M Design have many years of experience of self-build so we understand and can help. Here are some tips that will help and if you want more, just give us a call and get us involved!

The construction of a building not only demands great capacity and closeness in management, but also a magnitude of expenditure for the wide range of materials that are needed.

Operating costs for labour are often taken too lightly by amateur project managers - it is best if you complete an initial round of estimating before you complete a first sketch of your plans. By doing so you will have an approximate budget to aim for at an early stage. This will be your target against which you will try progressively for lower construction cost.

Here are some tips to guide you when estimating your building costs, with a view to keeping them low:

1. Use materials that are typical and have a high rate of supply because they are easier to get hold of. In addition, they cost less and can lessen inaccuracies in matching and avoid delays and programme interruptions (with the inevitable knock on effects). You must also consider removing features that are not really necessary or are just plain expensive for you. For example, shrewdly reducing the size and number of windows (planning permission allowing of course!) and avoiding elements of construction low on wish lists can dramatically reduce costs. You don’t have to be draconian or produce a lacklustre home, just keeping an eye on what is where (and asking yourself if you really need it) will help. Also, if you must have that ‘must-have’, making sure that you spend your hard earned cash on detail where you will appreciate it is a good start. A great example of this is a protruding brick plinth to the base of the external walls, a traditional and popular detail where appropriate, however ask yourself, does it really need to be around the entire perimeter of the building? Why not cut out ¾ of it and just have it on the primary elevation and not have it where it is not immediately apparent? Keep thinking ‘kerb appeal’, it really does work!
2. If you want to conserve energy to the extreme, go for a square or rectangular shape for your home. This is probably the most practical shape to use because it costs less energy for cooling and heating due to its lesser amount of wall surface open to the elements on its exterior. Furthermore, square buildings on plan cost less to build because you don’t have to put in additional work and equipment for curved walls, reveals and so on. Remember that you can utilize your materials more efficiently with fewer angles and corners.
3. The roof is probably the superlative design highlight that is most drawn attention to, but it need not be highly expensive. Compared to hip roofs, gable roofs are cheaper because they don’t require additional framing and minimize details. Your roof is protection from heat and cold, consider insulating your building to the utmost degree. This might cost a little more but will make the interior environment of the building more comfortable and will also save energy over time. Don’t worry, the building regulations will not allow yourself to over insulate one element and not insulate elsewhere as a ‘trade off’ to the point of risking relative cold spots and formation of the dreaded condensation – so go for it, trust that it will be a huge assistance to minimising your energy costs.
4. Choose a relatively standard size for the building and form spaces based on units of construction elements wherever possible. Using brick dimensions minimises masonry construction waste. Imagine how many bricks and blocks need to be discarded if you have to cut them at every corner of the building, then think about the wasted labour costs, then think about the workmanship (often overlooked) – if you had the choice would you annoyingly cut a brick then lay it, or just lay it satisfied that you were making good progress and the job looked neat. Another cost-effective design plan is to use even numbers to reduce discarded resources – why cut every plasterboard sheet when you can use one without wasting one (again, more unnecessary labour costs).

Once you have an rough idea of the costs that your project will entail, you will have a guide in modifying any adjustments you need for your budget. It is important to specify all the necessary details beforehand so that you minimise risk of unexpected overspend and will also avoid too many changes to the design as the build advances. Don’t forget a sensible financial contingency and be keen to use up those valuable favours built up over the years!

Here at M Design we have a different attitude as we like to be involved with you and your project from the first day to the last. We will come and meet you, start sketching designs and then take your project right the way through the design process to detailed design and tender stage if required. You can have as much or as little control of the process as you feel comfortable with.

That means for you, as our client, you can get speedy answers on anything on your project.

So if you want to be looked after by real people who will look after you and your project from start to finish and look after every aspect of it for you, then please contact us today!