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Do It Yourself Building Tips

There is legislation in place to govern all building work carried out in the UK (except Scotland ). DIY building is subject to these rules and regulations which are in place to ensure the health and safety of those working on the sites and to ensure that building work meets the required standard. These laws are there to protect the homeowner from substandard building work. If embarking on a DIY building project, you must contact your local authority to obtain building control approval. Your local authority may also be able to help you by checking that plans and calculations comply with the Building Regulations and by inspecting building works to ensure that they meet the minimum standards laid out in the approved documents.

The other factor to consider is whether you need planning permission. Planning controls relate to use and location of buildings, and constructions. Your local authority will advise you on whether you need planning permission or not. Usually a fee needs to be paid to apply for planning permission. Planning permission has to be granted before you start your DIY building work. Details of planning policies are complex but generally work such as extensions to the house, new outbuildings, walls and fences, internal conversions such as loft conversions or converting a house into flats, or changing a residential property into business premises require planning permission.

DIY building jobs would include loft conversions, DIY conservatories , erecting garden structures, taking out walls, dividing rooms into two, drainage and putting up external walls or fences. Before undertaking complicated jobs, it may be worth consulting an architect who can advise you on the design and structure of your home. Likewise it may be worth seeking construction advice before starting the work.

One skill you may find you need is bricklaying. You will need a hammer, spirit level, a bolster chisel, a pointing trowel and a brick trowel. Make sure you have the mortar mixed to the right consistency. Brick walls need a solid, flat base; usually a concrete foundation is required. Mark out where the wall will go with string lines stretched between posts slightly above the foundation. Build the corners first and then do the straight sections. To cut bricks use a bolster chisel to mark the line by tapping gently on it with a hammer. Realign the blade and strike the chisel firmly. Scoop some mortar onto the brick trowel and spread it along the course. Furrow it by pressing the tip of the trowel along the centre line. Press the brick down on to the mortar. Put some mortar on the end of the next brick and press the mortared end against the first one. Scrape off excess mortar with the trowel. Use the spirit level to ensure bricks are horizontal.

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