Current cost per m2 of new build?

[Penners]

Mrs P and I have found a house that we are interested in buying (if we ever manage to sell our current one!) It's a fairly typical (unlisted) red brick Victorian cottage, and we would want to extend it by adding a new wing.

I'm too old and knackered to consider a DIY job on this. And I have no idea of current building costs. Can anyone please give me a rough idea of per m^2 costs for a cavity block/brick wall, slate roof, two-storey building, these days? I realise that there will be regional variations, and that there are many variables to consider, such as foundation constraints, but I'm just after a fag-packet figure, if anyone can help.

If you are able to give me an idea, please could you also make clear whether you are quoting footprint costs, or whether your figure must be doubled to allow for the two storeys?

Many thanks.

 

[Mark]

I can't give you figures, but I'm sure that one of those glossy magazines (Self-build and renovation or something?) prints a table at the back every month. Try having a look and see if they still do.

If I remember correctly they even give regional variations.

 

[pete32]

Hi,

I have a friend who is a builder and the current rate he always states is £1000 per m2. Hope this is helpfull

regards

pete

 

[jocelyn plummer]

I recently stumbled on a website by googling 'building costs' it said £800 per sq mt.
It alos had other useful information.

Don't forget to add in the other costs like planning apps etc. ( not that you would, but it always surprises me how easy it is to overlook the most elementary things)

We too are now looking at an unlisted Victorian Cottage, might know more soon.

Fingers and toes crossed for you both

 

[caliwag]

Ongoing thread for costings on http://www.ebuild.co.uk a site with contributions from tradesmen and people who have recently built or extended. The trouble with genearlisations on costs for extensions is the add-on for knock-throughs, making good and particularly the kit going into the extension...typically kitchen/bathroom...I'd be considering £1200m2

Talking to a building outfit with a client the other day. He said he is now only "winning" 20% of his quotes whereas it used to be 60%. He acknowledges that as volume builders have closed down sites, tradesmen are getting together to take on extension and attic work, at his expense, although he still has a good order book. I would just beware the rudderless bunch of tradesmen who are "buying" jobs unless by reputation. :wink: Dont be seduced by the cheapest ask to see earlier work etc.

Less us know how you get on please.

 

[AMc]

Homebuilding and renovation have their self build cost calculator in every month. Worth the £4 but an annual subscription gets a bit samey. Also at http://www.homebuilding.co.uk. Don't forget to factor in VAT on top.

 

[Penners]

Thanks very much for those thoughts, everyone.

Caliwag, joss and pete32 - do your figures (between £800 and £1200 per m^2) refer to the footprint of the building, or should I add together the metreage of both floors?

Thanks, too, for the reminder about the calculator in Homebuilding & Renovation. I'll get myself a copy. I used to subscribe some years ago, but I agree with AMc - it gets a bit repetitive after the first two or three issues.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

I interpreted it as meaning the full meterage,not just the footprint. but I ain't that clued up about these things.!

I do remember asking a friend of mine who is a builder to give me a more visual idea of how much space £20-£30 would give me in a brick and timber construction, he said 'about the size of a garage'. ------maybe he is very bad builder or there again he might be very expensive! :roll:

 

[skier-hughes]

Wish I could build a garage for £20 to £30

:shock: :wink:

 

[caliwag]

Sorry...both floors, not footprint...it's an average though! and very much only a guide. 8)

 

[MdB]

Another data point for you showing that £1000/m^2 of floor area (not footprint) is about right:

Our builder stated that a complete rebuild of our house in modern construction would be £100k to £150k and we have a combined floor area of around 120m^2.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

There you are Penners, I reckon MbD has it in a nutshell for you!
It makes sense.

The only other way is to set an extension budget and find out from a friendly builder what it will 'buy' you,

 

[Penners]

OK, many thanks again everyone. One side or the other of £1000/m^2 for the entire floor area looks like the concensus. At least I now have a rough rule-of-thumb to work with.

Now all we have to do is sell our house, in a market that's as dead as a very dead thing.

Wish us luck!

 

[L1zzy]

Hi Penners - I know I haven't spoken for ages but wanted to reassure you I am in the midst of final phase of planning demolition of an existing single storey 28sqm extension and rebuild to my G2 cottage and have been quoted the £1000 p sq metre calculation to rebuild to same footprint so its a very up to the minute figure. Good luck in the Red house!

 

[Penners]

Thanks L1zzy. Do let us know how you get on with the extension plans.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

15 viewings per house I'm told for this area!

The main problem is that viewers are viewing and making offers close to the asking price without having sold their own. The result is that Vendors think that they re going to get the asking price, and reject lower offers from those in a position to buy, so creating an ever increasing circle of 'mexican standoffs'.

There have been some pretty dramatic asking price drops here, up to 100k. Some are splashed across the adverts and some are very subtle-- you suddenly realise that a house has dropped when looking at the adverts on Rightmove and in the paper.

As cash buyers, we have been very careful to ask the agent some searching questions about their valuations, and asked for proof of achieved 2008 figures in the area and then try to strike a happy medium to keep the VEndor interested whilst they chase other viewings. It's really hard to get it right.

One thing is for sure there will be further reductions and until the 1st time buyers get a breakthrough there is gridlock. The latest ploy here is part exchange, which, we are told, is working----

There WILL be somebody there for yours.

 

[Penners]

Thanks for the encouragement, Joss. As cash buyers, you're in a very fortunate position, and - according to my estate agent - you ought to be able to get a very good deal. So good luck!

A substantial part of the utter dearth of movement in the market, just now, is our darling Chancellor (!) who is dangling the prospect of something beneficial happening to Stamp Duty, but is failing to get on and do it! So - of course - nobody wants to make a move until they know what's going to happen.

So HMG has successfully squeezed out what little life there was left in the market. May the Good Lord preserve us from politicians who don't think before they meddle. :evil: