Doing your own addtion?

[ng_reader]

May I get a very informal Internet poll of anyone doing their own

*addition*?

See, I know this guy, well, actually related to him, that is doing his own addition.

Now, mind you, this is a tear down build up. All by himself.

I'd say very few people, with Internet access and posting on Usenet, are able to say that would do that in June of 2006 in the USA.

Is there anyone else fool enough?

Just curious. Don't feel compelled to answer, either.

He was telling me the materials will be about 20k, and the concrete foundation about 10k. That's his budget.

?

[James "Cubby" Culbertson]

As suprised as you may be, it's happening all the time. I'm in the planning stages for my own stand alone shop (approx. 8-900 SF) and a friend of mine just finished a similar project, all by himself. He had a bit of help from his son but otherwise, that was it. Cheers, cc

[Rick Bass]

I'm doing a Master Bdrm/Bath/closet (550 sqft) AND a sound studio (450 sqft), for a total of 1000sqft, with the help of a framing buddy and my little self. Contracting the cement pad and roof, the rest I will do, have done it before and is no big thing. Saves a bunch of money that would otherwise to go a contractor and labor. I see a little over $26,000.+, not bad for Socal.

Rick Bass Players Drink Bass.

[ameijers]

It all depends on your time, money, energy, and skill levels. I've got the skills, but work kills around 50 hours of daylight a week, including commuting and lunch, so time is on the short side. I definitely don't have the same energy I did 20 years ago. But, within limits, I do have the cash. If it is something I can do in one session, or if it won't make the house hazardous or non-weather-proof if I drag it out, I'll at least consider doing it myself. So, to use the addition example, I might pay somebody to do a weather-tight shell, and finish it out myself, since I can do that a couple of hours at a time. But I won't strip a roof myself, or reside, because those kinds of things really need to be finished in a timely fashion once started. (and roll-off rental adds up quick- best to have a crew knock out the debris-generating portion ASAP.) I'm currently debating yes or no on repainting the exterior myself, and maybe reskinning the half-ass deck. Money isn't the issue, available daylight and energy is. Painting is easy, the prep work is hard work, and way too easy to get sloppy on, or let drag out forever, which pisses off the neighbors. The deck is just hard filthy work. Maybe in the fall when it is cooler....

aem sends...

[Edwin Pawlowski]

I agree with you there. It should have been started at the end of March. Starting in June means you have to work in the heat of summer. By now he'd have the bulk of the work done and could relax on those hot days in July instead of doing construction.

My next date would be September. It will be closed in and insulated by the time cold weather comes around and the interior can be finished in any weather.

[hallerb]

start time depends on where your at, like around here its been rain rain rain.

you can save big bucks just acting as a general contractor for the shell part. sub out excavating, block and concrete, perhaps framing, then do all the finishing if you want. its usually best to get the shell finished for security and neighbor issues

interior stuff can be done over time if needed all winter if necessary

[DT]

Wih my son and one helper I removed the rear single floor portion of my home, and we rebuilt it as a two story addition. I added a 4' x 14' foundation to the end to fit the stairway. Upstairs is a 28' x 14' master bedroom/bath.

We also tore off the hip roof structure on the main part of the home and rebuilt it as a higher pitched gable roof. I'm now framing the 60' wrap-around porch across the front and down one side. Everything gets resided to finish up.

-- Dennis

[Frank K.]

Kudos to him. With the knowledge and skills it is certainly doable. I built my 24 by 32 foot stand-alone workshop with just help from my wife. I contracted the concrete and block work. From there, every stick, plumbing and electric was done by me. My wife was a "gofer" and "hand-me-that" specialist. She also loaded every roof shingle onto a hoist system I devised to get them on the roof. She also documented a lot of the project with a camcorder and camera. The whole thing took from late Nov 1992 to early March 1993. You can see the results at

Frank