First time building house

2687speedy

Registered User

Hi guys, looking for some advice. My fiancé and I are looking to build a house, we don't really like anything on the market at the moment and for our price range we figure that we could build a 3 bed timber frame house for the same as you'd get a 3 bed semi. If any of you could help we'd greatly appreciate it,
:would it be better to buy a site first and build later or buy the site and build straight away.
:and what would be the best way to do either.
Thanks for your replies

Metric Tensor

A few things to consider below. I'm putting them in number form to make them easy to read (no insult intended by being brief!)

1. It's more expensive to build than buy. Full stop.

2. The building itself will cost you approximately 1300 euro per square metre and the cost of the site, professional services and connection fees will be on top of this.

3. Timber frame houses cost the same as traditional masonry ones. (Unless you mean "log cabin" which won't comply with the building regulations and won't get planning - so it's a non-runner).

4. You always buy a site "subject to planning" - so you get the owner's permission to apply for planning permission in the site and then if you get it you buy the site. Get advice from a local planning agent before even starting with a site. Certain places have very restrictive planning requirements.

5. Best case scenario - it will be 2-3 years before you are in the house.

6. Are you going to be able to afford to pay rent at the same time as paying to build a house?

7. Don't overlook the possibility of buying and renovating an old/existing house.

8. It's a long and stressful process but it is worth it in the end - so good luck with the undertaking!

mrsWhippy

What part of the country are you in?

Builders and tradesmen are so busy at the moment especially in Dublin and prices reflect that.

We are just building now after 3 years in the planning... And we didn't even need to find or purchase a site. It's been a brilliant (sometimes stressful) journey so far, but it's expensive and frustratingly slow!!

Also don't underestimate the cost of professional fees, it's astronomical. We have had to pay for site survey, architect, engineer, QS, county council contributions, water, planning fees & solicitor, and a lot of that is before you put a hole in the ground.

moonlighting

mrsWhippy wrote: »

What part of the country are you in?

Also don't underestimate the cost of professional fees, it's astronomical. We have had to pay for site survey, architect, engineer, QS, county council contributions, water, planning fees & solicitor, and a lot of that is before you put a hole in the ground.

20 to 40 grand right there before you even put down a foundation.
was a lot cheaper to do in the past.

mrsWhippy

moonlighting wrote: »

20 to 40 grand right there before you even put down a foundation.
was a lot cheaper to do in the past.

9k for council contributions alone.

2687speedy

Thanks for the comments, we're in kildare and sites are around 50-60 grand and we're thinking something along the lines of 160sqrm, has anyone built a timber frame??

2687speedy

Would any of you think buy the site put a cabin on it and build later???

Gumbo

2687speedy wrote: »

Would any of you think buy the site put a cabin on it and build later???

What's the purpose of the cabin? You cannot live in it?

2687speedy

kceire wrote: »

What's the purpose of the cabin? You cannot live in it?

...... Why couldn't you live in it??

BryanF

2687speedy wrote: »

Thanks for the comments, we're in kildare and sites are around 50-60 grand and we're thinking something along the lines of 160sqrm, has anyone built a timber frame??

Yes

2687speedy wrote: »

Would any of you think buy the site put a cabin on it and build later???

No

2687speedy wrote: »

...... Why couldn't you live in it??

read this post again cheers

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=104603171&postcount=2

2687speedy

BryanF wrote: »

Yes

No

read this post again cheers

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=104603171&postcount=2

How were your experiences with building timber frame? Did you find any advantages?

B-D-P--

You cant temporaly put a cabin there, you'll need planning for that too.
Even a mobile home needs temp planning.

A cabin will still need electric, water and some way of sewerage.

As far as timber frame vs Block.
Boards is very split on this, some swear by timber, others by block.
I'm a block man. But dont think timber is any quicker or cheaper.
They are just two different ways of skinning the same cat.

2687speedy

B-D-P-- wrote: »

You cant temporaly put a cabin there, you'll need planning for that too.
Even a mobile home needs temp planning.

A cabin will still need electric, water and some way of sewerage.

As far as timber frame vs Block.
Boards is very split on this, some swear by timber, others by block.
I'm a block man. But dont think timber is any quicker or cheaper.
They are just two different ways of skinning the same cat.

Cheers, I was hoping that it was quicker and cheaper

rodge123

2687speedy wrote: »

Cheers, I was hoping that it was quicker and cheaper

Don't rule out buying an old run down house on half acre or so.
We done this and spent about 6k making 1940s cottage livable for two years while we build new house in the same site. Father in law is very handy so couldn't have done it without him, between the two of us and occasional help from few friends - we gutted inside of 600m2 cottage and made very comfortable (insulated boards on internal walls, little rewiring and plumbing, €200 kitchen, ikea chepest laminate, etc). It was in dire conditional so needed complete internal gutting. Took us about two months part time.

We saved a fortune on Dublin rent in those two years for the small 6k we spent. (Had to demolish cottage when new house built)
Having a property on site also helps get around local needs requirements from councils (not sure if that's legal anymore anyway).
Living on site while new build happened also allowed us keep a close eye on things.

2687speedy

rodge123 wrote: »

Don't rule out buying an old run down house on half acre or so.
We done this and spent about 6k making it livable for two years while we build new house in the same site. Father in law is very handy so couldn't have done it without him, between the two of us and occasional help from few friends - we gutted inside of 600m2 cottage and made very comfortable (insulated boards on wall, little requiring and plumbing, €200 kitchen, etc). It was in dire conditional so needed complete internal gutting. Took us about two months part time.

We saved a fortune on Dublin rent in those two years for the small 6k we spent. (Had to demolish cottage when new house built)
Having a property on site also helps get around local needs requirements from councils (not sure if that's legal anymore anyway).
Living on site while new build happened also allowed us keep a close eye on things.

Thanks that's really helpful, that could be our best option

2687speedy

2687speedy wrote: »

Thanks that's really helpful, that could be our best option

Hope you don't mind me asking but how much did you spend on buying the cottage and site??

zig

Just wondering if there is much more info in this forum about building wooden homes, pros, cons, costs, savings etc?

I did a search but there are too many other "wooden" discussions that I only found two short threads.

Gumbo

2687speedy wrote: »

Hope you don't mind me asking but how much did you spend on buying the cottage and site??

your asking yourself that question

zig wrote: »

Just wondering if there is much more info in this forum about building wooden homes, pros, cons, costs, savings etc?

I did a search but there are too many other "wooden" discussions that I only found two short threads.

Timber Frame.
Same costs as block built.
Same Building Regulations and Planning Regulations have to be met.

Don't get mixed up by Log Cabins and Timber Frames.

2687speedy

kceire wrote: »

your asking yourself that question




Timber Frame.
Same costs as block built.
Same Building Regulations and Planning Regulations have to be met.

Don't get mixed up by Log Cabins and Timber Frames.

Ha I suppose that's true, we've an idea how much we can borrow its trying to get the best bang for our buck and in the shortest time possible because we're living with her parents

B-D-P--

zig wrote: »

Just wondering if there is much more info in this forum about building wooden homes, pros, cons, costs, savings etc?

I did a search but there are too many other "wooden" discussions that I only found two short threads.

Search Timber Frame House or TFH

rodge123

2687speedy wrote: »

Hope you don't mind me asking but how much did you spend on buying the cottage and site??

€120k three years ago for 0.66 acres and 1940's land commission cottage.
6k to get it liveable and about 25k in rent saved over two years living in it while new build happened.

I'd image prices for this type of site/property are a lot higher now anywhere that is commuting distance to Dublin.

2687speedy

rodge123 wrote: »

€120k three years ago for 0.66 acres and 1940's land commission cottage.
6k to get it liveable and about 25k in rent saved over two years living in it while new build happened.

I'd image prices for this type of site/property are a lot higher now anywhere that is commuting distance to Dublin.

That's the thing, my fiance needs to commute for work, but thanks for the advice we really like that idea and went looking on daft last night and found some places that just might work, thanks again

ouxbbkqtswdfaw

If I was building again I'd put the kitchen at the front of the house. It's the room you head for coming in, why traipse through a hall, or other room to get there. Also, you can see who's coming to your house.

BryanF

f1c0g4odai7xwq wrote: »

If I was building again I'd put the kitchen at the front of the house.

Surely this depends on solar orientation, the site, The views, and a whole load of other things that the OP is not ready to discuss seeing as they haven't the cash , a site or a plan at the moment?

mike_2009

Get yourself to the self build live event in Citywest this weekend and speak to some of the professionals, listen to the experts, talk to people who have built their own homes and the timber frame companies.
Build Costs can be less than Dublin house prices but it's risky as there are lots of small and not so small elements that all add up, plus any issues along the way can push you over the edge! If you've a trade it really helps to do some of the work yourself but on top of a day job and if you've a family it will take longer and take a toll on everyone.
I'm watching a youtube series about a couple building their own home, very detailed and you get a strong impression of the massive undertaking they are experiencing from it - search for "purelivingforlife"
I'm currently buying a house where I've rented a room for years and hope to build on the side garden...eventually! You should talk to the local planners about the site to ensure you meet local needs criteria / won't run into issues with the kildare county development plan - check that out on the Kildare CoCo website also. As already stated, buy the site subject to PP for insurance!
Best of luck and hope you build the dream home you want!