Self-build extension - sources of guidance

Hello!

I'm looking to start a fairly large extension to my house. I'm contemplati ng going down the route of buying the materials contracting the individual trades myself rather than getting a building firm in.

My motivation is mainly cost based, but I feel I retain a better amount of control over the build this way.

I've done a fair bit of DIY myself, so I'll be doing most of the internal f it myself. I basically just need to get people in to lay foundations, buil d the walls and put a roof on. There are a couple of bits that are a littl e more complicated (steelwork req'd for support etc), but I've employed an architect and may or may not use a structural engineer as he sees fit.

Anyway... The reason for my post is that I'm wondering if there are and go od books that people have read and could recommend, and if there are any ot her general bits of advice or guidance people could offer.

One of my main gaps in experience is around engaging tradesmen, and what I can expect from each. I'm thinking:

- Man and a digger to dig out foundation trench (assuming straightforward trench type needed). - Somebody to do the drains (this will just be laying to service new downp ipes/toilets and linking to existing drains) - I'm hoping to then get a couple of bricklayers and a labourer to put in the foundations and build the walls - is it realistic for a typical brickie to do this? If not what's involved in a DIY job? From what I understand assuming there are no groundwork issues it's a straightforward job. - I'll need to get scaffolding - Lastly a roofing contractor - I'm giving some consideration to DIY'ing t his...

Any advice would be very much appreciated!

Thank you.

Reply to
brett13712
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Reply to
Rick Hughes

Make sure before you go any further make sure that the planning permission and building regulations aspects are in place. Do you really feel that you have all the necessary skills to manage the project? Talk to your architect about this aspect. Have you done a realistic budget for all the costs of labour and material and is the finance in place to complete the project?

Reply to
Peter Crosland

In message , snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com writes

You might consider getting a price from a groundworks contractor who might take the job up to damp course. That way you get your trenches dug, foundation concrete poured, bricks/blocks laid, dpm and oversite done in one go. He will liaise with building control so you don't get hold-ups or need to call people back to site.

Reply to
Tim Lamb

You can do that yourself mini diggers aren't that expensive to hire and learn on, mind the water pipes which will ALWAYS never be where you think they are;!..

Not rocket science either..

Remember to get the BCI in to check as you go along there're privatised in some areas now..

Well IMHO he's the most important of the trades concerned but if you find a good one then he'll more likely than not know of some others who can be trusted with the other parts of the job.

It won't be any worse then getting someone to build the whole thing as what your doing is much the same as what the "trade" does anyway...

Yes pro job that, not too expensive..

If your OK with heights and its just tiles and or slates its not that difficult look it up on Youtube, but if any Lead work is needed then someone in for that;!..

Reply to
tony sayer

When I was doing my extension, I found this book very useful:

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[Mine was actually an earlier edition, which I borrowed from the library

- but I'm sure that the updated version is as good, or better]

Another one worth looking at - although I haven't read it myself - is:

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As others have said, it makes sense to get all the ground work done by a single contractor. Foundations these days are likely to be of the mass fill type rather than just a strip of concrete with underground brickwork. Digging the trenches is thus critical - otherwise you'll need a lot more concrete. It's also essential that the contractor agrees to dig the foundations to whatever depth the BCO specifies *after* inspecting the trenches. Unless the subsoil is known to be very firm and stable, you won't know in advance how deep they need to be.

By all means do all the internal stuff yourself - wiring, plumbing, stud walls, plastering, etc. but I would strongly recommend paying a professional to do the roof. In this climate, it's important to make the whole building weatherproof as quickly as possible. You can then take your time with the internals.

Reply to
Roger Mills

IME the BCO will need to see the calculations of a structural engineer, the architect's drawings will not have sufficient information that he requires.

Reply to
pcb1962

All,

Thanks for your feedback. It's all really helpful.

It's certainly not a job I'll be taking lightly. I'll be sorting the permi ssions next month and working out costs. In a worst case scenario a cost o verrun would eat the internal fit budget, but that's a risk I'll need to ta ke and if it's so bad as I can't get a roof on, then that's when I'll be up there myself!

Brett

ting going down the route of buying the materials contracting the individua l trades myself rather than getting a building firm in.

f control over the build this way.

fit myself. I basically just need to get people in to lay foundations, bu ild the walls and put a roof on. There are a couple of bits that are a lit tle more complicated (steelwork req'd for support etc), but I've employed a n architect and may or may not use a structural engineer as he sees fit.

good books that people have read and could recommend, and if there are any other general bits of advice or guidance people could offer.

I can expect from each. I'm thinking:

d trench type needed).

npipes/toilets and linking to existing drains)

n the foundations and build the walls - is it realistic for a typical brick ie to do this? If not what's involved in a DIY job? From what I understan d assuming there are no groundwork issues it's a straightforward job.

Reply to
brett13712

Snipped a bit>,..

Unless its a very low flat roof I'd beg to differ on that one!..

Reply to
tony sayer

In article , pcb1962 scribeth thus

Yep bin there and seen that dun..

Reply to
tony sayer

IME if the building conforms to accepted codes of practice the BCO will be happy: a structural and or heating engineer is required only if you go for something exotic.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

Well yes, if you call steelwork, floor joists and roof trusses exotic

Reply to
pcb1962

The BCO may need calcs but for simple beams and the like the 'architect' (using the term loosely) may well be able to produce them himself, whilst others will always pass this to an structural engineer. The worry is that some who should do the latter do the former - some of the questions I've been asked over the years by purchasers of our software are very disturbing.

Reply to
Tony Bryer

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