cheshire Archives - Page 7 of 8

Unlocking the financial potential of your land

From beautiful turnkey self-build projects to distinctive developments and exclusive barn conversions, we at CB Homes have been designing and building award-winning homes since 1981.
Each bespoke home we build requires land and space, so we are always on the lookout for suitable land to purchase for our clients’ self-build dreams or bespoke and intimate housing developments.

From beautiful turnkey self-build projects to distinctive developments and exclusive barn conversions, we at CB Homes have been designing and building award-winning homes since 1981.

Each bespoke home we build requires land and space, so we are always on the lookout for suitable land to purchase for our clients’ self-build dreams or bespoke housing developments.

Do you have land to sell?

If you have a large garden which you are interested in developing, or you own land with or without buildings that you wish to sell, we might be interested in purchasing it for an exclusive bespoke development or the construction of a custom home.

All sorts of options may be open to you, from an outright sale to a joint venture or profit share, you may even want to develop for yourself for an investment or new home.

What about planning permission for your land?

Whether or not you have planning permission for your plot of land, we may be interested in purchasing it for an exclusive bespoke development or the construction of a custom home.

Why sell your land to CB Homes?

With a proven track record for delivering a dedicated and reliable service, offering a fully transparent approach, you can trust us to purchase your plot of any size at a fair and competitive price.

Having purchased numerous plots of land in the past, we have a wide variety of options available to landowners, from an outright sale to a joint venture or profit share, or you may even want to develop for yourself for an investment or new home. We will work closely with you to ensure a mutually beneficial outcome.

Free, no-obligation consultation

As experienced developers with over 40 years’ experience, we are ideally placed to assess the suitability of your plot for development. We offer a free, no obligation planning appraisal service to assess your land, and can work with you to maximise the planning potential and land value. Our team of professionals will then complete all aspects of the planning promotional work, managing the application through to a decision. This ensures a streamlined process, with no cost or risk to you.

So, whether you have a small single or large garden plot, or an ex commercial site, with or without redundant buildings or barns, we are interested in all types of available land for sale for our exclusive homes.

If you are interested in unlocking the financial potential of your plot, please get in touch with us by calling 01829 730244 or email enquiries@cbhomes.co.uk. Or visit our new dedicated land website to find out more.

The Self-Build Guide to The Build: 6. From Dream to Reality

Now that their self-build home is complete, we can look back to the start of our client’s adventure, from pre-start to completion, to provide the whole story.

The keys have been handed over, and our clients can finally call their new self-build house their home.

Now that their self-build home is complete, we can look back to the start of our clients’ adventure, from pre-start to completion, to provide the whole story.

Pre-Start

Our clients decided to go down the self-build route, but having had experience of this before, which had been quite stressful, they sought the assistance and guidance of CB Homes to realise their self-build dream in Cheshire.

They were extremely excited to get started, knowing that they were going to get a modern, warm comfortable house built to brilliant standards, so in retirement they would be comfortable.

Laying the groundwork

Before work could start, a new road had to built, as the original gravel track couldn’t have accommodated the trucks and lorries to build our client’s new home. But within two weeks we had a new road in, and the work could commence!

Raising the roof

Steve and Sue found the whole self-build process so much easier with us project managing it and co-ordinating all the contractors.

Sue said: “We had utter confidence in CB Homes to deliver, and they really exceeded our expectations.”

The First Fix

At CB Homes, we aim to take all the stress out of self-building as much as possible, just

Steve and Sue said that they really enjoyed having the absolutely ‘clean slate’ of a self-build project, and the totally free rein when it came to choosing precisely what their new home would look like. These included the fun and practical decisions, such as where to fit which sockets, where is the kitchen sink going to go, and how is the bathroom going to look, as well as everything in between.

Sue said: “My job was to plough through all the brochures and give Steve a choice of about three.”

As Steve reflected: “You can have grey, grey or grey. All right, we’ll have grey!”

The Second Fix

Steve and Sue really enjoyed visiting the site to see how the build was progressing. Every day there was something new, and were really impressed with the speed and care at which things developed.

With all CB Homes self-builds, we provide a schedule giving our clients an idea of when things needed to be done on site. This really helps our clients to plan well ahead of when the actual date for their items they would like to be fitted needs delivering, ready for installation.

Completion

Steve and Sue love the design and finish of their stunning new home.

The fixed fee price included the cost for supplying and installing kitchen units, sanitary ware, wall tiles, fireplace and flooring. This gave them the flexibility and peace of mind to build the dream home that they were looking for around their budget.

Steve and Sue concluded: “CB Homes’ turnkey self-build package was the ideal solution. We are absolutely thrilled with the result of our new home, and CB Homes has helped us to truly realise our self-build dream. We couldn’t recommend working with CB Homes highly enough.”

See the round-up of our clients’ self-build video journal here.

Designing a Georgian country house for the 21st century

Recently, a client came to us looking for assistance with design and planning for a replacement dwelling. They had a clear idea of what they wanted to build, a two storey Georgian countryside property with simple authentic period detailing, appropriate to its rural surroundings in the heart of Cheshire.

The brief was to create a beautiful four bedroom home, fit for 21st century living but which would reflect the style and formality of the Georgian era. This meant that the front of the house would be rectangular and very symmetrical in appearance.

The brief was to create a beautiful four bedroom home, fit for 21^st century living but which would reflect the style and formality of the Georgian era. This meant that the front of the house would be rectangular and very symmetrical in appearance.

Authentic Georgian detail

The owners wanted authentic, joiner-made, period sash windows, including carefully observed Georgian proportions, using the Golden Ratio. Owing to this perfect symmetry, on paper at least, Georgian houses look like a deceptively simple rectangular box. What sets them apart and makes them look really special is when every tiny detail of their appearance is exactly right. Every pane of glass, every panel of bricks and every detail of moulding needs to be in the right proportion to everything else. Achieving these perfect proportions is absolutely key to building a stunning home.

As our clients wanted the windows to have tall, elegant proportions, our architect Russell Baker recommended making the ground floor ceiling height taller and also lowering the level of the window sills. This meant they would maintain the slim and elegant look that our client wanted but would also remain in perfect proportion with the tall facades of the house.

The front door of a house is always an important part of design and this project will be no exception. Georgian front doors were really imposing and were a definite style statement for the homeowner. Today, you can still be very authentic as to the Georgian design, with the added advantage of using modern, hard wearing, materials.

Rural farmhouse appeal

Georgian houses, especially town houses, are known for their formality. As this is to be a rural home, based on a Georgian farmhouse look, it can be slightly less formal, a little more cosy and a little lighter on things like the details of the mouldings, which on a more urban authentic Georgian townhouse are often heavier and more ornate.

To maintain the appropriate size and scale of proportions to the Georgian, symmetrical front elevation, our architect designed a further rear L-shaped section. This was to accommodate our client’s more modern preference for open plan living. This includes the kitchen and a dining/ family area with views from glazed walls across the countryside to make the most of afternoon and evening sunshine.

Finding an architect and developer who understand exactly what you want from your self-build is very important. If you have always dreamed of building your perfect country home, contact CB Homes to find out how we can help with our complete turn key self-build package.

The planning challenges of a replacement dwelling

Our architect met with the client and took a design brief for a two storey Georgian countryside property with simple authentic period detailing.

Last year, we were approached by a self-build client for assistance at the planning stage of their project, which was for a replacement dwelling on a plot of land currently occupied by an old farmhouse and various ancillary buildings. Our architect Russell Baker met with the client and took a design brief for a two storey Georgian countryside property with simple authentic period detailing. Once the client was happy with his proposal, the drawings were submitted for planning approval.

Changes to planning policy

A few years ago, the local authority changed its planning policy with regard to replacement dwellings. Previously, plans for building a new property on the site of a previous one could have entailed designing a house twice the size using arguments around Permitted Development Rights. However, the rules have now changed. You are allowed to build a replacement property 30% bigger than the existing dwelling as it stands. The policy states ’replacement dwellings should not be significantly larger (i.e. more than 30%) than the existing dwelling’.

The local authority has taken this action to take back a certain amount of control to avoid the risk of overly large replacement buildings being constructed in rural areas. Planning officers were concerned about the potentially negative impact on the openness of the countryside, especially in greenbelt.

For a self-builder, who very often wants to build a replacement dwelling, these rules may seem somewhat restrictive. Quite often the building to be replaced is really quite small. The rules are strict and self-builders need to understand the limits within which they have to operate.

Being creative with the space for planning challenges

This house to be replaced at this self-build project in Cheshire was not particularly large but did have an additional connected building at the back of the property. This was not an agricultural building and it was attached to the main house so when it came to measuring up its space could be included in the total overall floor area of the house. This was helpful as it gained some further space for our client’s house and meant that our architect could maximise the size of house that was achievable on the plot and allowable under the rules.

‘Granny flats’: the new rules

To gain some further living space, the architect also included plans for a separate granny flat to accommodate our client’s elderly mother. It consists of a bedroom, bathroom, living area and kitchenette.

The local authority has also changed some planning wording with regard to so-called ‘granny annexes’. ‘Annexe accommodation should be closely related to, and functionally dependant on, the main dwellinghouse……. annexe accommodation should be limited in size to provide for the basic needs of the dependent person, remain subordinate to the main dwelling, and normally include only one bedroom’.

From a planning point of view, if a dependent relative can live in a smaller building within your grounds then that saves another house being built somewhere so this is to be encouraged. However, it is really important to be aware that once the annexe is built you cannot then sell it off as a separate house and you cannot have anyone living in it apart from someone who is dependent on the main house.

Thinking outside the box for planning challenges

Thinking creatively about how to use the land available is another key part of maximising your self-build development opportunity. This property also included a brick built barn which already had planning approval for a residential barn conversion with a generous allowance of land for a garden. We could see that by sacrificing the option of another residential property and keeping the building as a useful storage facility instead, we could free up a sizeable amount of land to be a fantastic garden for the main house. Our client was very happy with this solution.

The best team designs the best self-build solution

An expert architect and developer will work with you to get the best possible solution, no matter the restrictions of planning policy. There is no doubt that the quality of the design and eventual build really matters when it comes to securing planning. Our architect Russell explains,

“When it comes to getting planning approval, and you need to push the boundaries of the planning restrictions as far as you can to secure the house design you want, it is all about balance. If you make your house design really attractive, it is far more likely to get the planning officer to look more favourably on your application. For example, in this particular case, the house we are building is taller than the property it has replaced. Strictly speaking, this is not generally permitted under planning rules. However, the overall proposed development creates a much greater openness within the countryside than the original buildings and the completed house will be much more attractive than the one it is replacing.

“When a local authority is presented with plans for a house that will be beautiful and know that it will be constructed by a trusted developer with a long-standing reputation like CB Homes, they are very likely to be a little more pragmatic in their decision making. After all, if they turn it down, they risk receiving an application in the future that may fall within the most stringent planning restrictions but equally may not be a very attractive house at all, and do nothing to enhance its surroundings.”

Have you found the perfect plot for a self-build but you’re not sure what to do about the existing property? Get in touch with us to find out how we can help turn your self-build dreams into reality.

The Self-Build Guide to The Build: 5. Finishing Touches

As we reach the conclusion of our Self-Build Guide to The Build, you should by now have a very clear idea what your finished home looks like. It’s almost completely decorated and the bathroom and kitchen are in place. It looks like a home, but there are several aspects – both inside and out – that need to be completed to put the finishing touches to your project.

Inside story

One of the biggest changes to the property will be the arrival of power. The gas and electric will be connected. Everything – the boiler or cylinder – for example, will be fired up, tried and tested, to ensure it’s in full working order. This is very much a moment of truth, as the central heating and electrics will have been tested in isolation, but will not have necessarily received general, day-to-day usage. Showers, cookers and any plumbed-in freestanding items, such as washing machines and dishwashers, can also be tested for operation. Each of the trades that have installed services and utilities will have to submit official certificates to prove that all they have been tested and passed as being safe. This certification will mean the work is guaranteed to the highest British Standards for their respective industries.

Decors and details

Another big addition to the interior decoration is finishing the paintwork, which you’ll have chosen to complement the spaces and décor. This is when your chosen colour schemes combine on a grand scale. You’ll see all the various components coming together. Some of the painting will just be ‘making good’. Other parts might include larger areas. There’s some joinery still to be installed, such as banisters and spindles to hardwood staircases, or vanity units, shelving and fitted wardrobes. Some of these may require painting to finish, while others may be stained or varnished. There may also be fixtures and fittings such as ironmongery to doors, hanging rails, feature walls, oak headboards, fireplaces and fixed mirrors to be added. All this takes time and it’s surprising that, although the building looks finished, each of these small details is a job in itself.

Snagging list at finishing time

On a CB Homes project, once the interior is deemed finished according to the builder’s work schedule, the site manager, project manager, the sales team and finally the client will do their snagging walk throughs. This is simply to double-check that every single aspect of the project has been carried out to the agreed and expected highest possible standards.

CB Homes has very strict procedures in place at this snagging stage, to make sure nothing is missed – even down to testing every socket and radiator. Being absolutely thorough in this regard ensures we don’t miss any detail, no matter how small. If any items are raised by the client, they will be addressed via an itinerary of corrections that need to be made. This is known as a snagging list. Once our client is satisfied with the end results, the interior undergoes an extensive and meticulous deep clean so it is absolutely spotless.

Nearing the finishing line

During the building process, the outside of the property and the surrounding area will look like a working building site. Materials need to be stacked and stored. There may be site cabins, machinery and vehicles, and the ground may be a temporary hard standing or – depending on the time of year – quite muddy. Part of finishing the exterior will include fitting the final bits of drainage, which can include guttering and downpipes. There may be some external decoration to be painted too, such as fascia boards or window frames. If the property has been rendered or features timberwork, that may require painting or treating too. The whole exterior of the building is cleaned with a power washer, to get rid of any dust and debris, such as mortar spots or splashes.

Ground force for finishing touches

The exterior landscaping and approaches will also need to be addressed in this final stage. Outside features such as patios, boundary walls, fences, hedging, gardens and lawns will be installed. The same goes for whatever driveways and parking areas are required. If the property has special features, such as electric gates, they will need to be fitted and connected to power too. These exterior elements will likely have started during the second fix, but now it will all come together to a finish.

Finishing the final inspection

When the project has been completed, the final inspections are carried out with the building surveyor, local authority building inspector, and the warranty providers. The house will also be air tested, to make sure it fits in with building requirements for air tightness. This stage will effectively give the building a clean bill of health and hand it over to its new owners.

When all this is completed and the finishes, flourishes and final touches have been applied, the project is officially ready for you to move in and enjoy your new dream home.

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

New homes available now at Acorn Gardens, Leftwich

We are very excited to present Acorn Gardens, our brand new development in Leftwich, on the outskirts of Northwich. Acorn Gardens is a beautiful collection of two, three and four bedroom homes, ideal for anyone looking for their first home or wanting to move up the housing ladder.

Here at CB Homes we are very excited to present Acorn Gardens, our brand new development in Leftwich, on the outskirts of Northwich. Acorn Gardens is a beautiful collection of two, three and four bedroom homes. An ideal location for anyone looking for their first home or wanting to move up the housing ladder.

Our marketing suite opens on Friday 2^nd July, so to arrange a visit, please call Helen on 07400 062 349 or email sales@cbhomes.co.uk.

This small and exclusive development of just 13 houses has been carefully designed to our usual award-winning standards. It has CB Homes’ trademark blend of beautiful architecture and stunning interiors.

Acorn Gardens – beautiful houses from CB Homes

Our homes are designed to fit every need of modern life. From the size of bedrooms to the high specification fixtures and fittings, each home has been created with an emphasis on quality and individuality. Homes at Acorn Gardens offer a huge range of beautiful and practical features. These include fireplaces with solid oak mantles, pre-wired smart home enabled systems, electric car charging points, kitchens by a local bespoke company, integrated zanussi appliances, built in wardrobes and much more.

Every house at Acorn Gardens comes with a ten year NHBC Buildmark Warranty and CB Homes’ own two year Customer Care warranty.

Location, location…

Acorn Gardens is located in a popular semi-rural residential area, in walking distance of a range of local amenities and in easy reach of good secondary and primary schools.

Leftwich enjoys good access to main transport routes, within a five minute drive of the development.

The glorious Cheshire countryside is right on the doorstep and outdoors enthusiasts will love exploring Delamere Forest. Close by, Northwich Woodlands offers its own wonderful green space to be discovered on foot, by bicycle or on horseback.

Only five plots left at Acorn Gardens

With only five homes left available, to arrange a visit to our new marketing suite to discover more or to reserve your new home, call Helen on 07400 062 349 or email sales@cbhomes.co.uk.

Building your own home: opting for a turn key package

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 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.

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 Self-Build Experience: the second fix

Our clients’ fabulous self-build project in the village of Kingsley, Cheshire is very nearly complete. It is now at the ‘second fix’ stage, which our clients describe as the ‘very exciting part’.

What is the ‘second fix’?

The second fix is the stage of the build that starts once all the plastering is finished. It involves all the electrics being connected, the basins and bathrooms being installed, the flooring laid down, doors fitted and the built-in wardrobes being completed. It is always incredible to see how quickly everything comes together in the final few weeks of a self-build project.

A collaborative approach to building your own house

With experience of building their own home in the past, our clients say they feel a lot more relaxed this time as they have let our self-build team project manage the whole build from the start.

Advice for anyone who wants to build their own home

Throughout the project, our clients have said that planning exactly what you want is key to making sure the house is just what you have dreamed of. From planning precisely where the electric sockets should go, to which way you want the doors to open, plan every detail. Find out more about these clients’ self-build experience by watching the fifth instalment of their self-build video journal here.

The Self-Build Guide Design: 3. Renewables

Nowadays, when you build your own home, the demands of building regulations are such that a good standard of energy efficiency will always be achieved. This should be true whether you are building a traditional, contemporary or ‘hybrid’ house design.

Self-building and energy efficiency: the ‘fabric first’ approach.

Whatever the style, to make your home as energy efficient as it possibly can be, you need to make sure it will lose the minimum amount of energy in the first place by increasing its insulation and airtightness. Modern regulations have set a very good standard for insulation and are pushing for further improvements. Sealing up gaps and making sure there is no cold bridging in places such as between the bricks and the windows will make a big difference to the amount of heat that is kept in.

If near total airtightness is achieved, air becomes stale more quickly. To compensate, you can look at MVHR. This is a system of vents to aid ventilation and heat recovery that warms the incoming cold air with the heat from the outgoing stale air, achieving a consistent ventilation rate. The heat recovery ‘box’ itself is about the size of a small fridge and the filters will need replacing regularly to ensure optimum performance.

By adopting this ‘fabric first’ approach, you will be able to optimise the design of the building itself as far as you can. Once that’s done, it’s time to think about your energy supply, what it will be and how it will be sourced.

Energy efficiency in heating solutions

Heating contributes about one third of the country’s carbon emissions. As well as emitting high levels of carbon when they are burned, fossil fuels are also fast running out. From 2025 installing gas boilers in new build properties will be banned in new homes.

Building in the countryside

Your self-build may well be a rural retreat that is in a small hamlet with no gas supply. With oil fuelled boilers being phased out, an LPG tank for gas can be the answer instead. It is also possible to use BioLPG, which is produced from LPG waste, as a renewable and more sustainable alternative.

A biomass boiler can be a popular choice for an environmentally aware self-builder. These run on wood pellets or logs. It’s worth bearing in mind that these are large units, about twice the size of a gas boiler. You need to remember that some maintenance will be required and you need to allow for storage space for the fuel supply too.

A heat pump might be an option

Graham Sime, Director of TSPEC, a x renewable energy specialist, says, “These systems use air temperature or closed loop ground heated fluid, to heat domestic hot water and heating systems via heat exchangers to reach controlled temperatures up to 75 degrees if needed. Heat pumps also reduce your CO₂ as there are no emissions. In addition to the savings, there is also the Ofgem operated RHI scheme. This offers households an investment support scheme, which will give you a payment every quarter for seven years based on the heat load of your home.”

A heat pump box is straightforward to camouflage and can easily be sited outside on a blank side of the house where it is unlikely to be overlooked or spoil the exterior appearance of the property.

In extremely cold weather, a heat pump can struggle a little. A combination of underfloor heating downstairs and a few radiators upstairs, which will rarely be used, is a popular choice for many self-builders. Underfloor heating does not require such high temperatures as radiators do, which increases fuel efficiency. The heat stays at ground level where it will be most appreciated. There is no doubt too of the aesthetic appeal of uncluttered wall space that underfloor heating allows.

Hydrogen for the future?

Out of all the alternatives to natural gas being investigated, it looks likely that the future for heating most homes in the UK lies with hydrogen boilers. Hydrogen is a highly efficient fuel. When it burns it does not produce carbon, just water and heat. Significantly, a hydrogen network could use the same pipelines, fittings and boilers as natural gas. This means the existing gas network could be used, rather than the whole infrastructure having to be replaced.

Major manufacturers are working on hydrogen ready boilers, which will work with natural gas but can be switched over in the future.

Solar power

Solar power is becoming more and more popular with homeowners as a way of saving on their energy bills, increasing energy efficiency and producing their own power. UV panels harness the sun’s rays to become electricity.

According to one of our architects, Russell Baker, one of the main issues that holds back many self-builders from incorporating solar panels is a question of aesthetics. To be most effective, panels need to be between south east and south west facing, which may well mean they are at the front of the house.

Russell says, “Solar panels are increasingly efficient but in many cases still do not look very aesthetically pleasing. This can be an irritation if you have spent both time and money making sure your new home will blend in beautifully with its surroundings. An alternative is solar roof tiles by the likes of Tesla. They cost more but do look much better, thanks to the slate grained appearance and the way they are fitted to reach all the way to the edge of the roof.”

In some cases, customers can earn money back by selling excess energy to their suppliers. Including solar power in your self-build could make a difference in the long run to your energy efficiency and national grid savings.

Graham Sime says, “There are many innovative ways to utilise and maximise the use of the free electricity a household generates. Simple solutions such as immersion control to supplement hot water production are very commonplace. Battery storage, which minimises grid consumption day and night, is ever increasing in popularity. Further advances in technology now even enable you to directly charge your hybrid or electric car from the PV panels with fast charge capability up to 32A.”

Electric car charging points

The UK’s car charging infrastructure is growing rapidly. There are thousands of public car charging stations around the country. An estimated 80% of car charging happens at home and electric charging points are already being fitted at many new build homes.

Talk to the professionals about energy efficiency

Incorporating renewable technology will add a certain amount to the price of self-building your home. When you are doing price comparisons, it is important to remember to include costs for any ongoing maintenance that is likely to be required, rather than just considering the installation costs.

When you are planning your self-build project, it’s important to talk to your architect and contractor. Share your thoughts on what you want your home to achieve regarding energy efficiency, while keeping within your budget.

The Self-Build Guide Design: 2. Choosing your house style

When it comes to designing your own home, how do you choose what kind of house you want? Clearly, when it comes to a self-build, there is a huge choice of looks to go for but they can be broadly divided into three basic types: traditional, contemporary or a mixture of traditional and modern.

When it comes to designing your own home, how do you go about choosing your house style? Clearly, when it comes to a self-build, there is a huge choice of looks to go for. However, they can be broadly divided into three basic types: traditional, contemporary or a mixture of traditional and modern.

The ‘Grand Designs’ contemporary look

The ‘Grand Designs’ type of custom built house often looks like an extremely eye-catching, brightly coloured aluminium construction. This can often turn out to be the most expensive kind of design for a self-build home. A grand design means a high build cost. According to one of our architects, Russell Baker, this is because the detailing has to be so incredibly precise to look good. Russell says, “Achieving that look is often highly complex. There’s no doubt too that these homes are often rather Marmite – for every person who loves it, there will be someone who really hates it too! While many of us may admire the design, it can be quite hard to imagine living in it.”

Traditional

Traditional architecture is very often favoured over more contemporary styles. Many traditional brick-built houses are hundreds of years old and have blended in completely to become part of the landscape. This ‘traditional’ house design has certainly proven its aesthetic worth over several centuries. It can be hard to pinpoint exactly why it has stood the test of time so well. Perhaps it is because it creates a feeling of warmth and cosiness, both of which are very important in our damp, mild climate. It often also captures a sense of a nostalgic rural idyll, a throwback to pre-Industrial Revolution times.

Many of our self-build projects are built in the traditional style of a cottage, farmhouse, barn or Georgian house. These styles look instantly familiar to us.

Russell points out that, when choosing your house style, embracing traditional design doesn’t mean you can’t be thoroughly modern too when you are building your own home. He says,

“We can add modern touches but still make sure the design looks authentic. For example, we design the windows to be much bigger than in old houses, so they let in far more natural light. We can make sure that traditional design, like a detailed oak porch, is featured on the front of the house but the back of the house can still benefit from extensive glazing overlooking the rear garden and a lovely, spacious open plan kitchen-dining room that runs across the back of the whole house. “Renewable energy sources and green technologies can be incorporated too. These are all entirely modern concepts but they can still work really well in a very seemingly traditional style of house.”

‘Hybrid’ homes

The third style of house design is what we call ‘hybrid’. This has a much more modern feel and quite a different appearance from the traditional build. Nevertheless, it still has what we think of as a conventional property shape, with a pitched roof. However, it will probably be built with more modern wall finishes and window style and maybe a larger roof overhang. Exterior wall finishes may include a more modern brick, through coloured synthetic render or timber cladding, which are broken in to distinct panels along the vertical or horizontal lines that the building shape creates. These hybrid houses have a much more contemporary feel than the cottage or farmhouse look but are still conventional to build. This means that they are not much more expensive for a self-builder, despite the aesthetic differences.

Cost versus design

It is important to understand that your build costs will be largely dictated by the design of your self-build home. Our team will advise you on how to design to your budget to avoid overspending or having to cut back on costs by modifying your plans further down the line, which is expensive and time-consuming.

Why work with CB Homes when you build your own house?

CB Homes’ fixed fee, turnkey self-build package includes design meetings with our architect and all the architect’s drawings, which usually comprise two floor plans as well as details of the front and rear elevations of your self-build.

If you are interested in a self-build, talk to us, without obligation, to see how we can help you and make sure that you end up choosing a house style you love that fits your budget.

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