Two Storey Mayo New Build

Being a carpenter by trade, the owner of this new build had the ability to build his dream home for himself, his wife, and his children. The site was gifted and sits by a river and the views add to the dream location. This property was built in only a year, with the aid of family and a lot of dedication.

The owners agreed they wanted large living areas and a play area for their children, both inside and out. They especially wanted to capture the light and the views of the site in their house design and added a corner window to the designs in the kitchen/dining room. The original house plan, drawn together with the help of a local engineer was a bungalow. 

The family secured planning easily, however the bungalow was too big and too expensive to build, so they reapplied for a two storey. This time, planning was refused due to the house being on an exposed site. They weren't interested in changing their plans to a dormer or a storey and a half as they wanted square rooms and didn't want to be restricted on furniture placement, insulation, or sound proofing. Finally, they submitted their final plan, with a lower roof, and got their planning permission approved.

The owners completed substantial ground works in May 2011. They dug up the ground and filled it with stone, providing a base for the raft foundation. Their project was then put on hold until 2013 when they submitted a planning request to the council for an extension of duration. This was refused however, on the grounds that planning guidelines had changed since their previous application. They proceeded with a judicial review as they had completed work and in 2016 they obtained planning for the house they wanted.

The family wanted to design the house from the inside out and wanted the sun following them around the house. The double height ceiling in their hallway lets in lots of light and opens the space up. There are no other hallways in the house, "no wasted space", they say. The landscaping factors into this plan too. The hedges ensure that there is the right level of privacy and views from the house.

Each room inside looks out onto a beautiful view of some sort and the layout means every space is lit up at the time of day it is generally most used. The sitting room is by the dining room and is used as an evening room when the kids are in bed. The room overlooks the river, bridge and countryside at the back of the house. The sliding door leads out onto a patio which traps the sunlight all day. The master bedroom has five windows and the sun rises on this side, overlooking the river and mountains. There are two more bedrooms upstairs and one downstairs with an adjacent bathroom for any time someone is not in a position to use the stairs.

The occupants spent 6 months learning about materials and methods for the builds, deciding what their style was, what the prices were, and what tradespeople they wanted. They spend time looking into heating and the hot water system. They decided on an air to water heat pump as they wanted a good supply of hot water as well as underfloor heating. Next, they looked into ventilation and chose a mechanical system with heat recovery, meaning their home is always comfortable and fresh. 

They have a 14kW wood burning stove in the sitting room as a backup in the case that the electricity goes. It fits the chimney and when lit, the door is left open to transfer heat around the rest of the house. While fitting the stove, the owners installed a 4-inch granite border which absorbs heat, and plastered the chimney breast as the plaster had kept cracking before, without the border.

They also did a lot of research on insulation and decided that including the bare amount to pass the regulations would be enough. They ended up with 110mm phenolic board in a 150mm cavity and now the walls store the heat throughout the day and release it at night. 

“We were really happy with the heat pump and underfloor heating supplier,” adds Donna. “When fitting out the system, our plumber and electrician needed guidance and the suppliers gave them their time with step by step instructions. Then the supplier’s own engineer came out to commission (check) the system independently.”

Overall, the family were happy with the heat pump and underfloor heating supplier. They helped out the plumber and electrician when fitting the system and their own engineer came to check the system himself.

The occupants were pretty much able to manage the full build and everything internally themselves. They chose a traditional method of building - blockwork, and chose a concrete upper floor. In March 2017, they broke ground and had the block layer already booked for April. The owners advise to do this with every tradesmen to avoid delays.

They had one engineer design the house and another to inspect for compliance with the building regulations, which was done in stages to sign off on the mortgage. They opted out of arranging an assigned certifier, which most self-builders also do.

The build progressed well as they were on site at all times, and the project ran smoothly, even during bad weather. 

The build was budgeted and tabs were kept with an excel sheet, breaking down each element and pulling money from another part if one went overbudget, without compromising on quality. A lot of time was spent on pricing materials, as there are significant savings to be made here. 

The timber work was all self build, such as the roof, doors, skirting, and insulation. The owners got help from family with the domestic water and heating and the heat recovery system. Their family also helped with roofing the house and garage and the painting.

The household say that the support from family and friends is key with a self build as there is so much time and dedication needed to complete the project. They could not be happier with the end result.