Self build extension

[Diyextension]

Noticed a few threads on people building extensions / knocking down conservatory etc , so I’m just about to start doing mine.

I thought it might be good for anybody thinking about building one or for people that have no experience/ idea what the process involves.

i will probably be doing about 80% of the work myself , and then using certain trades , plasterer/ electrical as and when.

Old conservatory will be removed and. Single story (bedroom ) extension will be in its place. It’s 5m x 4m .

progress will be slow as I work full time so days of and holidays only.
it should be a straightforward job , but the only downside is we live on a hill so everything has to be carried up/ or down.

if anyone has any questions , feel free to ask and I’ll try to put pictures on as and when there is any progress.

I’ll be using rockwool/ mineral wool type insulation in the cavity with 100mm aircrete blocks on the inside skin. This is what the specification states …… I’m also considering using 30mm insulated plasterboard on the 3 outside walls to add extra insulation. It will add about £350 more to the cost over normal plasterboard.

The aircrete blocks are supposed to be 10 times more thermally efficient than concrete blocks , they are light and don’t feel cold to the touch , and when you break one open they look just like the inside of a areo chocolate bar full of small bubbles.

£350 does not sound too bad considering it could have a 50+ year life span.

That room would be Air Source Heat Pump ready!

Any progress now the spring weather is here?

Sorry , no actual building as yet. All the materials are here so now it’s just a matter of trying to time when the bricklayer is free,I’m off work and it’s not raining 😀. I’ve got other things to do so I’d rather wait and try and pick good days and not have to work in and out of the rain . It should only take about 3-4 days to get it up to roof height.

Doing anything outside over winter is always slow going due to the crap weather ,I always prefer to try and crack on in summer when it’s better.

Ive totalled the cost of everything up so far at £8,231 so the original estimate of £15k is hopefully still in sight. The windows we have were quite pricey ( evolution) so I’m unsure how much they will have increased in price, also extra insulation in the roof and on the walls will push the cost up.

this is when we are at.

Had a few hours spare so finished cutting through the brickwork and knocked the bricks out for the cavity insulation to extend into the existing cavity on the house. It still needs to be cut higher but I need to work out exactly how high, I don’t want to cut too high and end up cutting past the roof 😳. Plus it’s a bit dodgy using a petrol cutter on ladders , so I’ll wait till I get round to rigging the scaffold up .

I just pushed the existing back into the cavity to stop it blowing out all over the place , it’s a white foam like material that just crumbles when you touch it.

Then out the blue bricklayer said he could fit a day in, a bit of shuffling a day off from work and crossing fingers with the weather ( it gave out rain on and off ) we managed to get a bit done 🙂.

It did rain a bit on and off and then chucked it down after we had finished but everything went ok and no problems really.

Struggling to get the bricks dry as they were wet when delivered and even though they have been covered over it’s not been warm/ dry enough for them to dry out.

Day 2 of the bricklaying ( although it’s been a few weeks since day one 🙂). It’s not going to bad , another day and half he reckons and it will be up to roof height inside and out 🥳.

That won’t be for a couple more weeks as he’s busy but I’ve got lots of other stuff to do now the weathers getting better so it’s not a problem .

Amazing progress!!! How much have you spent now?

Did you watch the coronation or spend the day bricklaying instead?

Unfortunately I didn’t watch the coronation as I was at work .

I would have rather been building but seeing as the bricklayer won’t work on a Saturday/Sunday,bank holiday, when it’s raining or when he’s on holiday it’s a case of trying to fit it in when he can 🙂.

Cost. I’ve got a lintel to get and some more sand and with the labour for the brickwork it’s going to be about £9,500. But I’ve bought extra bricks (500) for a small retaining wall in front of it , so it’s about £9,000 so far.

So in the meantime while waiting to carry on with the extension I’ve been turning these steps into a wall. Never tried to do any stonework before , and I’m just trying to match what’s already there . It’s slow going but quite satisfying every time I get a few more stones done .

great work, it is fascinating seeing this

This is so useful to watch - you’re doing brilliantly!

Just read this thread start to finish, looks great! I wish I was this handy or committed.

Not much to update I’m afraid 🤨. I’ve got all week off and the weather looks decent , but still waiting. I’ve almost finished the stonewall just needs pointing/cleaning. I suspected this might be the case so I’ve got everything (materials) ready to do some more fencing,it needs doing as it’s on its last legs .
still looking like this .

Well had all last week off , the weather was perfect for outside working, but with nothing to do on the extension I finished the stone wall. It still needs pointing but all the hard work is done and filled the back in too which took about 2 tonnes of clay/soil 😟

Then made a start on the fencing, I did half on it last summer and hoping to get the rest of it done this summer .

Then out of the blue (Friday ) the scarlet pimpernel turned up and managed to get a good day on the extension. The brickwork on the outside is up to the wallplate height and also made a start on the inside block work. I’m happy with how things have gone and one more day and it will be ready then to put the roof structure up .

Typical bricklayers scaffolding 🤣

Then back to the fence…. So still waiting for the bricklayer again but it’s slowly getting there , he’s making a good job and that’s all that matters really .
Had a busy week and was ready to get back to work for a rest 😤

Great progress! Looks amazing.

Bricklayers scaffolding concerning!

Not a lot done here 😐.
I’ve worked out the roof pitch as it needs to be at least 17.5 degrees for the tiles we are using, I didn’t want it to come right up underneath the window as I think that looks a bit crap . It’s about 19/20 degrees with just enough head height on the outside wall. , it will be vaulted ceiling inside .

worked out the window size opening too and finished cutting the brickwork out for the cavity insulation to continue through.

Can’t do anymore till the bricklayer turns up again . Only need him for one more day and I can get the roof on , not paid him anything yet so hopefully it won’t be too long 🙂

Get a WhatsApp at 8pm Thursday “I’ll be there in the morning “. 🙂. Good job I was off work.

It’s up to roof height now . So I can start to get the rafters on now , then one more day and the brickwork should be finished 🥳.

standing inside now and it’s starting to feel like a room at last .

Not sure how I got the pictures sideways 😐

Confused me at first 😂

Looking good and can see the space.

One of my neighbours is doing a wooden framed extension. It’s gone up really fast. But I do wonder about insulation. I’ve not seen that before. Interesting to see.

the insulation is really easy to put in as it’s being built, If the wall ties are put in on the right courses then it just slots in between them.

I take lots of pictures just in case the building inspector asks 🙂

on the advice of the building inspector I’ve changed the insulation from 37 rated to 32. , not a huge amount of extra cost but supposed to be better.