DIY timber extension kit?

[DIYedboy]

I am interested in installing a ready built timber frame kit above my garage. I'm told there are companies that can crane the things into position. Does anyone know the name of such firms?

 

[HERTS P&D]

Ask these people:

http://www.potton.co.uk/

Andy

 

[^woody^]

Buy sheets of 12mm chipboard, some CLS, and make your own panels.

That's all the companies do

 

[HERTS P&D]

Chipboard???????

Andy

 

[^woody^]

Lol.

Damn autocorrect. For chipboard read OSB

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Buy sheets of 12mm chipboard, some CLS, and make your own panels.

That's all the companies do

Every now and then you go and say something like that!

 

[DIYedboy]

Potton were no good, but the answer lies in SIPS.........structural insulated panels, Kingspan make them & a few others, very impressive insulation. Have any of you clever boys been involved with this new wonder construction system?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I've had a dabble although only for new build although its the same principle albeit an extension or new build. That you save a load of time on site by getting your waterproof shell up in a day or so and this time saving offsets the (some would argue) high price of the panels leaving you with a cheaper and quicker build overall. They do work, the SIPs business is alive and kicking and with the kind of modern standards now required for new builds they will get ever more popular. They are a bit of a double edged sword though, unless you build an additional skin of masonry around them future purchasers may be put off and to build an additional skin of masonry around them kind of defeats the object. I suspect in about 25 years they will be a very popular construction method.

 

[StevieV1]

I am not a builder or anything like that but an enthusiastic diy'er who has just got pp for a double storey rear ext and some roof work to my Potton dormer bungalow.

I wouldn't bother with Potton for an extension as they won't be interested as I approached them about a bolt on kit for my house and they didn't even come back to me to say thanks but no thanks etc. I think they are only interested in complete houses.

After many enqs with the numerous kit builders out there I suggest you consider the services of a local structural carpenter for this kind of job. The cheapest quote I got for a kit from one of the kit firms was around £19k. A local Chippie has come back with around £6k for a stick build. This is for timber frame erection materials and labour only upto first fix watertight.