Hi All, Newbie Here in midst of extension

[r1flyguy]

So, brief update on what I had done up until the start of this week

With the ACO drains having been laid i had to sort out the patio ideas but first off I had to dig out for the small footing for a retainer wall.
The garden slopes away from the house so to keep the patio level i would have to build up quite a bit of ground thus needed to build a slight retainer wall and fill in ready for...... well haven't decided yet whether it will be slabs, etc but looking at tiles in the rear extension and continuing the theme out on to the new patio area.

So, footings dug and levels, roughly marked out.....

 

[r1flyguy]

The footing already in the photo is from the original dwarf wall that we had built a few years back

And the concrete is in

 

[r1flyguy]

The next priority was to start work on the new bathroom but first we had to get the window in so as to keep it dry.

After many phone calls and what seem like 'ok' to 'ludicrous' quotes for supply and supply/fit, I found a company about 20 mins away that make to your spec's and ready in about 3 days, they offer a fitting service but as my dad is bloody marvellous and been in the building trade all his life, a small bathroom window wasn't too much issue, so paid, collected & fitted

 

[r1flyguy]

Next was to get levels and a couple of blocks in place so as to complete the retainer wall.

Accuracy wasn't a huge issue as it was all going to be hidden with the new patio, still, my dad got the dumpy level out and how he laughed at my rough footing levels. However, we laid a block in each corner and left it at that until I was home next.
My father offered to come and build the wall but I knew how busy he was (he should have retired 7 years ago!!!!) so I told him to just concentrate on his jobs and i'll see him when I'm next home.

 

[r1flyguy]

Anyway, that was where I was at up until I came home last weekend (I work away and this is only being done when I am home as trying to do as much as I can myself barring the plumbing & electrics)

I have been busy so far arranging deliveries, searching and researching products and have also on schedule with what I had intended doing this week so stand by for up to date updates coming soon

 

[r1flyguy]

Updates incoming.

Been a busy week, its amazing how time passes by when your trying to do as much as possible in the short space of time and mainly working alone doing the jobs I can do things progress, shall we say..... slowly.

So first up was to build the retailer wall for where the new patio will go.

Truthfully, Ive never laid a block before but common sense, having a good idea, watching my father in the past and taking my time, I persevered....



I did the one side first and the return, none of which will be seen as the blocks will be covered edge to edge with a little overlap and a fence

 

[r1flyguy]

I then did the other side using a course of bricks to make up the difference in height for my original footings, no big deal, so all good and correct levels now

 

[r1flyguy]

Between the rain showers and do ing other things, I laid the front course.

I initially though about leaving the centre open to return the clockwork and put in a step down, but due to the garden narrowing, a central step wouldn't look central from the rear extension due to the illusion so I just laid a full course and will also lay a full course of brick in front for a full width step

 

[r1flyguy]

Next up on the list of things to do was to knock out a course of bricks and inset a lintel ready to cut out one side of the opening.

The reason for this is I need to expose the soil pipe to see how best to connect to it from the new extension and prepare all the pipework to do so as we need the bathroom completed before we knock through as the toilet is directly below the window seen in the photo

 

[r1flyguy]

Next up was to create a plinth to lift the inline extractor up 300mm so as to to have to mess about with the insulation and to cut out for the external vent and connect up the pipe.
I did this purely for ease of access with no plasterboard in place just yet albeit it was planned to fit it this week.

 

[r1flyguy]

Next up was to get the electrician to pop over and just feed some wires into essential locations so that we could start boarding out.

Shaver point wiring


Plinth lighting and aerial, power to leave the option open for a bathroom tv

 

[r1flyguy]

I then set about reducing the flex in the trusses and fixing extra bracing where the stud wall for the walk in shower will be

 

[r1flyguy]

After a busy few days I built the stud wall for the shower and the plasterboard has started going up....



I have purposely left the noggins out the centre section for the time being and just had a short piece of boarding fitted.

The shower tray is 1400 x 900 stone resin and weighs a lot thus trying to bed it and position into an enclosed wall wouldn't be very easy so i intend to lift it into place one person either end, bet it in then finish the boarding off.
It can be covered over and the boards can be skimmed in situ.

 

[r1flyguy]

From the below photo you can see I started to fit a second stud as this will be a built in wardrobe, 600 deep and 900 wide, it will also help reduce the noise from the shower in the third bedroom.
It helps to make the most of the available space as the house footing is not huge so all the bedrooms have fitted furniture and once the new central heating system goes in the extra room from removal of the current water heater in my lads room will be a godsend and that cupboard space will be turned into storage for all his toys

 

[r1flyguy]

Lovely job on the extension! What pitch is the roof mate? And do you know how much of the birdmouth was cut out.

Thanks mate

Sonny

Hi Sonny

I'll be commencing more work this week so more updates to follow

The rafters and trusses are still exposed internally so I'll grab some photos & measurements and let you know soon.

The pitch of the rear I believe is in excess of 20 degrees as both the tiles & velux have minimum pitch requirements IIRC I'll do a quick calc and update all of the above over the weekend for you

Best wishes Gary