"I sat down and looked at the structural engineer's drawings in more detail and realised I would be better off project managing it myself," said Martin. "I redesigned the structure, created a better scheme and came up with a cost, which was 35 per cent less expensive than the one he had suggested. I approached it as though I was doing the job for a client. I had a lull cost plan drawn up, then revised it to make further savings. That set
the parameters for the overall budget."
Martin's clearly defined breakdown included demolition, basement/retaining walls, groundworks and timber frame, followed by construction to roof height, roof structure and internal fittings. He treated all three houses as one project, creating one main live-bedroom house and two three-bedroom houses which, although subtly linked together by walkways, are all detached.
"Although this was our first sell build I have been in construction management for 25 years and the principles are the same," said Martin. "The difference was in the attention to detail because this was personal and we would be living with the results."
It took four years to finally get planning permission, but by then Martin knew exactly how each stage of the build would unfold. With plans and work schedules in place the family moved into rented accommodation in a
neighbouring village so demolition could begin. Two and a hall thousand tons of rock were removed from the sloping site before a 100 ton crane lowered pre-cast concrete sections for the retaining walls into position, creating the basement and first floor slab as a complete unit. All three properties are created from custom —built timber frames and Thermonex insulated wall panels, clad in reclaimed stone. Martin initially thought the cladding and internal fit—out could be done in tandem, but the cladding had to be completed before the window frames, stone sills and heads could be made to fit the extra-thick walls. Martin worked hard to create an energy-efficient home, using the best insulation.
THE THREE-IN ONE DEVELOPMENT IS BUILT INTO A STEEP HILLSIDE AND OVERLOOKS
FABULOUS VIEWS ACROSS A VALLEY
THE STONE FRONTAGE OF THE THREE STOREY PROPERTIES COMPLEMENTS THE RURAL SETTING BUT THE DEVELOPMENT COULDN'T BLOCK THE VIEW FROM A PERIOD HOUSE FURTHER UP THE HILL
Radical House Remodeling Part 1
Radical House Remodeling Part 2
Radical House Remodeling Part 4
Radical House Remodeling Part 5
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