Choosing Trades & Materials
When it comes to building, renovating, extending or converting your own home, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing tradesmen, and sourcing and buying materials. With growing concerns about cowboy builders and other rogue tradesmen, the National Self Build & Renovation Centre hosted a special weekend event dedicated to educating people on how to get the most out of tradesmen and contractors.
>> Download the daily timetable
Wolseley Virtual Branch for the T&M weekend
Visotor’s discovered how national merchants, Build Center and Plumb Center (both part of the Wolseley Group) could help source materials at better prices using their Trade Card. Experts were on hand all weekend!
Feature Seminars
“Working with Tradesmen – Insider Secrets!”
Browning Developments
Mike Hardwick ,
Avoiding the ‘rogue builder’ is uppermost in most self-builders’ and renovators’ minds. Of course, the good tradesmen are out there and do a superb job in most cases. However, for the unwary, dealing with builders and tradesmen is a minefield where a hastily made decision can cost both time and money – not to mention increased stress levels! In this presentation, we explained how to select your builder or tradesmen and women, how to tell if they are good, how to negotiate the best prices and how to keep the job moving along.
“Understanding the Trades – What they do and don’t do”
Vision Project Management
Chris Crowley,
For those new to self-building and renovating, you are entering an unfamiliar world of new skills, terminology and tools. If you are going to be able to negotiate the best prices with your trades, it’s vital that you speak the same language and understand the roles and responsibilities of the people you are hiring to complete your project. In this seminar, vistor’s learnt about the main trades they would meet during their project, what they do and, importantly, what they don’t do. It included a rough guide to how they calculate their costs, and what you should expect to pay for their services.
Top tips on power tools and tiling from ‘HandyGirl’ Hafida Sarachi
HandyGirl empowers women to feel confident and competent in tackling their own DIY projects. Whether that means learning to undertake simple DIY tasks, discovering the right tool for the job or overcoming a fear of power tools, Hafida was here to answer questions. Visitors learnt how to save themselves a huge amount of time, trouble and money by discovering numerous secrets related to maintaining or decorating their home.
Walking Seminars
Our Self Build & Renovation experts led hugely popular walking seminars through the life size exhibits during the Choosing Trades & Materials weekend, on topics covering Eco Technology, Building Systems, Groundworks and Roofing. Visitor’s were able to join them to get unbiased guidance and insight into the nitty gritty of self build. They answered questions and highlighted all the product options relevant to each project stage, including a tour of the 240 exhibitors in the trade village.
* The tours were a huge success and fully booked up
Eco Technology
It is an Eco jungle out there! Many visitor’s joined our expert for this guided tour of all things green. They got an unbiased insight into renewable technologies such as heat pumps, Solar Thermal panels, Photo voltaic cells, condensing Boilers, heat recovery & ventilation systems and biomass (wood) boilers and burners. How they work, what are their benefits and limitations, and if they right for their build? Visitoer’s also discovered more about the pros and cons of underfloor heating, radiators and warm air systems. Our expert is truly independent, so people were able to ask the questions they had always wanted to, without getting the standard salesman’s answers!
Building Systems
Traditional brick and block may be the most common method of construction in the UK but timber frame, a popular choice with self builders, is even older; green oak frame manufacturers can make a solid case for being the true ‘Traditional’ building system for the UK. But which is best? There are now many more different systems available for the modern self-builder to choose from including ICF, SIPs and Concrete together with variations on the brick and block theme, such as the innovative thin joint system. Visiotr’s were able to find out the pros and cons of each system and decide what was best for them in this guided tour of modern building systems.
Groundworks
A house is only as good as the foundations it sits on, so it is vital to get this right. The conditions underground are the great unknown in self building, and costs can spiral if unfavourable conditions exist. Visitor’s found out the difference between each foundation option available to them and the likely indicative costs of each, with the help of the experienced advisors available here in the Centre. They were also able to find out how to plan for and install a modern watertight basement into their project. As well as discovering how to get around foul drainage issues for remote or difficult sites, how to apply for and plan for the installation of essential services and how to do their bit for the environment by utilising harvested rainwater.
Roofing
Whether building new or renovating, every home needs a roof that works. As well as keeping the weather out and the heat in, it needs to look good, too. The options for tiles and rainwater goods can be overwhelming, but with our expert’s guidance, visitor’s were able to see what is available and decide what would be best for their project. During the tour, we explained everything you’d need to know about roof design and construction including how it is possible to save money and maximise available space by creating a room in the roof at the same time as the roof is designed. A small additional outlay at the early stages of the build to cover attic trusses and roof lights can pay for itself many times over when compared to converting a standard roof space at a future date.
Weekend Self Build Seminars 1-5
In addition to the above, one of our anchor speakersguided visitor’s through the basics of self build in our 5 part programme. From finding land and financing a project right through to choosing builders and buying materials.
Parts 1 & 2 - Can anyone do it? & Finding a plot or project
Every year approximately 20,000 people will either build a new home or substantially renovate an existing but dilapidated house. Become reassured that the opportunity exists for us all and learn how to organise your finances right at the outset. As for plots and properties, these exist all over the country. Learn the basics of how to find them first and how to make an initial assessment.
Part 3 - Design, planning and making new space
Design, planning and budgets go hand in hand. All must be in harmony for your project to be a success. Whether new build or renovation, find out how to develop your ideas, select a designer and secure your planning consent.
Part 4 - Choosing your builders and buying your materials
Managing cost means managing the two things you pay for – materials and labour. Find out how to save time in choosing your materials and suppliers and understand the process for identifying, selecting and appointing your builders.
Part 5 - Project managing yourself with sub-contractors or a builder
Could I really manage my own building project? Thousands of people do at many different levels, and so could you. But in making this decision you should learn what is really involved and how much time you will really need.