Hi!
I am interested in finding out about changes to a Victorian conversion 
flat that I am planning to buy.

With a few changes which I have identified, the flats value could easily 
increase by 50k. It would also become my dream home! The question is; 
how difficult, time consuming and expensive are the changes?

I want to do the following:

1) Put in an extra window in an existing brick wall. (Should be a large 
'Victorian look' sash window of decent quality) Price & time..

2) Knock down approx 3 metres of inside existing (original) wall (am 
assuming it is brick..)

3) Put up 6 metres of new inside wall, including a (Victorian look) door.

Am I right to think that as a single woman I had best hire a 
professional to do the job? Although I don't mind doing DIY, I can't see 
myself knocking down a brick wall.

If you have any recommendations for a good builder in SW London, please 
let me know!

Very grateful for your advice!

Johanna

"Johanna"  wrote in message
news:42d101eb$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk...

> Hi!
> I am interested in finding out about changes to a Victorian conversion
> flat that I am planning to buy.
>
> With a few changes which I have identified, the flats value could easily
> increase by 50k. It would also become my dream home! The question is;
> how difficult, time consuming and expensive are the changes?
>
> I want to do the following:
>
> 1) Put in an extra window in an existing brick wall. (Should be a large
> 'Victorian look' sash window of decent quality) Price & time..
>
> 2) Knock down approx 3 metres of inside existing (original) wall (am
> assuming it is brick..)
>
> 3) Put up 6 metres of new inside wall, including a (Victorian look) door.
>
> Am I right to think that as a single woman I had best hire a
> professional to do the job? Although I don't mind doing DIY, I can't see
> myself knocking down a brick wall.
>
> If you have any recommendations for a good builder in SW London, please
> let me know!
>
> Very grateful for your advice!
>
> Johanna
>

Hire a good structural engineer to advise on taking things away and putting
things in.  Also an architect to advise on the planning and documentation to
submit to the local authorities.  They should both be able to recommend a
good builder for you too.

On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 12:09:31 +0100, a particular chimpanzee named
Johanna  randomly hit the keyboard and
produced:


>Hi!
>I am interested in finding out about changes to a Victorian conversion 
>flat that I am planning to buy.
>
>With a few changes which I have identified, the flats value could easily 
>increase by 50k. It would also become my dream home! The question is; 
>how difficult, time consuming and expensive are the changes?
>
>I want to do the following:
>
>1) Put in an extra window in an existing brick wall. (Should be a large 
>'Victorian look' sash window of decent quality) Price & time..
>
>2) Knock down approx 3 metres of inside existing (original) wall (am 
>assuming it is brick..)
>
>3) Put up 6 metres of new inside wall, including a (Victorian look) door.
>
>Am I right to think that as a single woman I had best hire a 
>professional to do the job? Although I don't mind doing DIY, I can't see 
>myself knocking down a brick wall.
>
>If you have any recommendations for a good builder in SW London, please 
>let me know!
>
>Very grateful for your advice!
>
>Johanna

Aside from any structural matters (are these walls load-bearing; what
lintels and beams will you need?), there is the fire safety aspects
(amongst others) to cover:

1a. Will the new window be close to a boundary, and are there any
other windows on that elevation?  See 'unprotected areas' in Approved
Document 'B'.

1b. Any new or replacement window must have a U-value of 2.0W/mK or
less (low-e coated double-glazed units with 16mm gap between panes).
The only exceptions are for listed buildings and conservation areas
(in which case, you've got more trouble than Building Control).

2. Assuming your flat was converted legally and to the requirements of
AD 'B', and the building has three or more storeys, your front
entrance hall will form a fire resisting lobby to the stairs.  You
can't remove this, nor can you change the doors for non-fire-resisting
doors.

3. Unless you're on the ground or first floors, then the internal
alterations can't form an 'inner room' (one whose escape is wholly
through another room).  You will need to maintain a hallway.

Is this building Listed or in a Conservation Area?  If so you may need
a Listed Buildings application (in which case your best laid plans may
be shot to hell).

You will need a Building Regulations application even if it's only for
the installation of the new window in the external wall.  Consult a
Structural Engineer WRT the knocking down of walls, and a Building
Surveyor or Architect WRT the alterations to the layout.
-- 
Hugo Nebula
  "If no-one on the internet wants a piece of this,
   just how far from the pack have you strayed?"

"Johanna"  wrote in message
news:42d101eb$1@news1.homechoice.co.uk...

> Hi!
> I am interested in finding out about changes to a Victorian conversion
> flat that I am planning to buy.
>
> With a few changes which I have identified, the flats value could easily
> increase by 50k. It would also become my dream home! The question is;
> how difficult, time consuming and expensive are the changes?
>
> I want to do the following:
>
> 1) Put in an extra window in an existing brick wall. (Should be a large
> 'Victorian look' sash window of decent quality) Price & time..
>
> 2) Knock down approx 3 metres of inside existing (original) wall (am
> assuming it is brick..)
>
> 3) Put up 6 metres of new inside wall, including a (Victorian look) door.
>
> Am I right to think that as a single woman I had best hire a
> professional to do the job? Although I don't mind doing DIY, I can't see
> myself knocking down a brick wall.
>
> If you have any recommendations for a good builder in SW London, please
> let me know!
>
> Very grateful for your advice!
>
> Johanna


===================
Removing a wall and inserting a new window will both need strong temporary
supports (usually 'Acrow props'). In many buildings these supports will need
to be taken down to ground level unless the floors are exceptionally strong.

If your proposed flat is on an upper floor then you may find that the
occupiers of the ground floor flat(s) won't allow you to insert the
necessary supports because they would cause considerable disruption to their
dcor.

I would suggest an informal discussion with a competant builder to make sure
that your proposed alterations are feasible having due regard to what other
flat owners would  allow you to do.  I doubt if you could persuade many
people with nicely decorated flats to allow you to knock holes through their
ceilings and floors to accommodate your building works!

Cic.