Is this a fair quote for a porch build?

Section62

WIAWSNB said:

Section62 said:

..so the tiles on the shoulder of the chimney will then feed water and debris down into your half-inch gap.

?

The chimney shoulder which slopes forwards, and where all the rainwater and debris would also be directed, just as it currently is?

I don't understand.  

The shoulder wraps around 3 sides of the chimney, like a hipped roof.

WIAWSNB

Section62 said:

WIAWSNB said:

Section62 said:

..so the tiles on the shoulder of the chimney will then feed water and debris down into your half-inch gap.

?

The chimney shoulder which slopes forwards, and where all the rainwater and debris would also be directed, just as it currently is?

I don't understand.  

The shoulder wraps around 3 sides of the chimney, like a hipped roof.

Ah, yes, so it does,

Big deal :-)

The 'canopy' section will be open, just as that area is currently 'open'.

Really, that's of zero practical consequence.

Section62

WIAWSNB said:

Section62 said:

WIAWSNB said:

Section62 said:

..so the tiles on the shoulder of the chimney will then feed water and debris down into your half-inch gap.

?

The chimney shoulder which slopes forwards, and where all the rainwater and debris would also be directed, just as it currently is?

I don't understand.  

The shoulder wraps around 3 sides of the chimney, like a hipped roof.

Ah, yes, so it does,

Big deal :-)

The 'canopy' section will be open, just as that area is currently 'open'.

Really, that's of zero practical consequence.

^Which assumes the OP goes for your design rather than the one they like.

Something to note with your design is with the door in the end it will limit the size/length of objects that can be taken in/out of the house via that door. Although the existing porch also has the door in that end, so has the same limitation, the design the OP has come up with allows a more or less straight line through the two doors, albeit the doors are offset.  This has the additional benefit of being able to get larger/longer items (for example a sofa) in/out that way.  Personally I'd have the outer door aligned with the inner door to maximise this benefit.

Also worth noting that building regs encourage/require some thought to be given to accessibility.  A design with the inner and outer doors aligned is more likely to be accessible than one where the outer door is in the end and a wheelchair user would be required to do two 90 degree turns to be able to enter/exit the house that way.  The turns would probably be too tight for a scooter user to get round.  Whether that is an issue depends on how accessible the other external doors in the house are, but it is something to be considered and there are times where practicality is more important that looking pretty.

WIAWSNB

Section62 said:

WIAWSNB said:

Section62 said:

WIAWSNB said:

Section62 said:

..so the tiles on the shoulder of the chimney will then feed water and debris down into your half-inch gap.

?

The chimney shoulder which slopes forwards, and where all the rainwater and debris would also be directed, just as it currently is?

I don't understand.  

The shoulder wraps around 3 sides of the chimney, like a hipped roof.

Ah, yes, so it does,

Big deal :-)

The 'canopy' section will be open, just as that area is currently 'open'.

Really, that's of zero practical consequence.

^Which assumes the OP goes for your design rather than the one they like.

Something to note with your design is with the door in the end it will limit the size/length of objects that can be taken in/out of the house via that door. Although the existing porch also has the door in that end, so has the same limitation, the design the OP has come up with allows a more or less straight line through the two doors, albeit the doors are offset.  This has the additional benefit of being able to get larger/longer items (for example a sofa) in/out that way.  Personally I'd have the outer door aligned with the inner door to maximise this benefit.

Also worth noting that building regs encourage/require some thought to be given to accessibility.  A design with the inner and outer doors aligned is more likely to be accessible than one where the outer door is in the end and a wheelchair user would be required to do two 90 degree turns to be able to enter/exit the house that way.  The turns would probably be too tight for a scooter user to get round.  Whether that is an issue depends on how accessible the other external doors in the house are, but it is something to be considered and there are times where practicality is more important that looking pretty.

How very practical of you :-)
And, yes, my comments refer to the green design.
All your access comments are valid, until you examine what the OP currently has - highly restrictive.
Even with the same layout, the new porch will be far superior in this regard; it'll be significantly wider due to increased overall footprint, and also from the removal of the stupid-thick dwarf wall. There's seemingly enough width for a chair inside and room to get past.
Didn't I mention that my design also had a lightweight slate-style roof? Hinged, on hydraulic pistons, and electrical actuators.
Access ma botty.

dllive

Happy new year all!

I thought Id give an update on the porch (not that it will be of much interest ) and some questions.

The builders have made a start, and removed the old structure. 

Now its down, I can better visualise what Im working with. I think there may be space to have a WC (toilet and basin). The 4 bed house doesnt have a downstairs toilet, and I feel it should. Especially useful for me as I come in from doing some gardening and need to wash my hands.

This is the existing floor plan: 

Im thinking of having the WC to the left of the porch door. This is mostly becuase the rear of the property (the right hand side) has the views. I wouldnt want to lose the view becuase of a WC.

Regards size of WC, Im not sure what I can get away with. 1.5m dictates the width of it. So perhaps 1m for the length? Or is a 1.5m x 1m to small to comfortably fit a toilet and basin in?

Should the WC door be hinged so it opens into the porch, or into the WC? Heres the plan with my initial thoughts on the WC layout. (Obviously Ive no idea what Im doing, so perhaps theres a better way of laying it out?).

Obviously Building Control will need to be involved. What are the questions/comments theyll likely make? Hopefully my builder can advise as Im sure hes had lots of experience with BC (he's done extensions and renovations etc).

Any comments, advice would be greatly received.

Thanks

kipsterno1

Is there easy access to a foul water drain at the location? 

dllive

kipsterno1 said:

Is there easy access to a foul water drain at the location? 

Yes, theres a foul water drain is to the right of the plan.Years ago there was a washing machine in the porch to the right of the door.

WIAWSNB

Hi dllive! Happy New Year!

Blimey - I thought I'd deleted the pics I had of 'your' new porch, but it's still there causing me to sigh as a cracking project... *

I do like your new ideas - stick a loo in there since you don't currently have one downstairs. 

The info required for 'conforming to regs' is all 'out there', but I'd suggest that 1.5m wide by even as little as 1m long should be very doable. 

Thoughts? You have it pretty much sorted. Yes, if there's room, then have the door opening inwards, simply so it doesn't get in the way of any chairs just outside. But, you need to check Build Regs, and the door may need to be the best part of 700mm wide, which means a very limiting ~300mm for the basin. 

Only other observations - why have a window above the basin, when you have a wide one to the front? Just extra expense, as far as I can see. 

*

GDB2222

The measurements on the plan don’t add up to 4.5m.  1m is a really big front door. 1m might be doable for the loo, but you’ll be squeezing over to one side to close the door. 

TELLIT01

WIAWSNB said:

dllive said:

Thanks @WIAWSNB . Problem Im finding is guys that are willing to do the job! Since my previous thread, Ive spoken to around 7 guys, ranging from general builders to carpenters. They come out, we get on really well and have a good chat about whats needed, and then I dont hear from them again!! (despite me giving them a follow-up msg a few weeks after). 

I have had 2 other quotes, both came in about £8k cheaper, but it was all a bit scant on detail. At least with this latest one hes had a good go at itemising the jobs. (although a figure next to each would have been useful!)

As you say, I just need a good handyman to do the job. But its a devil of a job trying to find one!

Yup, a nightmare.
The quote you showed was certainly 'detailed'... Actually too much so, as tho' designed to look impressive :-) And therefore expensive.
The other quotes you had, were they accompanied by drawings or an idea of the design? 

I disagree that there was too much detail in the quote.  That quote leaves absolutely no doubt as to scope of the work included, and will minimise the risk of misunderstanding during or after the work.  It looks to me like the work of somebody who has been bitten once too often by customers.