For many self-builders one of the main hurdles to overcome is that of where to live whilst their home is being built. This problem usually arises through having to sell their existing home to finance the new one. There are several ways around the problem including renting, staying with relatives or friends, or living on-site in a caravan.

However, if you are lucky enough to have a sizeable plot with plans for a separate garage annexe providing accommodation above, building the garage accommodation first easily solves this problem. Such is the solution chosen by Alan Mason for his plot on the outskirts of a village in Northamptonshire. Whilst the annexe is being built, Alan and his wife Marlene are living in the bungalow that was already on-site and due to be demolished to make way for the main house.

The plot itself is approximately three acres; most of it is mature woodland, an acre of which has a preservation order on it. Finding the right plot has taken ten years and it was by word of mouth that Alan came to learn of it after narrowly missing a plot three months previously along the same stretch of road. The previous owner, who had been in a retirement home, passed away and an offer was made to the executors of the estate before the plot was advertised on the open market.

“We have wanted to self-build for some time now so that we can have a home exactly how we want it and be able to choose the craftsmen who build it. The design evolved over the years, incorporating ideas from my brother-in-laws own self-build project, and the final plans were drawn up by an architect,” commented Alan.

Planning permission was granted with a few minor changes to the plans and the council planning department was found to be very helpful. The garage and annexe is 1,500 sq ft and the house will cover 5,500 sq ft on three floors. Work on the garage annexe is well underway, as can be seen from the pictures, and should be habitable during April 2002. Work will then start on laying out the footings for the house that is hoped to be finished within twelve months.

Alan has opted to manage the project himself as well as doing much of the work, using his knowledge of the building trade as a professional plumber to good use, “Apart from talking to people in the building trade and my own knowledge I also found Alan Coleman, manager of the Northampton Kettering Road branch of Travis Perkins, very helpful. He is a self-builder and a wealth of knowledge and information,” said Alan.

“I set out and laid the foundations myself using a friends JCB, along with the drainage. Although the site is flat the soil is very sandy and the foundations were dug to 1,200mm and not the 1,000 recommended by the planning department, just to make doubly sure. Both the annexe and house will have a solid floor slab,” he continued.

A bricklayer friend was sub-contracted to carry out the blockwork and the brickwork. Alan's chosen brick was Grovesnor County Mixture by Ibstock, some 35,000 of which will be used in total. This brick is an earthy red in colour with a weathered appearance and blends well with the wooded surroundings.

Although Alan has carried out some of the joinery himself, including joists and noggins, he has sub-contracted out much of the work to a carpenter who has fitted the roof joists and will undertake the interior joinery with Alan helping where he can. The slating of the roof, which is at felt and batten stage, has been sub-contracted out to a roofing firm. Guttering will be Amazon from the Osma plastic range.

Originally the first preference for windows was triple glazing, but because there were problems sourcing the right type double glazing will be used in custom frames made by a firm in Lincolnshire. The house will have UPVC sash windows to the front and casement to the rear, and six Velux roof windows to the rear of the third floor. The annexe has two Velux roof windows to the rear.

The plumbing will be installed by Alan, which in the annexe consists of a shower and kitchen in the upstairs area accommodation and a utility room at ground level. The house will have one bathroom and four ensuite bedrooms. The house will have wet under-floor heating in the hallway and kitchen/family room and radiators for the remainder, powered by a condensing boiler. The family room will also have a wood-burning stove “Underfloor heating is the most practical option for these areas as it provides a comfortable living environment and eliminates the need for radiators. The only downside is that the temperature control is not as responsive as with radiators due to the mass of the floor,” said Alan.

The only real problems encountered so far with the build have been the availability of skilled craftsmen able to fit in with the build programme. Alan commented, “Through my work as a plumber and word of mouth in the building trade I know the people who I would like to work on my project. However, getting them on-site has proved difficult because they are in high demand. This can lead to delays.”