Frame Technologies – £180k build cost in Hereford

As a firefighter, self-builder Leanne was restricted location-wise by her local fire station’s call-out areas. Not wanting to sacrifice her dream home plans, she collated design ideas and drew up a budget plan so that she could self-build the home she had always wanted despite geographical limitations of Hereford.

Once planning permission had been secured, she contracted Frame Technologies on the basis of our prompt responses, high level of expertise and quick turnaround guarantee.

The three bedroom, two storey cottage is 96m2 (150m2 including the garage). With rigorous planning, extensive researching and resourcefulness, and excellent relationships with suppliers, the client managed to build a high-quality contemporary home to meet their exact needs for a total build cost of just £180,000.

Leanne opted for a highly energy-efficient and airtight build method, which would future-proof her home and keep her bills low.

Aspirations for the house included an overhanging roof to form a porch area, and huge bi-folding doors to create a spacious open plan living space. Frame Technologies overcame the structural challenges to meet the brief, incorporating a steel wind frame to accommodate the sizeable span of the opening, which could be erected along with the timber frame.

A young, first-time self-builder has proven that with diligent planning, attention to detail, hard work, and maximising existing relationships and contacts, it is possible to build your dream home on a very reasonable budget. Birchfield is an example to many lower-budget self-builders and demonstrates what amazing results can be achieved with hard work, perseverance, and a bit of strategic thinking.

Frame Technologies provided a high level of expertise and a quick turnaround guarantee, and early engagement helped to minimise costs further. This allowed the experienced team to provide initial support and assist with the design, building regulations and planning challenges, which proved to be cost-effective long term.

Utilising a precision-engineered timber structure with engineered truss rafter roof, made it 30% quicker to construct than a brick and block home of the same dimensions. Frame Technologies erected the panels and floor structure within 48 hours and the rest of the timber frame within seven days.

Leanne planned ahead to ensure the home was future-proofed by ensuring its energy–efficiency, as well as by preparing for any future extensions/alterations, so it can adapt with their needs. Plans are already there for an extension should she require it, with elements such as electrics and plumbing included in the original plans to allow for upgrading at a later date.

“Frame Technologies were one of the first companies we approached for the timber frame and their prompt response, quick turnaround time and helpful staff made the decision to work with them very easy.

“Days before the timber frame was due to arrive onsite, we hit a glitch and had to postpone the build for two months! Fortunately, Frame Technologies understood the delay and put our frame on standby with no hassle at all. To live in a house designed and built by Frame Technologies, enjoying the rewards of the hard graft and hard decision-making, is THE dream.”