SUPPLIERS
PLANNING CONSULTANT MAIN CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER
Donald Pearson: 01483 272610 Middlesex Construction & Development: www.middlesexconstruction.co.uk
AND Designs: www.anddesigns.co.uk Flitcraft: www.flitcraft.co.uk Sabrestone: www.sabrestone.co.uk
Unilux: www.unilux.com Morgan Ellis: www.morganellis.co.uk
UK Wood Flooring: www.ukwoodfloors.co.uk Benchmarx Kitchens www.benchmarkxkitchens.co.uk
Greenway Solar: www.thegreenwaysolar.co.uk Earth Save Products: www.earthsaveproducts.com
Vent Axia: www.vent-axia.com
Halsted Rain: www.halstedrain.com Canoports UK: www.canoports.co.uk
Stone Trader: www.stonetrader.co.uk Guildford Fireplaces: www.guildfordfireplacesltd.co.uk
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER TIMBER FRAME WORKTOP
WINDOWS AND EXTERNAL DOORS LIFT
TIMBER FLOORING INTERNAL DOORS
SOLAR PANELS
AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP
MVHR RAINWATER HARVESTER CAR PORT
INDIAN SANDSTONE PAVING WOODBURNING STOVE
Once planning permission had been granted, the first task was removing 500 tons of soil from the sloping site (luckily the builder’s father-in-law was creating a large lake and was happy to take it). That done, the block and beam ground floor could be installed and the SIPS system erected.
“Making sure the ridge height of the roof was correct was very touch and go, though,” Tony remembers. “Someone complained that it was too high and an enforcement officer had to come and measure it.” Fortunately for the couple, the officer found it was 25mm below the stipulated height.
Tony puts finding the right products and suppliers down to good communication between himself and the build team. The SIPS provider and Tetris flooring – a highly insulating block and beam flooring system – were both recommendations from Ben, the builder, while Tony found a German company, Unilux, for the triple-glazed aluminium and timber framed windows and external doors.
“Ben said the flooring would cost a bit more, but it would be worth it,” reflects Tony. “It’s energy efficient and takes the underfloor heating pipes as well. The main reason for us was that it allowed us to have a solid floor upstairs, so there would be no creaking of floorboards or sheets of MDF.”
Remarkably, the house took just two months to go from completed foundations to a watertight shell, with the whole build taking just 11 months. “Without doubt that was down to Ben,” says Tony. “There wasn’t a day when there wasn’t someone working on site. And us being on site too was very helpful, especially when it came to planning the electrics.”
Now that everything’s done and they are settled in their new house, what are they most pleased with? “I’d have to say the aluminium-clad windows, side door and front door, as that means we have no external maintenance — there’s no painting whatsoever, even on the fascias and soffits,” says Tony. “The house suits us at our age and our only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner.when I started in 2018, I was 78 so there is hope for us all!”