Building works too expensive

Meandmrsjonesgotathinggoingon · 2023-01-29T21:49:05+00:00

We got quotes for extending out into the garden and it’s way over what we were thinking. DH wants to cancel that plan and just redo current kitchen but we bought the house (6 months ago) on the basis of doing an extension. I wouldn’t be happy just redoing current kitchen and it wouldn’t provide what we want and need. We could afford extension if we throw everything at it. Just have no savings after. What should we do? Do you agree that if we wait and save up money then the prices will go up by more than we can save?

stayathomegardener · 29/01/2023 21:52

I'd wait and save.

Bit pointless spending money on the kitchen you have which is I assume serviceable.

You've only been in a short time.

stayathomegardener · 29/01/2023 21:54

If i had a crystal ball id say this government will artificially prop things up till the election end of 24 and savings will be more important at that point.

stayathomegardener · 29/01/2023 21:55

Ummming and ahhhing myself about a big spend v savings too.

mobear · 29/01/2023 21:57

I think it depends on how long you’re going to stay in the house, how serviceable the kitchen is now, and how long it would take you to reinstate your savings.

We found ourselves in a similar situation but went ahead anyway. We plan on being in the house a long time and would rather do all the work upfront.

RandomMess · 29/01/2023 21:57

I would wait, certainly wouldn't put in a new kitchen.

JeepersCreepersWheredYaGetThosePeepers · 29/01/2023 21:58

Given people are struggling for money generally and can't afford a lot of work done at home, I keep wondering if building prices may go down because there will no longer be the current demand for builders?

Original poster

Meandmrsjonesgotathinggoingon · 29/01/2023 22:06

Interesting points, I appreciate hearing different view points. Definitely
could do with a crystal ball.
the kitchen is pretty manky. Seriously old and poorly designed. It’d be a blow
to live with it much longer.

OP posts:

NewHouseNewMe · 29/01/2023 22:08

My builder - who has just finished here so has nothing to gain by lying - said that he is struggling to quote at prices people will accept. Everything has gone up and people’s wallets have decreased.

After a period between October and December when no-one was willing to pay the going price, it has picked up again and he’s now got two big jobs.

johnd2 · 30/01/2023 00:49

We budgeted to blow all our savings but actually by the time the build actually started and then got on to the final payment over a year had passed so we had more savings from the mean time. But obviously you don't know what's going to happen with the economy and work in that time so it's a bigger risk.
Good luck with it though.

Persipan · 30/01/2023 08:13

If affording the work means throwing absolutely everything at it, what would your contingency plan be for when it (inevitably) ends up costing more?

StalkedByASpider · 30/01/2023 11:33

@Meandmrsjonesgotathinggoingon have a look at modular extensions, they're about a third cheaper.

We're having one done - work starts this week. Bricks are really expensive and also slow to build, so you have a variable and large labour charge. Modular extensions are built from metal and wood, and they usually go up in about 2-3 weeks.

We're late adopters in this country. In Europe and the US, modular homes are really common. They're starting to be built over here but still have a long way to go.

Modular builds are REALLY well-insulated, and they look just like a regular build inside. On the outside you can pick between render, brick slip and other finishes (can't remember). We're putting our kitchen and dining room in our extension, and we're building an annexe for DM.

The only real negative I would say is that I don't think they're universally accepted by mortgage companies as they're a non-standard build. They're not the same as the old concrete non-standard builds of the past. Modular builds are built to last and exceed the standards of a traditional brick build, hence why lots of mortgage firms are now willing to consider them.

For us, it was a no-brainer. The cost dropped from about £150k to £100k, very roughly. The cost is fixed at the start, so once you have a price it doesn't increase - no contingencies needed.

Not all companies are the same though so make sure you use one that's thorough and properly regulated. There are some out there who are cheaper but I had bad vibes about their professionalism.

Just a thought in case it helps.

Beamur · 30/01/2023 11:41

I wouldn't spend all your savings. The cost would almost inevitably rise during the build due to something or other. False economy to redo the kitchen if you're going to extend in a year or so.
I'd put up with manky for a bit.
My next door neighbours have an unconventional extension. It's not brick either and has a green roof. Possibly cheaper than brick but still quite expensive - the glazing was a lot - bifold doors.

LoveMyADHD · 30/01/2023 11:44

@Meandmrsjonesgotathinggoingon How much more were you quotes (percentage totally ok), as we re looking to do the same…

I don’t see much building work going where I am (usually there is a lot), I wonder if it does go down

TakeYourFinalPosition · 30/01/2023 11:44

We're in a somewhat similar position... Old owner had the extension built but then ran out of money and refitted a kitchen from 1992. It is OLD. It's wooden, and freestanding; and while people often comment on how unique it is, it's completely impractical and just seems grubby, however much I clean it.

We got quotes to get the kitchen done, and also some work upstairs, and both are now three times more than we were quoted. I'm absolutely torn on what to do. DH wants to get the kitchen done. We've waited a year so far, and costs haven't dropped... We were quoted £12k in September two years ago, £22k last July, and £22k in November.

Ariela · 30/01/2023 12:02

StalkedByASpider · 30/01/2023 11:33

@Meandmrsjonesgotathinggoingon have a look at modular extensions, they're about a third cheaper.

We're having one done - work starts this week. Bricks are really expensive and also slow to build, so you have a variable and large labour charge. Modular extensions are built from metal and wood, and they usually go up in about 2-3 weeks.

We're late adopters in this country. In Europe and the US, modular homes are really common. They're starting to be built over here but still have a long way to go.

Modular builds are REALLY well-insulated, and they look just like a regular build inside. On the outside you can pick between render, brick slip and other finishes (can't remember). We're putting our kitchen and dining room in our extension, and we're building an annexe for DM.

The only real negative I would say is that I don't think they're universally accepted by mortgage companies as they're a non-standard build. They're not the same as the old concrete non-standard builds of the past. Modular builds are built to last and exceed the standards of a traditional brick build, hence why lots of mortgage firms are now willing to consider them.

For us, it was a no-brainer. The cost dropped from about £150k to £100k, very roughly. The cost is fixed at the start, so once you have a price it doesn't increase - no contingencies needed.

Not all companies are the same though so make sure you use one that's thorough and properly regulated. There are some out there who are cheaper but I had bad vibes about their professionalism.

Just a thought in case it helps.

Just out of interest who are you using for this?

Mumsafan · 30/01/2023 12:09

Try asking the builder if you can buy directly from the builders merchants , using his discount.

We have done this with a few customers over the years and it's completely legal. The order is placed by the builder and the client pays the merchant directly. The merchant charges the customer the same rate he would charge the builder.

Not every builder will allow you to do this as many put a mark up on materials but there are many that do.

StalkedByASpider · 30/01/2023 12:20

Ariela · 30/01/2023 12:02

Just out of interest who are you using for this?

Show quote history

We are using OffPOD and I have to say, they've been brilliant. I've got a thread somewhere about this. I said I would post updates as the build goes up which will be this week onwards.

Another one I looked at that seemed pretty decent was Vita Modular. Ultimately I went for offPOD as the reviews were better, and one of their two directors is a structural engineer.

OffPOD were also really insistent about building control regs, and just very focused on quality from the start. We've had the first meeting with the building regs guy from the LA and he seems very happy, so I'm happy.

BarrelOfOtters · 30/01/2023 13:06

By the time you've got planning (if you need planning), drawings, quotes and a builder who can start you are going to be fairly well on in the year anyway.

I'd make sure you have a healthy contingency (we had a wall that needed underpinned that cost £5K extra) and just do it. Then you'll be able to enjoy it - which will be good as you'll be too skint to go anywhere apart from home for a few years.

worried4698643 · 30/01/2023 13:29

JeepersCreepersWheredYaGetThosePeepers · 29/01/2023 21:58

Given people are struggling for money generally and can't afford a lot of work done at home, I keep wondering if building prices may go down because there will no longer be the current demand for builders?

I'm not sure builders can put their prices down.

My DH/DDad and brother are all in various trades. The material costs are the reason that the prices have skyrocketed. They haven't added anything onto their labour costs.

Reducing costs would mean working at a loss.

Zapzep · 30/01/2023 13:52

I was in exactly the same situation, if you can manage without the extension you might regret no being able to afford other work that needs doing..

TheMousePipes · 30/01/2023 13:59

I wouldn’t rely on trades getting cheaper - every time dh quotes for someone the material costs are going up and up. Labour costs haven’t increased but some of the costs are eye watering. His lead time isn’t getting any shorter…

wonkylegs · 30/01/2023 14:13

I'm an architect and this is the hot topic among small practices as the domestic market is the majority of our work.
Most of the prices rises at the moment are material cost rises rather than labour. This has been so acute that it's made mainstream news as well as the industry press

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/24/brexit-uk-construction-costs-eu?CMP=Share iOSAppp_Other

Demand has remained strong and although some projects have been cancelled lots are still going ahead albeit in modified /reduced form which means it's still very hard to get projects off the ground.

Costs vary so rapidly that we have stopped even indicating a rough m2 costing for projects and builders I work with regularly and trust won't estimate beyond 1-2wks for material costs.

I would love to say that things are settling down but they really aren't and at a small practice meeting I went to recently we all thought there will be at least a few more years before things settle and that may be settling at a high level rather than reducing. I'm cautioning clients as the risk of building firms going bust in the current market conditions is high.

wonkylegs · 30/01/2023 14:18

It's a bloody nightmare situation to be in especially when you are trying to manage multiple projects.
I'm always very honest with my clients but I think at the moment they think I'm taking the piss because it's so expensive and so hard to get people and that things have got worse not better. Planning can also be very slow at the moment with some authorities and this can add to the economic strain as I might design something with a good contingency but by the time it gets through the system the prices have changed so much that it's now not affordable.

CellophaneFlower · 30/01/2023 14:40

StalkedByASpider · 30/01/2023 11:33

@Meandmrsjonesgotathinggoingon have a look at modular extensions, they're about a third cheaper.

We're having one done - work starts this week. Bricks are really expensive and also slow to build, so you have a variable and large labour charge. Modular extensions are built from metal and wood, and they usually go up in about 2-3 weeks.

We're late adopters in this country. In Europe and the US, modular homes are really common. They're starting to be built over here but still have a long way to go.

Modular builds are REALLY well-insulated, and they look just like a regular build inside. On the outside you can pick between render, brick slip and other finishes (can't remember). We're putting our kitchen and dining room in our extension, and we're building an annexe for DM.

The only real negative I would say is that I don't think they're universally accepted by mortgage companies as they're a non-standard build. They're not the same as the old concrete non-standard builds of the past. Modular builds are built to last and exceed the standards of a traditional brick build, hence why lots of mortgage firms are now willing to consider them.

For us, it was a no-brainer. The cost dropped from about £150k to £100k, very roughly. The cost is fixed at the start, so once you have a price it doesn't increase - no contingencies needed.

Not all companies are the same though so make sure you use one that's thorough and properly regulated. There are some out there who are cheaper but I had bad vibes about their professionalism.

Just a thought in case it helps.

I think I'm nearly as excited as you to see how this build goes 😂 Sorry if you already mentioned on the other thread, but how much extra space are you adding? And is that price to a plaster finish?

OrderItFromZanzibar · 30/01/2023 15:00

JeepersCreepersWheredYaGetThosePeepers · 29/01/2023 21:58

Given people are struggling for money generally and can't afford a lot of work done at home, I keep wondering if building prices may go down because there will no longer be the current demand for builders?

Doesn't work like that. Materials, labour and resources will still be expensive due to cost of living and inflation.