HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

My wife has nagged me for an extension for several years. I have finally given in although I don't think we NEED the extra space and the unnecessary use ov the planet's finite resources.

Why did I put this in diy ? Oh yes you guessed it right, I'm doing this myself All that time I would spend on pointless audio foolery is gonna be spent doing something constructive (moan). And before you ask, yes I have the necessary skills after building many structures over the years. It's the perfect distraction that I need and my ocd will be extremely happy to have something to over think.

It's going to be a single storey affair on the back of the house approx 3 x 5 metres. Extra sitting room plus a downstairs toilet, utility room and somewhere to put the boiler - oil boiler is currently in the garage but haven't decided what heating source it will be yet. Definitely not oil though. Green technology is evolving fast so don't know what to do yet.

We’ve got extension work starting next year.
Paying a man, I couldn’t put one brick on top of another straight if I tried.

Clumsiest man alive!

Extensions are an expensive undertaking. As with the legal, surveying and accountancy professions the process is full of money sucking leaches who extract all they can with the fee bearing absolutely no relation to the amount of work done. Well I'm not having it so I will do as much of it as I can. Getting trades people these days is a complete nightmare and like a lot of things the quotes are taking thd piss. The only things I envisage having to employ for are plastering, putting the boiler in and signing off the electrics - I have a friend who will check what I have done and sign it off for building reg compliance.

Architect? Not required. I know exactly what I want and don't need this service or the project management they provide. Planning permission ? Not required under permitted development- I have thoroughly checked. Builder, roofer, joiner - not required. The only red tape here is building regulations. My civil engineer friend is on hand for doing calculations and making sure what I do complies.

Materials - prices have gone up like with most things. In the spirit of tight as a ducks ass Yorkshire farmers I will be using as much of what I have laying about on the farm. I have enough natural random stone for the outer wall and enough Welsh slate for the roof. So that will help keep costs down. Still need blocks, joists, roof timber, windows & doors, concrete for footings, plasterboard, toilet and sink, boiler and all the sundries.

Skip - not required.

Tools- I have most of these already inc cement mixer and my farmer mate says I can borrow his mini digger . Soil straight into a trailer and dumped on the farm. Got most of the hand and power tools required- the rest can be borrowed (it's good to have lots of friends).

I will keep a record of costs as they arise. Will be interesting to see how cheaply it can be done without scrimping on quality and aesthetics. No doubt I will be feeling very smug at the end of it especially when I compare to what I know it has cost other people (mostly overpaid business types who have never done hard physical work or know one end of a hammer from the other).

Good luck, but please don't let a chap called Kevin come anywhere near you, unless of course you want it to turn into a 'grand design'

Will the extension be big enough to comfortably house a pair of huge speakers?

Do you have a pre-1930 house with lime mortar? And if so, will you use lime mortar for the stone outer wall?

Have you thought about having a stone inner wall and not bothering with the plaster, for a traditional rustic look?

Heat pumps are now very efficient - this chap designs bits of aero engines for Rolls Royce so has no axe to grind: https://livinglaudatosi.com/heat-pump-c ... reference/. This is a discussion of a wider study: - I can send a pdf summary. Do insulate to current standards as that save on the size of the heat source and cost in the long term. ECO4 should deliver free heat pumps, insulation and PV to those households with an income of less than £31k.

Lindsayt wrote: ↑Sun Jun 19, 2022 4:26 pm Will the extension be big enough to comfortably house a pair of huge speakers?

Do you have a pre-1930 house with lime mortar? And if so, will you use lime mortar for the stone outer wall?

Have you thought about having a stone inner wall and not bothering with the plaster, for a traditional rustic look?

Unfortunately it won't be big enough for fridge freezer sized speakers although it will be joined to my kitchen diner and accessed through the hole that has our large sliding French doors. Those doors will probably be removed.

House was built in 1920 so probably lime between the bricks. It is partially rendered - the bricks are visible upto 4ft above ground level, on the corners and around the doors and windows. It is an effect I like so might copy it but not as high as 4ft above ground.

I hadn't considered doing the inner wall with stone as well. Will have a think about that. Depends on whether the stone is good enough to be visible internally. If too rough it must be a nightmare to clean. I like the rustic look but I have tk consider what my wife wants and whether it would blend with what we have. None of the rest of the house is stone. It would save me money as no plasterboard or blocks required above floor level.

EcoFreek wrote: ↑Sun Jun 19, 2022 4:32 pm Heat pumps are now very efficient - this chap designs bits of aero engines for Rolls Royce so has no axe to grind: https://livinglaudatosi.com/heat-pump-c ... reference/. This is a discussion of a wider study: - I can send a pdf summary. Do insulate to current standards as that save on the size of the heat source and cost in the long term. ECO4 should deliver free heat pumps, insulation and PV to those households with an income of less than £31k.

Thanks. I am looking into heating and insulation. My aim is to insulate it to current standards or beyond if possible. I am researching heaf and energy sources but a lot of stuff to read and weigh up the pro's and con's.

Well this project should keep you out of mischief and away from thoughts of hifi. That little JBL speaker will certainly come in handy while you're working, just double check the size you are building to the space needed good luck

Reminds me of a Gary Delaney joke.

A good friend has just had a penis extension - his neighbours aren't happy - makes his house look stupid