We’ve spent so much of the past two years or so inside our four walls, and it’s given us a lot of time to think, especially about the place we were living in 24/7. If your lockdown languishing has given you cause for a home makeover, you’re not alone – according to a study by the NaCSBA, 31% of respondents had carried out home improvements during lockdown. However, 5% had considered the possibility of going the whole hog, and designing and building their dream house from scratch in response to the coronavirus crisis. Generally speaking, 32% stated that they were interested in designing and building their own home at some point in the future.
This is no doubt an exciting, if daunting, idea. Many folks may not appreciate that with the right amount of passion and energy, as well as proper planning, the pipedream of building your perfect home can in fact be realised smoothly and efficiently. If you’re thrilled at the idea of building your own home, and have a strong notion of what you want,
This article will cover all the steps involved in taking your dream house from your imagination into reality.
1. Set your budget
First things first: set a strong, realistic budget for your project, before you think about the building your dream house. Despite what you might have seen on Grand Designs, TV isn’t able to realistically represent how easy it is for money to leak away during the whole building process. So, set aside a portion as a contingency — we’d advise around 10% of your overall budget.
You never know where extra costs might crop up: you may have additional foundation requirements, or experience unavoidable delays in acquiring materials or gaining planning permission. Moreover, if the process goes smoothly and you stay within your budget, why not use your leftover funds for upgrading interiors, or landscaping?
2. Create your brief
For the initial architectural design brief, you should consider the key objectives, building typology and design direction. This will be an ever-evolving document, and at this point, you can incorporate your overall budget and make adjustments based on what materials you will need, as well other requirements.
In terms of the space of your new home, Harvey Norman Architects has produced an example bubble diagram you can use to explore what the ideal connections and relationships between each space in your home could look like. You should also consider any special features that will make your new dream house to-die-for. A luxury fireplace could be the key, or perhaps a carriage lift will be a domestic link that makes life flow easier and elegantly futureproofs your house.
For the latter, despite these enormous benefits, a lift can be a costly addition, so it’s worthwhile taking the time to consider it properly. We recommend reading this guide by the experts at Premier Lift Group to help you make up your mind.
If you do have any bespoke requirements, the brief should account for them from the very start, as this will save you from encountering major issues during the building process. At this point, you may decide, as Acarchitects suggests, that an interior designer will be pivotal for you to realise your design ambitions.
3. Find your team
As Grand Designs magazine advises, the key to the success of your self-build is finding the right professionals. Your team may involve a package supplier, architect, or a professional house designer. The onus is on you to make sure they understand exactly what you want and what your budgetary considerations are, but also, to conduct background checks on your prospective team.
If you want to be confident that you and your hired hands will be able to communicate effectively, choose the professionals who you think will be the most thoughtful about the process.
After the initial design process, you may have collectively developed your brief alongside the consultation you have with contractors. At this point, you might need to involve a structural engineer, or even an ecologist for the landscapes and outdoor areas.
4. Get permissions
Before you can get to work, you need to check if you already have planning permission from purchasing the plot. Permission is associated with the land, not the applicant, so it is possible to buy a plot without already having permission.
In case it doesn’t, given that obtaining legal permission can incur fees, we advise consulting with your local planning authority, as they will process your final application. To evaluate the viability of your project, most local authorities have planning departments to offer pre-application advice, though some will charge for this service.
This will give you a strong idea of what will and won’t be accepted for style, size and materials, and boost your chances of a successful application. You should also make sure you have consent from neighbours, as well as building control approval.
5. Analyse your site
The groundworks
In preparing your plot for construction, you will have to arrange the groundworks, which usually involves at least levelling and excavating trenches. You can deal with these tasks along with your chosen contractor, or a groundworking company, as they will be well-versed in the process and familiar with factors like drainage and foundation pour.
Whatever your choice, seek expert advice. Your local building control may have general information about types of soil, and a structural engineer can undertake a site inspection to assess the composition of the foundation soil. Also, try not to deviate from your design when it comes to positioning and dimensions, as planning approval has been acquired with this in mind, and it can be incredibly costly to alter.
The superstructure
There is a range of construction methods you can use, with the most common being brick and block, and timber frame. The former is more traditional and familiar, especially to local tradesmen who you may decide to contract. Brick and block constructions are praised for their even internal temperatures and good acoustic performance, so if you’re a musical couple or family with hopes for a grand piano, for instance, that might be what seals the deal.
A timber frame is excellent for quick, predictable construction schedules, as well as being perfect for open plan internal layouts. There is also the option of structural insulated panels, insulating concrete formwork engineering, or even an oak frame. If you’re keen to build a supremely futureproof home, you might even look into steel framing.
In terms of internal and external finishes, this is where self-build lets you set your imagination free. If you’ve used an interior designer as part of the design process, you may have already avoided expensive mistakes. Interior fit-outs will ordinarily involve plumbers, window suppliers, plasterers and carpenters. Separate from the planning approval process, you will also be submitted to a separate building inspection, which will ensure that the structure is being built in full compliance with regulations.
Also read: 3 Things to Consider Before Moving to Another State
