{"id":113928,"date":"2022-10-24T09:00:03","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T08:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=113928"},"modified":"2022-10-24T09:31:39","modified_gmt":"2022-10-24T08:31:39","slug":"building-your-dream-home-do-you-need-a-self-build-structural-warranty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/building-your-dream-home-do-you-need-a-self-build-structural-warranty\/113928\/","title":{"rendered":"Building your dream home: Do you need a self-build structural warranty?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thinking of renovating an existing property, having a new extension or building your dream home? ABC+ Warranty<\/a> provides the perfect self-build structural warranty<\/a><\/h2>\n

Whether you are at the planning stage or are halfway through the build, planning beforehand is crucial to ensure you\u2019re not tripped up by material shortages or price increases. If you\u2019re a self-builder, the CLC advises liaising with your suppliers, distributors and builders\u2019 merchants early to avoid disappointment.<\/p>\n

Although renovating or building your dream home can be a remarkable experience, it can also be extremely costly. With inflation rising at its fastest rate for 30 years, energy prices rising (average energy bills rose by 54% in April 2022) and the Ukraine conflict affecting economies around the world, the construction industry is feeling the effects. The rapidly increasing prices of timber, roof tiles, steel, wooden cladding, bricks, cement and concrete are having a domino effect on the industry.<\/p>\n

Even more worrying is the significantly increased cost of skilled labour, with 244,000 fewer workers in the construction sector compared with three years ago, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Long-term issues surrounding the labour shortage are arguably \u201ca bigger problem\u201d than actual materials, according to Andrew Carpenter, chief executive at the Structural Timber Association. In a December 2021 Homebuilding & Renovating poll, 96% of respondents said that they\u2019d struggled to afford the cost of materials in 2021.<\/p>\n

The resulting uncertainty is leading some contractors to pause before entering fixed-price or long-term contracts.<\/p>\n

Rising material costs (rising by more than 10% between March and June, according to pricing data monitored by Buildiro.com) are forcing small, local builders to put their prices up but customers are tightening their belts because of the cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n

Building Regulations are tightening the rules regarding energy efficiency standards for homes<\/h3>\n

All new build homes are to attain a 30% reduction in carbon emissions through improved energy efficiency from 2022, and a 75% reduction from 2025.\"pound<\/p>\n

Approved Document O\u00a0<\/a><\/h4>\n

The government published Approved Document O, which took effect on 15 June 2022 for all new builds (including self-build homes) to alleviate the risk of overheating. Any development that is subject to a building notice, has made a full plans application or submitted an initial notice before this date will not have to comply with the overheating regulations, provided that the work is started on site before 15 June 2023.<\/p>\n

Figures from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities states that the UK suffers about 2,000 heat-related deaths every year \u2013 a figure that is expected to triple by 2050 due to climate change.<\/p>\n

With killer heatwaves set to soar in the UK during July, exceeding 30C in some locations, this is of great significance as the two issues that are associated with document O are:<\/p>\n