Self build homes are created by people from all walks of life. Self build homes magazines regularly have articles on those who have built their own self build houses and the wide variety of people from all walks of life and with different incomes and ideas is evident.
The self build homes programme will at times be a challenge. Every self build house project will have something go wrong and in many self build homes projects there may be more serious problems. You should recognise that problems will occur with self build houses and things will not always go according to plan.

Careful research and planning is needed for self build homes, and you should take sound professional advice on self build houses when you feel it is needed - and a a good deal of common sense will a help!

A knowledge of the building trade is useful for self build homes, but not essential.

Organisation and management skills are however essential for self build homes projects. Many of the problems which can occur with self build houses can be avoided by shrewd and careful advance planning.

Keeping a firm control on the self build homes budget is needed, and you must monitor the progress of self build houses at regular intervals.

Before the self build homes project gets started, you must have carefully planned for all about the costs involved in every aspect of the build.

The building of one's new home will take several months to complete, so you must consider where to live as building works progress. Financial considerations will come into the equation here. You can rent alternative accommodation or live on site in a mobile home or caravan.

TYPES OF SELF BUILD HOMES

By far the two most popular methods of construction for self build houses are Traditional (brick and block) Construction and Timber Frame.

In modern houses of Traditional construction, the walls are built in two leaves. There is an internal blockwork wall and the external wall built of brick or stone. These, together with some internal partitions which are also built of blockwork, will support the structure of the house.

Whilst both methods can provide attractive self build homes, the traditional method takes longer to construct and finish as the actual building operation is more painstaking, the self build houses literally being built brick by brick. The necessity to have wet trades both externally and internally mean that a longer time is needed for traditional self build homes than timber frame kits.

In timber frame construction the internal structure is a wooden frame which has been designed to support the structure of the house. This frame is then clad by a facing material such as brick or stone.

For the self builder, timber frame homes are becoming more and more popular. They are erected quickly and easily. They provide rapid, fully weather tight structures to enable working in all weathers. Timber-frame is particularly suitable for self build homes because it makes self building a possibility for anyone, even those with no previous building experience. Timber-frame self build houses are also highly insulated, leading to cheaper fuel bills.

Timber-frame methods are:
· Simple to build and adaptable.
· Individually designed.
· Quick to erect, enabling self-builders to work inside in bad weather or in the evenings
· Building methods which eliminate specialist wet trades.
· Lightweight methods of construction suitable for men & women of all ages.
· Suitable for sites that are steeply sloping or with poor quality ground.
· Can easily incorporate environmentally sustainable materials.
· Very energy efficient.

Timber frame is design flexible. It allows you great freedom in choosing the finished form of self build homes.

KEEPING COSTS DOWN

When constructing self build houses, there are several ways that you can cut back on costs. The lists below provide a number of ideas that may or may not work for your situation.

Work the problems out on paper rather than on site.
Keep walls simple and lined up.
Organize the floor plans of a house in a way that the maximum use can come from the minimum space.
Stay compatible with conventional construction techniques.
Use cost-effective and environmentally friendly materials.
Use local materials and labour. .
Take into consideration standard material dimensions: plan to the standard sheet sizes.
Eliminate changes of plan after the build starts.
Work out detailed specs to reduce the unknowns, and assure quality control and craftsman-like workmanship.
Assure build position is best for plot : reduce excavation and fill.
Use trusses where possible to save labour on roof framing.
Position stairways in two story homes carefully to limit hallways and reduce wasted space.
Reduce insulation cost by wrapping the inside of the walls with plastic sheeting, instead of using insulation faced with a vapour barrier.
Keep roof pitch below 7/12 to make for lower cost and faster roof work.
Save up to 35% in energy bills through optimum orientation of the self build house on the site
Design window openings to permit breeze to flow through
Use natural light to save lighting cost, for example in bathrooms
Save on hot water by efficient plumbing layout and equipment choices.
Save electricity by using efficient light fixtures such as compact fluorescents and halogens.
Design wall and attic spaces to accommodate optimum insulation for energy savings

The most important piece of advice for self-builders is to make sure there’s flexibility in the self build homes budget : a contingency fund of at least 10 per cent of self build house costs, to cope with the unexpected. Be it the need for deeper foundations or bits you simply forgot, in the world of self-build homes, things have a habit of going wrong!