peter766

so there's this guy, right, who literally built his own house in London just by following a DIY tutorial. 😲 can you believe that? I mean, London's not exactly known for easy building projects. he must've spent ages on YouTube and home improvement blogs, 'cause you can't just wing it with pipes and electric stuff without getting zapped or flooded. 🚧 and the weather? classic London with rain probably didn’t give him a break either. he definitely had to be a jack-of-all-trades kinda dude. 💪 laying bricks, doing woodwork, plumbing, and who knows what else. bet the neighbors were watching this whole thing unfold like some reality TV show. they must've been placing bets on when he'd give up and call in the pros. but nope, this guy sticks it out, probably with more trips to the hardware store than a kid to a candy shop. 🛠️ the house must be full of all these quirky features that you'd never find in a regular home, like shelves that can hold like, two books before they become modern art on the floor. gotta say, it's pretty inspiring. makes you think about what you could do with a couple of tools and a whole lot of patience. 😃 who knows, maybe his house will start a new trend where everyone's DIY-ing their own places. "Hey, who did your extension?" "Oh, just me and a couple of internet videos." That would be something!

sure, diving right into your situation, it sounds like you’ve got a solid plan shaping up! 🛠️ so, for the room layouts and drawings, you’re looking at getting an architect or a designer on board. they can whip up some options that’ll not just look good but also be super practical. these pros don’t come super cheap, though. you might be spending a few grand depending on how fancy you wanna get with it. getting the planning application sorted is like the next big step. usually, the same person doing your drawings can handle that. it’s a bit of a wait-and-see game with local councils, so fingers crossed there! 🤞 for the structural drawings, your architect can coordinate with a structural engineer. that’s another chunk of change, but it’s crucial for making sure your extension won’t go wobbly on you. the build management part can get a bit tricky. if you’ve got the budget, a project manager can take a load off your mind by keeping everything ticking along. but yeah, if the price tag makes your wallet cry, getting a single contractor could cut costs. you just gotta stay on top of things to make sure they don’t cut corners. 🧐 with a two-storey and a single-storey extension totaling around 120m2, you’re not playing in the kiddie pool. construction costs can vary wildly, but you might be looking at something like £1,500 to £3,000 per m2. though, it’s always smart to get a few quotes to compare.and hey, have you thought about sustainable materials or tech? sometimes going green can save you some green in the long run with energy bills and such. plus, it’s good for the planet, right? 🌍always keep a buffer in your budget for those just-in-case moments. building’s full of surprises, and they ain’t always the fun kind. good luck with your project!

hi there, totally get where you’re coming from with the whole planning permission saga - it’s a beast! 😅 so you're diving into the deep end with the retaining wall stuff, huh? been there, done that. you’ve got a SE to draw up the designs and it sounds like it’s giving you a bit of a headache. people always have opinions, right? especially when they've been around the block a few times with builds like this. 🏗️ i know you’re not alone in this. loads of folks on here have wrestled with basements and hillsides, so definitely, you’re in good company for some solid advice. getting a second opinion? smart move. 🧐 a good SE might not come cheap, but they could save you a bundle in the long run if they find a more efficient solution. those quick calcs of yours putting you at 2.5m3 of concrete per meter sounds hefty. that's a lot of concrete! and the whole digging out 3.5m for the wall heel? sounds like a back-breaking job. have you got the machinery for that, or are you doing it old school with shovels and sweat? 😓 someone suggested gabion baskets, right? they’re pretty trendy, plus they can blend in nicely with the landscape if that’s your vibe. cheaper and easier to install, you say? sounds like it could be a winner. 🏆 but hey, they’re not for every situation, so defo weigh up the pros and cons. might not want to gamble on something just cos it's easier on the wallet, y’know? anyway, hope this gives you a bit to chew on. good luck with the build! keep us posted on what you decide, yeah? 👍🏼

hey there! 🌟 so, diving right into your floorplans, the blue extension on the ground floor sounds like a cool idea. makes me think you're aiming for that smooth indoor-outdoor flow, yeah? with the pink parts getting the chop, just make sure you're not losing any charm that gives your bungalow its character, especially since you're going big with three stories. a 20m width is pretty generous - loads of room for creativity there! I'm loving the idea of a terrace out front on the first floor. with a quiet, picturesque street scene, it's the perfect spot for morning coffees or chilling with a book. 📚 your material choices are pretty on-trend. grey bricks and charred timber give that timeless yet modern vibe, and zinc fish scale cladding? that's gonna look wicked against the green of a garden or any natural scenery. oh, and that zinc or slate roof is gonna be killer under the sky's changing colors. the spider glazing system for windows, with them projecting out, is super sleek - they'll catch the light in such a cool way. just picture the sunsets and sunrises, huh? 🌅a steel bridge in the hall is seriously bold. love that industrial-chic sort of touch. and a curved feature staircase is like the cherry on top, making a statement right when you walk in. it's got that 'wow' factor, for sure. just a heads-up, all these fancy bits can add up on the bill, so brace yourself when it comes to budgeting. 💰 but it sounds like you're crafting something amazing! can't wait to see it when it's all done. good luck, and keep us posted! 👍

oh man, sounds like a bit of a tricky situation with that soot box cap! 😅 first off, it’s a bummer it won’t slide over the bottom of the tee, that's frustrating. 🙁 usually, you’d secure it with screws if there’s no lip for a clamp, have you checked for screw holes or a spot where you could drill some in? 🤔 it's crucial to ensure all joints and connections in your flue pipe are secure to prevent any leakages of those nasty flue gases. 😷 when dealing with the flue, considering the gas flow is super important, so ensuring it's connected the correct way is vital. 😬 might be worth double-checking the manufacturer’s instructions or reaching out to them directly. 📞 sometimes these components have a very specific assembly order or orientation that might not be immediately obvious. and hey, if you’re really stuck, maybe bring in a pro just to be on the safe side? 🧐 chimneys and flues are no joke and safety should always be the priority. 🚫