Our build thread, renovation and extension

Our build thread, renovation and extension

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Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Sunday 29th January 2012
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I thought you guys might be interested to follow a little project I've taken on.

It's our first house and it needs a little work, to say the least. redface

It was purchased by the previous owner in 1964 and virtually no maintenance or building work was carried out during her ownership up until January.

So far we have been busy with demolition and clearing all manner of things, including an entire van full of scrap metal, with probably at least another van left to go. It had no heating other than one gas fire and the electrics were absolutely lethal and disconnected on day 1. Other than that, the structure is very solid, by all accounts it was built in 1928 by excellent tradesmen.

Despite appearing quite large it is actually fairly shallow and is by far the smallest house on the road, pretty much all of the other houses are large 5+ bed detached.

Our plan is to extend it rearwards, across the full with by 6 meters, two storeys. We will also have a double or possibly triple garage with a lift at the bottom of the garden. We have already met with our architect and sketched out what we want, we should be getting the first draft of plans back from him tomorrow hopefully. There will be 5 double bedrooms two as ensuites. The master bedroom looks pretty large on the plans and comprises a self contained suite with its own bathroom and walk in wardrobe. The spec will be relatively high but not silly,

In terms of the work, we will be doing most of it ourselves, apart from some of the groundworks, the bricklaying, the roof and the plaster skim coat. At the moment I think we are reasonably comfortable with everything else. Hopefully planning permission will come through before Easter to allow us to get it watertight this year, although over overall target is to be finished in 2 years. I may take a break from work once it starts until September to spend more time on it, as from September my work life will get a lot more busy, with some big hours.

We do however have quite a few useful people within the family and my Dad will be spending a lot of time on this once he retires.

It doesn't really seem too daunting at the moment. We have a budget in mind, which I'm going to keep to myself for the moment, as no doubt many will say it can't be done or it's not enough, but our architect seems to think it's feasible. I suppose the sky is the limit really, our neighbours house is being refurbed at the moment and the same builders did the house next to that last year. The amount spent on that one could have bought our house a few times over!

So here it is at the moment:



A full gallery of 63 images can be found here (you do not need to be a Facebook member)

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.101512275...

Simpo Two

85,069 posts

264 months

Sunday 29th January 2012
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I wonder if the old Crittall windows have some salvage value? So many must have been destroyed to make way for d/g that one day they will probably be in demand.

From that photo the windows have an almost Tudor look to them...

Grandad Gaz

5,088 posts

245 months

Sunday 29th January 2012
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Simpo Two said:
I wonder if the old Crittall windows have some salvage value? So many must have been destroyed to make way for d/g that one day they will probably be in demand.

From that photo the windows have an almost Tudor look to them...
I like them. If it was mine I would keep the windows as they are and get some good quality secondary glazing.

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Sunday 29th January 2012
quotequote all
Grandad Gaz said:
I like them. If it was mine I would keep the windows as they are and get some good quality secondary glazing.
They're way beyond repair, they will be replaced with something very similar in style however.

Slagathore

5,808 posts

191 months

Sunday 29th January 2012
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Bookmarked!

Good luck, sounds like a decent sized project!

Alfachick

1,639 posts

196 months

Monday 30th January 2012
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Also bookmarked! What a massive project, puts what I am doing into perspective!
What's the deal with the cross bracing between the joists? I don't think I have ever seen that before.

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Monday 30th January 2012
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I assume it is to resist twisting of the joists over a long span, but I'll do some research. There is minimal bounce in the floors but I think I will beef that up slightly anyway.

Edit: it's just an alternative to solid cross bracing.

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/floor-joist-cross...

Edited by Muncher on Monday 30th January 09:20

5potTurbo

12,464 posts

167 months

Monday 30th January 2012
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Bookmarked too!

This looks to be a good basis for an awesome project, and an excellent FTB!
Good luck - look forward to the updates.

(P.S.: I don't blame you about keeping the budget to yourself. I hope it all works out.)

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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More work on it today, all of the ceilings are now down. It's a satisfying job ripping down all the lathe and plaster but you get absolutely caked in 84 years worth of black dust and debris, most of it seemed to go up my nose and in my eyes today!

Also took out some leftover electrics which had been chased into the wall. My new Makita SDS drill is fantastic for that! The plan for tomorrow is to take out the pantry in the kitchen and try to clear some rubble and one or two carpets.

It's getting to that awkward stage where there probably isn't too much demolition left to do, or at least you have to think about what needs to come out.

I'm debating whether to rip the door liners out now, any thoughts on this? A couple are odd sizes and once the walls are plastered they will no longer sit flush with the existing ones. Plus we will almost certainly be going with bare wood architraves, skirting and doors. Safe to take them out now?

It's also starting to dawn on me just how much stuff I have to choose and buy, I mean there are probably going to be over 70 lights alone in the house, that is a lot to choose and buy! I suppose it will get easier once we have a plan to work from...

I'll post some new photos tomorrow smile

King Herald

23,501 posts

215 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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It seems to be a grand old project, I shall follow along. biggrin

It looks a funny old shape on the back. Is that going to present much of a problem when extending it backwards?



Are you go to do a whole new roof or just modify/extend what you have?



Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
quotequote all
Hopefully not, the rear will be flush. The roof will be two hips with a valley in the middle of them. In theory the front half will remain but be stripped and retiled with the same tiles. We were actually wondering just how many of the existing roof timbers will remain, probably only a few. So effectively it will be 75% new I think.

King Herald

23,501 posts

215 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
quotequote all
Muncher said:
Hopefully not, the rear will be flush. The roof will be two hips with a valley in the middle of them. In theory the front half will remain but be stripped and retiled with the same tiles. We were actually wondering just how many of the existing roof timbers will remain, probably only a few. So effectively it will be 75% new I think.
I see, change some brickwork, get that little oddball roof angle bit sorted, and away you go.

I was going to suggest you may find some bad timbers, but you never know. My dads house was built pre-war and the roof timber is rock solid hard, probably oak. Can't even drive a nail into it.


Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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We have found sporadic woodworm which we will treat with a spray just to be careful but everything seems very solid.

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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Some from this week:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.101512600...


All the ceilings are down now, all of the electrical cable is out including the bits chased into the walls and the pantry is half demolished.

caziques

2,564 posts

167 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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Top project!

Can't see from the photos what the floor is made of - any chance you can fit pipes in the floor for heating?

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Monday 6th February 2012
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They are all suspended wooden floors, with a 10 inch void under the downstairs.

uk66fastback

16,429 posts

270 months

Monday 6th February 2012
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Excellent project - decent size site by the looks of it - 1/3-1/2 acre?

Really interested to see how this turns out - all the best with it. Are you intending to open up the original much or keep the walls as is? Any sketches/ideas for the new bit ... ?

Hope planning aren't arses about anything when it comes to it.

ad551

1,502 posts

212 months

Monday 6th February 2012
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Wow looks like a great project, good luck with it. smile

What a shame to see that kitchen wallpaper go. hehe

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Monday 6th February 2012
quotequote all
ad551 said:
Wow looks like a great project, good luck with it. smile

What a shame to see that kitchen wallpaper go. hehe
I was left with a rotting suitcase of spare rolls of all the wallpaper in the house, just in case I wanted to refresh it tongue out

It's 0.22 acres according to the estate agent's blurb.

I only have these rough ideas at the moment, I should have something from the architect any time now.





King Herald

23,501 posts

215 months

Monday 6th February 2012
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0.22 acres, that's around 900 square metres, pretty useful size, seeing as our plot is but 300 sq. 15m x 20m

You should invest some time in Sketchup 3d modeling program, and model your own house, freebie download and pretty easy to use. it is good for testing out ideas to see if they work before you commit them to the architect. If I can use it, anybody can. biggrin