Eco Houses

Plot 1 is the last plot to go and is showing some real potential in style! It is very similar to Plot 2 which is now ready for the clients. The estate agent had a look around the newly built house (Plot 2) and was truly amazed at the bright, airy rooms, hall and landing. She was excited by the quality of the fixtures and fittings and said that the design aspect was exemplary!

We are very pleased with the finish product and take some pride in the fact that all houses have proven to be a shrewd investment for all clients to date. Significant value has been put on both plots when compared to the sale price, which I am happy with, because these people have taken a risk (all be it calculated!!) with the development. Who will the lucky last people be?

The garden designer is an award winning specialist in maximising unusual shaped plots. The garden designs for the last plot are as exciting as the house designs! In her opinion, this last plot is the best! It has a beautiful, large wall that forms the back drop to a variety of different styles to suit a variety of clients. Have a look at these images!

The 3rd house is now galloping away like a wild horse! Since February we have constructed the OSB frame of the house; installed doors and windows; completed all block work to ground floor; fitted roof tiles; fitted all vapour check membrane and lats; completed the first fix of plumbing, electrical, joinery, mechanical ventilation and heat recovery; laid Kingspan insulation in preparation for the screed on ground floor; all ready for the boarders who start this week. It is only the end of April! My trades go the extra mile if needed and are happy to catch up on work, on weekends and bank holidays. The site was flooded on the day of the royal wedding…..maybe work was used as an escape!

My typical day starts at 5.30am. If I am on site with the trades, I like to be up and working before the first trade arrives at 7am. The last trade leaves at around 5.30pm and I would finish the manual work at around 6pm. These guys are the exception. They work from 7.30am to 9pm, as they are working away from home.

The basement is now finished and ready for the timber frame.

The timber frame has now arrived and is starting to go up. Two champions on this project are Wayne and Glyn who are the most meticulous, hardworking joiners ever! We have known Wayne for a long time as he constructed our timber house. It is so refreshing to see competent trades, who want to work and get pride out of doing a good job!! They have had to work with tricky challenges that have been thrown at them on site. One, was to install a very heavy set of large French doors to the first floor. This was impossible to lift with just two of them. Fortunately, two other men we had on site first fixing, gave a hand to make sure it went into the correct location, undamaged.

The show home event was a great success! We hired in some trees and garden ornaments to set off the main house. This combined with a site tidy up made a huge difference. It gave a small idea of the feel for the place after the ground works are complete.

What a busy year! As you can see from the photos I have not let the grass grow under my feet! The second build is ready for the client to move into. This has a splendid heating system, where we have installed an airsource heat pump to heat the thermal store. This in turn, heats the under floor and hot water for showers. The outside is crisp and stunning; oozing the quality that we now have as our trade mark, as well as the emphasis on sustainability.
This build was delayed by the weather. It is not an ideal time to start block work and stonework in the winter. That was how the timings worked out, but this led to inefficiencies on site and extra costs, which has been very frustrating. We have had to be very firm with one company who promised their work would be complete within the time slot allocated to them and then they did not deliver. As a business, this time wasting has to stop. All trades know that they are only as good as their last job and to get ‘their feet too cosy under the table’ is a risky strategy with me. Results matter, as I have to pick up the pieces when trades are delayed, or suppliers don’t deliver when promised. There have been some ups and downs on this build, which hopefully will all be ironed out on the next one. The new trades that we have worked with on this one (as we had to let some go), have been very complimentary at our organisational skills and attention to detail. One offered me a job! I am the queen of checklists, file keeping and planning in advance!

The third build is well underway. This is exciting as it has a basement the full size of the ground floor, which makes it an impressive sized house! The timber frame is due on site shortly. The electrics have been planned by the clients already, as has the kitchen design. This level of advanced planning is a crucial part of the limiting-issues-later-on, which is our mantra! Sometimes on site, we have to respond flexibly, decisively and immediately to unforeseen circumstances. To have the thought capacity and time, in order to do this, we try to always trouble-shoot, think ahead and plan meticulously on the things we know are coming up. This then allows time to discuss any issues with the relevant trades, if needed. Having built up a strong relationship with the suppliers over the last 18 months and worked to their lead in times, measurements and calculations, we are pleased with the quick response and accuracy of deliveries.

There is one remaining plot left. We had some two special people lined up for this, but unfortunately their circumstances changed unexpectedly. If the last one is sold this year, then the whole site can be landscaped and finished which would please everyone who is on board so far!
SHOW HOME OPENING EVENT, COMING SOON!!!

For further details please contact Urban Base and Upmarket estate agents (08456431186)

Well, does it work? Is it everything I’d hoped for?

In brief ‘yes’ and yes’!
This is the best house I have ever lived in and stayed in. The building is always warm and constant in its temperature. The underfloor heating provides a gentle, steady heat with no hot and cold points. (Even with heavy snow outside!) It really is phenomenal! I have never felt so well and been more convinced that this was a good idea. Any pain we went through to get here was worth it.

My Mum suffers from constant severe headaches as a result of allergies to dust, pollen and anything else, from what I can gather. She has to take strong medication to relieve the pain and frequently has to use a steam machine to ease her breathing. When she came to stay for three weeks, she never had a headache! She also never needed her steam machine. This is the first time that she has been pain free for years. Anecdotal, I know, but a promise that this is a house that cares for its occupants as much as the environment.

My aunty went from thinking that the design of the house was a waste of space (at first!). I said to her that the beauty of the design is in the space and the shapes of the angled construction. These are now painted a soft, tranquil grey, that gently enhances a bold statement and provides a perfect backdrop to vibrant, abstract modern artwork. After one day, she said, ‘I get it!’ She was over whelmed by the standard of accommodation and couldn’t believe that it worked in terms of heating, on such a little amount of fuel. I have to say that I wasn’t convinced that the heating would be warm enough in the bedrooms, so put in small electric heaters just in case! These, I hasten to say, were never needed! It was a lovely temperature, maintained by constant filtered air flow. The way forward, I think!

Note: We have been nominated for ‘The Northern Building Excellence Awards’!
…………….smashing!

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