First time extension self build

[Maplash]

Hi, I'm managing an extension myself but organising the trades ect. Would love to get the support from here to help keep me on the right rack and not make too many mistakes. 🤣

[ToughButterCup]

Welcome.

Well, the first mistake was thinking we can stop you making mistakes. We can slow them down -slow--motion---car----crash-----like .  But there is one trick you can try. Its hard, though.

 

The trick?

Ask the right questions well before time.

 

How?

We can't help you with timing. But we can help best if

• The questions are clearly expressed
• The questions (not the context) are short ( less than 10 words)
• One question at a time helps readers focus
• You evidence what you have done to help yourself before asking here
• You have looked through this site to see how many threads there already are about what you want to know
• Your post links to those threads and explains simply why your issue is different
• You add images and diagrams to your post
• See if @Pocster has already made the same cock-up but worse - so very much much worse.

Happy Friday

Ian

[JohnMo]

9 hours ago, Maplash said:

Would love to get the support from here to help keep me on the right rack and not make too many mistakes

My advice - review design about a 100 times, whiles it's all on paper or in a computer. Go to the beach draw it in the sand walk around inside, does it flow etc.  Tweek design as required. Ask questions while you are doing so.

 

Think about construction method, insulation for walls, roof, floor, air tightness, ventilation and heating, ask questions as needed.

 

Build a plan of action, know in your head how you will build. Have exactly where you want sockets, switches and lights planned.

 

Once fully clarified and you have committed to design, don't look at sites like this again, until you have finished. Just build as per design you are committed to. Be prepared for for a 101 questions you never expected from trades.

 

If you do come sites like this mid way through build - and ask questions, you get 300 different answers, go down rabbit holes, make costly changes, waste endless time going round in circles.

 

That would be my advice and is pretty much what I did. Building is a compromise they are never perfect for everyone, you may want something, your partner may hate it, you do something different that you can both live with.

 

At the start of the whole process, write down your goals and always refer back I to them, check you aren't going on a costly diversion. Fine if you are so long as you know why.

 

The really important bits and they cannot be changed later easily 

 

Insulation, building it airtight, ventilation. All cost very little during the build and will save you money every day after you finish.

 

 

[Pocster]

@Maplash just get on with it and learn / (expletive deleted) up as you go 👍

[Maplash]

Thanks guys really appreciate it 🤞