2019-07-01 Homebuilding & Renovating

(Joyce) #1

194 homebuilding.co.uk


How I beat the


cost estimator


B


efore starting my last self-build project,
I sent my Building Regulations’
plans off to an estimating service and
received back a detailed breakdown of each
stage of the build, with costs divided into
labour and materials. In this series, I look
at the key stages of the build (as outlined
above) and explain the costs involved.
Happily, on this project I managed
to bring the cost of my build in under
estimate, so I’m also passing on my words
of advice on areas where savings can be
made without compromising quality.
This month, we look at the roof covering.
Up until this point, even after the roof
trusses have been raised, the build is still
just an open shell. The covering of the roof
turns this enclosure into a shelter and from
that point on, so much more can happen
on site (and particularly inside the build),
regardless of the weather.
Before any slates or tiles are laid, the roof
needs to be covered with the underfelt and
battened out with timber battens spaced so
as to create the correct lap or overhang to
the slate/tile below. For my project, I chose
slates. The other main choice is tiles, which
can be clay or concrete.

Inthis newseries,serialself-builderDavidSnelltakes


a goodlookat thecostsfor hischosenroofcovering,


Spanish slates,set againstoriginalestimates and


budgets,and shareshiscost-savingtipsalongtheway


DAVID SNELL
The author of
Building Your Own
Home, David is a
serial self-builder
and has been
building homes
for 50 years

NEW SERIES
In this new series, David Snell will also
be looking at the costs associated with:

O CARPENTRY AND JOINERY

O ELECTRICAL PLUMBING AND HEATING

O PLASTERING, DRY LINING, TACKING AND FLOOR
Part Four: Roof covering AND WALL TILING

The Build BUILD COSTS by David Snell


IMAGES: DAVID SNELL
Free download pdf