Ten top tips for self-builders

Frame Technologies MD, Simon Orrells offers his words of adviceBuilding your own home is the best thing you’ll ever do, but it can be fraught with complications and extra costs if you make mistakes at the beginning.With over 30 years of experience in self-build timber frame construction, Frame Technologies MD, Simon Orrells offers his top tips.  1. Engage your preferred build system supplier as early as possible. Early engagement is critical to enable you to build to the best value – not just to the best cost. This is especially true if you’re opting for timber frame, as we can help with detailed design, Psi values and meeting building regs. Your timber company is an expert in the material, so rather than paying additional money to an architect who might not know what they’re dealing with, take your questions to the specialist from the outset. This means you’re not wasting precious time, effort and money on something that may need to be done over again when your timber frame manufacturer is on board.2. Make sure you get a Geo Technical soil survey report. This should be the first thing you do, as your structural warranty will be invalid without one, and the result may have an impact on your build system choice.3 Tie up your supply chain at the outset. People work with people, so introduce your build partners and involve them from the start. Do your due diligence at the outset and link the full team together - you may find it reduces costs and time further down the line.4. Select a handful of your preferred suppliers to provide a quoteDon’t just send a pack of drawings to lots of different suppliers. Do your research and choose your top suppliers, then send them as much detail as you can, including a detailed spec of what you’re looking for and your wish list. The more detail you can provide at this stage, the more realistic your quote will be – and the easier it will be to compare between your options.5. Interrogate your quotesAlways fully investigate the quotes you receive to make sure you are getting what you asked for in your brief. If something isn’t clear, then just ask, and the timber frame manufacturer can explain it more. Also ensure you carefully read the inclusions and exclusions too. The quote you receive will vary from company to company as some suppliers will simply provide an overall cost, whereas others will contribute a more detailed document to show exactly what you are paying for. Make sure you know what each quote covers before making your decision. This handy blog on how to get an accurate timber frame quote can help!6. Don’t put a bucket in the ground until you have your system provider in place. This is really important to remember – with a tight budget, you can easily make or lose a great deal of money in the ground.7. Allow for design flexibilityDon’t get carried away with specific design elements until you’ve talked it through with an expert. Some features can be extremely expensive, and you might be able to create a similar effect in a more cost-effective way.9. Choose a supplier you can trustWhen building your own home, it is crucial that the design and construction processes are in the hands of a reputable company that you can trust - a specialist that not only offers expertise in structural timber technology but also has an adaptable approach to meet your individual needs.  Site visits and speaking to previous clients of the timber frame manufacturer are useful, as they are quite often happy to offer advice from their experience which can be priceless.10. Look for the STA Assure logoAlways choose a tried and tested, accredited manufacturer. The STA Assure logo means that the business has been independently audited for the Structural Timber Association’s membership and quality standards scheme and offers reassurance that they follow industry best practice.And finally.... ask lots of questions!There really is no such thing as a silly question. Make sure you ask at every stage if you need more information or if you’re unsure about anything. If you’re a self-builder looking to learn more about building with timber frame, get in touch with the award-winning Frame Technologies team today.