DIY Home Add-on (looking for advice on related forum)

[walker450]

Hello. Does anyone have suggestions on a good forum for do-it-yourselfers to get advice related to constructing a home addition from the ground up? I am wanting to add two bedrooms, a two car garage, and a bathroom. I would feel much more comfortable building this stand-alone but having to tie it into the existing structure has me asking a lot of questions.

I've got a few books to reference and have a few friends and family to bounce ideas off of but I really like forums and the wealth of info they hold.

Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've never found a forum as helpful as this one.

 

[old and tired]

I second Eddie... ask your questions...

 

[dragoneggs]

I tend to agree... lots of DIYers here and most are truly here to help and provide positive 'constructive' criticism. Nice to get several opinions. Posting pics helps everyone best understand the situation.

 

[walker450]

Thanks for the comments guys, I believe I'll make a build thread here

 

[BrokenTrack]

Thanks for the comments guys, I believe I'll make a build thread here

I am not a carpenter by trade, but I have built my house from the ground up. That included mixing concrete from gravel taken out of our gravel pit, to logging trees to saw into lumber on our sawmills, to bulldozing slate out of the back pasture and splitting it to make flooring. I have added onto this house (4) times to take it from 500 sq feet to 2600 sq ft, and even moved buildings to make a few additions onto it. I am not a professional in any of those things (I am a welder by trade), but am willing to answer any questions you have. I am sure I could contribute something meaningful for your home addition.

My biggest motivator; at my job, on this site dealing with tractors, and even carpentry... it to instill in people CONFIDENCE that they can do a lot more then they probably think they can. Kudo's to you for being willing to take on the project yourself.

Not to be negative, because I normally am not like this, but stay away from a site called DoItYourself Forums, the owner of that site is a real snide, jerk. It is okay for a quick question or two, but a project like yours would be flagged "a blog" and be deleted. It is kind of crazy considering some of us have been working on our houses continually for 25 years.

 

[3Ts]

I am not a carpenter by trade, but I have built my house from the ground up. That included mixing concrete from gravel taken out of our gravel pit, to logging trees to saw into lumber on our sawmills, to bulldozing slate out of the back pasture and splitting it to make flooring. I have added onto this house (4) times to take it from 500 sq feet to 2600 sq ft, and even moved buildings to make a few additions onto it. I am not a professional in any of those things (I am a welder by trade), but am willing to answer any questions you have. I am sure I could contribute something meaningful for your home addition.

My biggest motivator; at my job, on this site dealing with tractors, and even carpentry... it to instill in people CONFIDENCE that they can do a lot more then they probably think they can. Kudo's to you for being willing to take on the project yourself.

Not to be negative, because I normally am not like this, but stay away from a site called DoItYourself Forums, the owner of that site is a real snide, jerk. It is okay for a quick question or two, but a project like yours would be flagged "a blog" and be deleted. It is kind of crazy considering some of us have been working on our houses continually for 25 years.

I also would encourage you to do it and post it on this forum. There are many here who can help and even more important, tell you what to watch out for. There are several of us that have built our own houses and have inspired our neighbors to take on projects they wouldn't normally do. Pictures do help along with the general area this will be done. (It's not that we want to know where you are, but that construction methods are different in different parts of the country. I.E. the south does not have to be concerned about the depth of frozen soil.)

 

[riptides]

To the OP, everyone of your tasks at hand have had numerous people on this forum doing the same thing at one time or another.

This place is helpful and friendly. Matter of fact, there is a great garage thread going on right now.

I myself many, many years ago, "renovated" our current house. Basically a tear down and tie-in to what was left. Boy was that "fun". LOL.