June 2021 - CB Homes

Once our client Suzanne had decided to build her own house on the plot she had bought at an online auction, she selected CB Homes’ turnkey self-build service to deliver her self-build. Knowing the total price up front, as well as having every aspect of the self-build taken care of, was a very attractive proposition for her and her husband.

Having bought the property in March 2020 and spent some time deciding whether to renovate the old building or to go with the self-build plan, the plans were ready to submit for planning permission by August. The planning process did take some weeks longer than usual, owing to COVID-19.

Planning application paperwork

Suzanne says,

“Buying the property during the first lockdown was probably quite bad timing! Luckily, the CB Homes team continued to work the whole way through the pandemic. I was taken aback by all the paperwork involved in housebuilding, in addition to the planning application. Luckily, it’s all being handled by CB Homes but I did not anticipate how long it would take. I suppose this is one of the big differences between a mass developer throwing lots of houses up very quickly and a developer that specialises in individual bespoke homes. I don’t mind though, this is a really big investment for us and if it takes longer then so be it. I’m very confident that it will turn out exactly how I have envisaged it.”

As part of our turn key service at CB Homes, our planning experts pull all the paperwork together and submit everything at once, which saves our clients a lot of time going back and forth with the Planning Officer. Suzanne continues,

“I was shocked by how expensive a bat survey can be. It’s obviously really important ecologically to make sure these things are carried out but I was quite pleased we didn’t need a newt survey as well! Luckily, CB Homes could advise us on which surveys were required and the company has contacts with the expertise to carry them out efficiently.”

Freedom to choose the finishings with a turn key solution

Part of our service is to provide clients with plenty of freedom to choose finishings for their new home. Now that the foundations have been dug, the time has come for our clients to start making exciting choices for their house. Sometimes the amount of choice available may seem slightly overwhelming, but Suzanne says,

“I have to say, the whole process is really very easy. We have basically had our hands held by the CB Homes team the whole way through so everything seems really simple.

“My husband works very long hours so is not always available to discuss things with. One of the best things about CB Homes is that there is a dedicated person for each aspect of the build – so there is a project manager and a site manager and I can just speak to the right person straightaway. The lines of communication are really good. It really is a pain free way of building your own house.

“With their years of experience of self-builds, the team can provide really good advice on what will or won’t work and also what is most practical yet effective.”

Considering value with a turn key package

When it comes to budgeting, Suzanne admits she is a little obsessed with her spreadsheets. She says,

“I like to know exactly where we are with the budget at any time. The staged payment process that CB Homes uses makes it easy. The company has been very helpful with advice and keeping an eye on potential re-sale value too. At this stage, we don’t know how long we will live in this new home and we don’t want to put potential future buyers off by choosing things that might be considered a bit outlandish by someone else. CB Homes really understands that and have helped guide me very step of the way.

“It has been so helpful to have professional advice on things like choices of materials and finishes. I never knew that choosing small floor tiles make rooms look smaller for instance. CB Homes has also recommended suppliers. With the team’s years of experience these things really matter.”

Sticking to the budget with our turn key service

“When it comes to extras, you do need to be careful – it would be easy to get carried away with things like upgrading door furniture and it can quickly add up. Luckily, little things are standard for CB Homes that would be considered an upgrade by another company – now I am making my choices of finishings, the quality of everything they build really comes through.

“It may seem a small thing, but I really appreciate having the site kept so neat and tidy. Even our new neighbours have been complimentary about that. CB Homes wrote to all of them to advise that work would be starting which I hope got us off on the right foot with them straightaway.”

With the foundations complete, the next job will be the bricklaying.

Suzanne commented,

“Before finding my perfect plot, I had never heard of a full turnkey package for self-building before. Basically, it means that taking on a self-build doesn’t need to be scary at all.”

Have you always dreamed of building your own home? Have you got a plot of land suitable for building on? Contact CB Homes today to find out how we can help you.

The plasterwork is finished and your self-build project is definitely nearing completion. Through the inclusion of your own little touches, during the Second Fix, your house will really begin to resemble a home. All the work that was carried out in the First Fix was preparation for the installations in the Second Fix. Once again, this can easily be categorised as joinery, plumbing and electrics. If the work was carried out correctly in the First Fix, then it should all be straightforward, as the last stages of your self-build project fall into place.

We’ve almost nailed it

The Second Fix for the joinery really brings the rooms to life. Some skirting and architraves may have been fixed temporarily as a guide for the plasterer, but they will now be fixed permanently.

Skirting can be fixed directly to the wall, using plugs and screws, or wooden guide battens may have been fitted to the wall, to nail the skirting to. You may go for a simple five-inch softwood skirting, or a larger, Georgian style 10-inch deep oak – whatever is in keeping with the design and a reflection of your personal taste.

Architraves are fixed to the door linings, which are the frames in which the doors will hang. Any fixing holes in the timber will be made good using putty, so you won’t be able to see where skirtings or architraves are attached, in preparation for painting or staining.

Other carpentry items include the hanging of hardwood or softwood doors throughout the property. This is a deceptively simple but actually very complicated process, as anyone who has ever removed a door themselves to paint it will know. The full process includes siting and fixing the hinges to the door, and then the hinges to the frame. It also includes fitting the lock mechanism and handle, which all has to be aligned perfectly for it to work. Any interior window sills will also be fitted at this stage too.

This stage can also include detailed finishes to boxing out – to conceal pipework in a bathroom for example, or boarding to a bath panel, after the plumber has finished their fittings.

Switching on at Second Fix

The electrics is one aspect of the house where, if any mistakes have been made, they can be costly to rectify. So it’s important to ensure that all wiring and socket positions are exact before any plasterwork is carried out. All the wiring and socket plates are already in place from the First Fix, so it’s simply a question of fitting sockets, TV points, switches etc, to allow appliances to be operational.

The underfloor manifold system, if you’re installing underfloor heating, will require a live supply at this stage too. The manifold is responsible for circulating heated water from the boiler or other heating source through the underfloor circuits, while also controlling the pressure and flow-rates. When selecting a place for the manifold, choose a site where it can be accessed and installed easily and where the central heating pipes can be connected and radiated out. A good place is often under the stairs, in a storage area or in the wall near the electric meter.

Smart system at Second Fix

If you’ve opted for a smart system, much of your cabling will not be on view. Wireless technology is evolving all the time and the more wireless technology you can include in your new-build, the less clutter on display and the more aesthetically pleasing it will be on the eye.

If you have gone down the renewables route, then it is during the Second Fix when interfaces are installed for ground source heat pumps and solar panels, etc. We connect all services as part of CB Hom e s’ turnkey service, so that all systems can be fully tested and signed off as passing all relevant industry regulations.

Liquid assets

Plumbing is the last part of the Second Fix we look at here, though all three of these elements will be carried out at the same time. One technician many need another to carry out tasks during the ongoing installation – for example, an electrician will need to fit the power supply to a shower unit, while the plumber installs the water supply to it.

Plumbing covers all the aspects of the project that includes pipework. This includes fixing the wall-mounted radiators to the pipework, installing boilers, cylinders, header tanks and fixtures such as wash basins, shower trays and bathroom storage units. It includes the entire bathroom suite and any associated sanitary ware, such as a fitted toilet, basin and pedestal and bath.

In the kitchen, it will include mains water connections for the sink, but also gas supply to the hob. Some tiling will have to be carried out before certain sanitary items can be fitted – areas where the wash hand basin will be fixed, or a toilet cistern – while other parts (the kitchen splashback for example) will be completed later.

The kitchen is the heart of the home

The kitchen being fitted is another of those milestones in your self-build project that should be celebrated. You’ll see your design, your choices, your personality come to bear on the finished kitchen units, worktops and utilities. What was just a visualisation on paper and screen, and individual pieces of detail – a tile design, a hob or worktop configuration – is now a reality. Whether you’ve gone for high-grade granite worktops, glass and chrome, or a more traditional timber design, your kitchen will be the centrepiece of your downstairs living space.

With your kitchen and bathroom fittings in place, the interiors of your future home are really taking shape. All that remains now are the finishing touches. We’ll look at those next in the fifth and final part of our Self Build Guide to The Build.

If you have always dreamed of building your own home, contact us to find out more about our complete turnkey solution for your self-build project.

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