About the project
ARCHITECT: RB R&R As
CLIENT & PROJECT MANAGER: RB R&R As
PROJECT TYPE: Self build
PRODUCTS: 142mm SIP Walls, 172mm SIP Rooff
When Sharon and Edward conceived their first self-build project, a new home for their parents, whose health was failing, in the grounds of the parents existing home, speed and convenience dictated a Structural Insulated Panel build.
The build started in April 2016 and the parents moved into their new, three-bed home on 1 May this year. They now enjoy single-story living with an open plan living area that boasts a vaulted ceiling, a glass walled southerly facing aspect overlooking gardens and guest accommodation on the first-floor that is accessed from a galleried balcony.
The home has two bedrooms on the ground floor with an accessible main bathroom and the accommodation is entirely flexible and able to cater for the future needs of the family.
“The ground floor space is fully adaptable, it has good size rooms, a disabled access ramp at the front door, so it meets my parents’ needs now but is flexible for the future. Dad was a builder so it was a challenge using new construction methods but they’ve now fully embraced it and are enjoying their new home. It’s energy efficient and we’ve made the second bedroom on the ground floor into a separate sitting room with a TV so mum and dad have the space to get away from each other if they want to! And the design means that if they need additional care in future there is comfortable and private accommodation upstairs with an en-suite if I need to stay, “said Sharon
The main driver behind the project was speed and efficiency. It was the Auger-Forbes first self-build project and they needed to find a product that would deliver an energy efficient envelope without too much stress. They met with their architect discussed options and the product and felt SIPs were a ‘no brainer’.
Access to the site was narrow and manoeuvring was complex, the off-site manufacture of SIPS provided control for the clients and the build progressed as if on a conveyor belt providing motivation for the self-builders because they were living in the original home on-site and knew they would have a watertight structure in a matter of weeks, reducing the stress on the family.
It also meant the trades could be planned in because there was no time-delay in waiting for things to cure or for bad weather.
Overall it required more up-front planning but once started the build progressed at pace.
SIPs also delivered the performance values required as the family were keen to invest in renewables. It has solar panels and photovoltaic units combined with high performance glass and solar control to reduce UV solar gains on the south side of the house. The boiler has a 92 per cent efficiency rating and air temperatures are maintained within the house making it energy efficient over the long-term.
Self-builders Sharon and Edward : “We can’t thank SIP Build UK and our architect, Russell Barnes, enough and would recommend both without hesitation. SIP Build UK’s planning and execution of our remit exceeded expectations. Our modest three-bed ‘self-build’ house project took SIP Build UK just under three weeks to erect the super-structure on site. We had limited delivery space for the materials and plant that were required for the project, but through SIP Build’s excellent communication, preliminary site visits and careful planning, the deliveries were staged, manageable and on time. The construction site team were so hardworking, focused and helpful, going above and beyond on many occasions and with a great attitude. Like all builds we were not without a couple of minor hiccups. These were resolved quickly and fairly by the management team and in turn by the construction team. Our thanks to the entire crew. SIP Build UK provides a quality and value for money service. Would we do it again and engage SIP Build UK? Yes.”
