have you ever built your own extension

deano72_2

im toying with the idea of an exstension down stairs & upstairs also doing a loft conversion at the same time.
my existing house is a 3 bedder & is 10m long & 6m wide.
the loft is huge & is good to go for a conversion as there no cross tressles but would have to have velux windows & stairs put in & rsj,s to take the floor.
i would like a 2m extension to exstend the kitchen downstairs, bedrm & bath rm upstairs also the loft to be converted with the existing loft into another bed rm with ensuit.i have building contacts & he said to do the exstension & conversion would be looking at 70-80k which is out of my league.
so,im thinking of looking at doing it myself.i could do the electrics,decorating,90% of the plumbing,foundations with help,mate is a chippy (mates rates) so would need a brikie/ plasterer/roofer/tiler.
iv just finished renovating the pad & done about 75% of the work so im not scared of a bit of graft..so any idea how much i would be looking at £
so for you guys that have done your own,was it worth it or do you wish you got the builders in to do the lot

muckybutt

I did a loft convertion at our first house - a bungalow, did everything myself except the stairs and velux windows.

Did our own drawings and submitted them for building regs for approval - got approval within two weeks.

From start to finish it took me two weeks, we made it into our living room it was 14 ft wide and 28 foot long. We were quoted prices varying from £25,000 to £5600, we sorced the materials and got them from a local builders merchant for £3700.

deano72_2

thats good going mate.

capeverde

appreciate specifications can vary wildly, but for a small 2 storey extension with a loft conversion, I imagine the basic materials would be around the 10-15k mark. obviously add labour to this.

ormus

materials for a typical basic extension would be approx 5k. (flat roof).
not inc any internal fitments. ie bathroom/kitchen.

a typical project would be approx 70% labour cost, then materials and then the profit margin.
so you can see some massive savings are to be made, if you DIY most of it. or even sub jobs out and manage it yourself.

Doozergirl

Building an extension and converting the loft is two extensions. It's like starting twice so it costs more. If you could extend further with a built extension to accommodate the extra space you were wanting from the loft, it would be cheaper. And quicker.

System

you will have to get people to sign off your electrics too, i can't imagine too many sparks liking the idea of signing off a diy-ers work

deano72_2

Im fully qualiafied sparks so thats one less cost

SailorSam

I did a night school class for bricklaying then made a small porch, but at the back of the house where i could practise without neighbours watching me. The following year i did a large porch at the front of the house, quite a few people asked could i do one for them 'cos it did look good, And i've built a very big garage.
I'm not sure i'd make an extension though, i'm sure i could do it but i'd take to long.

deano72_2

so guys/girls what would be a rough guess for materials excluding fitments/bling.iv been looking at rsj,s & there not cheap.i will keep an on ebay for velux windows/celotex sheets/breeze blocks.
looking at extending 2m out 6m wide ground f/first f/loft
i appreciate that you have not seen it so maybe can just give some sort of bench mark from your exsperiance
ps,iv got existing windows/patio doors i can use

diable

Is this a terraced house or semi?