cered Posted December 11, 2016 Share Posted December 11, 2016 So I sold my beloved Supra (It feels like I've lost a family member rather than a car) to get myself an extension where my current detached prefab garage with asbestos roof is replaced by an attached garage with pitched roof wherein lies a new bedroom in a lift conversion type deal. Prices I've got from builders were about £40,000 which is too much on a £200k house IMO so scrapped that idea and want to get just an attached garage. Having a nightmare with builders because they come to my house, give me a rough price, go away to give a comprehensive write up & quote and then disappear or get in touch via mybuilder's website and the not bother actually calling to find out about the job. So I'm now leaning towards DIY, I've done very, very basic work e..g blocking up a doorway to my kitchen and have some minor construction experience in a DIY way e.g. a fairly substantial timber deck. So would like your opinions and advice. #1 - Pay a company for a new slab, brick walls, flat or ptiched roof etc in one go for £12,000 or however much a (around 8.4x4m) garage may be in South Wales #2 - Pay a brickie & his pal to put a slab, make the foundation stuff, three walls and then have a carpenter make a roof & help where I can. Based on online searches long winded & potential nightmare for organizing but can be done for about £8,000 #3 - DIY slab, pay a brickie to do the walls - the fiddly bit I'd hazard a guess, and do the rest myself #4 - Take a course in bricklaying and DIY it all over the course of a year The new garage will be used for car storage but also as living space. Utility closet and a minor man cave room. So would need hot & cold water and electricity. What would you suggest? Bonus plan #5 - buy my second dream car, a TVR Chimaera and get a DIy timber garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibby Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Option 2... Just employ trades men to do it. For something like this you will need structual drawings, this includes all roof and wall loadings. A full understanding of building codes lots of tools. Best way i would do it is. 1 employ a brickie 2 employ a roofer 3 electrics guy 4 plastering You will need these to be timed right. Eg when your ridgebeam is inserted in. You will need the brickie to brick up and roofer to be preset pulling roof back. Padstones need to be inserted at the right height. Ive done similar and i wouldnt do it again. It has taken me 15 months of hard graft, every weekend and my house is a building site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I am in this exact same position !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleapple Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I spend my life dealing with construction projects gone wrong. The idea of someone building their own slab for an extension fills me with fear. I imagine you will want utilities in it (water, electricity etc) so it will be a bigger job than 'just' building walls. £40k on a £200k house isn't that bad if you are going to get a finished job which will increase the value of your house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibby Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 [ATTACH]216116[/ATTACH][ATTACH]216117[/ATTACH][ATTACH]216118[/ATTACH][ATTACH]216119[/ATTACH][ATTACH]216120[/ATTACH][ATTACH]216121[/ATTACH][ATTACH]216122[/ATTACH] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibby Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Not for the faint hearted... Or for someone who isnt prepared to put a lot of time in Didn't want to spoil your thread.. sorry and its actually been over 20 months now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibby Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spunkmeyer Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I'm in the same boat, struggling to find an independent who can supply drawings who has liability insurance! They just don't reply not interested. Ffs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibby Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Depends what you are trying to do guys. If its simple as submitting plans. The plans generally show how it would look.. and what internals will look. Look online copy some. Create and submit. You will need to look at strada to check timber spans. Then you will need a structual engineer to calculate loadings of roof, rsjs, joists, footing and general good ideas on how it should tie in. For anyone thinking that cheap is good and has no idea whats involved its a very bad idea! Edit.. some of this timber may look small but its actually 9x3 floor joists @ 4.8 meters long. 8x2 and 8x3 rafter materials @ 6.0 / 5.0 meters long. If your on your own.. its very hard work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cered Posted December 12, 2016 Author Share Posted December 12, 2016 Thanks for the feedback, it is a nightmare. I think it's a case of "damn I can't knock up something in a few days for £1-3k, screw this!" Will investigate option 2 route more from what you guys have said, I have a civil engineer friend she may be able to help with plans so that's one thing I guess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott-tt Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 You need to speak to an architect they can get the ball rolling and put you in touch with the right trades men Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 plus your going to need planning permission , then building regs comes into play , where abouts are you i could put you intouch with the architect that did my garage extension, do it right the first time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cered Posted December 12, 2016 Author Share Posted December 12, 2016 Good call, think i know one of those through work too! i'm in Mid Glamorgan - Pencoed, any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 ill ask him see if he goes out of swansea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus GTE Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Don't be shy on asking the builder for some references of recent work that compares to what you want done. Looking at a previous job and asking the person who had the work done should give you an honest insight to their work. It would be ideal to find a brickie that could project manage the build for you. You find that people like working with who they know and trust, so often they will call in who they usually work with to price things up (joiner, spark) then give you an overall price for the job. It may also be a good idea to purchace the materials yourself if you get a list. That way you can keep tabs on what's being spent where. If you don't have any recommendations, I know that lots of firemen started out with a trade first and keep it up between shifts. Perhaps ringing your local station and asking if they know of anyone at the station or in the area who is a brickie they would recommend who might want to discuss a job with you might get you somewhere. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibby Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 You don't really need an architect, you need a technical drawer. Good luck! This can probably be done without planning but with building regs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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