Building a sunroom - screen porch (house, buyer, contractor)

[maxxxpower]

I would like to build a small addition to my home DIY style, no bigger than 10' x 10' and possibly even smaller. I am somewhat handy and have done a lot of home repairs and have access to some skilled labor friends as well. I am in the town of hempstead. I checked the zoning and am fine in terms of the ability to put this addition on. I want something covered, but have not decided between a sunroom or covered screen porch yet. I looked into this a few years back, picked up forms from TOH building department, was slightly confused what I needed to do and then got sidetracked anyway.

So on to my questions. Does anyone know the steps I need to take to do this project myself? The more details the better. 1) Where do I start?, what will my first couple of steps be? 2) any issues to consider? 3) Do I need an architect (if not, some sketch is required how do I get this), 4) how does the whole inspection process work, 5) how long will it take me to get permits/etc .... after all is said and done doing this legit, will the DIY route be worth, in the past it has saved thousands.

Thanks in advance.

[LIHR]

stamped drawings, lic contractor / lic electrician and depending if you want plumbing/heat a lic plumber.

[loveithateit]

Building a sunroom sounds like major jump from doing some household repairs. But since you have the support system together, sounds like a great spring project. My suggestion is probably to start with building a solid deck. A lot of diy info out there to get this done. If you're actually successful with completing it (and most guys aren't, just looks easy on hdtv), then enclosing it should be no problem.

During my research, Architect charges about $800-1500 to draw the plans for a covered deck.

[SandyJet]

Originally Posted by maxxxpower

I would like to build a small addition to my home DIY style, no bigger than 10' x 10' and possibly even smaller. I am somewhat handy and have done a lot of home repairs and have access to some skilled labor friends as well. I am in the town of hempstead. I checked the zoning and am fine in terms of the ability to put this addition on. I want something covered, but have not decided between a sunroom or covered screen porch yet. I looked into this a few years back, picked up forms from TOH building department, was slightly confused what I needed to do and then got sidetracked anyway.

So on to my questions. Does anyone know the steps I need to take to do this project myself? The more details the better. 1) Where do I start?, what will my first couple of steps be? 2) any issues to consider? 3) Do I need an architect (if not, some sketch is required how do I get this), 4) how does the whole inspection process work, 5) how long will it take me to get permits/etc .... after all is said and done doing this legit, will the DIY route be worth, in the past it has saved thousands.

Thanks in advance.

I have a 8x10 sunroom on my house unheated and uninsulated. Story goes somewhere around 1982 the owner at time fired up the grill, got a few cases of beer and a few "men" AKA drunken neighbors threw it up in a weekend.

Flash forward to 2001 TOH gave me permit after I bought house. I did need a new survey and paid a fee.

Inspection consisted of guy showed up at house asked for a bribe. I did not bribe him as I said I just bought house I did not do it and I am not selling for at least a decade so in no rush. He went ok. I said do you want to look at it? He goes if the damm room has not fallen down in the last 20 years I am sure it is good and left.

Now I have a permit and a new survey. Next buyer may not be as stupid as me who did not even know to look for stuff like that so closely. Not that it mattered.