Boss your own building team

May 18 2008 Donny Sheridan

Diy Donny That Extension Will Cost You Less If You Appoint Yourself Works Manager - And Can Stand The Noise And Pressure

If you're a hands-on DIY-er you'll want to follow your home extension every step of the way.

And if you feel really confident you could act as your own project manager.

But - and this is a big but - if you don't have the time or you're already stressed with your own work then taking full control of the building of your extension might give you a nervous breakdown.

If you are not used to working in the construction industry, you may feel like a fish out of water. A lot of things don't go to plan - like the weather. So here are a few things to look out for.

HOUSE INVASION

Your house becomes someone else's workplace and it is (usually) a male environment, so expect disruptions to your life. Most builders just want to get on with the job and you're best to leave them to it.

A morning and afternoon cup of tea won't go unnoticed and, if you get the chocolate HobNobs out instead of the Rich Tea, it will only help with the bonding process.

I tend to look at the invasion on the positive side - think of all that patter you can eavesdrop into.

PUNCTUALITY

Technically speaking, the working hours are 8am till 4.30pm but you will start to see a pattern emerging. But don't get your knickers in a twist if they arrive at 9am. The way I see it, what they do is more important than how long they are there for.

Remember the weather can affect progress, especially with bricklayers, who can be easily rained off. But at the end of the day, being there when they say they will always instills confidence.

There is nothing worse than builders who consistently fail to turn up.

CLEANLINESS

Expect the area around the extension to look like the proverbial building site but make sure the surrounding areas are kept clean. You would be amazed how things start to creep into an area where no building work is being carried out. You don't want a piece of 2x2 lying in your perennials.

DISTURBANCE

If you have ever experienced a cement mixer being turned on at 8am on the dot, you will know what I am talking about.

Remember, when that mixer is turning, it means progress and expect the conversation to continue over the noise of the mixer, which means two men shouting over the din. Then add Real Radio into the mix and you will have quite a few decibels on your hands.

Just hope one of the brickies does not fancy himself as a singer.

EXTRAS

Try to keep to the drawings and specification if possible. As soon as you start to change things on site, the costs will start to rise.

If you do want to change or add an extra to the extension, get the builder to price it beforehand as you will be surprised at how quickly the extra additions add up.

A builder's calculator has a large plus and a very small minus button.

Remember, the builder will have factored in the time for the job and then start planning ahead for his next job. Therefore every extra will add to his time and cost.

DONNY'S LITTLE HELPER

The Black and Decker adjustable spanner.

If you are trying to get into an awkward space and can't quite manage to fit the spanner over the nut and turn it, then this is the tool for you.

It has a batterypowered adjustment so you just press the button.

step by step guide to..

Plastering an old wall

If you like to get down and dirty then this is the job for you - but be warned, I would say plastering is probably the dirtiest job on the planet.

Older properties, especially tenements, have been knocked, bashed and repaired so often that the only way to bring the wall back to its former glory is to give it a skim coat of finishing plaster.

Now plastering is a skill but if you want to give it a go then at least you will know how to go about it. And if you have failed before then, armed with additional information, you may be willing to give it a second go.

First empty the room so there is no danger of dust or splashes on the furniture. If this is not possible, put all the furniture to one side and cover it.

Next lay a plastic tarpaulin over the full floor. Tarpaulin only costs a few pounds so you can bin it once you have finished.

Before you start plastering a PVA adhesive diluted with water (according the instructions) needs to be applied to the wall. This bonds the new and old plaster. Use a large brush or roller then leave the PVA until it becomes tacky.

While you are waiting for the PVA to become tacky, mix the finishing plaster. Add clean water to the tub then add the dry powder finish. Then mix together with the mixing drill until a thick, creamy, lump-free consistency is achieved.

Concentrate on one wall at a time. Scoop mixed plaster from the tub on to the hawk then scoop from the hawk on to the plastering trowel and spread on to the wall, working left to right if right-handed and vice versa if left handed.

Work along the middle and bottom of the wall and then the top.

Once you have completed plastering the wall, use the angle trowel to form the internal angle.

Once the wall has had one coat of plaster don't rush, as you will have over an hour to work with the plaster before it starts to set. Next apply a second laying-in coat of plaster over the first coat. You should then start to see the wall smooth out.

After one and half hours the plaster will start to set. At this point run the trowel over the plastered wall to smooth out any bumps on the plaster.

As the plaster sets, at around two hours, polish it using the large brush to wet the surface. Add water to the surface, starting at the bottom, and run the trowel up it.

Repeat the polishing process three times until the surface of the wall is smooth and polished.

Here's what you'll need..

Tools

Plastering trowel

Hawk

Large brush

Angle trowel

Scrapper

Mixing drill

Mixing tub

Ladders

Materials

PVA

Multi Finish

Tarpaulin