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Spain House Build - Building Started

Good luck on the new timeframe the renders look good.

mattyg said:
Jeez, I'd love to self build in spain.. But I think when the time comes we'll just buy something done..

What a rollercoaster mate.

When its done and your in you'll forget all this pretty quickly.

So did the original builder **** up the base or does the new builder want to be safe.. Can you go back to the original builder for compensation or is that just another no reward stress
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Self build as in doing it yourself? Thats different than hiring in a builder no? Sounds epic tbh.
 
It's going to be stunning when it's finished though. You'll laugh about all this in a few years, when it's done. :p
 
Martynt74 said:
100% buy something! We've seen a few places we'd have bought over the last 2 years had they been available when we were looking. Our estate agent always said they very rarely recommend it to people but said that for us and our requirements it was likely the best option.

It sounds like the thickness isn't enough in some places. I think it's structurally sound, but doesn't have enough insulation to meet the energy ratings the developer offers. We always thought it looked odd as some places were thicker than others.

To clarify we're still with the same developer. He has 2 teams of builders he sub contracts to. He's just moved us from one team to the other, so all cost impact is on him. We're still fixed at our original contract.



No, i've not seen that. I'm fairly sure something gets added between the hardcore base and the concrete pour but i didn't get pictures in between that.
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Thats good, That hes pointing out mistakes he's going to have to cover the cost on. Suppose that helps with the trusting him... He just needs to deliver now!!
 
I look forward to the OcUK cycling meet up once this is all done. Wheres the bike wash and post ride massage room by the way?
 
mattyg said:
Thats good, That hes pointing out mistakes he's going to have to cover the cost on. Suppose that helps with the trusting him... He just needs to deliver now!!
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Yeah, better than plowing on with things. I think the biggest thing we tried to get across last night is to stop over promising things. Don't tell us we'll see progress the following week and then not deliver. I'd rather be told honestly what the situation is. I still don't think there's anyone else we'd want to trust with the house. It's just getting through this awkward stage.

fez said:
I look forward to the OcUK cycling meet up once this is all done. Wheres the bike wash and post ride massage room by the way?
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I've got a hosepipe and a massage gun. A sauna too (albeit a 2 person one might be a bit cosy)
 
Well, this was unexpected. After being told last week that the base needed to be thicker and to expect walls early December and full structure by the end of the year.

Went up today as we were going in that direction and thought we'd check if they'd been to do anything or install the fence. Seems that builders can actually make progress if they try :eek:

The base is exactly as it was, so i'm wondering if they're going to backfill within the bricks to minimise delays.

https://i.~ibb.co~/vxJ3TD2J/thumbnail-IMG-7349.jpg
https://i.~ibb.co~/Kp0NK3kz/thumbnail-IMG-7352.jpg
https://i.~ibb.co~/Myh6gx49/thumbnail-IMG-7353.jpg
 
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So you are 2 years down the line, turning into a bit of a nightmare with the time it takes, how are you doing on cost's ?
 
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bobuk said:
So you are 2 years down the line, turning into a bit of a nightmare with the time it takes, how are you doing on cost's ?
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Pretty much, although the build is only really 1yr of that

Oct 23 - Moved over to Spain
Nov-Jan 24 - Looked around at property. Decided to build and found some land
Feb 24 - Signed for the land
Mar 24 - Submitted planning permission
Nov 24 - Planning approved
Dec 24 - Now - Slowly watching time ebb away
Apr 26 - Current completion estimate



Costs are all fine. One of the positives with the developer we went with is that our contract was signed for a fixed amount and he assumes all risk for overruns/material inflation. We've also negotiated some compensation for the delays so will end up slightly cheaper than expected.
 
Blimey, was it really Oct '23 when you moved! I still remember you posting on here about what van to get...
 
Uther said:
Blimey, was it really Oct '23 when you moved! I still remember you posting on here about what van to get...
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Yeah, it's crazy how quickly time flies.

I think beyond the house, my biggest disappointment looking back is how my Spanish is still nowhere near a level where i can have flowing conversation. I can get by in really broken phrases etc and general vocabulary is reasonable, but my brain just doesn't convert spoken Spanish into understanding. I'd have hoped to be much better in 2 years.
 
Bueno, al menos hablas algo de español.

Por fin la construcción de la casa está en marcha! Seguro que estás emocionado de ver que ahora avanza más rápido. Abril está a la vuelta de la esquina.
 
For sure. I hope it continues. I'm still not sure why there isn't more concrete poured, either inside or on the outside for the extra thickness of the exterior walls. Perhaps they're just doing the structural internal wall, and then the external wall isn't structural and needs a lesser foundation, but seems an odd choice in my non builder brain.

My wife has told me not to ask too many questions for fear of halting progress!
 
jpaul said:
that's good - weather looks initimidating though.

still intrigued by the damp proof course - after reading below unsurprisingly it is different to UK, exterior breathable rendering seems key to weather protection,
plus interior cavity with insulation and plasterboard -
https://britishexpats.com/forum/spain-75/construction-standards-spain-657770/ https://www.codigotecnico.org/pdf/Documentos/HS/DccHS.pdf

Do you get to see full building plans ?
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Ah no, it was just because we went quite late so the sun was setting, although it was still quite cloudy.

Yeah, we've got a 300 page technical document that was submitted for the planning process. I won't lie and say i've read it in detail though!
 
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