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.

That’s not bad going. All that done in 17 months! Amazing.

Looking back if i could have worked on it 5 days a week then it would probably have taken me about 3 months to get to where i am.

The old saying goes Quality , price , speed Pick 2. 🙂. You can guess the one i didnt pick 🤣

How’s your roof going ? Is it water tight yet ?

Hi

Thanks for asking. Still no progress, I'm on my third carpenter and still no show

Yeah , its nightmare trying to get reliable trades. Even the ones i know take some badgering to get them to eventually come ☹️. Its one of the main reasons i do as much as i can myself. Currently waiting for an electrician to turn up, its a straightforward job and i could easily do it myself but it needs to be signed off for building control so I’ve got to wait 😕 i have another one in mind if he ghosts me 🤣.

good luck with getting someone to do the roof 👍

My carpenter finally showed up.

More pic

Looking good , is he doing the tiling too or just the structure?

Just the structure, then I will get someone to do the tiling after the green light from the BC. I have ran out of funds, but I will put the cost on a card and get it done ASAP

All completed. Pics.

Hi

We got the green light, BC asked for noggins and horizontal restraining strap.

Hello, Yes the noggins add strength to the roof , and they will straighten the rafters/ ceiling joists up too so they are equal distances apart 👍. Ive made a mistake on my roof by using the offcuts from the rafters as the noggins. It will be a vaulted ceiling with 120mm insulation between the rafters with about 75mm air flow above it, but the noggins ive put in will block the airflow from the vents at the eaves going all the way to the top ( halfway )🙄. Ive either got to knock them all out and cut them down or cut them down in place! Not sure which way will be best yet 🤔.

You won’t have that issue as you have a loft space. Id just put a solid row in the ceiling and rafters in the centre. The straps are just to stop any lateral movement in the roof and to tie it in to the walls. On a roof of your size i dont think they will make much difference as its such a low roof but you got to do what the man says 🙂 I didn’t put any on mine as the noggins and rafters on the gables ( ladders) hold it all solid. 👍

Are you knocking through into the house ? Or are you using it as a separate room ?

Many thanks. We plan on opening a doorway one into a utility from the kitchen and another one into a study (We will not install any doors.) Cant wait to see the stud walls

Ah ok, Just a little tip, if you can cut the outside brickwork for the door openings before you cover the roof over. It makes an incredible amount of dust and it’s easier if you can let the wind blow through so you can see what your doing 🙂. You can cut it wet but it still makes a mess. It’s a horrible job but makes its a lot neater than hammer and chisel. Hammer and chisel inside though as nobody in their right mind cuts through brickwork with disc cutter in a occupied house 😳

Thanks for the Tip. What was your pitch angle? my carpenter said mine was 22 and I measured it with an app on my phone to be 17/18.

Mine was bang on 17.5 degrees, that was the minimum pitch for the tiles, i would have liked it at 15 same as the house and to have kept it lower below the upstairs windows. Its about as low as it could be at the outside wall.

Not sure how he got it that far out ? Its pretty simple to set the pitch of a lean to roof, whatever pitch you need, say 20 degrees then you set your bevel to 70 . It is very simple and you dont need years of training to do it.

As long as its right for the tiles 17,18 will be ok.

Hi, we are progressing

Looking good 👍, think you might need need to move that cctv camera a bit 👀. That chap is making a good job considering he’s got no head !!!!! 👻

You are right, I have been thinking about it too. I hope and pray he finishes this week. I need a break lol. I will only need to tidy up before Christmas lol.

Electrician has arranged to come Tuesday when I’m off so fingers crossed for then🤞🏼
I can’t see me getting much more done before Christmas now , the insulation is here to do the ceiling and I can start on knocking the doorway through properly.

There is a glass door on the inside, this is where the airing cupboard used to be before previous owners knocked it through to build the conservatory. The outer door is just one I put in to make it secure, it doesn’t stop the cold unfortunately 🥶

im going to put the lintel/ support above the ceiling on the hall side as it’s a cavity wall above the door into the bedroom but I want it just single skin so you don’t get the extra thickness above it . I just think it looks better that way

You are so organised, I will be getting 4 lintels. Here is a pic I found online of how I intend to have it installed

Yes that’s the easiest/ cheapest way , I’ll be using exactly the same on the room side above the door. The hall side I’ll have to use a steel / rsj of some kind as I want it above the ceiling…….I’ll figure it out when I’ve knocked the blockwork out . It currently got a 10 mm piece of steel plate acting as a lintel.

..