Big Jimbo

Actually, i'm not, and never have been a fighter. My actions were always carried out with calmness, and no discussion. My daughter said that when i loose the plot, i come across as some sort of phycopath. As she says, people who tell you they are going to beat the living daylights out of you, hardly ever do.

@SteamyTea Joking aside, i was lucky that i had windows, and doors actually on site which had been used on my posh shed. This allowed me to actually measure things. One of the big surprizes was the angle that my side hung windows opened. To comply with the regs, at 650mm from the internal face of the wall, my side hung windows only opened to 47 degrees. Most examples i looked at estimated the opening angle at 70 degrees.

Just wanted to let people know that the new building regulations part O, are a pain. However, by spending a bit of time getting my head around them, and looking at some examples from places like Future Homes, i sat down with the Mrs for a couple of days, and got the calculater, pencil, paper and tape measure out. Without cheating, i have got a pass using the Simplified Method...... Yippie. The Mrs has produced some sort of computer spreadsheet thing, and entered all the figures. I actually feel that although my spelling and computer skills are crap, i could almost write an idiots guide to part O now. It is defo one of those things that you need to consider at the design stage, as a tweek here or there can make a lot of difference. For info, the house is 2500sq foot. 4 bed / 4 bath. Most of my glazing faces East, followed closely by West facing. I have some, but not a lot facing South, and very little facing North. I was quoted about £1200 for thermal modelling, with more fees to follow if it needed alterations. So if you have some spare time, it is worth having a pop at doing yourself. A certificate for building control, together with the work sheets, will be produced by the better half now. I'm going to see if i can get my head around Heat loss cals next. Wish me luck.

Cheers @nod. Can't even get out of my debts if i drop dead then. Cheer a feela up, why don't ya.

Well done. Bloody CIL is going to cost me £80k if i dont keep the gaff for 3 years.

@SteamyTea I could only think of cracking it with a hammer. That is the extent of my computer knowledge. So from me atleast, it is very safe.

I have made and fitted at least 100 of these cabinets over a Twenty year period. to join the Two doors, simply use a length of piano hinge. Various colours and widths available.

The additions are calculated as what you are adding, say 125 square meters, less what you are knocking down, say 30 square mt. Therefore net addition is 95 square meters. Under 100 square meters = nil CIL Liability.

No. Crack on.

If the doors are only 18mm thick you could use a piano hinge. Available in various widths and colours.

Yeah, some people don't want to discuss face to face, and would rather somebody else dealt with it on there behalf. What damage do you think might be caused by your extension ? Has your builder flagged up any potential problems to you ? Things like, "I'm worries that the neighbours patio might collapse into our trenches"

50% of your properties curtilage can be covered in buildings. As it is now. Not what somebody used to own.

If you are only 18 inches away from the boundary wall, the chances are that you will be digging deeper than the footings that the wall is built on. It would be worth going into you own garden, as near to the wall as you can, and having a dig to see if the wall has any footings. Sometimes, people are just wary of committing to something on paper, and by signing, ,they might imagine that they are giving up any rights to complain if you damage there property. Try and have a chat with them. Ask them outright what problem they have with you getting on with your extension. Try and address with them any fears they might have. I previously made my rude neighbour go through the 3 surveyors because i didn't like them. Cost them over £6k Try sending the Mrs around for a chat with them. You might be coming across in the wrong way to them ?

When you have paid for the Three surveyors, and all the discussions between them, come back and tell me you have spent less. Are you able to actually answer any of the questions put to you ? How far from the wall are you digging ? How do you know you will be digging deeper than the existing footings ?

I slung a geezers hammer into the bushes at the bottom of the garden. Told him that when he paid for the granite, he could leave his hammer on it. Flung a painters radio and mobile out the first floor window. He had them sat on a £15k piece of furniture. I have calmed down a lot since those days. I'm amazed i never got the crap kicked out of me.

How do you know you will be digging deeper than there footings ?

How far away from the wall are you digging ? How high is there wall ? If they want to be a total pain. You will appoint a PWa surveyor. They won't agree to the PWA. You will then have to appoint a second surveyor to act on there behalf, and pay for it. The Two surveyors will not agree with each other. Then you will have to appoint a third surveyor to actually sort out the PWA. By the time you have finished you will have wasted £6k

So, how old is the boundary wall, and how high is it. Do you think it will have a foundation ? Is it in good condition ? How close will you be digging near this wall ?

I always like to" assume" that my foundations are only going as deep as my own, and my neighbours. If they have to go a bit deeper, dig it and get if filled with concrete. I understand however, if you need to insert beams etc into a party wall.

`Have you tried either going around and knocking, or perhaps writing a nice note, and popping it through the door. What is the reason that you think you might need a PWA ?

Simple square or oblong. Simple roof. Both for costs, and ease of build. Try and add wow with your external finishes, and landscaping. Silly shapes cost lots, and are hard to build well. Insulation, airtightness, etc. Welcome to the club. Exciting times ahead for you.

Most of what has been done will get either damaged, or torn out. The main thing that sounds iffy is the floor. Although you say it has had bracing, a structural engineer would need to take a peek to see if it would comply with current building regulations. (Which i doubt) I doubt the previous owners did much more than a bit of cosmetic work. If they did, then they would have added the stairs etc, in order to get the uplift in value. The other thing is that all your internal doors, and door stops will need to be changed to comply with fire regs. Linked mains powered smoke alarms on all floors, and a suitable escape window provided in the loft.

Building regulation fees. Structural Engineers fees. Foundation Costs. All the money you save, you can put into the build and build a better product.

As above. save a fortune and build Two units, with a not quite connected covered walkway between.

The first thing i notice is that the item is on clearance. I have no idea, but i wonder how long it would take to save you the £400 quid ? I tried to have a look at the waste water recovery things currently, it seems in fashion. I didn't think that they were worth the money either. Obviously they are other good reasons to do things, like saving the planet etc. It's all a bit of a balancing act. Cost verses reward + making you feel good.