What influences house building costs? Part 2.

In a previous article we discussed some items which influence the cost of constructing a new house. Understanding what can increase or decrease the cost of building will allow you to make considered decisions when deciding where you are going to build the house and when you will start as well as influencing your design choices.

In this article I continue with points that impact house construction costs.

What influences house building costs? Continued from part 1.

• Floor finishes vary hugely from vinyl, carpets, tiles, timber veneers and solid timber. Even the price of tiles and carpets can vary by 300% depending on the type. Furthermore, if you want to go with granite or marble tiles then you’re normally talking big money!
• Standard or nonstandard? Custom homes usually cost more than a standard home plan that the contractor routinely builds. The standard plans have been simplified to reduce the materials and labour required to build the house. Even just using standard window and doors can be much cheaper than if they’re individually measured and made to fit your design.
• The number of bathrooms and the size of your kitchen. Bathrooms and the kitchen are the most expensive rooms in the house. Adding a bathroom, or increasing the size of a bathroom or the kitchen will add to the overall cost of the house, even if you aren’t increasing the overall size of the house.
• Floor tile layouts. Larger tiles are often easier to lay on flat areas. Laying floor tiles in a diagonal pattern relative to the walls requires more cutting than for tiles laid in a square pattern and it takes more time and usually generates more wasted tiles. Laying tiles of the same colour is obviously easier than creating a pattern using different colours and types of tiles. Laying small mosaic tiles is labour intensive.
• Roof designs and coverings. The price of roof covering materials will depend on the size and shape of your roof, as well as the available products and skills in the area. The more complex the roof, one with varying heights and with a number of hips and valleys, the costlier the roof will be. Simple roofs without hips and valleys are the cheapest.
• Curves cost money. Whether it’s arches over windows and doors, or walls that are curved, they will be costlier to construct.
• The time to construct sometimes impacts the cost. If you want your home built more quickly than the contractor would normally take then you’ll probably have to pay extra. Conversely homes that are complex, or that require additional tasks, take longer to build, which adds to the overall cost.
• Instant garden or not. If you want a perfect lawn and large trees and shrubs in your new garden when you move in then you’ll pay a premium. If you are content to watch your garden grow, maybe seeding the lawn or planting runners, and planting small trees and shrubs, then the cost of your garden will be much less. The size of the garden also impacts costs.
• The type of material used on kitchen counter tops and vanities varies from chipboard covered with a veneer (often melamine) to solid timber, reconstituted stone, granite and marble. The cost will depend on the size of the counters and vanities, the number of cut-outs through them for cook tops, sinks and taps, and of course the material. Even the price of granite can vary by 400% depending on the colour you pick.
• Fitted cupboards, including kitchen cabinets. These can be constructed of solid wood, or in most cases from chipboard with a veneer. But even the type of wardrobes in bedrooms can vary hugely in price depending on their layout, number of shelves, drawers and hanging rails.
• The internal layout. The more walls the higher the cost. But, spanning a big open room without supports could add to the cost of upper floors and roofs.
• The type and sophistication of security measures required in your house.
• Positioning of bathrooms. Keeping bathrooms together, or above one another can reduce the cost of the plumbing.
• The type and size of heating and cooling systems. Houses in cold regions or areas that face extreme heat will require larger and more efficient heating and cooling systems, which will add to the price of your house.
• The type and make of appliances. The price of kitchen appliances, such as cook tops and ovens can vary by 400%.
• If windows are double glazed, or even triple glazed. The additional cost will also depend on the size of the window and frame material.
• Additional features. This could include swimming pools, solar electrical panels, garden walls and gates. 

Conclusion
You should take into consideration some of the above when formulating your construction budgets and when designing your house. I’m not suggesting that your house should be a box with the cheapest fixtures and fittings, but it’s important to understand that house prices can vary hugely from one area to another, and from one plan to another. The price will change depending on your choice of finishes, cupboards, light fittings, taps, tiles, counter tops, etc. When receiving quotations it’s vital to understand what you’ll be getting for your money. Contractors should also familiarise themselves with the construction conditions on your property.

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​For more valuable tips and advice read: 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volume 1 Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home' and 'Volume 2 Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home'

​This is an extract from: 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 2' by Paul Netscher. Available in paper or eBook from Amazon.com, Amazon UK, Amazon CA, Amazon AU and all online bookstores. To read more
​© 2018 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.

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