How to self build on a budget

Creating a bespoke home doesn’t have to cost a fortune – in fact, self building off ers fantastic value for money and can give you a betterquality home for less than you’d pay for an equivalent house on the open market. So how can you achieve the right result without breaking the bank? Here, we learn the key lessons from 10 inspiring budgetfriendly projects

ECO-FRIENDLY, SCANDINAVIAN INSPIRED NEW HOME

Jennifer Hope built her 40m2 abode for just £64,000 – and now runs the Wee House Company (www.theweehousecompany.co.uk), which specialises in affordable self build starter homes

MARGARET SORAYA

THE FACTS

House size 234m2

Build cost £210,000

Build cost per m2 £897

Completed 2015

When Aileen and Gordon Spink took on their second self build, pretty much next door to their first, they brought all their experience to bear to minimise problems along the way. The biggest challenge was a narrow access, but with a good contractor on their side no damage was done to boundary walls or adjacent properties. The couple were able to avoid unexpected costs and stuck to their original budget plan – and the result is a stylish, cosy but light-filled home. The efficient timber frame property is packed with high-spec insulation and finished with local, natural cladding materials and render. “Building a big house wasn’t necessary because there are only two of us,” says Aileen.

READ THE FULL STORY AT www.self-build.co.uk/spink

THE DOWS’ KNOCK-DOWN AND REBUILD PROJECT

SIMON BURT

THE FACTS

House size 174m2

Build cost £158,416

Build cost per m2 £910

Completed 2014

Having overcome a 21-month planning delay, the Dows were keen to get started on building their architect-designed, timber-clad bungalow. Their shoestring budget was always going to be stretched, and in the end they needed to arrange a mortgage with the Ecology Building Society to reach their total project fund of £158,000. However, they’ve put the cash to good use, sourcing high-spec products for the areas of the build that mattered most to them, such as the triple-glazed windows, an air source heat pump and solar thermal panels.

READ MORE AT www.self-build.co.uk/dow