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Original poster

Only way to get out extension built is to build it ourselves!

43 replies

user1499523365 · 17/12/2017 23:05

Or so it seems, we are hoping for double story, and side, plus full internal remodelling, but it seems completely affordable.

We are confident and competent, but untrained, would we be out our mind to get a shell done, pay for rewire and new central heating system and boiler and then do the rest ourselves?

Hoping for stories of hope and proof it CAN be done!

Thank you !

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JoJoSM2 · 17/12/2017 23:16

So what would you do yourselves? Decorating and flooring?

MyOtherProfile · 17/12/2017 23:17

Sounds like you'd be having the bulk of it done for you so that sounds fine.

Original poster
user1499523365 · 20/12/2017 13:41

We would be doing demolition, tiling, flooring, decorating and all carpentry ourselves.

We would need builders to do foundations, brickwork, dry line it and windows.

We would them get plasterers in, and plumber for new boiler and rads, electrician for rewire as my husband won't do the above for obvious reasons.

Does this sound feasible?

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Twoevils · 20/12/2017 13:46

We did it. With no prior experience, but a very manually competent husband, and we did loads of research. For the bits we used contractors we made sure they were happy for us to handle all the ordering and supply of materials - so we could make use of trade discounts. We put the roof on ourselves, and DH did the wiring, then had it certified after by a friendly electrician. We even hired a mini digger for the footings - that was a fun weekend Grin

jimijack · 20/12/2017 14:04

We did it pre children.
We had a skip permanently on the driveway. A wheelbarrow and a spade each and we dug the foundations.
We got the cement people in to barrow the foundations in place.

Obviously we did loads of research, had building checks, regulations and inspections to adhere to along the way.

Dhs uncle was a bricky so he & dh did the walls.
A plasterer did the plastering. Dh did the electrics, plumbing, fitted the kitchen, we did the roof & guttering ourselves. We fitted doors & Windows ourselves too.

Spent probably about 8k on the whole thing.
Really hard work, labouring and working full time, we lived in it while doing it, essentially a building site with only a kettle, microwave and a cold tap for about 4 months.
So worth it and we learned loads.

Doable but testing in every sense.

Original poster
user1499523365 · 20/12/2017 14:49

Thank you so much! Giving me hope - absolutely fantastic.

How did you know how and where to dig down if that makes sense? It all sounds absolutely incredible and a real possibility. I keep thinking ot's only a 3 bed semi, how hard can it be?!

P.S How do you put a roof on?!

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JoJoSM2 · 20/12/2017 17:42

It's not rocket science- you don't need a PhD to become a builder. But if you're completely green, you'd need to do a lot of research beforehand and the work does require skill and and a lot of tools. With no experience it will take you three times as long to do basic things and the finish might not be nearly as good. Not to mention that renting or buying tools is expensive (if you were to do a lot yourself).

So I would think it though - perhaps it might be easier to do overtime in your normal jobs and pay professionals for the extension. In a lot of cases that would work out cheaper, faster and better.

Original poster
user1499523365 · 21/12/2017 13:20

Good idea in principle, but not in reality. We don't have jobs when we can do overtime, just a flat salary - 9-5.

Don't think the tools are that expensive and if we saved and saved to pay all the contractors we'd never get it done as we wouldn't be able to save quickly enough.

For e.g to have the whole house painted after plastering and all woodwork it would be around 7k, it would take us AGES to save for that and DH is honestly better with his finish compared to half of the 'professionals' around here.

I 'd begrudge paying so much for trades we can do ourselves.

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MammothMountain · 21/12/2017 20:28

We didn't do it with the extension but we have done other more skilled DIY jobs.

In a previous house the whole thing needed gutting from top to bottom and as we knew it was a stepping stone house we tested our skills to the limit. We had professionals install a boiler, plaster the walls and put a new fireplace in. We tiled floors, installed a bathroom and an en-suite and I had been decorating rooms since I was 15 years old so painting was easy.

The tools cost a lot if you don't already have them and stuff that looks easy can be really difficult if it isn't a straight forward job. I love tiling, in this house I have done the entire kitchen extension, a cloakroom and a bathroom but I will never tile another floor. Hated it.

Dh and I work well as a team, we know our strengths and weaknesses. Bear in mind that you will need time to research the products and as a pp said, it will take you 3 times longer to do a job.

I am a sahm with two children in school so I was able to research all the kitchen stuff, bathroom, visit showrooms, choose carpets, wooden flooring, handles etc and we have trade accounts everywhere too so were able to get bargains all over the place.

It is do-able but can also break you.

Chienrouge · 21/12/2017 20:32

We’ve just painted our entire house ourselves, I thought it was fairly normal to do your own painting? Likewise fitting floors etc... DH does it (he’s not in any sort of trade, he’s a senior exec at a bank!). You can learn most things on YouTube nowadays Wink.

TeamRick · 22/12/2017 00:34

We did quite a lot of ours ourselves, not because we planned to but because we had such a shit builder!
He did the foundations & brickwork etc, we laid quite a lot of the floor insulation ready for screeding, then we sacked him, DH boxed in the steel and built a stud wall then we got plasterers in, guys to the lay the tiles & we had a chippy to to fit the kitchen etc while we're doing all the decorating!

We did have to buy a lot of tools but YouTube is your friend & we got there in the end!

Original poster
user1499523365 · 22/12/2017 13:18

Thanks for accounts very inspiring. Often hear YouTube is a friend. Poor you Rick.

What I 'worry' about is how far to dig etc? I suppose that's where Building Inspectors come in?

Can't wait to get started - keep thinking it's only a 3 bed semi. How hard can it be?

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Baxdream · 22/12/2017 13:24

We're currently nearing the end of a 2 storey side extension. We waited four years so we could afford for someone to come in and do it.
I cannot emphasise enough how tough it is living on a building site.
We've had wonderful builders but it's still having no kitchen/no heating and an absolutely filthy house.
We have done a lot of ours cash to keep costs down but I don't regret paying builders whatsoever

Original poster
user1499523365 · 22/12/2017 13:26

Hi Bax, you must be delighted. I can imagine, but the thought of saving thousands will hopefully push us through it!

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Baxdream · 22/12/2017 13:35

You sound like me before I started. It is a tough test. Just be ready for a test, it's harder than you realise. You'll feel like it's never ending at first. Personally I'd cut back on fittings rather than the build itself

rainforestsloth · 22/12/2017 13:41

For foundations try and hire a man with a mini digger if you have side access. It is the quickest and easiest way to get them dug. People often advertise in the papers - man with digger etc. My husband is a builder and he sometimes just builds the shell. However don’t expect a builder to take on more project management if you are only paying for the shell. That is often how it starts with my husband then people want more but don’t want to pay for it. Builders get bad names but often the clients are just as bad!! Good luck expect a lot of dust!!

BoneyBackJefferson · 22/12/2017 13:49

starting on a negative note, I have seen build like this end relationships. As others have said it is very very stressful.

However, Is is possible to also do the plumbing (water and gas) and the electrics then get them tested and certified.

TeamRick · 22/12/2017 15:17

As Bax and others have said do not underestimate how stressful it all is! It gets really hard to just live your life, by the end of it I was just about managing to get myself in to work!

I certainly wouldn't be digging my own foundations, part of mine had to be 2 metres deep! 😱

Original poster
user1499523365 · 22/12/2017 21:06

Thanks so much again. Forest that sounds great. I have already found a couple to call in new year - groundworks and 'man with a digger', any idea how much this costs? Yes, we want the shell and I'm confident in project management and am not unreasonable in my demands.

I appreciate it's going to be really stressful, but I have to be positive and have faith or we'll bail before it even begins. I know it's not for the faint hearted, but anything is possible, right?!

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InfiniteSheldon · 22/12/2017 21:34

We've done it like others say it's hard work but you save thousands DH taught himself to plaster from You Tube after some very expensive and not great experiences with plasterers the only thing he doesn't do is electrics and cutting the kitchen worktops. We employ help when we need to as it speeds things up. Digging drains is hard work and it's very important to get angles right!

johnd2 · 25/12/2017 16:55

We got the builders to do the shell and plasterboard, then we got the windows fitted separately. We did electrics plumbing kitchen fitting ourselves apart from the quartz tops. We also did the existing floor joists (rotten) and insulation there too.
It's very very slow work. You'll take twice as long to learn and get the right bits, then twice as long to do the job. Also you will not be able to do 8 hours a day 6 days a week.

johnd2 · 25/12/2017 16:55

Oh and good luck! It's worth it!

Original poster
user1499523365 · 29/12/2017 21:20

Well done to you both! We don't mind about the hard work and slow pace; we're not in a rush. It would be good to crack on spring/summer as we did a little mini renovation this year just to make house liveable after we moved in. It was 'fun' to do the wallpaper stripping, sanding of every door frame/windowsill/skirting board and prep with patio doors open, BBQ on and beer in hand. Its infinitely harder to crack on and get motivated when dark outside and pouring with rain!

DH says he doesn't want to fuck up the foundations so will pull in the groundsmen team for that and take over after it's dry lined. He won't plaster, touch gas or electrics. He is happy to do:

Tiling
Door hanging
Skirting/Door frames
Painting
Will build Ikea carcasses - will have bespoke, shaker doors made and installed

I will be project managing it all up to when the shell has been built and we can move back in.

OP posts:
Crumbelina · 30/12/2017 22:52

Yes, it can be done! We're right in the middle of it at the moment. Large double storey extension and we've acted as the builder and project manager by hiring in the trades for the demolition, foundations, timber frame, brick laying, roofing, roof light and sliding doors. Internally we'll hire plasterers for the walls and a company for the polished concrete floor but DH will be fitting the underfloor heating and doing all the plumbing, electrics, kitchen fitting, tiling and decorating etc. Both of us work in project management (not in property) and DH has learnt the above trades over the past few years (but we have plumbing and electric trade contacts to check and sign everything off and DH didn't touch any gas elements - that was all done professionally).

We've come close to losing our sanity as we have two DDs (aged 2 and 3 months) and although the extension started in June this year the rest of the house was an absolute wreck, and we've been self-renovating it for three years. That said, we've saved a fortune (probably £100k on the extension alone) and it's going to be an amazing forever house.

You Tube videos are your friend, as is this book: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1911346059/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Oh, and can I ask what company you'll be using for the shaker doors? We're doing the exact same thing and just trying to make a final decision on the shaker door supplier.

Original poster
user1499523365 · 30/12/2017 23:17

Well done Crumb. That sounds incredible.Can I ask how you 'knew' each stage was completed correctly? As far as I understand, Building Control doesn't rock up at each stage to check it over?

How did you know the foundations were done correctly ready for the frame? Why did you go for a timber frame, rather than brick or block, is it because it is in that style?

I too have all my trusted internal trades from a previous renovation so am not worried about that stage as trust them all and will be able to line them all up, one after the other. It's just the eternal and structural work that is new and I am not fully informed about, yet........

Re: kitchen, I'm not at that stage yet. Thought it would be Ikea and Foxstow doors: www.shakerdoors.co.uk/ikea-metod-and-shaker-doors/

However, I wasn't that convinced by Ikea, they are not a standard size, we have to assemble them all - fine if the price is worth it, but from my (albeit brief research at this stage) DIY Kitchens appears to be the better option. They come fully assembled and the aftercare is better and the whole process just seems to be simpler. I think if you loved the Foxstow doors you could have these made for the DIY carasses, but I think you have to be pretty careful with kitchens. I spent a lot on one in a previous property, my son, then 2, rammed his train into one of the doors and chipped it. Also, when we sold, no one cared that we'd spent XX amount on it and didn't even bother to open the cupboards/drawers etc. We didn't get back what we paid, so I wouldn't ever overspend again.

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