Extension build thread

[boyner]

I have been a fan of this forum for a while now, loads of fantastic build threads and extensions etc.. loads of good information and examples of what to do and on the odd occasion what not to do...

I have been doing work on my own home last summer / autumn time and now it's done I thought I would do a summarised build thread for the whole lot, as I am inpatient and like seeing the start to the end at once!!

I bought the house a year past September and straight away put in a planning application for an extension comprising of a garage and some room above. Planning was relatively painless, even though the neighbours on both sides objected the planner approved the application unconditionally, which was nice....

Here is what we started with, the lean to on the side was originally open but I had some doors from the old house so I fired them up to make the space enclosed and a bit more secure than before.. only pic I could find of it - it's over there in the corner!!!



inside



So, once the planning and building warrant came through we managed to get a builder on side - for a fixed price - and work began..
Day 1



Lean to removed and existing slab ripped up.



Slab going down and done...




Next with the walls going up and steels and timber for first floor in..


Getting higher


Walls up to height and roof on - ish...


Upstairs inside


More important than another bedroom - the garage taking shape.


Local Aberdeen granite getting cut and shaped..


Rear elevation before the K-Rend went on


Front elevation - not pointed..


Garage door fitted - bit of a beast at 5.25 x 2.5


Finished front elevation..


Delighted with the work the builder has done.. Inside we have a large bedroom, at 10m x 6m and a big bathroom at 5m x 5m and a dressing room the same size...

The builder came in bang on his original price which was nice and the whole thing was done with minimal fuss and bother. Not often you hear of a building project of this size going without any issues but this one was great.. would I do it again - hell naw!!!

cheers

boyner

Edited by boyner on Monday 26th January 18:48

[boyner]

Cheers man.. GT3 has gone now, replaced with a Caterham R620 which makes the GT3 feel slow and cumbersome by comparison!

I don't actually have any interior shots.. will try and get some..

cheers

[boyner]

One person was complaining that it made their house look too small and the other guy had a list of 20 things, which I didn't see AND a letter from his psychiatrist saying it would be detrimental to his health.. he's an old guy and probably doesn't like change.. I feel a bit sorry for him actually...

[boyner]

Cheers guys.

It is up to the edge of our boundary but I think the pictures make the gap look less than it actually is between ourselves and next door.

The build took just over 12 weeks which wasn't bad..

[boyner]

Cheers guys, really happy with the end result.

I will get some interior shots sorted out and get them fired up..

There was a contract with the builder and he was paid in stages based on completion of certain parts of the build. His fixed price was based on a set of detailed drawings and specification provided by the architect. With regards to VAT etc, I guess it all depends on your builder, if he's a little whoa, a little be whey!!! haha

Caterham has only done 170 miles since I got it, weather has not been conducive to driving it unfortunately..

Anyway, i spent this morning making a workbench for the garage.. first time welding and doing anything with metal so i am happy with how it went.. It does look better in the photos as opposed to up close and person but the next one should hopefully be better. Just need to get the top sorted out tomorrow and get cracking on the next one.

[boyner]

Thanks.. no reason other than I bought the welder a few months ago and had never used it yet. I am going to do a 4wd conversion on one of my cars so thought this would be a relatively easy way of getting some practice in.. i have another bench to make but don't have enough steel so i'll likely just make that one out of timber tomorrow and make a trolley for the welder with what steel I have left.

I agree, having a nice space to work in makes a big difference.

[boyner]

So after making one work bench from steel on Saturday i decided to make another one out of timber on Sunday and tidy up the back corner of the garage.. first time really making anything and it was done pretty much on the hoof.. looks better in the photos but I'm happy with them both as a first attempt. Vice and girder etc aren't fixed yet nor is the timber on the steel bench.