Most recently... After getting quotes for groundworks from about 5 or 6 firms we reduced this down to 2 and then eventually done to one person. There was a fair degree
of back and forth just to make sure that what they understood to be the scope of the work matched ours. Also as the site has rock underlying we got a JCB on site one Saturday just to dig a couple of trial pits as
deep as we could just so both sides could see the real ground conditions in advance. This seems to have worked quite well and we're fairly confident that we have a common understanding and the prices quoted are
appropriate for the work. The original plans for the house included RIW Liquid Asphaltic Compound waterproofing – however this was causing some concerns with the groundworker over the steps that would need to
be taken to ensure an unbroken coating as we want the tanking to be external to the house shell. That in mind we've been investigating using Xypex additive to the concrete to make the basement waterproof.
Our architect has used this on another build and the extra cost of the Xypex appears to be offset by the various components needed for the RIW (the compound itself, protection boarding, blinding, corner sheets etc etc)
and, most importantly, the labour needed to install the RIW. A decision still to be made when I eventually get firm prices. In the meanwhile we have been preparing for the promised start date of just after
Christmas. We have acquired an old site toilet and have been looking around some plant sales places – current idea seems to be a diesel shovel with forks and a diesel mixer (the garage across the road from the
site sells red diesel). Another task taking a fair amount of time has been calculating and double checking quantities. So far we have ordered the large amount of reinforcement fabric (mesh) and bar needed for
the retaining walls of the house and the free standing wall behind the house. Amazing the price quoted from first quote to last varied by 43% (builders merchant vs specialist reinforcement supplier – see links).
On the paperwork side we've arranged site insurance through SelfBuilder.com and have taken out a NHBC Solo warranty. The most important aspect has been keeping the
neighbours aware of what is going to happen and when – the last thing we want to do is generate any nasty surprises for anyone. Up to December 2003 The actual build has not yet started - the
current estimate is that the groundworkers will beon site in about 4 to 6 weeks - just in time for Christmas!! What we have been doing over the recent months has been gathering quotes for those things we will need
fairly soon and those that influence the build - so we have been getting quotes for the demolition of the existing cottage and some other outbuildings along with the groundworks for the new house. This will
consist of removing about 1500m3 to make a rather large hole in the hillside into which the house will be built, including about 400m3 of rock. As you can imagine we had some largish quotes!
We've also been getting quotes for the beam and block floors and making use of the free take off service from a couple of local builder merchants to double check our budgeting and also to get them used to the idea that
we will be spending lots of money with them to encourage them to give us a reasonable level of discount from day one - one can but hope. Most recently we've been sorting out the structural warranty (NHBC Solo), site
insurance, the moving of the existing electricity supply to a temporary box (a 10 week lead time in our area at the moment - ouch - didn't expect that), telephone for the site office (2 week lead time), a site
caravan/office and loo. I've also been chugging through the plans to add up the steel needed for the reinforced slab and basement walls - we'll be needing a fair bit bent and want to avoid getting stuck without this
when it is needed. At the moment my list of A393 mesh seems a bit high so I'd better go and add it up again...ho hum |
