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Hi could do with some STW advice.
I have an end bedroom where I want to remove the french doors and convert to a bathroom. So first things first I need to remove the french doors, then build a wall halfway or so up and then put in a window. the cavity will be about 8 feet and 1.5 m across (apologies for mixing measures there)
I believe im handy enough to do it but still need to get it right. For the wall, we have external rendering so my plan was to build 2 rows of block work with a 60mm cavity in between using 100m width blocks, possibly fill the cavity with correct insulation or even just put in ballast/ rubble.
I then want a upvc window measured to fit and bought online and then fit it immediately after the wall is built. I've helped my father in law fit windows before and have the gist.
questions:
does the wall plan seem okay?
can anyone recommend a good UK wide upvc window seller?
do i need to rigidly adhere to FENSA building regs? WE don't intend to sell the house anytime soon and surely a buyer can take out insurance to side step lack of FENSA regs.
any advice would be appreciated.
Do not fill the wall with rubble! You can get a 50mm insulation board or 60mm soft full fill insulation. 100mm clinks on the outside then thermalites on the inside.
When fitting your window make sure it is at least 50mm in reveal or this will be a bastard to form a rendered reveal.
Think about any openers on the window, think of any extraction required for the bathroom, as in build in a small piece of 100mm rigid pipe to act as a duct to save any coring, for such a basic window any supplier will do, maybe get blinds fitted within the glazed units.
Bollox to fensa/regs, who's gonna know? Oh and think about how you are removing waste ie toilet shower etc again a lot easier to dig through the aperture than under the wall.
possibly fill the cavity with correct insulation or even just put in ballast/ rubble.
Probably best you do a bit more reading up on the reason you have a cavity in a wall! The actual work is pretty easy on that scale for someone half capable of methodical DIY work, though I would suggest you will need to pay someone to render it when you finish the building work (and after the window has gone in). You will need to tie the blockwork into the existing wall somehow and the 2 skins will need to be tied in to one another. Insulation will be needed, please don't fill the cavity with rubble 🙂 . Building regs are there for a reason. Even if you choose not to have an inspector sign off the work I would suggest you get a copy of the relevant section on cavity walls and window openings and follow them to the letter. It won't just make it less of a hassle should you come to sell, it will ensure you don't end up having to pay someone to come along and fix something which could have easily been avoided if done right first time.
possibly fill the cavity with correct insulation or even just put in ballast/ rubble
At this point I decided it would be better if you got someone in to do the job.
You'll certainly need a plasterer for the render and plaster inside.
As it's a small job you might be able to get someone who could do the lot.
I've done exactly what you describe. One window we halved the height of, one 3m opening for sliding doors I halved to fit French doors.
I did get building control to look, he really wasn't having a good day and basically wasn't interested (!). I've now taken out an insurance as I don't have finish certification.
I know the standards well enough to build to them. I blocked up outside where my biggest issue was securely tying new blocks into existing wall and foundations with ties and track.
Inside I used a timber frame, insulated, proper vapour barrier and such. Cavity closers, windows and door in.
I also put in new internal stud wall, new radiators and rewired some as that was one of the main reasons for doing the job.
I got a plasterer in and he rendered and plastered for me. You cannot get a match for the render, you will be painting the external wall.
It's a DIY'able job, but do read up on standards and detailing before you leap in. They exist for a good reason, and things like filling a cavity with rubble is a recipe for a problem...
Thanks for replies, the rubble in cavity was suggested by a local handyman I was chatting with and eyebrows were raised but I thought with external rendering the risk of rain bridging to the interior was minimal
Maybe he has discovered something to revolutionise house building teqniques and save on landfill too. Wonder if he does u value calcs
Just make sure you never ever get that handyman to do anything for you.....