Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

How Long Did yer Build take?

  • 15-01-2007 4:20pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 680 ✭✭✭Salmon


    Hi all,

    Lots of self-builders on here so as i'm currently starting the blocks on a new build i thought it'd be interesting to see how long builds took all folk on here?
    Maybe if we could start a list broken down like this it might be useful for others!:

    Build type (direct-labour, contractor, etc):
    House Size:
    Construction method (Cavity, Timberframe):
    Planning process length:
    Start date:
    Finish (or expected) finish date:
    Months to complete:
    Lessons Learned:
    % over or under budget:
    Price per ft2:

    There may be additional information that would be helpful for people, feel free to add to this if you wish!


«13456

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 505 ✭✭✭construct06


    Build type - direct-labour
    House Size - 3000 SQ. FT.
    Construction method - Cavity
    Planning process length: 8 weeks
    Start date: june '04
    Finish finish date - finished
    Months to complete - 24 months
    Lessons Learned - plan ahead, kepp after people even if u feel its too early....
    % over or under budget - about on target ( can get carried away with internals after all ur hard work and scrinmping and saving on the externals)

    Price per ft2: approx. €50


  • Registered Users Posts: 680 ✭✭✭Salmon


    Thats a great price per ft2!! I always wondered if there was a certain amount to be gained by economies of scale when building a house. I hope to build my 3200 ft2 for €70 per ft2 excluding the site price!! That gives me some encouragement although I know prices may have gone up since you started! Was the house fully finished when u moved in construct?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 497 ✭✭Musha


    Build type direct-labour (Selfbuild did a lot of work ourselves)

    House Size:2400sqft + garage
    Construction method Cavity,
    Planning process length: bought site will plans
    Start date: Nov 2003
    Finish july 2004
    Months to complete:9mths would have been less if the blocklayers had not disappeared set us back by 4 weeks
    Lessons Learned:don't trust blocklayers :)
    % over or under budget: about even
    Price per ft2 53 euro
    add approx 3000 for landscaping and stone for drive.

    That was for the completed house, tiled, carpeted and extra furniture and kitchen appls


  • Registered Users Posts: 456 ✭✭twenty8


    Build type Contractor
    House Size: 3,500
    Construction method Cavity
    Planning process length: 3 months
    Start date: July 06
    Finish (or expected) finish date: Builder off site early Feb 07 - tilers etc after that
    Months to complete: 8 months
    Lessons Learned: watch for hidden costs - everywhere!!
    % over or under budget: On budget - apart for extras requested - entrances, drive, stonework, extra velux etc
    Price per ft2: 110 - to finish to up pink skim. Includes windows, doors, architraves, skirting, electrics, plumbing etc.

    A once in a lifetime project.....


  • Registered Users Posts: 730 ✭✭✭squire1


    Build type - Contractor ( Foundation & shell) - Direct Labour roof, plaster, elec, plumbing.
    House Size - 2000 SQ. FT.
    Construction method - Cavity Block
    Planning process length: 6 months
    Start date: August 05
    Finish finish date - April 06
    Months to complete - 9 months
    Lessons Learned - Keep a very close eye on all tradesmen until you are confident they are up to the job. Do not be afraid to sack a tradesman immediately if he is not working to your standards. Dont leave your tools where tradesmen can find them. I've nothing against tradesmen really, just one in particular.
    % over or under budget - More or less on target for build. Fitting out/decorating is another matter. Still ongoing (does it ever stop?)

    Price Sq Ft : €80. How did you guys do it so cheap?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 302 ✭✭lastbuilders


    Build type - Direct Labour.
    House Size - 2700 SQ. FT.
    Construction method - Timber Frame
    Planning process length: 4 months as turned down once
    Start date after planning gained: December 05
    Finish finish date\ Moving in date - December 06
    Months to complete - 12 months but not finished drive, piers, fence, landscaping
    Lessons Learned - keep close eye on trades.

    % over or under budget - Bit over budget but less than agreed mortgage

    Price Sq Ft : €75.Does not include site price. Includes detached garage, kitchen, floors, tiling, wood pellet boiler, HRV system, plumbing, elec etc.

    Lastbuilders




  • Build type (direct-labour, contractor, etc): Direct Labour for roof & floor screed & DIY for everthing else.
    House Size: 200m2
    Construction method (Cavity, Timberframe): ICF
    Planning process length: 12 weeks (second time around)
    Start date: August 2004
    Finish (or expected) finish date: Spring 2007, excluding garage & landscaping
    Months to complete:18 months (long pauses in construction)
    Lessons Learned: Most things take longer & are harder than you think!
    % over or under budget: +20% (forgot to include 'essential items' like fees, service connection charges & insurance)
    Price per ft2: €80, including kitchen & Bathroom, but excluding garage & landscaping


  • Administrators, Sports Moderators Posts: 21,676 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭smashey


    I can see this thread providing some good information to people here.

    Sticky.


  • Registered Users Posts: 124 ✭✭AJL


    Build type (direct-labour, contractor, etc): direct labour
    House Size:3400 sqft
    Construction method (Cavity, Timberframe): Kinspan Tek with single block outer leaf
    Planning process length:8 weeks
    Start date: July 07
    Finish (or expected) finish date: April 07
    Months to complete:9 months
    Lessons Learned:Get good tradesmen that you can trust even if it costs that bit more
    % over or under budget:16%
    Price per ft2:105 cant believe you can do it for less than 80.Well done to those that did.


  • Registered Users Posts: 692 ✭✭✭Cushtie


    Location: Limerick County
    Build type (direct-labour, contractor, etc): direct labour
    House Size:2800 sqft
    Construction method: Cavity
    Planning process length: 8 weeks ish
    Start date: NOVEMBER 05
    Finish (or expected) finish date: Hopefully May 2007
    Months to complete:19 Hopefully
    Lessons Learned: there is no such thing as a stupid question? Family members doing part of the build are great but can also be a right pain on the ass, Don't let it consume you. Take the odd weekend off and don't even look at it. I could write a book of lessons learned!!!

    % over or under budget: Looks to be coming in ok but will Know at the end

    Price per ft2: €70 if it stays on budget (Not Including price of site)


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭pops


    Build Type - Direct Labour
    House Size - 1800 sq ft
    Construction Method - Block built
    Planning Process lenghth - 4 months
    Started - December 2004
    Finish - 2 Weeks time!
    Months to Complete - 26
    Lessons learnt - Pay the extra for an experienced tradesperson
    % over budget - 10%
    Price per ft2 - 110, including geothermal heating, woodpellet stove, high-spec floors, doors etc. biocycle, groundworks, furniture & fittings.
    (this is my first post!)


  • Registered Users Posts: 9 DanPOOL


    Build type - direct-labour
    House Size - 2650 SQ. FT.
    Construction method - Timber Frame - Woodhouse TF
    Planning process length: 16 weeks
    Start date: Nov '05
    Finish finish date - July '06
    Months to complete - 8 months
    Lessons Learned -
    1. dont skimp on important things like heat system or windows: cheap is dear in the long run.
    2. be ruthless with builders/trades because they will be ruthless with you.
    3. go Timber Frame - solid 6" construction, meets the same regs that block houses do, warmer than a block house could ever be and easy to use as a self builder.
    3. patience with 'good' trades repays in the end - but watch them like they were children, they'll try anything!
    Price per ft2: approx. €56


  • Registered Users Posts: 578 ✭✭✭Builderwoman!


    €50, 53 and 56 per sq foot...God lads how the heck did you manage that? Sorry to be nosey...but does that include fitted kitchen, wardrobes, outside paths, driveway, garage, additional insulation, good windows stuff like that?
    Did you also do a lot of work on site yourselves??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,399 ✭✭✭Kashkai


    My build will run to €120 sq ft and I thought that was reasonable (I had gotten quotes that worked out at €160 sq ft.

    My build will include everything bar the kitchen and floors so I think its not too bad for someone caught in the "Greater Dublin" hyper expense zone:eek:


  • Registered Users Posts: 45,760 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    This particular thread is worth its weight in gold so to speak. What I would like to see is details posted up on completion of the works giving an account of price per sq. foot/metre, how much over or under budget, etc etc.

    A brief statement would be great as it would be easy for other users to trawl through it and get a few ideas.

    Thanks folks.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,815 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    Location: Galway County
    Build type direct labour
    House Size:4200 sq ft plus 1000 sq ft attic
    Construction method: Timber Frame
    Planning process length: 10 months:mad:
    Start date: december 04
    Finish (or expected) finish date: Hopefully june 2007
    Months to complete:30 +
    Lessons Learned: Borrow enough to finish it faster

    % over or under budget: well below, i'm a joiner,did my own raft made my own timber frame, doors, windows, internal joinery ( all solid Ash ) including a curved Ash staircase,

    Price per ft2: €50 not counting any of my own labour and some bartering along the way.


  • Registered Users Posts: 45,760 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    Good post galwayrush. It would be great to get all the feeback in that format. Keep us updated when you are finished.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,815 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    muffler wrote:
    Good post galwayrush. It would be great to get all the feeback in that format. Keep us updated when you are finished.
    Cheers Muffler.:cool:
    The time factor did save us a fortune as it gave us time to work on the house in our spare time,having a deadline would mean we would have had to pay people to do stuff we could manage ourselves. and we had no rent, as we built our garage first and turned it into a small appartment, we reckon we've saved over 70 K in rent since we built the garage (or chalet) 7 years ago.This money obviously went into the house.Once we're in the house, we'll rent out the Chalet.
    Another important thing is to shop around, take one example plastering slabs, we saved 2 euros a slab by shopping around, 600 slabs later, a saving of 1200 euros.
    The house is high spec, all ceilings are double slabbed, joisting at 12" centres as opposed to 16".


  • Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators, Regional West Moderators Posts: 16,722 Mod ✭✭✭✭yop


    Location: Mayo County
    Build type direct labour - a lot of self work!
    House Size:2100 sq ft
    Construction method: Timber Frame
    Planning process length: 6 months
    Start date: Arpil 05
    Finish : Sept 06
    Months to complete:16
    Lessons Learned: Wait for the right trademen, no matter how long it takes. Get them to do the work, not some jumped up little apprentice who does not care about ur house, or his bosses rep. He can get another job no bother!
    Better than weight watchers ;)

    % over or under budget: About 20% below - Did a lot of work ourselves so that brought it down. Estimated savings by doing it ourselves circa 40-45k euro


    Price per ft2: €75 euro inc site, totally finished and furnished inside bar 1 room ( The now gym!!)




  • Build type (direct-labour, contractor, etc): Direct Labour for roof & floor screed & DIY for everthing else.
    House Size: 200m2
    Construction method (Cavity, Timberframe): ICF
    Planning process length: 12 weeks (second time around)
    Start date: August 2004
    Finish (or expected) finish date: Spring 2007, excluding garage & landscaping
    Months to complete:18 months (long pauses in construction)
    Lessons Learned: Most things take longer & are harder than you think!
    % over or under budget: +20% (forgot to include 'essential items' like fees, service connection charges & insurance)
    Price per ft2: €80, including kitchen & Bathroom, but excluding garage & landscaping

    Moving in date 11 May 2007, expect to finish (external) work on the main house autumn 2007


  • Advertisement
  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 390 ✭✭tradesman


    quoting prices per sq ft is all very well but everyone has to be quoting to the same specified finish! remember, price isnt always everything. Dont forget you are not buying a product but a tradesmans hands, experience, skill and knowledge!


  • Administrators, Sports Moderators Posts: 21,676 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭smashey


    tradesman wrote:
    quoting prices per sq ft is all very well but everyone has to be quoting to the same specified finish! remember, price isnt always everything. Dont forget you are not buying a product but a tradesmans hands, experience, skill and knowledge!

    Indeed. :rolleyes: Prosperous Dave could tell you a thing or two about skill and knowledge.

    Tradesman, I think we are all aware of this as the figures and posts in this thread will tell you.




  • tradesman wrote:
    quoting prices per sq ft is all very well but everyone has to be quoting to the same specified finish! remember, price isnt always everything. Dont forget you are not buying a product but a tradesmans hands, experience, skill and knowledge!

    Many of us have done some (or in some cases most) of the work ourselves and that is reflected in the cost/ft. Good tradesman ARE worth their weight in gold when their services are needed.

    There are several types of self-builder, ranging from those who tell the architect what thery want and wait for the keys!, to those who do the entire project themselves including all the construction.

    It's one of the attractions of SELF-building is that you can stand back at the end of and say "I built that!" and save some money or have higher quality fittings in the house.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,614 ✭✭✭BadCharlie


    Started my house may the 7th 2005. And am only living in my house since may the 7th 2007. So it took 2 years ouch!

    Self Build
    2501 sq Feet
    Geo Thermal Heating.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,072 ✭✭✭sunnysoutheast


    Build type (direct-labour, contractor, etc): contract for shell build, direct for 1st and 2nd fix plumb., elec., HRV
    House Size: 450m2
    Construction method (Cavity, Timberframe): Cavity, conc. 1st floor
    Planning process length: usual, one request for FI (site bought with full PP)
    Start date: May 2006
    Finish (or expected) finish date: Weathertight June 2007. Livable Aug 2007.
    Months to complete:15-16 months
    Lessons Learned: research is vital, plan for the future (e.g. ducting for HRV, CAT5e/6). budget for the worst case. shop around for everything. good tradespeople are worth waiting for. make sure you're involved and onsite yourself as much as possible.
    % over or under budget: probably +5 to 10%
    Price per ft2: c.€120, including kitchen & bathrooms, but excluding landscaping

    SSE


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,168 ✭✭✭secman


    jEEZ Sunnysoutheast,

    4,842 sq foot!!!!! Must have cost a fortune to floor it ! Not to mention the heating bill this winter!!!

    Best of luck with filling it


    Secman


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,813 ✭✭✭themadchef


    we built a timber frame house (start aug 2003 ..moved in april 2004) by direct labour, approx size is 2800sq ft. total cost of build was 120k, thats everything down to the paint on the walls and turf in the fire :D. God bless the country workmen! did not include landscaping..a good 30k's worth id say on an acre site


  • Registered Users Posts: 247 ✭✭Jollyman


    €43/square foot i think that is some sort of record


  • Registered Users Posts: 730 ✭✭✭squire1


    Indeed. Fully kitted out and all? Care to let us in on your secrets themadchef? No wonder you could afford 30K on landscaping :D


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,813 ✭✭✭themadchef


    firstly when we built i thought we would get it done for 100k so actually 20 over budget in my eyes. not exactly paying city prices, live in the west so that helps. trying to remember exactly what each thing cost but the timber frame was a great help (think it was 33k..), when i got him to quote for timber frame, i knocked him down on price and told him if he throws in stairs, doors and, skirting, door saddles etc he had the job. first one in the area so i think he was looking at the long road.
    local trades men all priced, took best quotes for all basics, floors, plasrering roof etc. hubby not exactly a DIY man so needed it all. kitchen is seven meters long, 9 wide (im a chef....hence mega kitchen) and heres the icing onthe cake. cheapest kitchen i priced with two level island was 10k!! so got local carpenter to build me one ..with very sexy island in pine with solid beech top for a staggering 2500euro!!!!!!!!! thats materials as well, sure he made a mistake ...must have.
    solid timberfloor throughout whole house ..got great deal in Dundalk. when it came to laying it, one guy priced it at 3k !! so i asked another local guy who charged 100E a day (at the time) to work with it and see how he got on. done in 3 days! cost 300E. out side and inside painted for 1k local guy again 3 coat inside, 2 outside . i bought the paint. plasterer inside and out was 3k.....trying to remember roof was 6k i think. foundation and groundwork was around 9k. any way, basic thig was i was a bargain hunter, kept at them to do it for less, and smiled alot! dont have the lanscaping done yet but estimated at 30k ..not seroiusly thinking about it yet though. anyone need names etc of work men if they from Mayo, just pm. and bestof luck to new builders, i found it easy enough. but i think its easier in the country , you know personally who you are dealing with, and prices tend to be cheaper.


Advertisement