As mentioned en passant, our house caught fire about 10 days ago. It's a small bungalow, on a big plot. Too small, and (was) in need of an update.
It will get the update anyway, since it will need a new kitchen, decorating throughout, and it will get a new warm roof. But we plan to take the opportunity of the rebuild to enlarge and improve it. There are various ways of doing this including taking a cash settlement when they have worked out what our claim is worth.
There's nothing in principle to stop us demolishing and rebuilding. A reason to do that might be to build, or have built, a factory made house of some kind, from e.g. www.potton.co.uk/ (other suppliers exist).
I know next to nothing about prefabs and eco-homes, but I plan to look into it asap - the idea appeals to me.
Does anybody here have experience of this sort of thing?
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You need to be wary of the "non standard construction" trap if you ever come to re-sell.
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The Huff Haus is very popular in this part of the country. They have even opened their UK sales office and show house nearby. Not sure how that is going to survive Brexit.
Last edited by: Zero on Fri 19 Apr 19 at 18:47
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I liked the guy this week who built his eco house from hempcrete, a mixture of shredded d hemp and lime and insulated or with shredded cork blocks.
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And there is straw bales, compressed, pinned and sewn together, then sprayed with lime mortar.
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Insurance companies may baulk though
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Safer than a thatched roof
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>> And there is straw bales ....
Liable to being blown down by big bad wolves though.
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Damn it. "Sprout" that is all.
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make sure you are fully aware of the VAT rules if you are rebuilding. IIRC you will have to demolish the complete building inc garaging/outbuildings (but not sure if fully detached is exempt?).
New build is zero rated so potential for a 20% saving on all construction costs for a standard quality property. Historically I think gold bathroom fittings could get you into trouble :)
Somebody on here will know chapter and verse.
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>> make sure you are fully aware of the VAT rules if you are rebuilding. IIRC
>> you will have to demolish the complete building inc garaging/outbuildings (but not sure if fully
>> detached is exempt?).
Will watch out for that - I gather that even foundations have to be removed to create a bare site.
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Not sure I want to splurge on a Huf Haus which seems to be the top of the category, and it might be a bit space age for the village location cheek by jowl with a 50's bungalow and a row of Rothschild houses. At least we aren't in the nearby conservation area.
I'll go to the Grand Designs Live show (4 May onwards, London Excel) and see if we can get some ideas.
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Went there last year, when I was in conservatory/French doors/drive and patio planning mode.
It was very good for interior upgrades, less so for "off site factory builds"*, but the free goody bags were outstanding.
*sounds so much better than "pre fab", my aunt got bombed out in custom house, and lived in a proper prefab (I think its was a phoenix THP) right up till the late 60's
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Whatever route you choose build a basement. We don't seem to do that in this country. Underground services permitting of course.
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...do the Underground services run out as far as his gaff, then?
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>> ...do the Underground services run out as far as his gaff, then?
Be a while till he sees crossrail.
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...yeah, but I see Diane Abbot's booked her seat at the opening jolly...
;-)
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>> ...yeah, but I see Diane Abbot's booked her seat at the opening jolly...
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>> ;-)
The traveling cocktail party.
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>> Whatever route you choose build a basement. We don't seem to do that in this
>> country. Underground services permitting of course.
I agree, useful things. We do however have high ground water, not sure if that is fatal to the proposal. None of the local pubs has a cellar.
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>> We do however have high ground water, not sure if that is fatal to the proposal.
>> None of the local pubs has a cellar.
Things have changed .
Son's previous house already had a large cellar with six feet max headroom.
The cellar floor was lowered by a couple of feet ( exposing the lack of foundations )
Then a cavity drainage system was installed.
In effect create a skin on the walls and the floor and let any water go down outside the skin to a sump and then pump it out.
www.permagard.co.uk/basement-waterproofing/membranes
examples of pumps etc
www.permagard.co.uk/basement-waterproofing/sump-pumps
www.permagard.co.uk/basement-waterproofing/drainage-systems
www.permagard.co.uk/advice/tanking-a-cellar-guide
Possible downside :-((
My elderly friend in the USA had a pump failure the tripped the main breaker etc and her basement got flooded. I believe it was for serious ground water.
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Yes, been through it!
Back in 1985 we had a Scandia Hus built, and lived in it until 2009, when we moved to Austria. The basic structure is factory made to your own specification, and delivered to site, for a small team of specialists to assemble. Basically we sat down with one of their UK agents to design the interior, based on one of several standard forms. The great thing is that you make it look externally however you wish to fit in with the area, deciding such factors as roof styles (barn, hip, etc), types of brick, roof tiles etc. Ours was a chalet bungalow, with traditional brick cladding, but with timber between the downstairs windows. It was very roomy and energy efficient, with triple glazing, and a highly insulated roof and walls. The sheer fact of being able to decide which way doors were hinged, and being able to determine whereabouts in the wall of a room the door was located, was amazing. Most importantly, we'd happily do it again, given the sheer versatility of what can be done.
There are some (minor) downsides, for example all the interior walls were stud walls, which was bad for soundproofing, but good for being able to mount cupboards, shelves etc.
Happy to share more experiences if it gets serious, but personally I wouldn't hesitate if the finances work out for you.
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I recall a friend erecting a log cabin on his farm for guests. Bought it in kit form from Sweden or some such place. The first line of instructions was along the lines of: Don't let anyone near this kit with a saw!
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Pre-fab? - Zero
