Self Builders

The house pictured above, is my own self build project, and it led directly to the creation of this website. 

I had for many years run my own manufacturing company and decided long ago that you do not get anywhere if you are prepared to take 'no' for an answer. So when I was given prices for the 350 tonnes of cut sandstone I needed to build this house, I realised I had to find another way, or be prepared to cut corners and i was not prepared to cut corners.

Using the network of contacts I had built up over the years, I set out to find alternative sources of supply and worked my way through the house from the ground up. I soon knew I was onto something when not only were some of my suppliers cheaper, they were also able to produce things that I was told could not be done in the UK.

Through word of mouth I was asked to source materials for other projects and things have grown from there, farm house roofs in the Lake District, Georgian fireplaces in the Cotswolds, cut sandstone in Cheshire, to name but a few.

I also project managed the build to ensure all supplies were coordinated with the building schedule, vital experience in learning at what stage materials need to be specified and ordered to ensure steady uninterrupted progress, you would soon forget about the savings you had made if you had to shut down the site as you waited for a delivery.

Savings can be upto 40% across a whole range of products including, cut stone, stone flags, slate, windows, joinery, doors, cast iron, stone fireplaces and more, the general rule being the bigger and more complex the order the bigger the savings.

We work with clients in a number of ways but it is better to involve us at an early stage in a project, before you start trimming your ideas because of cost. We can advise as to which areas we can make savings, and also make suggestions as to ways further savings could be made.

We then manage the whole supply process, from samples through to checking the finished orders at the factories before shipping, working for either an agreed fee or a percentage of savings. There is no catch, if we can't do it we won't try and all suppliers have already been tested by ourselves and have proved themselves to be up to the mark.

You will also have the reassurance of working with people who you know have built their own houses and understand the problems; I myself am still personally involved in all major orders.

CHRIS JONES

If you would like to talk about your own project please call us on 0161 408 2882 or contact us using this website by clicking here.