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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
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Housing - New Build: Costs on the way UP

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeDec 13th 2013 edited
     
    Talking to an ex colleague over lunch, he tells me that his firm are currently constructing social housing and the labour and material costs for the same house, excluding land prices, have risen 8% in 12 months. With prices rising at this rate it could seriously impact the self builder.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeDec 13th 2013
     
    Was chatting to someone last night about the cost of their house materials, they think it will be about 25% extra on materials since they started last Easter.

    Always hard to tell how much was a 'puff' to get the business and how much is real increases.
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeDec 13th 2013
     
    The same guy also mentioned that cost of constructing a single house has risen by 23% in 12 months, apparently the volume builders get a substantial volume discount. Must admit I've just called him back to check that's what he said and he assures me it is correct. A quick look at the trade press suggests the big boys are putting their prices up by at least 10% in 2014 and that shortages will force prices ever upward.
    • CommentAuthordickster
    • CommentTimeDec 13th 2013
     
    And of course this impacts on annual insurance premiums re house re build costs.
    • CommentAuthorjamesingram
    • CommentTimeDec 13th 2013 edited
     
    Posted By: SteamyTeaWas chatting to someone last night about the cost of their house materials, they think it will be about 25% extra on materials since they started last Easter..

    Yet Architects and designers are still giving clients the same m2 ball park build rate they've been giving for the last 10 years +, leaving clients with the impression that every builders that quotes is trying to rip them off.
    Labour rates have changed little over the last decade +. (except perhaps in certain areas of London)
    • CommentAuthordaserra
    • CommentTimeDec 13th 2013
     
    Posted By: jamesingram
    Posted By: SteamyTeaWas chatting to someone last night about the cost of their house materials, they think it will be about 25% extra on materials since they started last Easter..

    Yet Architects and designers are still giving clients the same m2 ball park build rate they've been giving for the last 10 years +, leaving clients with the impression that every builders that quotes is trying to rip them off.
    Labour rates have changed little over the last decade +. (except perhaps in certain areas of London)

    Probably mainly fuel and tax increases like everywhere else, plus the finance industry doing it's usual vampire thing everywhere.
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeApr 6th 2014
     
    So is anyone here being affected yet by the increasing cost of labour, shortage of materials and lengthening lead times being reported in some areas?
    • CommentAuthorDarylP
    • CommentTimeApr 6th 2014
     
    block shortages, it seems the national companies have secured their supplies at the head of the queue!:angry:
  9.  
    So time to stick my prices up then:bigsmile:
  10.  
    At present rebuilding after floods is having an additional impact.

    My fence man says he is having trouble getting his basic materials as it's all being bought by the Thames Valley people.

    Ferdinand
  11.  
    But then the extra insulation you need for current regs has a massive impact on construction costs. Yes the benefit is lower bills going forward but you still need to build the house first. The welsh assembly (talking shop) seem to have pushed ahead on insulation and greener buildings giving no thought to the fact that people can't afford to build the houses. Items such as bird boxes, bike sheds, certain size washing lines etc. Great in principle but do you need to charge £300-£400 pound every time to be told what to put and where in the garden. It can be £30,000 or so extra in build costs and you can't sell the property for more!!!! Work that one out.
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2014 edited
     
    Posted By: gustyturbineBut then the extra insulation you need for current regs has a massive impact on construction costs.

    Posted By: gustyturbinecan be £30,000 or so extra in build costs and you can't sell the property for more!!!! Work that one out.
    So maybe building materials are over priced for self and small builders?
    • CommentAuthornigelm
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2014
     
    I know of one brick company that now has a 20+ week wait for bricks. They are also in the process of bringing a plant back on line that was shutdown a few years ago such is demand.
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2014
     
    Posted By: nigelmI know of one brick company that now has a 20+ week wait for bricks.
    I bet the big 6 national builders get their bricks far quicker than you!
    • CommentAuthorCWatters
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2014
     
    There is an article in todays Times on this subject. Big shortage of skilled people from bricklayers to project managers.

    http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/construction-property/article4056079.ece

    Can read some of it without a subscription.
    • CommentAuthorDarylP
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2014
     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: gustyturbine</cite>It can be £30,000 or so extra in build costs and you can't sell the property for more!!!! Work that one out.</blockquote>

    ..... these figures aren't from E. Pickles by any chance, are they?:bigsmile:
    The whole 'extra costs' debate is full of mis-information, and dubious vested-interests!
    Double thickness of insulation does not cost 2 x price, and the labour costs are the same...:confused:
  17.  
    Posted By: Triassic
    Posted By: nigelmI know of one brick company that now has a 20+ week wait for bricks.
    I bet the big 6 national builders get their bricks far quicker than you!


    Not sure they do - we work with most of the big 6 on schools etc. and have been told the same about brick shortages. The plus side is, it can make the imported dutch bricks become a serious contender again in terms of price.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2014 edited
     
    Posted By: DarylPDouble thickness of insulation does not cost 2 x price, and the labour costs are the same
    and opens the door to re-thinking the construction process.

    It all costs more when trying to use same-old constructions but just more insulation, wider cavities, lots of super-expensive tricky to use specialist products to make the monster work - and even then deteriorating from Day 1, lots of call-backs.

    Instead, re-think, turn inside out if necessary. Result - much easier, fundamentally simpler, foolproof, standard materials, long term robust. The only thing it then is not, is brainless 'familiar'.

    'Easy' need not equal 'Familiar', to a thinking builder. Of course if you don't want to have to think, then you're stuck with merely 'Familiar'.
  19.  
    I have never seen as many cranes in and around London as there are at the moment.

    They used to say you could read the level of economic activity by the number of cranes in use nationally.
    • CommentAuthorborpin
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2014
     
    Posted By: fostertom
    Posted By: DarylPDouble thickness of insulation does not cost 2 x price, and the labour costs are the same
    and opens the door to re-thinking the construction process.
    Biggest block in my experience is the archaic building standards that are designed to prevent innovation and the insurance industry that does not want to insure anything that is built in a non-standard way.
    • CommentAuthorDarylP
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2014
     
    ... sadly true...!:cry:
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeApr 7th 2014
     
    On the contrary, Building Inspectors are really interested in supporting new ways to eco-build. Just make your case. Anyway, not that different, so insurance cos wd notice.
    • CommentAuthorborpin
    • CommentTimeApr 8th 2014
     
    Posted By: fostertomOn the contrary, Building Inspectors are really interested in supporting new ways to eco-build. Just make your case. Anyway, not that different, so insurance cos wd notice.
    Ha, depends on the BCO. Also explain to Direct Line that your house is a 'light steel frame' and you get met with, so a timber frame then........ Just cannot cope so bump up premiums.
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeApr 8th 2014
     
    Posted By: borpinAlso explain to Direct Line that your house is
    25 meteres from a water course. In my case I'm about 25m above the water course and being close to the sea most of the UK would have serous problem before me. Took some explaining and no doubt they keot a copy of the phone call, just in case I claim!

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