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New build houses; a bit shit?
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Are they?
Paper thin walls.
Thrown up in a few weeks.
Crack for a pass time.
Builders taking short cuts.
Tin studwork.
Dry lined rather than plastered.
Creaky nailed down boards.
I’m not a fan.
I prefer old houses.
Damp
Cracks
Poorly insulated
Blown plaster
Floorboards that have been lifted too many times
Aging electrics
Thin copper pipework turning porous
Lead pipes
Those rusty steel pipes.
 |
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"Are they?
Paper thin walls.
Thrown up in a few weeks.
Crack for a pass time.
Builders taking short cuts.
Tin studwork.
Dry lined rather than plastered.
Creaky nailed down boards.
I’m not a fan.
I prefer old houses.
Damp
Cracks
Poorly insulated
Blown plaster
Floorboards that have been lifted too many times
Aging electrics
Thin copper pipework turning porous
Lead pipes
Those rusty steel pipes.
"
So neither then ??  |
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Depends on the developer.
Say Bloor homes, good reputation, good end product.
Barrat or say Persimmon, no comparison, fit your description perfectly.
Poor workmanship as they will use any old tradesman to get the job done. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I'd build a rammed earth house for ya...
no plastering required
great natural insulation
No stud walls
Electrics and plumbing built into the wall construction
Earthquake resistant
Environmentally friendly
Great passive heating central open fireplace feature
No painting of walls , use natural earth strata finish and colourations (can be lime plastered if one wishes and use natural pigmentation.
Freeflow design, no need for boring angular rooms
I could go on....
 |
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What gets me are these new 'developments' where they buy an acre of land and chuck 10,000 new builds on there, few of which have a garden or view, and they put a narrow winding road to make it look 'quaint'. And people buy these before they've even been built. That's what gets me the most. |
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"I'd build a rammed earth house for ya...
no plastering required
great natural insulation
No stud walls
Electrics and plumbing built into the wall construction
Earthquake resistant
Environmentally friendly
Great passive heating central open fireplace feature
No painting of walls , use natural earth strata finish and colourations (can be lime plastered if one wishes and use natural pigmentation.
Freeflow design, no need for boring angular rooms
I could go on....
"
When my lottery comes in I'll be giving you a call. |
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"What gets me are these new 'developments' where they buy an acre of land and chuck 10,000 new builds on there, few of which have a garden or view, and they put a narrow winding road to make it look 'quaint'. And people buy these before they've even been built. That's what gets me the most."
Most are investment properties that will be buy to let |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I love old houses.think ours was build in 1875.I was a shop until 2011 so been changed around a bit.we bought it 6m ago and found few problems but nothing that can't be fixed .I loved to seen what it was like before it was a shop. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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In some ways there awful but one thing is for sure there incredibly cheap, you'd be staggered by the build cost of a 3 bedroom house built on a large estate |
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"Are they?
Paper thin walls.
Thrown up in a few weeks.
Crack for a pass time.
Builders taking short cuts.
Tin studwork.
Dry lined rather than plastered.
Creaky nailed down boards.
I’m not a fan.
I prefer old houses.
Damp
Cracks
Poorly insulated
Blown plaster
Floorboards that have been lifted too many times
Aging electrics
Thin copper pipework turning porous
Lead pipes
Those rusty steel pipes.
"
Try putting any fixings in the walls lol
Much prefer old houses!!! |
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I think the problem is that people expect new to always be better, this is because the advertisers tell you it’s true although they’re hardly impartial.
The truth is more complicated but stands for buildings, cars, toasters, mobile phones and even “invisible things” like websites and services.
New can be better in some ways, however to design, develop, test and make the new thing costs money. That money isn’t coming from the kindly old boss, it’s coming from your pocket. |
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"Are they?
Paper thin walls.
Thrown up in a few weeks.
Crack for a pass time.
Builders taking short cuts.
Tin studwork.
Dry lined rather than plastered.
Creaky nailed down boards.
I’m not a fan.
I prefer old houses.
Damp
Cracks
Poorly insulated
Blown plaster
Floorboards that have been lifted too many times
Aging electrics
Thin copper pipework turning porous
Lead pipes
Those rusty steel pipes.
Try putting any fixings in the walls lol
Much prefer old houses!!!"
Try putting fixings into a lath and plaster wall.
If you use the right products the job will get done correctly.
Don't bother putting rawlplugs in a plasterboard wall etc. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I went to view a new build for 275,000. Was very disappointed. You couldn't swing a cat in it. I haven't got a cat but I prefer old houses with high ceilings and original features. But I suppose there's pro's and con's for each. |
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By *ady LickWoman
over a year ago
Northampton Somewhere |
There's loads of new houses going up near me. I went to look at the show home. The furniture was for really tiny people, the back garden slightly bigger than a postage stamp.
I was impressed with the garden at the front until the woman told me they were building another house on it as soon as they'd sold them all.
Ours was built in the 50's, I'd never buy a new build. |
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I've been in a housing association new build for the past 8 years and love it. Had no problems with anything and love the air source heating as you only pay for the little bit of electric to power the pump. I lived in a 60 year old house before this one and wouldn't go back. Bills are cheaper and home is a lot warmer. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"£££££££ for 20 yr guarantee...
You only get a 10 year NHBC warranty and its not worth the paper it's written on."
That's correct. The minimum that 80% of developers sign up for and many developwrs offer a further 2 years for fixtures and fixings. There are some developes offering addition 10 yrs on top of the NHBC warrantee.
What I love is the way the NHBC advertises how theirs is a high level of protection one gets which one simply wouldn't get buying a second-hand home. The thing they forget is that S/H could have been sitting there for nearly 100 yrs. That's a silent guarantee often overlooked.... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"What gets me are these new 'developments' where they buy an acre of land and chuck 10,000 new builds on there, few of which have a garden or view, and they put a narrow winding road to make it look 'quaint'. And people buy these before they've even been built. That's what gets me the most."
Perhaps they are being bought to rent out. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Ive been in 3
Redrow
Bloor
And a private developer
The private one was 'ok' the rest were awful, thin walls ropey build quality.
Ive not got a 1930s bay window, high ceiling hows with bags and bags of character i love it. But the same goes with cars i love classics and have a couple of classics,
character & soul for me.... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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They are all so box like and really ungenerous in size. Even the larger detached types have virtually no garden so they can cram more on to the site. Im sure they are probably more warmer and efficient than an older house,but just so ... square inside |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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My dad sold a tiny bit of land behind our old gas house.We was expecting a nice little 2 or 3 bed house to be built there.Theres six tiny houses back to back with no front gardens and the rear gardens are like postage stamps.
It's the norm now to fit as many houses on the smallest plot and think of the profit not the qaulity of life of the person living in them. |
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Never again. The building contractor didn't meet regulations (twice), which meant I had to wait 4 months longer to move in than I had to. When I did, they were so reluctant to address any of the snags I'd flagged up.
Current place is a fixer-upper, stone walls, 1800s build, it's taken forever to get up to standard, but it's exactly how I want it. If you're patient, older builds are a lot better quality. I'd love to see what a Barratt home would look like in 100 years! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Modern houses like modern cars are very efficient, regulations on insulation and heat loss and noise control between dwellings is very tight,
BUT
The subcontractors who build them are hammered down on price so use less skilled cheaper labour who cut corners and leave a poor finish. The subbies have to wait months for their money, and get hit for all sorts of charges, including discount for prompt payment, that's 90 days! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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My mum has a westbury house. Honestly, i could have built a better house out of Lego.
Door frames coming away from the wall
A gap on the staircase wall running along the skirting board that is at least an inch and a bit wise (how the feck that is supposed to be filled is anyones guess!!).
Cracks in the corners of the walls running down.
There’s a massive gap above the front door that you could put your hand inside (and is now letting in water).
And the most annoying thing is my mum puts it down to the house “settling”.
My arse! It’ll be settling around her ears in a few years if she’s not careful!
I would never ever buy a new build. Snagging lists my arse. Build it fecking properly in the first place!! |
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"My mum has a westbury house. Honestly, i could have built a better house out of Lego.
Door frames coming away from the wall
A gap on the staircase wall running along the skirting board that is at least an inch and a bit wise (how the feck that is supposed to be filled is anyones guess!!).
Cracks in the corners of the walls running down.
There’s a massive gap above the front door that you could put your hand inside (and is now letting in water).
And the most annoying thing is my mum puts it down to the house “settling”.
My arse! It’ll be settling around her ears in a few years if she’s not careful!
I would never ever buy a new build. Snagging lists my arse. Build it fecking properly in the first place!!"
The woodwork will be down to the developer using green timber which contains around 30% moisture and is 50% cheaper than the seasoned equivalent, you can see the effect when the wood dries out.
We see this in hundreds of homes, cheap shoddy workmanship too. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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In the construction industry we say:
Competitive Tender; a guess to two decimal places
Successful bidder; a man who says" Shit, what did I miss on that tender!
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Are they?
Paper thin walls.
Thrown up in a few weeks.
Crack for a pass time.
Builders taking short cuts.
Tin studwork.
Dry lined rather than plastered.
Creaky nailed down boards.
Couldn’t agree more
I’m not a fan.
I prefer old houses.
Damp
Cracks
Poorly insulated
Blown plaster
Floorboards that have been lifted too many times
Aging electrics
Thin copper pipework turning porous
Lead pipes
Those rusty steel pipes.
"
|
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Anyone want to guess what the average build cost is on a 3 bedroom semi on a large estate?
£48,000.
Close but a little bit less still "
Wow... thats crazy my kitchen diner extension cost more than a new build 3 bed then... shocking. No wonder new builds feel so flimsy  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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There controlled and told what materials to use
Eco friendly and all that old bolox
They will change there mind again soon and another product will have to be used |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Anyone want to guess what the average build cost is on a 3 bedroom semi on a large estate?
£48,000.
Close but a little bit less still
Wow... thats crazy my kitchen diner extension cost more than a new build 3 bed then... shocking. No wonder new builds feel so flimsy "
With all the ground works ..preparing the land . Drainage ..suage ..electric water and gas supply ...house top to bottom with fixtures and fittings is 100 grand not 48 grand .. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Our last house was a brand new build....the worst military quarter we've lived in by far.
So many problems, scared to sneeze incase it bloody fell down.
The one were in now is solid and I really quite like it. Though unfortunately we'll be moving again next year. Not always lucky with what type of house we get but
Thankfull that we have a roof over our heads. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Anyone want to guess what the average build cost is on a 3 bedroom semi on a large estate?
£48,000.
Close but a little bit less still
Wow... thats crazy my kitchen diner extension cost more than a new build 3 bed then... shocking. No wonder new builds feel so flimsy
With all the ground works ..preparing the land . Drainage ..suage ..electric water and gas supply ...house top to bottom with fixtures and fittings is 100 grand not 48 grand .."
Surely it depends on the floor area number of stories construction materials internal and external finishes site value services and any additional costs for weather delays in construction or particular eco features etc., installed at the time of build including developers profit to enable them to continue trading. There is no such thing as the average house its an artificial construct used by industry and the media... and about as accurate as all such "averages".
Dependant upon all the above a build cost of anything from £1000 to north of £5000 per sqaure metre may apply.
This can be reduced by anything from 20% to 30%+ if people self build rather than buying an estate development house.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"My mum has a westbury house. Honestly, i could have built a better house out of Lego.
Door frames coming away from the wall
A gap on the staircase wall running along the skirting board that is at least an inch and a bit wise (how the feck that is supposed to be filled is anyones guess!!).
Cracks in the corners of the walls running down.
There’s a massive gap above the front door that you could put your hand inside (and is now letting in water).
And the most annoying thing is my mum puts it down to the house “settling”.
My arse! It’ll be settling around her ears in a few years if she’s not careful!
I would never ever buy a new build. Snagging lists my arse. Build it fecking properly in the first place!!
The woodwork will be down to the developer using green timber which contains around 30% moisture and is 50% cheaper than the seasoned equivalent, you can see the effect when the wood dries out.
We see this in hundreds of homes, cheap shoddy workmanship too."
Yep that sounds about right  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I'm not very keen on brand new houses. If I had to buy something new I'd buy one from the mid 80s. Although from the 60s might not be too bad.
However I prefer the old houses, they've got more character and I like hight ceilings. Now If I could I'd go for a listed one. If repaired properly they'd be the best. No damp or anything. They problem is most builders don't know about these type of houses and mess them up. One can't treat them the same way as the new ones.
Common mistake is to paint them with cheap plastic unbreathable paint. It's like spreading a sheet of plastic on them. Then the damp appears because the moisture can't evaporate and some idiot recommend a damp proof course making it even worse. It leads to water being accumulated and eroding the lime between the bricks. Another typical problem when they repoint them with cement. The moisture is forced though the bricks causing damp and weakening them.
Check some youtube videos on youtube about Peter Ward.
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"In some ways there awful but one thing is for sure there incredibly cheap, you'd be staggered by the build cost of a 3 bedroom house built on a large estate"
Cheap??? Are you having a laugh? Cheap to build maybe or not cheap to buy!! I can’t afford to downsize
B x |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"My dad sold a tiny bit of land behind our old gas house.We was expecting a nice little 2 or 3 bed house to be built there.Theres six tiny houses back to back with no front gardens and the rear gardens are like postage stamps.
It's the norm now to fit as many houses on the smallest plot and think of the profit not the qaulity of life of the person living in them."
Your house is massive so it's going to make the news ones look small lol x |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"I'd build a rammed earth house for ya...
no plastering required
great natural insulation
No stud walls
Electrics and plumbing built into the wall construction
Earthquake resistant
Environmentally friendly
Great passive heating central open fireplace feature
No painting of walls , use natural earth strata finish and colourations (can be lime plastered if one wishes and use natural pigmentation.
Freeflow design, no need for boring angular rooms
I could go on....
"
I'd love one. I just don't think it would fit along the terrace and above the flat below. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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We’re in the market for another house but must be of brick and block construction not over fussed so long as got decent sized garden,Lincs can and will extend it in time served manor |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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My ex partners dad is a finishing joiner on the sites, always complaining about the quality of materials he's supposed to use, its all about the profit at the end of the day.
Recently walked off a site when he was fitting the pre-fab doors where the manufacture built the frame 10mm wider than the door. Doesn't sound much but having the pack a door out to fit its frame that was pre-fabricated off site was the site agents solution rather than wasting time getting the manufacturer to sort them.
Cheap and cheerful to built, not so cheep or cheerful to buy |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"My dad sold a tiny bit of land behind our old gas house.We was expecting a nice little 2 or 3 bed house to be built there.Theres six tiny houses back to back with no front gardens and the rear gardens are like postage stamps.
It's the norm now to fit as many houses on the smallest plot and think of the profit not the qaulity of life of the person living in them.
Your house is massive so it's going to make the news ones look small lol x "
Hahahahahahaha it's not that big & it's not my house it's my mom & dads. |
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