Conversions and Extensions

Have you ever admired and perhaps envied an ambitious home conversion or extension which someone has carried out himself? Of course you have! And have you at the same time wondered if you were capable of doing the same!
When you first buy a house it's impossible to forecast how your requirements will change. A few years after moving in there may be a pressing need for another bedroom, a bigger kitchen or a sun lounge. Or maybe you want another home altogether — a row of derelict cottages, an old barn, even a ruined castle. These are all dwellings which have been successfully converted into proper family homes.
But where do you start? How do you go about it? This book has all the answers. By taking a number of actual projects and explaining in detail how the work was done it provides not only information but inspiration, too.
Turning a pigsty into a beautiful family home seems impossible. But it has been done and we show how. And if your ambitions don't reach as far as that you can always transform a dingy, damp cellar into an exciting playroom for children.
But, of course, at least some professional advice is always useful. We explain why and when you need an architect, an electrician or a plumber. Don't be beguiled into thinking you can do everything yourself.
The book also contains a comprehensive glossary on conversions and extensions; this includes sections on dealing with damp, different types of flooring, partition walls, suspended ceilings, and roof rooms.
Don't be alarmed by what might seem an impossible task. You never know what you're capable of until you try!