Building a house is the goal of many wannabe homeowners these days, as it allows them to create a home perfectly tailored to their needs. When building your own house, there’s no need to compromise even a little bit to get what you want. How much does it cost to build a house? This all depends on where you plan to build, the type of property, and a few other factors.
First, you’re going to want to establish the money you have available for your build. How much do you have in savings, and will you be adding more to it based on your current home and the sale of it? When you have a good idea of the money you have to spend right now, you can begin looking into what it takes to get the project started and other costs you will need to consider.
Purchasing Your Plot
Purchasing your plot is one of the first things you will need to consider, and the general range to go by for a self-build is anywhere from £300 per m2 to £3,000 per m2. Of course location will make a big difference. It’s much more expensive to build a house in London and the South. Generally for a new build, architect designed home in London or the South East, a minimum construction cost might be in the region of £1,750 per square metre. Prices can even sometimes reach £4,000+ per square metre if the highest quality finishes are required and you add a basement.
In some places, it might feel virtually impossible to find an available plot as there are so few available, so this is something you’ll need to take your time with when building a house. You may have the perfect plan for your dream home, but build it in the wrong location and it’ll cost so much more than you think.
How Much Will Materials Cost to Build a House?
How much the materials cost to build your house will depend on the design you have your heart set on. It seems obvious to say that the more complex you want your lay out or exterior to be, the more expensive it will be. You’ll need to consider things like construction fees, materials, and architect costs.
However, there is one cheaper option – a kit house. These are prefabricated structures that allow you to minimise construction time and cut building contractor costs. However, these types of houses are not for everyone.
As well as the physical materials you need to build your home, you’ll need to think about the professionals required to help you. A good architect is key, as they will help you to accurately budget for every expense. Below, you’ll find the other factors you need to consider before you can estimate the price:
- Size
- Quality
- Location
- Complexity of layout
- Number of storeys
- Basements
- Professionals needed
- Legal fees
- Stamp duty and land tax
- Topographical site survey
- Architecture fees
- Structural engineer fees
- Planning application fees
- Building regulation fees
- Warranty
- Self-build insurance
- Services
- Demolition costs
- External works
How Much Will My Construction System Cost
The construction system accounts for the largest proportion of the costs, typically 25-30%.
The remaining elements of a build each tend to account for between 5-10% of the total cost.
You’ll need to take into account the cost of claddings, renders and exterior finishes before you have a good idea of what this is going to cost you.
The load-bearing structural walls of a house typically represent around 13–15% of the total build cost.
Roof Costs for House Build
The roof is one of the most important aspects of your house build, and being careful here can ensure you keep labour and material costs down as much as possible. Many self builders go for smaller tile formats, as they look attractive, but they can actually increase material costs.
The average cost of roofing stands at £20/m² Standard, £40/m² Good, £80/m² Excellent. If you decide to go for a decorative roof it will be even more expensive.
Bear in mind that if you decide to go the DIY route, you will save 20-25% if you do 25-30% of the work compared to a contractor. That being said, it will take much longer and of course you can make mistakes as you are not a professional. For a faster, higher quality completed project, you will want to make sure you’re working with a team of professionals who have a strong portfolio to back them up.
