Building Extrension

[DavidC]

I Plan on going owner Builder and building my own extension.
with exception of using license contractor to do roof tiles, elctrician and plumber.

I have fully renovated the rest of my home and plan now with the family growing to add and extra rumpus and bedroom.

I plan to do most of the carpentry and framework myself and have had a lot of experience with nailing and structural framing.

Am I on the right track-

I need a plan to work from, can a drafter draw this up and add all the required detail to build off. Including frame sizes and roofing , footins etc or do they also refer this to structural engineer and add this detail to the drafters sketches.

Do i then need to get a private certifier surveyer to get involved to inspect footing holes and then get go ahead to errect frame work

Cheers Dave

[ozwinner]

Most plans that I work with assume that the contractor knows what is what, so there is no detail as such.

Al

[craigb]

You need to get your Development Application approved by your council first.

Then you need to get a Construction Certificate a key requirement of which is home ownwer's building insurance.

Really, there is quite a lot involved in being an owner builder. I suggest you approach your council as a first step. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

I'm not 100% sure but I think to be an owner builder in NSW you have complete a TAFE course in Ownwer Building. I could well be wrong about that though.

[woodcutta]

I'm not 100% sure but I think to be an owner builder in NSW you have complete a TAFE course in Ownwer Building. I could well be wrong about that though.

I dont know if its a local council or state requirement, but if the work is under $12k no TAFE course is required.

woodcutta

[craigb]

I dont know if its a local council or state requirement, but if the work is under $12k no TAFE course is required.

woodcutta

Good to know.

I doubt if you'd build a rumpus room for under 12k though.

[pharmaboy2]

heh, DavidC, doing a similar thing myself, but have decided to use a carpenter for a week or so, so that joining in roof framing and any small details are done correctly, and helping put windows in etc.

In NSW you can do the course for owner builder online, cost $95 and then take plans into dept of fair trading, and they charge you $130 for your certificate, which you then need to show council before construction commences. BTW the course is a total waste, It took me about an hour - I dont know why they bother even making it a requirement!

If you can get the approved cost below 12k - do it. For something as simple as a sstraight non wet area, no kitchen rumpus, you should be able to get away with a $600 / sqm estimate reasonably easily - obviously dont go specifying good quality windows etc into plans. Go talk to the person who will approve the plans and see what you can get away with - -the lower the cost estimate the better for you.