Neighbour building his own extension??

FreeBear

The black "tarpaulin" you see is a damp proof membrane - Standard heavy gauge polythene sheet that will be hidden by a thick layer of insulation and a screed top coat. Nothing ugly or nasty about it. Once the walls are up, you won't see any of it.

jonnydeppiwish!

Beeboo23 said:

Albermarle said:

 Then we got a letter through the post that they applied for planning permission. They were originally planning a huge wrap around extension but thankfully changed the plans to just do a rear extension. 

OP - Can you just clarify that your neighbour actually applied for planning permission for the current extension?
I am just wondering whether they applied for permission for a bigger wrap around extension, then withdrew it . Maybe this smaller extension does not need planning permission, so you could not check what was approved ?

Yes he did get planning permission for the smaller extension as we were re-notified that he put in a new request. I saw the plan at the time and I’m not objecting to the extension, just wondering if from the photos it looks safe as I didn’t realise you were allowed to undertake these things without any prior experience/qualifications but seems like you are.   

Sorry Op but I’d love to see the qualifications of any of the builders where I live in the SE. They work on experience, with quite a few having no formal or educational qualifications.

Does that mean they can’t do the job? Absolutely not - in addition, they’re plenty of books available on self builds that are also really good.

GDB2222

I would inform the planning enforcement department about all the extra buildings in the garden. They look awful. 

I don’t think the construction of the extension is a problem for you. If the foundations are inadequate, building control should pick it up. And, in any case, it’s not your problem if it subsides as it won’t affect you. 

ThisIsWeird

FreeBear said:

The black "tarpaulin" you see is a damp proof membrane - Standard heavy gauge polythene sheet that will be hidden by a thick layer of insulation and a screed top coat. Nothing ugly or nasty about it. Once the walls are up, you won't see any of it.

Has the BCO been out to check the founds and groundworks, BeeBoo?
I wonder what the chances are that the DPM's been laid over a protective sand screed, in turn spread over compacted MOT of the required depth? 
Or any other suitable method? 

Herzlos

GDB2222 said:

I would inform the planning enforcement department about all the extra buildings in the garden. They look awful. 

I don’t think the construction of the extension is a problem for you. If the foundations are inadequate, building control should pick it up. And, in any case, it’s not your problem if it subsides as it won’t affect you. 

Someone should be coming out at various stages to vet that bit of the work, like the foundations. They'd hopefully spot any glaring issues with extra buildings.

Of course, all council departments are understaffed so may take his word on some parts being done properly but I'd think that'd be unlikely for a self build.

GDB2222

Herzlos said:

GDB2222 said:

I would inform the planning enforcement department about all the extra buildings in the garden. They look awful. 

I don’t think the construction of the extension is a problem for you. If the foundations are inadequate, building control should pick it up. And, in any case, it’s not your problem if it subsides as it won’t affect you. 

Someone should be coming out at various stages to vet that bit of the work, like the foundations. They'd hopefully spot any glaring issues with extra buildings.

Of course, all council departments are understaffed so may take his word on some parts being done properly but I'd think that'd be unlikely for a self build.

I don’t think building control would necessarily worry about planning issues.  I can see no downside in sending some photos to planning enforcement and asking them to come and take a look. 

vic_sf49

Absolutely no help to the OP, but I rather like his shingled shed/workshop. 

Makes a change from looking at breezeblock, brick, concrete, pebbledash, or a bog standard shed. 

Noneforit999

If he has applied for PP and presumably building regs then its going to be done to whatever standard is required. Most of us are not experts on building works but in order to comply with Building Regs, someone is going to need to come out and check it at various stages, including the foundations.

Thumbs_Up

Looking at that image your garage rainwater runs off into your neighbours garden, his Hansel and Gretel shed rainwater will run off into yours.

Section62

vic_sf49 said:

Absolutely no help to the OP, but I rather like his shingled shed/workshop. 

Makes a change from looking at breezeblock, brick, concrete, pebbledash, or a bog standard shed. 

Looks Ok now, but come back in 10 years and see what state it is in.

As a rule the building materials we use today have been developed/chosen over time to suit our climate.  There's a good reason why we generally don't build dwellings in the UK with lots of exposed wood.  Treating wood can extend its service life (rot/fungal/insect attack), but keeping it looking good requires considerable ongoing maintenance.

Hot dry summers and cold wet winters are not a great combination for a timber roof.