Building regs drawings needed - Any reccomendations?

[NickK]

Hi,

 

After having a handful of local companies come to price up our very small 4.5m x 2.3m extension, quotes are simply coming up too much around £30k and that would be doing demolition of our conservatory (not just dwarf wall but 2 x 2m high ones as well), installing soakaway and associated pipes, internal decoration and flooring.

 

Not sure if they are just not interested and pricing themselves out on purpose. Ultimately, we cannot justify so much on such a small alteration. Therefore, I am thinking to tackle it myself during 2023 (still need to convince my wife 🙂 ). Anyway, I need to get simply drawings done up and possibly SE just to make sure I do have a roof crushing down on me later. Any recommendations in Bournemouth/Dorset area you know of to save me getting in in google search.

 

No real experience just a competent DIYer so do shout if you think this is a bad idea. I made some sheds, installed stud walls before, installed side door to the garage but nothing from the bottom up. Well, when we were kids we helped Dad build large non-domestic extension to the barn and that is still standing there today some 30 years later despite not having any real bulding regs to hand and building with clay blocks (very common in the Czech Republic back then).

 

Thanks

[MikeGrahamT21]

Take a look in my blog, may give you some pointers to draw your own plans like I have done many times over the years. It’s not easy, but certainly doable. Get yourself a house builders bible book, great book to have to hand!

 

good luck if you go for it!

Edited January 18, 2023 by MikeGrahamT21

[NickK]

@MikeGrahamT21 thank you. I’ve had a quick look. Would this be enough for BC sign offs. I noticed that foundations are just written. Is that enough. If so, happy days. Did you get SE specify depth of foundations, joist size etc?

[MikeGrahamT21]

10 hours ago, NickK said:

@MikeGrahamT21 thank you. I’ve had a quick look. Would this be enough for BC sign offs. I noticed that foundations are just written. Is that enough. If so, happy days. Did you get SE specify depth of foundations, joist size etc?

 

Yes I had SE to specify foundation spec, lintels and roof fixings though BC never asked for this, so what you see on the plans is what got passed by BC. When you dig out for foundations you get them to inspect, and they'll tell you there and then if they need to be deeper etc, though as long as the ground is solid then you are good.

 

Foundations on this particular build were slightly narrower than normal to save on concrete, was viable due to low loads, generally you would have 150mm overhang on the concrete either side of your walls

Edited January 19, 2023 by MikeGrahamT21

[Jenki]

@NickK you say too much 30k is that 30k over budget or 30k is too much?

I've built many an extension and the problem you will run into is that small extensions and large extensions don't conform to £x /sq M.

Builders need to be there and bring all the gear etc.

Footings and digger small extension day to dig, larger ex to extension a day to dig. So some costs are the same. Obviously materials are more.

With regards to drawings, I drew all mine for planning and BC. Look on planning portals and copy.

 

 

[NickK]

Hi. @Jenki I realise that some costs will be fixed whenever it is a shed or a mansion. £30k just seems too much to justify when I’d need to do quite a bit myself anyway. I guess the main point is that this is not a forever home (I hope) and whatever we’d spend, it would be nice for it reflect on resale value. After speaking to estate agents, it would certainly improve saleability but only about £10k extra in value.

 

Good shout about planning portal. Thank you

[mr rusty]

Have a look at the projects forum at DIYnot.com for some inspiration. A small extension like that is eminently do-able for a competent DIYer. You could do it on a building notice so no building regs plans required. You could employ a builder just to do the footings/slab and the opening/beam on a "design and build" with the condition that payment is conditional on BC sign off of those elements. The brick/blockwork, simple roof, etc is DIYable - just make sure you conform to building regs with regard particularly to insulation. Is a cavity tray needed? At that size you should easily get the materials down to ball-park £10K for the shell which would leave you a fair bit for advice/subbed labour and fit-out, electrics etc etc. All depends on how handy you are. I'd do it.