Can anyone recommend a good loft/extension guide for DIYers?

[rockwood]

Can anyone recommend a good "DIYers guide to loft conversions" and "DIYers guide to extensions"?!

Not the kind that are geared toward project management (i.e. "get drawings, buy materials, call the builders"), but rather ones that are more technical and detail processes......ones geared toward builders/people actually carrying out the work.

I've seen that Haynes do a manual for both lofts and extensions, but I've heard mixed reviews about them. One guy's review said that he literally only used the Haynes guide and was able to do everything from that, yet others have said they lack detail. Just wondering if there are any other books that may be better?

Cheers!

 

[PTS2]

Building Construction Handbook. Chudley and Greeno.

 

[noseall]

The idiosyncratic nature of lofties means that you may not get all the answers from a guide book. This could just mean a short delay or a hole in the roof for six months, whilst you sort it out.

Similar with extensions, in that the trickier parts are those when the extension is at its most vulnerable, e.g. when there are foundation trenches that desperately need filling or a knock-through suspended on a few props or a roof wide open to the elements etc.

 

[^woody^]

Lofts and extensions are just variations of building. So get a book on building and use the principles.

 

[rockwood]

Cheers guys.

That Chudley and Greeno book comes up pretty well reviewed. Looks like there is a new one coming out in October too with revised regs etc.

 

[paulrockliffe]

Timely thread, I was about to ask a question and this reminded me that I always buy these books and forget I have them, so I'm going to check those first.

I have The Construction of Houses 5th Edition by Duncan Marshall etc, The COmplete Loft Conversion Book by Julian Owen and Housebuilder's Bible 10.

 

[Leofric]

The idiosyncratic nature of lofties means that you may not get all the answers from a guide book.

I would agree with that and in relation to extensions. Best to have plans drawn and approved for Planning and Building Regulations for your particular property and then refer to your guide books for building, although I think there is a limit to how far most diy people can go on building work - good builders are skilled people in my opinion.

 

[Notch7]

I would agree with that and in relation to extensions. Best to have plans drawn and approved for Planning and Building Regulations for your particular property and then refer to your guide books for building, although I think there is a limit to how far most diy people can go on building work - good builders are skilled people in my opinion.

Loft extensions are tricky, I wouldnt want to consider doing one from a book.

A simple single storey extension -thats more doable, but the difficulty is avoiding rework due to not knowing things.