[Steph Hen]

We live in a 3 bed house and would like to knock down an old, single storey extension at the back and build a two storey extension in its place. Downstairs would be entrance hall, storage cupbords, utility room and shower room and upstairs, new family bathroom and 4th bedroom/ study.

We want to do the work ourselves; the farm employs people who can do building, carpentry, etc,.

I've got quotes from architects and have looked up relevant building regs and spoken to local council planning department and they are fairly happy with what I've sketched/described/drawn up with computer software. We can claim vat back because it's a business property.

But we are limited by cost, although the farm owners (family) won't commit to a budget untill I provide full costing for the project. I have messed around with the plans, 5x6m is ok but as you can imagine, 6x8m would be better! The farm want an actual costing of all materials, not an approximately £1000/m2 figure.

Carpets, light fittings, bathrooms, etc, I am happy with, but blocks/bricks/cement/joists/electric cable/damp course?/water pipe/etc I am unfamiliar with. I wondered if anyone can recommend a list of materials typically used on such projects or if there are any good websites that might be helpful for highlighting what we might use and need to cost?

I know the architects will work some of this out, but there's a good chance we'll end up changing the plans depending on what the farm says once they have the costings and then we'll have to get plans redrawn, and spend more money out of the questionable budget! Bit of a catch 22.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[mojocafa]

Hi 

Go up to orchard timber in Forfar and get advise ree costings from them. When building this place they were very helpful

[Steph Hen]

Cool! Thanks for that tip!

[Steph Hen]

Hi 

Go up to orchard timber in Forfar and get advise ree costings from them. When building this place they were very helpful

Did they make the timber frame for you or just supply all the wood?
Did they have own carpenters to erect frames for you?  Thanks x

[mojocafa]

We just got our supples there, a local joiner built the frame

[Black Sheep]

Worth spending a bit on a quantity surveyor to spec it for you? Might save an awful lot of time and provide the assurance it sounds like is needed.

[Steph Hen]

Worth spending a bit on a quantity surveyor to spec it for you? Might save an awful lot of time and provide the assurance it sounds like is needed.

Yes, this sounds like a good idea! I'm struggling to find out numbers that I need, like dimensions of timber for different parts of the frame, distance between frame components, etc. Going to need help to progress this on!
There also seem to be different types of timber framed construction methods. As it stands, I can't do this.

Do you know what information a quantity surveyor normally works with? I was under the impression they were employed after architects had come up with detailed drawings and construction methods?

[Steph Hen]

This whole thing isn't really possible so I've given up. We will fix up what we have and maybe get a conservatory. Thanks for your replies, but it's not going to happen any time soon.