DIY extension... 101 stupid questions!

[Delinquent]

I've decided that I'm going to try and project manage and do a great deal of my extension myself to keep costs to a minimum, with labourers for the bits I can't do. So expect a great deal of stupid questions - here are just my first few...

Bricks and blocks -

The lowest 14 courses are in brick (the rest is rendered block), and I've been told I've got to match the existing house, which are handily imperial size . What figure per sq m do I use to calculate total needed taking into account mortar?

Concrete blocks - although these aren't imperial same as above, how many do I assume per sq m taking into account mortar - it doesn't seem to tally up. Also, I have a skillin roof (I think that's the term - the corners of the ceiling slop a bit on all sides where the roof sits down over the walls), so I presume I need to allow for an extra row of blocks on the inner leaf compared to external measurements?

Couple of other stupid ones -

I've just been told that you can't use wall ties anymore? what are you supposed to hold the leaves together with if you don't have wall ties?!

Also been told you can no longer key the blockwork into the existing building - again, how do you hold it in place if you don't key in the brickwork?

 

[Shytalkz]

60 bricks/m2; 10 blocks/m2.

Wall ties, yes we do still use them. Centres are 900 horizontal, 450 vertical, 225 around openings; for cavity >75 wide, reduce horizontal spacing to 600.

Firfix or similar ties can be used instead of bonding in new to old.

Internal leaf will be slightly higher, amount depends on pitch and wall thickness. If you add 1/4m x length of wall to your outside measurements, you should be ok.

 

[Delinquent]

Many thanks

 

[^woody^]

With regards to matching, this does not mean exactly (unless listed or something) and generally means "near enough". So it can match in colour if you like and not the actual size of bricks.

For the ties, I presume that you have been told that you can't use butterfly ties, and not ties in general.

You can tie in the blocks - who said you couldn't?

 

[Delinquent]

With regards to matching, this does not mean exactly (unless listed or something) and generally means "near enough". So it can match in colour if you like and not the actual size of bricks.

For the ties, I presume that you have been told that you can't use butterfly ties, and not ties in general.

You can tie in the blocks - who said you couldn't?

ahhh - misinformation aplenty seems to be flowing my way. No mention of butterfly, just the word "ties".

Both that and not tieing in the blocks came from a builder quoting for the work - obviously he is now off the list