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[The Sheriff]

Moved last week from a 1950's built council house to one that was built eight years ago. It feels like this one is made of chocolate. When you bang your elbow on the wall while sitting on the bog (and it happens often because you are about six inches away) it feels like you're hitting a (admittedly sturdy) cardboard box. The fireworks going off outside sound like they are in the room, no sound insulation at all. And as for ceiling height....well.
I realise that not all developers build to the same standard, but when we finally buy it will definitely be an older property.

[BazaJT]

Seems to me they don't build houses any more they build rabbit hutches!

[hercules]

modern houses sheeeeeeite,if im in bed I can hear my neighbour pissing and this house was built in 1985 but my first house built in 1979 was far better

[chrisgixer]

That's why I won't touch a new build. Wattle and dawb, with twigs and bailing twin stud work.

[chrisgixer]

....and there's always a toilet element with you isn't there.

[henryd]

....and there's always a toilet element with you isn't there.

Any wonder, he's normally close to a follow through

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

There are some fantastic 'new build' properties about. Just watch Grand Designs. 

However, the modern uniform boxes you see on estates leave me cold. 

Mock Tudor........whoever thought that was a good idea?

[Broomies Mate]

Mock Tudor........whoever thought that was a good idea?

Henry VIII's reincarnation...... obviously.

[Vamps]

There are some fantastic 'new build' properties about. Just watch Grand Designs. 

However, the modern uniform boxes you see on estates leave me cold. 

Mock Tudor........whoever thought that was a good idea?

There are My Lord Doctor, if you have a spare £350,000 to spare, and all the time in the world...........

[tigers_gonads]

Seems to me they don't build houses any more they build rabbit hutches!

Tell me about it
I used to wire up Barrat houses about 20 years ago for a living and can tell you that most of the bedroom furniture that they put in the show houses is specially made and slightly smaller 

If you want a house, go for something that's 50 years old or more or if your a rich bugger, buy a plot of land and build your own to your spec's 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Its swings and roundabouts.

Build quality has always been questionable and builders have always cut corners, for me, 60's houses are some of the worst build quality out there.

The ideal is something which has brick outer, block inner and plaster boarding with cavities and a modern roof......some builders still take this approach, others don't.

And before we get the rubbish about wood in roof areas etc, I would take a modern truss over any 30's stick built roof as the truss will be designed to take the stress with graded timber where as  years ago they just threw up wood with knots and all sorts in it which was great with light weight slates.....but with modern concrete tiles they sag, purlins split the works.....utter nightmare.

[aaronjb]

or if your a rich bugger, buy a plot of land and build your own to your spec's 

I've always wanted to do that .. but land is expensive and building even more so. I always watch Grand Designs etc and I often wonder just where these people get their money, especially when they overspend by a couple of hundred thousand and treat it as if it's nothing!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yes, always interesting how they manage it, I am building an extension myself at the moment (just laying foundation blocks in my 1.6m + deep footings!) and overspending to that level is not an option!

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

or if your a rich bugger, buy a plot of land and build your own to your spec's 

I've always wanted to do that .. but land is expensive and building even more so. I always watch Grand Designs etc and I often wonder just where these people get their money, especially when they overspend by a couple of hundred thousand and treat it as if it's nothing!

Yeah....Ah, what's £300,000. It's just a couple of nights out in Mayfair.

[aaronjb]

Yes, always interesting how they manage it, I am building an extension myself at the moment (just laying foundation blocks in my 1.6m + deep footings!) and overspending to that level is not an option!

There's always something to learn watching those shows - even if it's how not to do it! Some builds are properly interesting though, like the 'floating' house by the Thames..

I think, personally, I'd be going for a "kit" build timber framed thing for reasons of cost (plus they come largely already insulated, go up quickly, etc) and without kids noise insulation inside the house isn't much of a concern.  Some interesting costings available on the various kit build websites, like this: http://www.scandia-hus.co.uk/designs/the-cedars

I actually quite like that house, although the garage needs to be bigger (and taller for that two post lift) and another one on the other side…

Yeah....Ah, what's £300,000. It's just a couple of nights out in Mayfair.

That's absolutely how some of them come across.. at the start of the episode they'll claim a budget of £200k and by the end they've spent £700k!