17 Days to Weathertight

Design and background

Starting a first self-build: the plot, the bungalow and the bat colony

This was our first time building a new home from the ground up, though we've done renovations before. The idea for Willen Farm actually came about during the COVID lockdowns. We realised we wanted a 'forever home,' a place we could truly settle into. The plot of land we bought had an existing bungalow, which we lived in while we built the new house. We really bought the plot for the land. And, quite interestingly, we had to relocate a bat colony, which added an unexpected twist to the beginning of our project.

How a SIPs structure shaped the internal layout

The layout of our land played a role. There's a lake on our property where John likes to fish, and we had to keep the old tractor shed on the site. When it came to the layout of the house, we made a list of rooms we wanted: living, dining, plant room, snug… we knew we wanted a tall table and breakfast bar area.

We also loved barn-style pocket doors, and we knew we wanted a flat roof area with easy access. We knew that with a SIPs structure, which Ecologic provided, we'd have more liveable space, since it eliminated rafters.

We prioritised long-term sustainability and low energy usage. We entertain a lot, so living rooms that facilitated that were key. The design we settled on allowed us to have a suspended staircase and a double-height atrium, which makes a real impact to the feel of the living spaces.

This is a house not just for us, but for entertaining.

On Helena's visit to Willen Farm in summer 2024, John and Suzanne had recently hosted their son's wedding, and were preparing to have over 100 guests that weekend for John's birthday party. They're not shy about hosting, and the house absolutely lends itself to it.

What we compromised on, and why

We tried to make decisions early on that would impact later stages, like planning for the threshold details we wanted. The 'wow' staircase, with oak sleeves on floating treads built into the wall, raised some structural questions. We had to sacrifice initial ideas like a basement and a swimming pool due to budget and practical constraints.

Who leads the threshold and porch detail – architect, builder or window supplier?

The detail for the doorstep and front porch was particularly tricky, as we weren't sure who should lead that – the architect, the builder, or Norrsken as the window and door supplier.

Working with a builder new to SIPs, and moving a wall after the fact

We also had a builder who wasn't initially familiar with SIPs, which caused some functional issues.

And we had to adjust the mezzanine layout in the master bedroom after experiencing the space, which is something you don't always anticipate from drawings. The wall behind the bed up to the roof made the room feel narrow, so we moved studwork to the back of the space to open up a mezzanine and allow a roomier feeling into the room. We're fortunate that we had the opportunity to move a wall – that's not always possible with SIPs.

Choosing an architect and arriving at the L-shaped plan

We found RAISE Architects through an online search and started by making some rough sketches of what we wanted. Our goal was always to maximise the views, and we had a clear list of rooms we needed.

We knew we wanted a well-insulated home and were considering SIPs, MVHR, and other energy-efficient measures.

Initially, we envisioned two buildings in a twin gable design with a low walkway between them, but Andy, our architect, helped us arrive at the L-shaped structure we finally ended up with, which turned out to be a much better solution.

Why we let go of Passive House certification

We knew we'd never achieve anything close to Passive House standard with the amount of glass we wanted in the design, so we sacrificed that idea fairly early on.

Why we chose triple glazing and SIPs from the outset

Energy efficiency was always a top priority for us. Neither Andy nor our builder had used SIPs before, but we were really impressed with the speed of the build.

Ecologic got the structure up and weathertight in just 17 days, which felt like a huge leap forward. We'd strongly advise anyone considering SIPs to make sure their builder is willing and experienced with it.

We also knew we wanted to consider triple-glazed windows from the outset, for energy efficiency purposes.

SIPs construction

Why we chose SIPs over other building systems

We chose SIPs for energy efficiency, build speed, precision, and insulation.

Choosing a SIPs supplier: what we looked for

We visited their completed houses and did a lot of research. We went to Canford Cliffs and saw their completed houses. We met them, read and researched loads on forums and podcasts about SIPs generally as a building method.

When we first came to Alex at Ecologic, we had so many questions. We had to iron out whether special insurance would be needed, all of that. We felt they understood us, and what we wanted to achieve.

They weren't the cheapest, but they are passionate about what they do. 'You have to trust'.

Design flexibility: rooms in the roof, vaulted ceilings and a flat roof terrace

Building with SIPs panels really opened up possibilities for us in terms of design flexibility. One of the most significant advantages was the ability to create rooms in the roof space, and to have a vaulted ceiling, without the need for traditional trusses. This allowed us to transform what would have been unusable attic space into a functional gym, for example.

And that extra living space came in incredibly handy recently when we had 18 people staying with us! It really showcased the versatility of the structure.

We also wanted to incorporate a flat roof section, and Ecologic was able to accommodate that into the design. We added extra steelwork to this area so it could support the weight of a hot tub, making it a real focal point for relaxation and entertainment.

Beyond the internal layout, we were also impressed with the versatility of the external finishes. Ecologic's SIPs panels worked beautifully with both the timber cladding and stonework we had envisioned, allowing us to achieve the exact aesthetic we were aiming for.

Overall, Ecologic's SIPs panels provided us with an incredible level of customisation and design flexibility. They weren't just about building a structure; they were about helping us realise our vision for a truly unique and functional home.

Offsite manufacture: two to three months of preparation, 17 days to weathertight

From the moment we gave Ecologic the go-ahead, it took about two to three months for them to prepare everything offsite. That included the design, fabrication, and all the necessary preparations.

Then it took only 17 days to get the structure up, including weatherproofing. That just felt like a huge leap forward for us in the build. Suddenly, we weren't just looking at plans and foundations; we were seeing our home take shape before our eyes.

Ordering windows off-plan to millimetre accuracy

One of the unexpected benefits we encountered was the precision of the panels. Because they were manufactured offsite in a controlled environment, everything fit together perfectly. There were no delays caused by on-site adjustments or unexpected issues – and we could order our windows and doors from Norrsken off-plan, to millimetre accuracy, without waiting for a structure to be built and the openings to be measured.

Cost compared with traditional construction

Ecologic wasn't the cheapest, but their passion and trustworthiness were worth it.

Settle the design, then don't change it

Just go for it. And – once you have the design settled, don't start changing it. With SIPs, it's there; it's done.