I am a carpenter and would like to construct my own timber framed house BUT would this kind of structure be worth the time and money that I would invest in to it? Would I have any problems selling it on?
I choose timber because its what I know and what I do. I cant lay bricks or blocks so i'd have to employ people to do it for me. If i build it all myself i'd save a lot of money by being able to do 95% of the work myself.
Thanks in advance for help or advice offered.
tony
13 Aug 2010, 4:44 PM
a tax efficient way to earn money! -- no tax to pay on your own labour value -- you should do it all the time!
I would rather see masonry construction as it is more comfortable and able to store solar gains better and less hollow sounding, but that just me built onr tf house never again.
partimehero
13 Aug 2010, 8:09 PM
Both good points thanks!
fridihem
14 Aug 2010, 1:28 PM
Very interesting to hear that you plan to build a timber framed house. In 1978 I bought a dovetailed timber kit which arrived on a lorry and trailer one early April morning. For the first 5 days I had a local builder and 2 men with him to help get the thing up and under roofing felt. The construction was very unique, with dovetailed joist at the corners and along the front and back, with the ouside panelling just tieing in with some very special finger joints, and by the end of the 5 days, it was under roofing felt with the roofing insulation already in place, otherwise it was an open shell with the floor joists in place. So my first job was to insulate the floor and lay the flooring, pine, which was covered with a heavy matting to prevent damage. Working only at weekends and holidays it was liveable by the end of July, but only just, water and toa outside in the nature, this was a forest area. The whole kit cost £8500 including everything from taps to shower, all cupboards and kitchen things. When I sold it in 2005, I got £72000. This was primarily a summer home of about 80 sq meters open plan
