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.