We offer a fully bespoke design service, our in-house architectural team work with you to create the layout and look that best suits you, your lifestyle and your plot. Whether you prefer a country cottage feel, statement modern architecture, or anything in between, we can make it happen.
Our timber frame kits are sourced from sustainable forests and manufactured here in the UK. We have our own highly trained teams who undertake the shell erections on site to ensure the quality, precision-made components are assembled correctly. A structural shell is usually up within 2 – 4 weeks
Our building sets include so much more than just the timber frame; high levels of insulation, triple-glazed windows, plasterboard, staircase, internal doors and joinery. Our flexible package provides you with an energy-efficient home with low running costs.
When building your own home, there are various routes you can take:
We provide assistance with your chosen build route providing site support and technical back-up throughout your project. If you’re unsure which of these is best for you, consider how much time you have to dedicate to the project and the budget of the build. Take a look at our price guide for information relating to the likely costs involved for each option.
Scandia-Hus can help you on your self-build journey with support and guidance throughout the process, whichever route you take. We have a wealth of knowledge, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you need advice or information – sales@scandia-hus.co.uk / 01342 838060
For further information, read our Fact Sheet No.5 ‘Five-Point Plan’. Once you have digested this information, we would suggest you phone or email to make an appointment to meet us, discuss your requirements and visit our show homes.
Building your own home is an exciting project, but we appreciate that it can also be a daunting one, and this is why we are on hand to help you throughout the entire self build process.
Once you have decided that you would like to build your own Scandia-Hus home, we will allocate a team to work with you headed by your own personal Project Manager. They will be responsible for discussing your specific requirements; site opportunities and constraints, possible planning or aesthetic restrictions, cost implications, build options, builders’ tenders, finance, insurance, and much more. In brief, they will be guiding you through the whole project from start to finish.
But before you get that far you will no doubt want to get a clearer idea of what is involved. In simple terms, the stages to any self-build project are:
Firstly you’ll need to find the plot of land on which you want to build your new home. This can be a difficult endeavour, and so we have put together a Plot Finding Fact Sheet that provides advice and guidance on finding a site. Once you have a building plot we can arrange for one of our Project Managers to undertake a site visit and discuss your requirements.
Analyse your plot, budget, timescales, accommodation needs, layout ideas and desired style. Be inspired by other projects by taking a look at our Pinterest page and case studies, you can also order our Book of Inspiration or Contemporary Designs brochure which contain plans for numerous unique homes.
Obtain costings for your building set and construction work, seek advice if needs be on how to finance your project. Take a look at our Price Guide for an initial idea on costs, and we also have a Finance Fact Sheet that may be useful at this stage. If you require self build mortgage guidance, we recommend talking to Buildstore. Once your final drawings have been completed, we will provide a detailed costing for your Building Set and guideline costs for the construction work to help plan your budget.
There are many considerations to take into account when planning a build; site access, storage, security, and so on. We have a wealth of knowledge at our disposal and can assist with everything from tenders to compiling a construction programme. Our Fact Sheets are a good place to start when preparing for your project.
Will you be on site building the house yourself? Or project managing the different sub-contractors? Don’t have time for either but still want a say on every decision? You may want to consider hiring a main contractor. Your Scandia-Hus Project Manager can assist in helping you choose the option that will best suit you as well as introduce you to established and dependable specialists working in your area.
At Scandia-Hus we provide a high level of service that matches the high quality of our timber frame homes. The following are just a few reasons why so many self builders choose us;
We were established in February 1974. As of today, over 5,000 Scandia-Hus timber frame homes have been built throughout the UK and our knowledgeable team has more than 50 years of self build experience at their disposal. Our professional team are here to support and guide you through your self build journey; from plot purchasing and initial design stages to completing the building project and claiming back VAT.
We have Scandinavian roots, but our Self Build Show Centre and timber frame factory are both located in Sussex. The result is the successful combination of all the benefits of advanced Swedish technology, with the best of British architectural style and craftsmanship.
Building with timber sourced from sustainable forests is an environmentally friendly choice for the construction of your home; it is renewable and helps to create an energy-efficient, airtight structure. Triple glazing, high levels of insulation and airtight construction, mean heating costs are substantially reduced and living standards are greatly enhanced. For more information on timber frame production, please click here.
We offer a complete bespoke in-house design service but can also supply a timber frame kit from your own plans. We provide assistance with your chosen build route providing site support and technical back-up throughout your self build project. We can prepare and submit planning and building regulation applications, undertaking any negotiations on your behalf where necessary, and can also suggest experienced planning consultants if needed. Our flexible specification and kit components allow for a truly bespoke home.
We have gained a strong reputation for exceptional standards of design and construction. We have highly trained teams who undertake timber frame shell erections all over the UK. Our continuing goal is to provide high-quality products and remarkable customer service, supporting and advising clients on their self build journey.
Please click here to download Fact Sheet No.1 – Why Choose Us.
We believe that energy-efficient design is essential in any new property, with benefits for both the homeowner and the environment. To achieve this with your self build careful consideration should be given to the following:-
Timber Frame Structure:
We use the best slow-grown Scandinavian, PEFC-sourced, sustainable timber, harvested under a forestry management policy of long-term renewal. Building with timber sourced from sustainable forests is an environmentally-friendly choice for the construction of your home; it is renewable and helps to create an air-tight structure. Combining a timber frame with triple glazed wooden windows ensures a thermally efficient home, especially if designed with generous expanses of glass, as this is the highest performing part of the window.
Insulation and Air Tightness:
By incorporating high levels of insulation and adopting air-tight principles Scandia-Hus homes achieve exceptional thermal values, which is why they are renowned for their energy-saving properties. It is vitally important to make new homes as airtight as possible; uncontrolled air migration (in or out) is a significant route for heat loss even in a well-insulated property. High levels of insulation and airtightness are number one on the sustainability priority list and, as the financial and environmental costs of energy continues to rise, we are confident that our methods are compatible with a cleaner and greener future.
Orientation:
New rules under Part O of Building Regulations requires overheating in buildings to be mitigated. The orientation of your new home will need to be considered, ensuring direct sunlight is avoided on elevations with significant glazing, to limit unwanted solar gains.
Efficient Floorplans:
Assess your space requirements. It is important to build a home that reflects how you live and your real use demands, designing rooms with excess square metreage will not only affect the total construction cost but also its carbon output. Design wet rooms in close proximity to one another to minimise pipe run lengths, this will reduce material costs as well as improving operational efficiency. Include air-locks at the main external doorways, this will avoid unnecessary heat loss when entering or exiting the building.
The majority of our customers incorporate renewable energy into their homes. We have vast experience of this type of technology and would be pleased to assist and advise on any renewable energy system you may be considering.
Solar Thermal: Solar Thermal is a very effective means of heating hot water for domestic use. It can be used all year round but, understandably, the best results are in the summer when sunny days are more likely to occur. It is quite possible to survive from May to October using only solar-heated water. It works very well for domestic hot water heating and it is possible to use it to assist with space heating. There are two main types used in the UK – evacuated tubers which are best suited to our latitude and flat place collectors which look better but are not quite as efficient. Do remember to size panels according to siting, occupancy and spring/autumn solar gain.
Solar Photo Voltaics (PV): Solar Photo Voltaics are often seen powering road sign lighting, navigation buoy lights and trickle chargers on boats. Each silicon-based cell converts sunlight directly into low voltage D.C. electricity using semi-conductor technology. They are usually set out as roof arrays, covering a minimum of 4 square metres. They generate electricity when there is daylight and their output varies depending upon light intensity. For those customers who wish to use them, there are companies who actually produce PV roof slates, tiles and shingles for partial or whole roof covering, although they are more expensive than frame-mounted PV panel arrays.
Heat Pumps: A heat pump works by extracting low-grade heat from a source (usually the ground or air), this is then circulated to the heat pump by a refrigerant. Once in the heat pump, the heated refrigerant is compressed, raising its temperature and, as it expands, the resultant heat is transferred to a hot water storage vessel or directly to heating the pipes. The refrigerant is returned to the low-grade heat source to take in more heat. Additional heat input is sometimes required in order for the hot water to reach acceptable temperatures. Most heat pumps require electricity to power them. The usual method of harvesting low-grade heat from the ground is via a pipe buried below ground in the garden, the alternative is to drill boreholes, although they are more expensive. Air source heat pumps are popular where there is insufficient ground to bury the pipes, however, their seasonal performance can not match that of ground source types. A company we work regularly with, Nicholls Boreholes supply and install ground source heat pumps in many Scandia properties. For more information, please visit their website.
Biomass: Biomass is, in essence, ‘wood-burning’. Wood is a renewable resource that is, in effect, stored solar energy. If the dried wood is burned at high temperatures, the stored solar energy is converted to heat, whilst very little CO2 is emitted. High-efficiency wood stoves and boilers are required. Burning wood pellets is the best, but wood chips or logs can be used.
Wind Turbines: Ideally, wind turbines should be mounted on masts well above and away from local obstructions in locations with undisturbed airflow and sufficient average wind speed to spin the blades above minimum operating rotation. The generation is mounted at the top of the mast, directly behind the blades. The resulting electricity output can be significant and can provide a considerable contribution to annual electricity consumption. The selection of a wind turbine to generate electricity will not just be an appraisal of the technology, it will also involve site assessment, visual appreciation, neighbour opinion and planning department reaction.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about renewable energy technologies, please contact us – sales@scandia-hus.co.uk
