10 Common Self Build Mistakes

There is no such thing as a trouble-free build. Some self builds will be easier than others, but regardless of how thoroughly you have planned your project, there will be lots of little issues that will invariably crop up.

As soon as you’ve dealt with one thing, the next is not far away. It’s perfectly normal and is all part of the fun, as each problem solved represents a little victory. However, there is a difference between dealing with these common issues and tackling serious mistakes that can add time and cost to your scheme by delaying progress.

Here are 10 potential mistakes to avoid during your build. Forewarned is forearmed!

1. Not having a soil survey done

You will never know the true cost of your self build until the foundations are complete and you are ‘out of the ground’.

Standard strip foundations will be factored in to most projects’ cost estimations, but more complex engineered solutions such as piled foundations can add a significant sum, and therefore put pressure on your budget.

Complex foundations can be expensive – know what you’re digging into by conducting a soil survey in advance

Factoring this in from the start is important, and the only way you are going to know if you need more robust foundations is to have a survey done. That said, your first point of call should always be your local building control officer who will probably have experience of ground conditions through previous work in your area.

They may well ask for confirmation of what they suspect is down there, by getting a 1m³ hole to be dug close to where the footings will go, so that they can carry out a physical check, usually free of charge. This is normally enough to reveal the presence of anything untoward in the soil.

2. Not clearing legal issues

When you are looking at the viability of a plot or project, it is vitally important to ensure that any legal obstacles that might prevent you building what you want have been cleared.

This invariably involves a competent solicitor and therefore some cost, but it is money well spent. On a virgin plot of land, things like easements and wayleaves for services/access must be established. Plus, the possibility of covenants and ransoms or ancient rights of way should be addressed.

If you ignore the prospect of a legal obstacle and subsequently find you have to deal with it, it can be a nightmare. I was advising one client recently who had bought a project that had already been started on a difficult plot. Piled foundations were already in but during the course of the conversation, it became apparent that there was no established right of way for access to the plot, and that the owners of several adjacent properties controlled the only entry point.

While not impossible to resolve, it was clearly going to involve a lot of money to persuade them to grant access. Without that permission, the plot was pretty much worthless. No wonder
the previous owner had elected to abandon the site and sell it on.

3. Ignoring planning conditions

While it is a great relief to finally get planning permission, it is important to read any conditions attached. While these provisos are often pedestrian – insisting that external materials are cleared with the planners beforehand is a common one, for instance – others are more specific and must be complied with.

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