Extending and improving your home : an introduction

Content: Preface ix     1 Extending and improving your home     an introduction 1  Why extend or improve your home? 2  Do-it-yourself 4  Extending and improving your home     practices and procedures 6  Practical design tips 9     2 Legal background 14  Introduction 14  Planning permission 14  Listed buildings and conservation areas 25  The Building Act 1984 and the Building Regulations 28  Building Regulations 28  Competent persons schemes 46  The Party Wall Act 48  Energy performance 57  Occupiers    Liability Act 59     3 Arranging and organising the work 60  Use of professional designers 60  Getting a builder or doing it yourself? 61  Cost implications 64  Contractual arrangements 65  Availability of grants 66  Insurances for contract and after 68  Further information 72     4 Issues affecting the property as a whole 73  Structural stability 73  Weatherproofing and damp-proofing the envelope 79  Maintenance 80  Further information 81     5 Site survey and investigation 82  Site investigation 82  Subsoil investigation 84  Significance and proximity of site boundaries 85  Presence and significance of trees 86  Measured survey 88  Further information 90     6 Foundations 91  Introduction 91  Foundation types 92  Further information 101     7 Ground and upper floors 102  Ground floors 102  Upper floors 112  Building Regulations and Approved Document guidance 117  Further information 119     8 External walls 120  Introduction 120  Solid walls 121  Cavity walls 125  Framed wall construction 128  Building Regulations and Approved Document guidance 132  Further information 145     9 Internal walls 147  Partition walls 147  Building Regulations and Approved Document guidance 151  Further information 153     10 Roofs 154  Roof structure and coverings 154  Roof coverings 160  Other coverings 164  Building Regulations and Approved Document guidance 165  Design for thermal efficiency 165  Further information 173     11 Wall and ceiling finishes 174  Wall finishes 174  Ceiling finishes 179  Further information 180     12 Services 181  Introduction 181  Installing new kitchens and bathrooms 182  Above and below ground drainage 183  Electrical installations 196  Heating and ventilating services 197  Hot and cold water supply 202  Further information 205     13 Improving the thermal efficiency of the home 206  Thermal efficiency 206  The green deal 221  Building Regulations and Approved Document guidance 222  Further information 222     14 Conversions 223  What type of conversion 223  Loft conversions 223  Garage conversions 224  Basement conversions 226  Further information 229     Case Study 1 Thermal Upgrading 231  Elements 231  Heat losses 234     Case Study 2 Loft Conversion 237  Existing property 237  Proposal 237  Specifications 238  Additional notes 242     Glossary 245     Index 247