some crappy pointing, an incorrectly fitted shower screen and a bath waste not sealed properly. Other than that it's rather nice, good size 4 bed with double garage and a manageable garden which costs £240/month to keep toasty warm and in a place I like living.

Zarco

17,884 posts

210 months

Sunday 12th February 2023
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crofty1984 said:
Toaster Pilot said:
Seems they can follow the plans sometimes - didn’t realise this one was at the stage it is

Just looking at that makes me sad.
We can't all have a nice brand new house.

blueg33

35,948 posts

225 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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crofty1984 said:
Toaster Pilot said:
Seems they can follow the plans sometimes - didn’t realise this one was at the stage it is

Just looking at that makes me sad.
Too many blank gables. Planners usually hate that. I suspect it’s not only the builders that don’t read the plans!

anonymous-user

55 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Zarco said:
crofty1984 said:
Toaster Pilot said:
Seems they can follow the plans sometimes - didn’t realise this one was at the stage it is

Just looking at that makes me sad.
We can't all have a nice brand new house.
No, we can’t, but developers and planners should do a better job of trying to offer something better than that.

anonymous-user

55 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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To add … mediocrity seems to permeate all aspects of life at the moment and we deserve better.

Hammersia

1,564 posts

16 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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It's the sort of thing needs perspective - lots of "tax windows" around on older houses and I think that's all part of local history. In a few years time you or the next owner will have a story to tell about why it's there, adds colour, it's an interesting story.

sociopath

3,433 posts

67 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Talking about new builds, they're a massive new estate near us, circa 500 houses all made with kleenex and spit, gone up in weeks and all look like they'll not be there in 30 years. There's also a couple of houses built by a local builder just down the road that we've watched them build. The difference is huge, built of brick and block, and done properly and carefully. I know which I'd buy for basically the same money

Toaster Pilot

Original Poster:

14,619 posts

159 months

Monday 13th February 2023
quotequote all
sociopath said:
Talking about new builds, they're a massive new estate near us, circa 500 houses all made with kleenex and spit, gone up in weeks and all look like they'll not be there in 30 years. There's also a couple of houses built by a local builder just down the road that we've watched them build. The difference is huge, built of brick and block, and done properly and carefully. I know which I'd buy for basically the same money
If you say so. The houses on this estate are also being built from brick and block, like most new houses are, so I’m not sure that’s an indicator of anything.

I bought a house from a “small local builder” a few years ago - they subbed everything out to the same useless dheads the big builders use but with less management/QC/aftersales.

Mark V GTD

2,229 posts

125 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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The criticism of new build houses does amuse me. I was brought up in a 1930's semi - it was a new build in the 1930's - 9" brick outer walls, rendered and pebble-dashed, single glazed windows holding up the bay windows to the front elevation, zero insulation. In other words, simple construction but still standing today with replacement roof tiles, windows and loft insulation, re-wired and new plumbing. Basic structure all original though.

I'm sure the vast majority of todays new homes will be around for as long with a similar level of replacement and upgrading.

Edited by Mark V GTD on Monday 13th February 13:07

roadsmash

2,622 posts

71 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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Agree with Mark. What people seem to always forget is ALL houses start off as “new” builds.

Sure, they’re building them a lot faster these days and yes, mistakes are made. But generally speaking the houses are fantastically insulated, well designed, and incredibly efficient.

A couple of years of sorting out minor snags and they’re better than any older homes.

And yes OP, that bricked up window looks st.

OutInTheShed

7,645 posts

27 months

Monday 13th February 2023
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OTOH, a lot of current new build houses are poorly designed and look crap.
They are styled as a pastiche of a traditional house but with corners cut.
This one in my opinion is particularly dire, with fake stone effect and minimal roof, no overhangs.

As for the quality, if they can't get the windows in the right place, what hope for the the hidden details which matter?

People are paying a premium price and getting minimal interior and exterior space.
This one might have good insulation, but that might be negated by the front door opening onto the whole downstairs space.

A lot of people in houses allegedly built to modern regs don't seem to be getting the low heating bills one might expect if they are so efficient.

If you're going to admit it's the 2020's, design in some solar panels on the roof to avoid the worst of retrofit.

roadsmash

2,622 posts

71 months

Tuesday 14th February 2023
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In order to assume that you must know why the window was put in the wrong place.

I suspect it’s a planning error.

That doesn’t mean that the rest of the house will be poor quality.

blueg33

35,948 posts

225 months

Tuesday 14th February 2023
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OutInTheShed said:
OTOH, a lot of current new build houses are poorly designed and look crap.
They are styled as a pastiche of a traditional house but with corners cut.
This one in my opinion is particularly dire, with fake stone effect and minimal roof, no overhangs.

As for the quality, if they can't get the windows in the right place, what hope for the the hidden details which matter?

People are paying a premium price and getting minimal interior and exterior space.
This one might have good insulation, but that might be negated by the front door opening onto the whole downstairs space.

A lot of people in houses allegedly built to modern regs don't seem to be getting the low heating bills one might expect if they are so efficient.

If you're going to admit it's the 2020's, design in some solar panels on the roof to avoid the worst of retrofit.
Design is subjective

Interior space in new homes tends to be more efficient and useable than in older homes

There are new homes built in volume that guarantee zero energy bills for occupants

There are new homes accredited and warranted for 100 years

A mistake by a brickie reading the plans doesn’t mean that the house is poor quality.

alfabeat

1,115 posts

113 months

Tuesday 14th February 2023
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When I think back to the houses I have bought and lived in, the OP's house would be a dream home smile

Our current house (been here 12 years) is in a fabulous location, and old (200 years), but is a mess. Stone original cottage, cheap 80's extension, inefficient, windows all over the place with no design consistency, rubbish internal layout with different levels everywhere, badly in need of rewiring, plumbing leaves a lot to be desired - but.....we love it.

Well built? Nope
Efficient? Certainly not
Fabulous Views in the middle of nowhere? Yep

It is all about compromises. Get the window sorted and enjoy your new home.

OutInTheShed

7,645 posts

27 months

Tuesday 14th February 2023
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blueg33 said:
Design is subjective

Interior space in new homes tends to be more efficient and useable than in older homes

There are new homes built in volume that guarantee zero energy bills for occupants

There are new homes accredited and warranted for 100 years

A mistake by a brickie reading the plans doesn’t mean that the house is poor quality.
Building stuff to drawing is a very big slice of what 'quality' is about.

Everyone in manufacturing knows that.

The building industry, or a large chunk of it, is 50 years behind.