A reader's General Construction question: Extend sun room?

Austin E.   from   Celbridge Ireland   had this Extend sun room question.

Hi bill I'm thinking of building a small extension on to the rear of my house, I have a sun room which runs two thirds the way across the rear and I'm looking to just continue to gable end. I'm a fairly hands on guy with plenty of contacts for materials, I try to do almost any work that comes my way with fairly good results , never tackled an extension , I was wondering would you recommend me giving it a go, I would have the basics in block laying but very little in carpentry. I also have to install a steel beam, I want to open up my kitchen and sun room as one big room.
Great site by the way.
Hope to her from u soon

Bill's reply

HI Austin,
I'd say do it.

You have everything already there to copy if you are just going to extend the existing sun room. The construction method and sizes and the levels are all there.

Opening up the kitchen will mean that you have to prop the existing roof etc with steel props. Keep your eye on my site as I intend to do a section on this sort of temporary work.

It's not rocket science is it?

You don't need any special skills as a carpenter these days. The difference is that you will be slower, probably take more care with details that don;t need it, and you will have to ask a few questions here and there.

Steelwork is fairly easy to. You may have to get it made up off site and then site welded. No big deal, nothing magic about it.

Any questions just ask, a couple of photos or a sketch would make it easier to understand.

Best of luck with it and get it done for next summer!
Cheers
Bill