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Green
Dreams™
Benfield ATT's Green Dream Homes are unique
in that they are perfectly eco-friendly buildings. And, yes you
can still design your own. The differences between a Green Dream
and a conventional house is the fact that your home is self-supporting
and non-dependant on the environment.
We are the UK's leading timber frame manufacturer
specialising in envionmental sustainability, and as such, are
able to offer complete 'green' builds. In a way, your entire home
will be recyclable!
From walls lined with sheeps fleecing to
photoelectricity and from state-of-the-art water recycling units
to environmentally-friendly foundations and roof tiles made from
recycled car tyres, your home will be a true art form, and a precious
reminder for future generations that you played your part for
the environment.
The question on every enquirer's lips; how
much does a Benfield ATT Green Dream Home cost?
The answer to this question is complex and
involves a long list of variables. Many who ask this question
want to know how much a Green Dream package costs. The cost of
a Green Dream package, while also being highly variable, is somewhat
meaningless in view of the bigger picture.
The answers to these questions are vitally
important but also difficult to answer in anything but very broad
and generalized numbers. The only accurate manner in which to
tell you how much a Green Dream home will cost is to contact us
for an individual quotation.
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Some
Guides for Costs Are:
- A Green Dream home can cost anything
between the same as an old fashioned ‘wet trades’,
bricks and mortar building and up to 25%-30% more than a high-quality
conventionally built, custom designed home of the same size
and volume, using the same finishing materials. This is generalisable
for the house only and does not include land and those related
costs.
- Self-builders (owner-builder)who contribute
a significant amount of expertise and sweat equity (labour)
can save up to 30% over the fully contracted cost. However,
a more realistic savings for a self-builder will be between
10% and 20% savings.
- An owner-contractor who has real expertise and capabilities
to perform the work of a general-contractor can expect 10% to
20% saving over the fully contracted cost.
- A construction-manager can save an owner between 5% and
15% over the fully contracted cost.
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Variables
that Reduce Cost
-
Regional markets
- Building in a competitive market where there is less demand
for builders can help contain costs. In these areas local
labour is more readily available and usually at a lower cost.
-
Climate - Weather
can affect the cost of your home. Moderate climates can reduce
cost with regard to the requirement for lower insulating values
and smaller timbers and less engineering.
-
Site related issues
- A simple, flat or gently sloping site with good soils will
be less expensive to build on and help to control foundation
costs.
-
Design - Although
we believe this defeats the reason for Self-Builds, simple
designs usually mean less cost. For example, a simple rectangular
or ‘L’ shaped house is probably going to be less
expensive than a fancy design with Victorian features of the
same floor area.
-
Volume - Avoiding
cathedral areas and using that volume to include a second
floor will reduce cost per square foot.
-
Timber frame variables
- A Green Dream pine frame is usually less expensive than
other species. Short spans and common rafters (as opposed
to principal trussed rafters with purlins) will usually reduce
costs. Square edged timbers without chamfering will also help
contain costs.
-
Windows and doors
- Keeping windows to a minimum, using the double hung style
of windows and staying with basic argon filled, low emissivity
glass can reduce cost greatly.
-
Interior finishes and materials
- Shopping carefully for kitchen cabinets, appliances and
bath fixtures will help reduce costs. Items such as installing
a wood burning stove in lieu of a fireplace can save money.
Selecting less expensive floor finishes will also help.
-
Exterior finish materials
- Eliminating brick or expensive types of siding and trim
can create significant savings. Staying with architectural
grade shiplap boarding as opposed to cedar shingles, steel
or tile is also advisable.
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Variables
that Increase Costs:
-
Regional markets -
The cost of construction varies greatly from one area of the
country (world) to another. Resort regions where the building
season is limited because of weather will increase costs.
The cost of local labour and materials can affect the cost
by 10%-20%. The UK market is rarely generalisable but construction
costs will generally rise and fall similarly to house prices
in the area.
-
Climate - The weather
can affect the cost of your home. Snow and wind loads can
add significant cost for additional engineering and larger
timbers. Severely cold climates may require higher insulating
values and thicker SIPs.
-
Site related issues -
Ledges and/or rocky terrain, a steeply sloping site and problematic
soil conditions can add cost to the foundation.
-
Design - Complex and
eclectic architecture with lots of interior and exterior corners,
complex rooflines, especially hips and valleys will add costs.
-
Volume - High vaulted
ceilings add volume thereby increasing the cost per square
foot. A long narrow design will require more wall area than
a cube to enclose the same floor area and volume.
-
Timber frame variables -
Douglas fir, red oak and quality-recycled timbers are more
expensive than eastern white pine. Complex trusses, such as
hammer beams, octagonal frames, hips and valleys will add
to the cost of the timber frame. Details such as chamfering,
curved knee braces and gun stock posts will all increase costs.
-
Windows and doors
- These items can vary greatly - size, type (casements are
more expensive than double hung windows) and insulating values
(double or triple glazing) can add significant cost to the
project.
-
Interior finishes and materials
- The cost of kitchens and baths can greatly affect the completed
costs. Within the same space one kitchen can easily be double
or triple the cost of another manufacturer's cabinets. Appliances
also vary greatly in cost. Whirlpool tubs and steam showers
add significant costs. A real stone fireplace can be three
to four times the cost of a "zero clearance" fireplace
with cultured stone finish. Floor finishes can add greatly
to the cost when stone, tile and hardwood are used. Heating
and cooling systems can increase costs. For example, in-floor
radiant heating costs can be upwards of two or three times
a hot-air system.
-
Exterior finish materials
- The type and grade of wood finishes can vary greatly. Stone
finishes will add cost over simple wood trim. The roofing
materials you select can also add cost. Generally steel, tile
and other non-fiberglass/asphalt types of roofing are more
expensive.
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Comparing
Package Prices
It is vitally important to understand that materials, quality
and service vary greatly from one company to another.
For example: Not all timber frame companies
design, manufacture, sell and erect completely engineered timber
frame system buildings and, when they do, you must ascertain the
type of materials they are using and the loads (weight and deflection)
to which they design.
When Benfield ATT provide and install a first
floor joist and decking system as part of our package, we include
a complete system using the best materials and designed for 65lbs
per square foot of live load (45lbs/square foot is all that is
required). Few other companies conform to this standard.
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When Comparing
Prices
- Be certain to develop a spreadsheet type
of comparison listing material specifications, quality assurance
schemes and services they offer (this gives you a good indication
of thier experience and professionalism)
- See current examples of their work
- Speak with their references
- Ask about issues of quality in the timber frame, SIPs
and other package materials
- Ask about and carefully consider the services and support
provided above and beyond the timber frame package
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Green
Dream Cost Indications
These costs are for guidance only and are
priced inclusive of garage, decking, and basement (if required),
based on constructed floor area of the house, but not including
walkout basements or garage floor areas:
- Simple design built in a competitive
market: £125 - £150 per square foot
(Green Dream Package portion: £65 - £85 per square
foot*)
- Simple design built in an inflated market: £135
- £160 per square foot
(Green Dream Package portion: £65 - £85 per square
foot*)
- Complex design built in a competitive
market: £150 - £200+ per square foot (Green Dream
Package portion: £70 - £100 per square foot*)
- Complex design built in an inflated market: £165
- £225+ per square foot
(Green Dream Package portion: £70 - £115 per square
foot*)
* Green Dream Package portion includes Benfield
ATT labour services but will vary depending on the complexity
of the design, species of wood, SIP, ‘U’-values, snow
and wind loads, style of windows and doors and their insulating
values, type of siding, trim and roofing.
The above costs are based on our experience
and are intended to serve as a general guide only and are not
a guarantee of the cost of and for any particular Benfield ATT
Green Dream Package or completed home.
Please speak contact our Green Dream Technical
Sales team for more information.
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