Before you start

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All the information and tips provided here are just for guidance. You and your team are responsible for making your own plan, and building your project in a safe way, and complying with all relevant regulations.

Read the full WikiHouse Terms

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If you're in the UK, you can find some useful information on the HSE website and the Self Build Portal. Specifically, as an installer on site you will be responsible for ensuring you meet all requirements of the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM 2015).

‍In addition, it’s highly recommended that you follow local regulations and best practices for fire safety during the construction phase. In the UK this is covered by the Fire Safety in Construction (HSG 168) guidance and it is important that it is taken seriously on site and covered thoroughly. During the construction phases, many changes can affect fire safety. Following the guidance will help eliminate fire risks, preventing fires from starting and ensuring people's safety if they do.

Your equipment

Besides general construction tools, PPE gear, and first aid and welfare facilities, WikiHouse construction may require some specific equipment on site. This includes:

Ear defenders
Rubber mallets
Dead blow hammers
Work gloves for handling
Genie lift (+4m lifting height) for positioning floor and roof blocks (ie. SLA15)
Lorry straps
Mobile platform for reaching ceilings
Step ladders
Safety harnesses for working at height
Brad nail gun (battery operated)
Wood trimmer/multi-tool
Files and sandpaper
Dust-masks
Pliers
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit

Your team

Compared with legacy building methods, a WikiHouse is fast and simple to build on site. The phase between foundations being ready and a weathertight structure assembled on site is usually between 1-2 weeks for a typical house. After that, more conventional trades and techniques are needed to clad, service and finish the house to a good standard.

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Chassis assembly

For a typical WikiHouse you will need 4-6 fit, able-bodied people to assemble the chassis. No previous construction or carpentry experience is required, however some proficiency lifting heavy objects, working at height, and using a mallet or power tools are recommended. The most critical skill is good teamwork and communication on site.

Please do

Use it

Most WikiHouse files and information are licensed under a Creative Commons–Sharealike licence, so you are free to use, distribute or modify them, including commercially.

Check it

All WikiHouse information is shared 'as is', without warranties or guarantees of any kind. You are responsible for checking it and using it in a safe and responsible way, for example, getting it checked by a structural engineer.

Comply with regulations

You are responsible for making sure your project complies with all relevant local regulations, including planning, building codes and health & safety legislation. If in doubt, seek professional advice.

Re-share your improvements

If you make any improvements to the system, you must publish your files under the same type of open licence. However, you do not need to publish the plans and specifications for individual projects unless you wish to.

Please do not

Call yourself WikiHouse

Do not call your company, organisation or any marketed product or service 'WikiHouse'. However, you may use the term WikiHouse to talk about the system, and you may describe your project, product, service or organisation as, for example, "using WikiHouse", "based on WikiHouse", "contributing to WikiHouse", or similar.

Remove notices

Do not remove any licence notices from files if you are re-sharing them.

Claim to be endorsed

Do not give the impression that you are endorsed by, or affiliated with WikiHouse or Open Systems Lab (unless you are, by written agreement), and do not claim to represent the WikiHouse project or community as a whole.