Can i build a dorma?
Discussion
I'm after some advice as a complete novice.
I have just bought my first house. It needs every room doing and both the gardens,but is in a nice road in a good area so is the perfect prject. It a chalet, the stairs are in the middle of the house. On one side of the house it has a dorma.
The bathroom is downstairs.
What I want to do is build another dorma on the front, on the opposite side and a single dorma on the back that is central and wider then the front. So that I can have the bathroom up stairs.
Now, I dont have unlimited money and am considering trying to do it myself.... I have never done anything like this before, but it doesn't look complicated. I have electricians, plumbers and plasterer friends, so they will help with everything internally. Its just the initial dormer I will have to do myslef? What do you guys reckon, possible?
Or am I in dream land(as usual)
I have just bought my first house. It needs every room doing and both the gardens,but is in a nice road in a good area so is the perfect prject. It a chalet, the stairs are in the middle of the house. On one side of the house it has a dorma.
The bathroom is downstairs.
What I want to do is build another dorma on the front, on the opposite side and a single dorma on the back that is central and wider then the front. So that I can have the bathroom up stairs.
Now, I dont have unlimited money and am considering trying to do it myself.... I have never done anything like this before, but it doesn't look complicated. I have electricians, plumbers and plasterer friends, so they will help with everything internally. Its just the initial dormer I will have to do myslef? What do you guys reckon, possible?
Or am I in dream land(as usual)
If you know electricians and plumbers, chances are they'll know of a decent carpenter/builder/roofer. None of it is complicated, but without experienced help you could end up wishing you'd never started.
The expensive bits are professional fees and the labour - at mates rates, with you labouring, with materials from ebay, it'll come in cheaper than you expect.
Re planning - note I'm about 5 years out of date with the exact rules, but if the house hasn't been extended, under PD you can probably do what you want to the rear of it (ooh-er) - you'll just need PP for the front.
Stuff cute little dormers - go right to the wall plate, full width if you can get away with it within PD volumes, with a big 'orrible flat roof if necessary.
Then apply for PP for a nice acceptable 'in-keeping' front dormer. We put veluxes in on the front elevation without PP - not sure if you can still do that.
The expensive bits are professional fees and the labour - at mates rates, with you labouring, with materials from ebay, it'll come in cheaper than you expect.
Re planning - note I'm about 5 years out of date with the exact rules, but if the house hasn't been extended, under PD you can probably do what you want to the rear of it (ooh-er) - you'll just need PP for the front.
Stuff cute little dormers - go right to the wall plate, full width if you can get away with it within PD volumes, with a big 'orrible flat roof if necessary.
Then apply for PP for a nice acceptable 'in-keeping' front dormer. We put veluxes in on the front elevation without PP - not sure if you can still do that.
andy43 said:
Stuff cute little dormers - go right to the wall plate, full width if you can get away with it within PD volumes, with a big 'orrible flat roof if necessary.
I hate dormers. Bloody nearly brained myself one night by getting up in an alien bedroom in the small hours - happened to stand up in the dormer recess. March forwards to the bog - SMASH.Nobody has mentioned Velux yet.
The front line seems to have very little projection. The cost of extending the front dormer would be much greater than the cost of putting in a large Velux.
OK, the dormer - if done properly - might be better visually, but would produce little extra space to the velux.
We have a few like that here (a mix of both) - and my conversion is wholly Velux. Unless rules have changed since mine was done it also doesn't need planning as its still within the roof line.
The rear proposal may not be workable with Velux given the space that seems to be desired.
The front line seems to have very little projection. The cost of extending the front dormer would be much greater than the cost of putting in a large Velux.
OK, the dormer - if done properly - might be better visually, but would produce little extra space to the velux.
We have a few like that here (a mix of both) - and my conversion is wholly Velux. Unless rules have changed since mine was done it also doesn't need planning as its still within the roof line.
The rear proposal may not be workable with Velux given the space that seems to be desired.
It's really easy to DIY. Post plenty of photos on here during your build so we can give further advice if required.
Edit to say....
Only kidding. Your house is probably the most expensive thing you'll ever buy. Don't mess it up or endanger yourself / others with major DIY projects unless you really know what you're doing. Get the pros in.
Edit to say....
Only kidding. Your house is probably the most expensive thing you'll ever buy. Don't mess it up or endanger yourself / others with major DIY projects unless you really know what you're doing. Get the pros in.
Edited by cod man on Wednesday 11th May 22:48
Simpo Two said:
The only issue with Velux is that heavy rain in the night makes a racket on the glass and can wake you up.
Being a dormer I would argue its rain across the whole sloping roof area above your head - not just the window. And how often do we get such heavy rain - and at night. A couple of times a year.
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