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Build a House in 3 Days!
DoINeedPlanningPermission.co.uk is delighted to introduce Svenskhomes™ as one of its latest advertising partners.
Yes, it is not the stuff of fantasy and as the following short video will demonstrate, it is quite possible to build a house in 3 days.
Svenskhomes™ offers a range of timber homes, which are designed to the highest specification and are resistant to the extremes of the Scandinavian climate. Sweden has a long tradition in the building of timber houses and the Svenskhomes™ range is produced at a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, sourcing well managed and sustainable timber from slow grown pine and spruce forests in the far north of Sweden.
Their range of timber frame and pre-fabricated houses are extremely energy efficient, surpassing current government requirements. All their houses are supplied with triple glazed windows and doors and high levels of insulation in the walls and roof.
Living with Builders
No matter how efficient the builders are and how much care is taken, construction can be a noisy and dust generating affair. From experience I know that in the good old days when the economy was booming, it was as rare as hens teeth to get your hands on a “reputable” builder and you were grateful that they could fit you into their schedule. Whilst this may be so, do not let them rule the roost; remember you are the client and they are working for you! You need to set out ground rules and I hope the following can help inform the agreement between you and your builder.
If you or your family members are usually at home during the day, why not think about living elsewhere or better still, going on holiday for a few days? Quite often this will not prove possible for various reasons so a certain level of inconvenience will have to be endured I am afraid. If this is the case, please bring it to the attention of the builder before work commences and try and ensure (an obvious point I know) that inconvenience is kept to a minimum.
Noise
Before work begins on site, make sure you establish with the builders what their working hours are. During the summer months (hehe), most builders like to be on site early and again, this may not be of convenience to your or indeed your neighbours. Therefore, I suggest you agree at the outset what the expected working hours will be and outside of these, the builder will have to seek your permission to extend those hours.
Similarly, builders like to listen to a radio when they work. Whilst you may not have any control over them listening to Classic FM, if this disturbs you or your neighbours (particularly if you are working from home) ask them for the volume to be kept low.
Dust
Where would you be without good old dust? No matter how big or small the job, it is likely that dust will be generated particularly if it involves disturbing the existing structure to your property. Whilst this is inevitable, the builders should take reasonable care and precautions by sealing off the area of work. The most effective way of doing this is by taping polythene sheets over doors and windows. If the builders do take this course of action, please be aware that the tape used to hold the sheets in place will in all probability result in existing painted surfaces being damaged and require redecoration when they are removed. Please recognise this and discuss this with your builder before work commences and agree what course of action will be taken to remedy this.
I suggest that where possible, you remove carpets and floor coverings or at the very least, they are covered in dust sheets. No matter how careful, dust will always be generated. Recently, I had work carried out which involved the creation of a new door opening and the sealing off of an existing one. I can hand on heart say that it was the first time in my life that I vacuumed twice a day for nearly 2 weeks. One tip I suggest is that water is sprinkled on concrete and timber floors before sweeping up.
Avoiding Obstruction
Yes, you may be grateful that the builder has finally arrived, but don’t let them rule the roost. It is your home after all. Convenience for them does not necessarily mean convenience for you and can often be the case when it comes to on-site storage of materials. Whilst this is inevitable, ask the builder that safe and unobstructed access to your home is maintained whenever possible. This extends to their vans also. Disputes with neighbours can sometimes result form builders’ vehicles blocking driveways or taking parking spaces in city streets. Where parking is of a premium, it may be that you will have to sacrifice your parking space in order to keep the peace.
Again, new build cannot happen without materials and these will by definition have to be delivered to site. As a matter of courtesy to all, please let your neighbours know when a delivery is to take place and ask neighbours if they can allow access.
Utilities
Unless the project is of a size that will warrant a portaloo, be prepared to have your bathroom visited by alien creatures. Whilst this cannot be avoided, make sure that walkways are properly protected from dirty footwear.
In this day of mobile phones, it is unlikely that the builder will need to use your telephone. However, it is worth pointing out that the phone can be used but not to track down football results or to wish Aunt Nellie in Australia a Happy Birthday.
The act of construction requires water and lots of it. Therefore, the builders will need regular access to water. If you haven’t already, I suggest you have an outside tap fitted, not only to service the project but you will also find it invaluable when you are working outside in the future.
As the old adage goes Before Gain there is Pain. Your home will go through a metamorphism. Through the early stages when dust is everywhere and your home looks like a herd of wildebeest have taken up residence, you may question why did I ever bother. However, once the project has been completed, the nightmares of fruitless dust battles will be replaced by a sense of satisfaction... Yes it was worth it in the end!
Please Remember
- It is your home and the builder is working for you.
- Construction is a dirty job and the creation of dust is inevitable.
- Agree working hours.
- Agree where materials should be stored on-site.
- Make your neighbours aware that you will be having worked undertaken to your property.
- Agree which toilet (if you are lucky to have more than one) can be used by the builder.
- Agree if your phone can be used.
We are keen to hear of your experiences of living with builders.
When it comes to Building Works - Don't forget the Insurance Company
Having building works completed at your home can be considered as an increased risk that the home insurers need information about. Insures these days are forever finding ways to exploit technical errors that the house owner has made to give them credible excuses not to pay out. Rather than taking the risk, you should write to your home and contents insurers advising them of the intended building works and the expected contract period and requesting confirmation that you are still covered.
Most insurers will see this as ordinary and not request additional cover during the works. Others may require an additional premium. Whatever the result do not be caught out by not supplying them with the information.
Top Tips on Finding & Working with your Builder
So you've done your research and looked into whether or not you need planning permission. Well done. Now you can get down to the business of the build. Whether you're going for a kitchen extension or loft conversion, a lot of work goes into turning your home improvement dreams into reality. Don't panic, instead take the time to find the right builder and everything else will fall into place. Putting your home in the hands of a capable expert is the surest way to ensure a smooth project from start to finish. There are plenty of great builders out there - for most people the trouble is knowing where to find them.
Luckily, the team at MyBuilder.com understand how important it is to find a builder you can trust and they've got a solution to help. MyBuilder.com is a service that provides a trusted environment for homeowners to connect with local tradesmen. Builders on the site have reviews left by homeowners who've hired them previously - kind of like eBay for the trades. MyBuilder.com has over 44,000 members - from painters & decorators to plumbers and everything in-between. All you do is post your job and tradespeople with relevant skills will automatically get in touch through the site with message and quotes. It's easy to tell who's reputable and who isn't based on their feedback and qualifications.
For more advice when looking for a builder, follow these top tips from MyBuilder.com:
1. Experience shapes expertise
It's important to get a clear picture of the builder's experience prior to hiring. Building work can be full of surprises and bad communication can cause budgets to spiral and projects to crumble. A qualified professional builder will liaise with their client every step of the way - come bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
Make sure any builders you're considering have experience doing similar work. Even better, get reassurance by asking to visit their client's homes.
2. Do you need a jack of all trades or a specialist?
Large projects normally require several different trades. A typical extension build will need the services of a bricklayer, plasterer, electrician and plumber. A carpenter, painter and tiler may also be needed to achieve a quality finish. Using specialist tradesmen (that are qualified where necessary) will help ensure that work is carried out safely and to a high standard. Unless you're keen to take on the role of project manager, we recommend you find a builder who can manage the team and source sub-contractors when needed.
3. Quotology
Always get at least three quotes. When comparing costs, make sure they've all been provided to the same spec. Remember, there's a big difference between a rough estimate and a formal quote. Be wary of tradesmen who throw figures around with having enough information. Most tradesmen are more than happy to pop by for a free site assessment. Getting your favourite builders around for a viewing also provides an opportunity to get to know them better.
4. Don't guess, check!
One of the most common reasons that issues arise is poor communication. Tell prospective builders exactly what you want and make sure they're on the same page. Good builders will offer guidance and advice along the way. Make sure you cover off the following key points prior to awarding the job:
- Verify their insurance - All builders should have public liability insurance and employers liability insurance if they are responsible for a team (if using MyBuilder.com, look for the stamp on their profile)
- Payment terms - stage payments tend to work well for both parties
- Materials - ask about trade discounts & guarantees
- Contracts - get everything in writing, it protects you and your builder!
Once you've hired, if changes are made to the spec, ask for a revised quote - that way they'll be no questions when it comes to pay up. Most importantly, at the first sign of a problem, address it head on. Hurt feelings are usually less costly to mend than a damaged home.
Happy building!
Living with Builders - Our Guide to Coping with Home Improvement Work
No matter how efficient the builders are and how much care is taken, construction can be a noisy and dust generating affair. From experience I know that in the good old days when the economy was booming, it was as rare as hens teeth to get your hands on a "reputable" builder and you were grateful that they could fit you into their schedule. Whilst this may be so, do not let them rule the roost; remember you are the client and they are working for you! You need to set out ground rules and I hope the following can help inform the agreement between you and your builder.
If you or your family members are usually at home during the day, why not think about living elsewhere or better still, going on holiday for a few days? Quite often this will not prove possible for various reasons so a certain level of inconvenience will have to be endured I am afraid. If this is the case, please bring it to the attention of the builder before work commences and try and ensure (an obvious point I know) that inconvenience is kept to a minimum.
Noise
Before work begins on site, make sure you establish with the builders what their working hours are. During the summer months (hehe), most builders like to be on site early and again, this may not be of convenience to your or indeed your neighbours. Therefore, I suggest you agree at the outset what the expected working hours will be and outside of these, the builder will have to seek your permission to extend those hours.
Similarly, builders like to listen to a radio when they work. Whilst you may not have any control over them listening to Classic FM, if this disturbs you or your neighbours (particularly if you are working from home) ask them for the volume to be kept low.
Dust
Where would you be without good old dust? No matter how big or small the job, it is likely that dust will be generated particularly if it involves disturbing the existing structure to your property. Whilst this is inevitable, the builders should take reasonable care and precautions by sealing off the area of work. The most effective way of doing this is by taping polythene sheets over doors and windows. If the builders do take this course of action, please be aware that the tape used to hold the sheets in place will in all probability result in existing painted surfaces being damaged and require redecoration when they are removed. Please recognise this and discuss this with your builder before work commences and agree what course of action will be taken to remedy this.
I suggest that where possible, you remove carpets and floor coverings or at the very least, they are covered in dust sheets. No matter how careful, dust will always be generated. Recently, I had work carried out which involved the creation of a new door opening and the sealing off of an existing one. I can hand on heart say that it was the first time in my life that I vacuumed twice a day for nearly 2 weeks. One tip I suggest is that water is sprinkled on concrete and timber floors before sweeping up.
Avoiding Obstruction
Yes, you may be grateful that the builder has finally arrived, but don't let them rule the roost. It is your home after all. Convenience for them does not necessarily mean convenience for you and can often be the case when it comes to on-site storage of materials. Whilst this is inevitable, ask the builder that safe and unobstructed access to your home is maintained whenever possible. This extends to their vans also. Disputes with neighbours can sometimes result form builders' vehicles blocking driveways or taking parking spaces in city streets. Where parking is of a premium, it may be that you will have to sacrifice your parking space in order to keep the peace.
Again, new build cannot happen without materials and these will by definition have to be delivered to site. As a matter of courtesy to all, please let your neighbours know when a delivery is to take place and ask neighbours if they can allow access.
Utilities
Unless the project is of a size that will warrant a portaloo, be prepared to have your bathroom visited by alien creatures. Whilst this cannot be avoided, make sure that walkways are properly protected from dirty footwear.
In this day of mobile phones, it is unlikely that the builder will need to use your telephone. However, it is worth pointing out that the phone can be used but not to track down football results or to wish Aunt Nellie in Australia a Happy Birthday.
The act of construction requires water and lots of it. Therefore, the builders will need regular access to water. If you haven't already, I suggest you have an outside tap fitted, not only to service the project but you will also find it invaluable when you are working outside in the future.
As the old adage goes Before Gain there is Pain. Your home will go through a metamorphism. Through the early stages when dust is everywhere and your home looks like a herd of wildebeest have taken up residence, you may question why did I ever bother. However, once the project has been completed, the nightmares of fruitless dust battles will be replaced by a sense of satisfaction.....Yes it was worth it in the end!
Please Remember:-
- It is your home and the builder is working for you.
- Construction is a dirty job and the creation of dust is inevitable.
- Agree working hours.
- Agree where materials should be stored on-site.
- Make your neighbours aware that you will be having worked undertaken to your property.
- Agree which toilet (if you are lucky to have more than one) can be used by the builder.
- Agree if your phone can be used.
We are keen to hear of your experiences of living with builders.
