Scheduling a home building project
Get your scheme off on the right foot with Mike Hardwick’s guide to the key construction phases
The house shell for Paul and Belinda Wilson’s new build Passivhaus was watertight in less than two weeks, thanks to efficient work by MBC Timber Frame (
mbctimberframe.co.uk), with Paul managing the rest of the work through to completion. Below: This project schedule was produced as part of the Build It Estimating Service output for a fourbedroom, 160m2 house. Learn more at
www.self-builALISTAIR NICHOLLS
I’m often asked if I have a readymade template on which self builders and renovators can base their detailed project schedules. I’m afraid the answer is always no, because every build is unique. Trying to fit your scheme into the profile of a previous project will almost certainly fail within the first few days, when unexpected things start to happen. That said, there is a general process of building a new home that’s fairly predictable, and this month I’m explaining what you need to know about each of the key phases.
Early stages
The initial phase in any project is site acquisition. You may already own some land, or you might be searching for the ideal plot to build on, but until you know what it actually looks like, little else of substance can take place. Prior to the purchase, you’ll need to appraise the site thoroughly to ensure that you’re paying a fair price (such as by securing estimates for services).