Novice Building advice

[thered]

I am about to undertake a brick front porch in the next 2 month, only problem is i have never built a thing

So a bit of advice and tips please

im looking at a size just under planning permission, i am going to do just a single skin, with plasterboard on the inside

What foundations do i need?? is it 600mm deep 300mm wide??

How many bricks up do i put damp proof membrane?

Engineering bricks ok for the project?? whats the pros and cons of different bricks??

Two bricks wide at door points??

Whats best to go over doors and window? does it need a lintel or just a bit of angle iron it wont be that much weight

Do i need to ties to attach too house or cant it just be buttered up

I then need to make a roof, any tips with rafters how far they overhang brickwork ect ?? How do they fix to the single skin is it best too use joist hangers??

Also the floor best to concrete or is some flooring boards on timbers on a damp membrane sufficient

Thats about it i think for now my main concern is the brickwork not done it before im going to have a mess about with a brick barbie and take it from there.

Not bothered about fitting doors, windows, electrics and interior as i done all that before, just not built anything from scratch

ty

[Meat-Head]

When thick builder did my garage used some funky spiral things drill hole hit with hammer. And brick upto

might be worth getting thick builder to do ground level or wise mite be wonky

[thered]

When thick builder did my garage used some funky spiral things drill hole hit with hammer. And brick upto

might be worth getting thick builder to do ground level or wise mite be wonky

If i go for the wonky look it will end up straight , it is a bit of a biggy for me tbh but im up for it but your right needs to start off well from ground up

[Meat-Head]

Well use a long line of poundland cups of water and lots of string in the trench

[flyingpig]

If you have never laid a brick in your life, I hope this porch is not visible from the street!?!

Laying bricks is dead hard!!! I worked in the constrcution industry for years, and you think it is easy but it is deffo not!! Also, if you are digging either side of your doorway for the foundations you need to do a check / scan for services such as Elec / Gas. If you hit these you are in trouble !!!!

You need to go down 600mm 'ish, and the trench should be about 300 / 400 mm wide. Then a concrete foundation of at least 150mm, more likely 200mm, then start laying bricks once the concrete set.

Select the correct bricks or you will suffer spalling.

A single skin will need to be tied in to the existing property as it will be very unsecure.

My last bit of advice is don't do it. Get someone who knows what to do in.

[gmb45]

ffs red you havnt a clue have you, best get some one in, theres all sorts of variables when building any thing, weight of walls weight of roof, types of tiles on roof whether slate or concrete, thickness of concrete to support walls/roof etc etc etc, 3 courses of brick is standard for dpc engineerings are ok, you need dpc membrane under the concrete floor if using concrete, i think your taking the pish tbh, theres noooooooooooooooooo way you could do something like that, what about the slump of concrete will you need for the footings ? what if as has been said you come across any services ? you cant just go over them ffs, if you decided on a concrete floor whos going to finish the concrete ? i could go on and on, this is way over your head red ffs.

[flyingpig]

Agree with GMB ---- not straight forward at all. Lintols, ties - lots to go wrong....

If it went wrong and hurt someone you would not forgive yourself!!

[Meat-Head]

What's spalling flying pig? Or is it something to do eith air were wen pet and Timothy spall

[cgscott]

I'll come give you a hand RED. Weekly wage and digs

[flyingpig]

What's spalling flying pig? Or is it something to do eith air were wen pet and Timothy spall

Spalling is when moisture gets into the face of a brick then when it freezes the moisture cracks the bricks and blows the face off the brick. You commonly see it on garden walls were people use the wrong type of brick - yep, there are different types of bricks.

[thered]

ffs red you havnt a clue have you, best get some one in, theres all sorts of variables when building any thing, weight of walls weight of roof, types of tiles on roof whether slate or concrete, thickness of concrete to support walls/roof etc etc etc, 3 courses of brick is standard for dpc engineerings are ok, you need dpc membrane under the concrete floor if using concrete, i think your taking the pish tbh, theres noooooooooooooooooo way you could do something like that, what about the slump of concrete will you need for the footings ? what if as has been said you come across any services ? you cant just go over them ffs, if you decided on a concrete floor whos going to finish the concrete ? i could go on and on, this is way over your head red ffs.

thanks for the faith and compliments


i have you know i am very incompetent person

tbh im not worried about doing it, i am a bit of a have a go harry and have done a few things i possibly should have started but i just want some advive on getting it right. concrete floor im not arsed about, i may even board it

At the end of the day its somewhere to shot your coat and shoes on way in, pretty sure i will miss gas and water as they are further over in house if i were to hit the electric id work around it but i think its elsewhere anyway

My inexperience at building does not deter me tbh, if its goosed at least i had a go i will knock it down. The way im looking at it is if i take time with the brickwork it will be ok, i have put windows and doors in before so not worried about that. My main concern is getting the foundations right and getting dampcourse correct and then keeping it straight.

Its only a porch single skin i dont imagine the weigit will only come up under the upstairs window i will follow building regs for that anyway, concrete will either make myself or get brought in if too much( would a dry mix filled trench then watered like post crete be ok??)

It may sound a bit too much but i dont see it that way and i like the satisfaction of doing it yourselfht will be much to worry about

[thered]

Agree with GMB ---- not straight forward at all. Lintols, ties - lots to go wrong....

If it went wrong and hurt someone you would not forgive yourself!!

tbh i think if anything i would probably over engineer the build,

btw i know what you mean with the bricks i see many bricks with the faces fallen off especially on walls thats why i asked if engineering bricks were ok i heard they were good for moisture

[Meat-Head]

My garage is done in engineering bricks, rumor states was cheaper and ststronger doubt (iShit failure)
doubt watering dry id (isf) will be good , you can't see the bottom might be sat in a poodle making it weak

[gmb45]

engineering bricks are whats used for the dpc on a hoose because they dont let water in, and are rock hard, a good bit dearer than normal bricks tho.

[Meat-Head]

Thick builder said there were cheaper, it was only because i liked the color