New house on corner site

larrymo

Hi all

Finally got my drawings from my architect to build a detached house on our corner site. Hopefully all going well, we will be putting in the planning application next week. Our architect is meeting with fingal county council rep this week for pre-planning and we have our fingers crossed.

I'm thinking of going the self build route as my father-in-law used to be a builder (now retired) and he is very good at any doing all sorts of building stuff (he does a lot of work on my house such as tiling, installing new toilet in our attic conversion, etc.). The brother-in-law has recently started his own business converting attics and I will bring him on board full-time to coordinate any subcontractors needed.

Does anyone think this is the way to go or should I just bite the bullet and tender the job out to builders? Anyone know what the average percent saving is for someone going the self-build route? Also, has anyone used the new website, Tradesmenireland.com, and if so, any positive/negatives on that?

Sorry for long-winded thread....any feedback would be most appreciated.

Cheers for now....


larrymo

fatboypee

larrymo wrote:

Hi all

Finally got my drawings from my architect to build a detached house on our corner site. Hopefully all going well, we will be putting in the planning application next week. Our architect is meeting with fingal county council rep this week for pre-planning and we have our fingers crossed.

I'm thinking of going the self build route as my father-in-law used to be a builder (now retired) and he is very good at any doing all sorts of building stuff (he does a lot of work on my house such as tiling, installing new toilet in our attic conversion, etc.). The brother-in-law has recently started his own business converting attics and I will bring him on board full-time to coordinate any subcontractors needed.

Does anyone think this is the way to go or should I just bite the bullet and tender the job out to builders? Anyone know what the average percent saving is for someone going the self-build route? Also, has anyone used the new website, Tradesmenireland.com, and if so, any positive/negatives on that?

Sorry for long-winded thread....any feedback would be most appreciated.

Cheers for now....


larrymo

My house is just being finished now by a builder. I too was planning self-build as my old chap is in the trade and I grew up doing allsorts.. still I am soooo pleased I didn't self-build. as theres no way I could have held down a full time job, even with a project manager.

We tendered out the work with a view to going self-build if builders came in over-budget. They didn't and we got the best builder we could and din't look back.

For my money, I'm not sure you'd save a whole lot going self-build as the aggro and your time more than add to the cost saved !

FBP.

Johnee

Its a good question lads. In the same boat myself but at a much earlier stage. Im looking to build somewhere to live for the next fe years but (same old story) cant afford to buy, and dont fancy a three hour commute from Longford.

Ive two options - a small wooden cabin on a corner site which might run into planning problems as its quite a small area and could be too close to the house (cant put foundations in as the rock is pure granite and would need blasting - for which it is too close to the existing house).

Option 2 is the more interesting - the original house was built as a two storey but never finished as the money ran out so Im looking at converting the extra-large attic space into a flat. My only problem is I have no idea of how to cost this as Ive no connections at all in the building trade.

When you say you tendered for the work, how do you go about that? Id be very wary of getting stung by cowboys so Im not sure how to locate a good builder - and, as most of my friends are still in the same, cant afford to buy/build, phase, Ive no personal recommendations to go on.


Any help at all would be great.

fatboypee

Johnee wrote:

Its a good question lads. In the same boat myself but at a much earlier stage. Im looking to build somewhere to live for the next fe years but (same old story) cant afford to buy, and dont fancy a three hour commute from Longford.

Ive two options - a small wooden cabin on a corner site which might run into planning problems as its quite a small area and could be too close to the house (cant put foundations in as the rock is pure granite and would need blasting - for which it is too close to the existing house).

Option 2 is the more interesting - the original house was built as a two storey but never finished as the money ran out so Im looking at converting the extra-large attic space into a flat. My only problem is I have no idea of how to cost this as Ive no connections at all in the building trade.

When you say you tendered for the work, how do you go about that? Id be very wary of getting stung by cowboys so Im not sure how to locate a good builder - and, as most of my friends are still in the same, cant afford to buy/build, phase, Ive no personal recommendations to go on.


Any help at all would be great.

My situation was slightly different, we had plans drawn up and went by the recommendation of the guy who drew them up as to which local builders would not turn us over. If you can afford it I'd say thats the way to go, get the plans drawn up as:

1. You may need planning regardless of the 2 storey build etc if you want windows to the front or sides of the house and if the house is ever to be sold inclusive of a 'flat' as its a change of use (would suspect this may run into planning problems).

2. You need to plan around existing soil and services available to you.

You will more than likely get good recommendations in the same way that I did but the cost is a little high, expect a min of 1k for the drawings..

FBP.

yop

Larrymo - Just about 2 months away from completing a self build.
Also working full time but if you do enough investigation and preparation you should be able to manage it, with your dad handy and available as my dad is then you are in a good position

larrymo

Thanks for all the info, lads. I'll let ye all know once we have the planning app sorted out and we've tendered to different builders. Hopefully we won't be shafted by any cowboy builders but there's always a chance.

As the build gets up and started, I'll report back on each stage of the build.

Cheers for now!!


Larmo

Victor

larrymo wrote:

Anyone know what the average percent saving is for someone going the self-build route?

You will save on the builder's overhead and profit. However, you will spend more on the individual trades, mistakes and will have to commit a huge amount of your own and / or father-in-law's time. This may or may not suit.

Is your time better spent at work or being a builder's labourer?

Turner

Larrymo how about you contact Fatboypee's builder, hes happy with him and its very hard to find a good builder who can actually manage his accounts/cash in hand labourers.

Maybe get some pics or view Fatboypees building work and decide then.

Hey builder, Fatboypee sent me, Hook me up with a house please

Chief.

fatboypee

Chief--- wrote:

Larrymo how about you contact Fatboypee's builder, hes happy with him and its very hard to find a good builder who can actually manage his accounts/cash in hand labourers.

Maybe get some pics or view Fatboypees building work and decide then.

Hey builder, Fatboypee sent me, Hook me up with a house please

Chief.

I would gladly pass on the details but I don't think my builder will travel too far from where I live. He seems one of these 'ultra-locals' tho you'd be guaranteed a first class house tho if he did !

Depends where you are really, its always best to get a local builder as any builder will factor traveliing and costs of a far-out build.... my brother and brothers in-law have used a company called Finlay Brothers. They offered to tender for my house too, they're based out of Tullamore but travel a long way it seems as we're nowhere near Tullamore ! , Good build quality, don't know about the price tho..

FBP.

larrymo

Thanks for all responses. If you wouldn't mind, Fatboypea, the more reputable builders I have, the better. I note what you say that your own builder won't travel, but I'm not sure where he's based out of. Is he close to Dublin?

If he won't, I would certainly contact Finlay Brothers for a quote also. I note you say they're in Mullingar but would travel.

Cheers for now. Once all quotes are to hand, I'll let you know how I end up. I will tender to both block build builders and timber frame specialists.

See ya!


Lar

Purelyfit

Hiya,

There's a great building company in Dunshaughlin, small but fantastic, never late, always fair and pleasant, tidy after themselves! Kealy Building Solutions - Call Richie on 086 8364551. They have built houses from start to finish and work on extensions, renovations, and do small work as well. They are qualified at what they do, including electricians etc... They can be quite busy, even now, but I would recomend trying them at the moment. Janet.

Johnee wrote: »

Its a good question lads. In the same boat myself but at a much earlier stage. Im looking to build somewhere to live for the next fe years but (same old story) cant afford to buy, and dont fancy a three hour commute from Longford.

Ive two options - a small wooden cabin on a corner site which might run into planning problems as its quite a small area and could be too close to the house (cant put foundations in as the rock is pure granite and would need blasting - for which it is too close to the existing house).

Option 2 is the more interesting - the original house was built as a two storey but never finished as the money ran out so Im looking at converting the extra-large attic space into a flat. My only problem is I have no idea of how to cost this as Ive no connections at all in the building trade.

When you say you tendered for the work, how do you go about that? Id be very wary of getting stung by cowboys so Im not sure how to locate a good builder - and, as most of my friends are still in the same, cant afford to buy/build, phase, Ive no personal recommendations to go on.


Any help at all would be great.

Purelyfit

Hi Larrymo, I think I replied to the wrong person! I was recommending Kealy Building Solutions, from Dunshaughlin, and they do travel. Richie is on 086 8364551 and they price jobs with no obligation. Hope it helps, but you won't hear a bad thing about them I'd say! Janet.