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!