Managing a building project - how hard can it be?! (Self Build Extension Part 4) 

Follow this project in a bit more detail at: selfbuildextension.co.uk/ 👍

It must be so exciting to get the project to this stage. I don't know anything about building but really enjoy these updates.

Should not the wall ties drop, slightly, from the inner leaf down to the outer leaf (avoids transmission of damp to inner wall)

This channel has been invaluable. I need to basically knock down and rebuild my kitchen extention so all the 'little bits' like knowing what to do with rain has been so helpful for me to plan out my 'mental plan'.

I have always had a 'Have a go Joe' attitude and all jokes aside I was a Master Baker and Confectioner and found mixing concrete, Lime etc a doddle; plastering, pointing, tiling, painting and decorating easily manageable albeit I can see my own 'mistakes'. Due to illness I now have to pay folk to do 'jobs' and invariably I find that my mistakes were far kinder to me than paying a hefty price to sit and observe 'the professionals' sloppy work. God bless Alan whoever he is. I am thrilled you have found someone who takes a pride in their work Andy...as you do. x

I typed in Remodel a house by myself, How hard can it be ? Your channel popped up. So I watched, listened and learned. I do understand, I've been living the same dream for almost a year now. Working on my house after my full-time job every night, using my vacation time and days off as well. There aren't any tricks, no cutting corner's or leaving things that someone will do. Like you, I'm the someone else that does everything I leave behind , so careful planning, on top of the already carefully planned parts of the project matter greatly. Your work and work ethics are amazing. Your video's are sincere and honest. Most subscriber's don't realize how many hours goes into editing, stopping, retaking, re editing the content again, before posting. This, in addition to keeping the project on schedule. Thank-You, you are an inspiration and an asset to RU-vid.

A good set of tradesmen that you can trust, are worth their weight in Gold...

I’m planning to self build an extension in the same way in a years time. Just incredible to follow your project and learn so many details I would never have thought about. Keep up the great work,seriously appreciate your time and effort making these superb videos.

Fantastic series Andy, such a lot you have accomplished 👍

More great progress. 👍 When I did ours I had architect quotes then decided to do the drawings myself😂 All went well, planning wanted a side elevation that I'd missed so added that. Had to research roof trusses, steel requirements for building regs but worked well. Next time I'd use a brickie, I was ok but far too slow(wife was incredibly patient with me.)

Looking good. Wish I hadn't got the cowboys I have doing work at mine and built it myself.

Ive enjoyed watching this series and am impressed with your all round knowledge. Many thanks 👍

Keep it going mate you will get there in the end you will be sat on the patio with yer newkie brown cocktail come the summer :)

What a worksmith Alan is! beautiful work. I wonder what, I , as someone who has never laid a brick in his life, would make this look like! well done for your efforts too.

God dam scaffolders haha. Most scaffolders would hit the wall, thinking it will give the scaffold stability. Any scaffolder worth his salt would keep the transoms off the wall (board bearing tubes) knowing that the scaffold will have movement when people are working on it causing it to knock blocks over and out off plumb...... bet you can't guess my trade 😊

Awesome build progress Andy, its looking and coming on very nice. Don't forget that homework buddy, you don't want lines from Mrs. Mac. Stay Safe.

Hi love the video of the building you have done. And have watched them all to the very last one when you get your building certificate. Sorry to rain on your parade but I think you'll find if and when you come to sell the certificate it won't be worth the paper it's written on. 5 months ago I finished an extension more or less exactly the same as yours . and decided to sell as the market had gone mad. I got a buyer in one day. And at the point of nearly exchanging the buyers building society WOULD NOT accept the building certificate. They wanted a letter from the planning department saying I didn't need planning permission as it had been done under permitted development. E.g only going out 3m x 6m. My solicitor wrote to the building society. But they would not budge. I contacted the planning department of my council and they said it would have to send someone out and the letter would take upto 6 week to be sent out. So rather than lose the sale I yes I had to take out an indemnity insurance at my cost. I complained to building control they didn't care. I suggest you find out now in case in the future you want to sell. Ps well done with the build.

I have helped in the building of extensions and been the labourer, So yes I appreciate the graft you have had to put it, I agree totally most of the guys doing site work ar excellent. Occasionally you get the cowboy but usually easy to spot them, Well done.

Hello, hope this is related to your video. I have a question about how to go about project managing and organising and up and coming project. Software and creating a Gantt charge. I have used MS Project in a past job but what would you use? I am trying to think of all the tasks first and then putting them into some sort of logical order. I have done my own projects around the house like you but not used to managing other trades as normally do it all myself. Any advice or tips? I can do Autocad drawings but I think its worth just doing my own creative drawings then paying an architect do to instructional drawings with all the details so that I am not accountable for measurements etc. My project involves converting an integrated garage in a 3 story townhouse and opening it all up with steel beams etc. So a big project but I can design and fit the new kitchen so just need it done to finished plaster with services. Do you think a builder will do that? Sorry if too many questions just wanted to get help from someone with experience. Cheers Aaron

Why have you give half a mitre of wasted space away next to your neighbor ?, Cos they've gone all the way to there border, your brickie has done that wall from the inside, so doesn't need that gap, ?or is me being greedy.

Really exciting to watch this! Just finished a property renovation with a £17k budget and it's definitely given me the bug!

There's much worse ways a scaffolder can knock your block off lol joking aside why do the building trades seem to make more work for each other

Why no new videos. J thought u had bjg pjle of them. J don't think u eve post twjce a month

With all your labouring (lifting blocks) you'll end up with a body like Charles Atlas....cancel that existing gym contract ...! By the way Andy, the aches dissipate after about 5-7 days....☺️

I was just checking to see if you had a new video and behold one pops up lol

Really good channel. Hope everything is going tickey boo.

With the daily workout you're getting, think of the money you're saving on gym membership! I can see that you take the time to build a good relationship with your contractors so that they are happy to share their experience and expertise to guide you. I'm not surprised that you have everything neat, tidy and labeled!

Done a few extensions myself now and the job you’re doing here is 10/10 mate keep it up. When it’s all done it’s worth every bit of stress that came with it.

Couldn't you use a moving dolly with smart casters on the Scaffold level and save you having to man handle each block from where you place them from the ground, to the prep space? Project is very exciting to watch. My experience is trades that see you as a interested and engaged in the hands on portion of a project are very willing to explain things.

You've got a top brickie there mate, works lovely.

Total respect buddy. Hows Rodians partner doing? not seen any vids from him recently.

Your garage looks narrow how wide is it

wow thats gonna be huge !!! , looking good and yeah those blocks are a killer , I had to move a mountain of them into my garden from the end of our driveway and I wrecked me

Alan's finishing and pointing is beautiful , even for a facing that will never be seen

there's only one rule.......there must only be one project manager.....otherwise the builders will freak out.

Hey Andy, Very exciting time. You must be tired... one thing i noticed and youll kick your self when you look back at the footage. Turn the barrow tothe direction you are going while its empty... saves you time, struggle on soggy ground and possible twisting injury... was taught that on work experience when i was 18 after a nearly a day of turning a barrow while full.. never forgot it

I haven't seen you use DPC!!!

andy great progres lookiing forward to the next video stay safe.

Andy it’s just a few blocks🤣🤣🤣🤣

Scaffolding called putlogs

THIS AMAZING. I AM AN OLD YANK IN ALABAMA USA (73), FOUND YOUR CHANNEL CRUISING THROUGH RU-vid (AND LOVING EVERY BRICK LAID) AND WILL SEE THIS THROUGH WITH YOU! (120A HERE, LOL)

Great vid! You can save a lot of work with moving heavy blocks though. Get yourself down to Olivander's and get a wand. Wingardium Leviosa!

Brilliant videos! We’re hoping to do a UK series of videos over the summer, we should link up it would be great to document your process! Congrats on all the progress!

Hi, Andy, great commentary and very helpful series. I am planning to do a self managed single story six meters extension in spring. Just wondering how much you have paid Alan for your amazing brickwork while you being the labourour . As per my calculations I will need around 1100 blocks for both leaves of wall including below damp. Just trying to get a very rough idea how much is it costing now a days as everything is going up. A response will be really helpful. Thanks in advance.

Do u even make videos anymore?

Hi, great videos. im in the process of looking into the viability of putting a single storey rear extension to my house. Roughly 4.2 depth and 5.2 wide. My house was built in the 50's and is of cavity wall construction. Quite a few houses that are similar to ours and have the same cavity wall construction have had extenstions built using timber frame. I was just wondering if you looked at that option at all and how it compared cost wise etc, especially with timber costs being so high at the moment. Many thanks.

Champion! Thanks for sharing, inspiring and interesting, patiently explained with helpful filming. I'm pretty sure it's all going to go smoothly throughout as you're all over it. Thanks, tatty-bye...

I find the english way of brick cavity construction interesting. I thought the cavity was to provide an air drainage gap, so if water seeps in through the exterior layer of bricks, it can't get into the second layer dye to the air gap, and the water drys in that cavity. But putting insulation fills up and bridges the cavity and the insulation also risks getting damp. I guess if it is fibre glass it doesn't rot, but is this seen as an issue later down the track?. I guess if the exterior is rendered and painted, then little water would seep through.

Hi, fascinating. It will be interesting to see how you break through the walls into your house. Will you be having a door from the garage right into the property ie internally please? In our extension, the plans for the planning committee were far more basic than your architectural one. Was this the same for you, please?

Come a long way this channel, I wonder what you can do to top these videos Andy, great work, I'm sure hard graft but enjoyable I'm sure.

I can remember a self build extension we did years ago and we learnt a lot but rules and regs were rather simply in those days. Good to see what's involved these days and glad you're doing, not me!!! Keep your chin up Andy. Lots more hard work to come.

Wow looks like you are doing a fantastic job tow me I'm looking forward tow seeing the finished job Cod you ples tell me wot kind of blocks you have used on your extension

Love watching these as I'm currently doing the same thing, kitchen/Dining extension in Durham, just slightly ahead (we've got a roof on (not tiled yet but tarp temporary), lovely not being dependant on weather! Working with just my grandad (a retired builder), and me doing the labouring. It's good seeing how you deal with problems that we've been having and how you overcome similar obsticles. Keep up the good work 👍

I was amused to see an ad for 'lose weight' under the video as you were shifting blocks around 😀

No need to pay for a gym membership, then? Great stuff, thanks!

Tut tut Andy, is that excessive silicone on the door frame at 44 seconds lol

Alan you are a nice guy genuine interested and conscientious. I've 46 years experience.

Andy great update and progress. Your ambitions for the extended flue look on the ambitious side - hope your gas safe engineer can solutionise it for you.😀👍

I'm so tired for you! 😱 these blocks...

Coming on really well 👍

Dont take all the brick on edge( not soldier out at once mate! .

Is the lentil the header above doors and windows? I. IN the US headers have different dimensional lumber based on the width of the doors and windows! Example up to 3Ft wide doors and windows we use a 4 x 4 which is really 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 up to 3 foot opening a 4 x 6 up to a 6 foot length anything bigger than 6F needs to 4x8 or (2) 2x8’s bolted together for use with 2x4 framing. With 2x6 framing (1 1/2 x 5 1/2”) you need to nail (3) 2x6 nailed together for opening up to 6Ft wide and (3) 2x8 up to 8ft wide? Or perhaps (3) 2x10 after that you need custom made beams aka headers to handle the weight of the second floor or the roof rafters on a one story building.

That is SUCH tidy blockwork! Seeing the rear blockwork pointed like that, and looking so tidy, even though it will be rendered/covered is rarer than hen with teeth! Even the 'inner face' of the outer skin in pointed neatly. So many videos you see on brick/block laying just leave the walls un-pointed and it looks so messy - and this is a refreshing change... But how come it wasn't also done on the outside of the wall by the garage? Even the 'angled' cuts on the side walls are virtually perfect and sharp with no mortar just shoved-in to make up the 'straight' top edge. Couple of questions.. 1) Were the engineering bricks at the base perforated with holes or solid and were they class A or B.. and 2) what type of blocks were they (they don't look like hose lightweight breeze blocks so I am guessing they were the 7.2N ones weighing in at 18-odd KG each)? Asking as I'm building a block garden room using 7.2N blocks and can't decide if I want/need class A or B and perforated or solid to get up to DPC (though I am leaning towards perforated class B).

wow.just wow.

Curious as to what your solution for the flue will be like. When I was naive and first bought my current house and first renovation project the gas engineer convinced me to place my boiler where I’ve always intended an extension to end up - his justification being “you’ll have bigger problems to worry about with moving the drains.” Not sure that’s a problem now I’m less wet behind the years but wonder what I’m going to be able to do about the boiler and it’s flue if I build an extension (which I’m considering now). Probably much less self build than yourself but I’d be keen to get my hands dirty even if it’s just a bit of plumbing!

those are heavy blocks, used to be 4.2N when I was on site for above ground and 7N for below but I dont recall them ever being that heavy.....or maybe I just got old and weaker!

My neighbor was complaining about how cold it was, I just moved a pallet of blocks and was having a breather in a tee shirt!

All good stuff. behind every good bricky is a good labour , they use to have two and one gangs and the labourer got the same as the bricklayers because they new with out him they couldn’t earn as much on peace work . You’ll just have to make sure Alan doesn’t won’t you full time bless him . Best wishes and kind regards as always 😀👍👍👍

Poor scaffold. No toe boards, and knocking brickwork....

scaffolding looks a bit dodgy.

Well done. I did all this kind of work in the late 70s early 80s on my own properties,including roof tiles. Only proffesional help was I visited building sites and asked lots of questions. Family members helped with the labouring. Very interesting what you are doing. Brings back memories of constant dusty clothes and rough hands. Worth it in the end.

I understand it’s hard to load out blocks but many people do 500 a day 8 9 blocks ever wheelbarrow

Looking amazing.

My first job after school was as a brick's labourer so I had a wry smile through this episode :) Enjoying the series and all your explanations! Don't forget to switch off and relax for a while each evening before you go to bed to let the brain recover!! All the best, Jeroen

Fantastic so far can't wait for more.

7:00 Fantastic sequencing tip that.

Hi Andy, I am very confused as I live in the north of England as well but when do we get this overbearing heat wave, in fact what is a heat wave, I have never seen or been in one in this area of England. You are making a hell of a movement on the walls and the speed of your brickey is great, I am sure you will be looking forward to having all the brickwork done and be able to get a start on the roof. Keep up the good work and videos as we all look forward to them

Hoping you don't have to add a chiropractor to your list of specialised professionals :)

Absolutely love your vids bud. You somehow make something stressful seem very calming😊

Hi, Great information, have you found the costs of materials has gone up loads?

You have lost weight moving all the bricks. Well done and keep up the good work.

Are you sure you can't convince Alan the bricky to work in the North West Andy ?😁

G'day Looking great. I used to build in UK prior to 29 years ago.

Cant you use Selcon 9" light weight blocks anymore in UK ?

Good Stuff! Thanks!

When me and my other half laid a 100 ft block paving drive we were in our 60’s and moved over 140 tonnes of material over a summer - bloody hard work but it still looks great.

How do you plan to do the knock through? Interested to see your approach. Also how come you couldnt have a flat roof for the extension?

Your'e doing a great job, what a work out, you won't need to renew your gym membership this year😜🥵 really enjoying the build and finding out what is needed for an extension!

Nice video, what are you doing with the block side with next door ?

Absolute dynamite content this Andy 👍. Planning a self build house in the near future and all the tips and useful info here is absolutely invaluable. Can’t wait to see the result!

In fairness with blockwork a lot of height can be covered in a short time period.

I remember working for a "bricky" for a summer in my high school years. They had 3 masons and I started as a labourer along with one other fellow at the beginning of the summer and by the end I had outlasted 3 other hires. It's unforgiving work! Eat, sleep, work. LOL Good work.

As a labourer you don't need a gym to keep all those kgs away. And I totally agree with the temperatures being more comfortable to work in spring or autumn, and even winter time will give you some days good for outdoors work. If just it would not be that wet all the time, in winter even when it doesn't rain thing barely will dry up unless you get a really cold freezing weather. In the summer however I had days in my build when it was impossible to do any hard graft in the middle of the day without getting a heat stroke. Once you get the roof on you will be less dependent on weather conditions, so I hope the roof is on your extension before winter time, and you can keep on going.

so good 💖😗

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

those reversible electric conveyors are handy to hire

hope you paid yourself a good wage lol

So you only have a single door sized access to your back yard? I originally thought you were having a single car garage roller door at the back of the garage.

Why is the boiler flue pointing up or have I got that wrong.

You having cavity trays fitted between new roof and existing house?