Anyone starting an extension imminently?

[Karcheer]

Ours has been a long time coming, planning permission was granted 18months ago, but our builders finally start on Tuesday.
Would be great to have some build buddies

[Jeffreythegiraffe]

I've just had one done, if that helps? It's brilliant, but I'm glad it's over.

[Karcheer]

That's great, what did you have done. I'm a bit nervous now!

[beaufontboy]

Our two storey kitchen/diner with bedroom above is nearly done, just loads of painting etc to do, never actually budgeted for carpets and curtains so they may have to wait, as my father said " If I had a pound for every time I have come round here and swept up " glad its nearly over but did enjoy the planning and designing bit ! It took around a year to get planning and designs drawn up but well worth the wait ! Good luck

[Jeffreythegiraffe]

A single story extending our kitchen so now we have a huge kitchen diner with access to the garden, I love it.

What are you doing?

[Karcheer]

We haven't got the money for decoration either and it's possible we won't have a fitted ensuite initially. So I'll need to learn to love plaster pink for a while ;)

We are having a double carport built and above that will be our room and ensuite/empty room initially. We also have a flat roof above a bit of our house which will be built over and turned into a bedroom.
The current downstairs bedroom is being split in half (it's stupidly big) half will be an office for dh the other half will be accessed via the kitchen and be a family room.

[GreyBird84]

Currently at sub floor level of bungalow extension - side (bathroom & ensuite) & rear (open plan kitchen living dining) Detached garage & landscaping too. But we are not living there!

The Work is going well, only fly in ointment is the failed objecting neighbours still have major chip on their shoulder!

[AesopsMables]

1 week into our build, having double side and single rear extension.

Not looking forward to the knock through but after twelve months wait we are finally seeing progress! Roll on the summer when it will (fingers crossed) be all completed.

[Spickle]

Three months into an eight month project. Extending kitchen and dining room with pitched roof and velux windows plus front remodelling including vaulted ceiling and new porch. Very dusty/dirty and lots of clutter - have to make decisions quickly as and when the next stage is reached (and not change my mind!). It's a mess and it's difficult living like this every day, but now I can visualise how the house will eventually look, I just feel excited and happy!

[Karcheer]

Glad there are a few of us.

[Hulababy]

Good luck and hope all goes well.

Our extension was finished in July. Took 16 weeks in total. Wasn't too bad but glad when it was over.

Still need to decorate the hall ways and landings - they got bashed during the works - but that can wait for a bit. I need time out. And garden will be done in spring next year - no garden this summer but it's fine.

[321rd]

Half way thru 16 weeks, well hopefully half way thru!! Double storey 4m rear extension and single side.
All going as well as we have hoped. The extension is water tight but pretty cold ATM
Like PP we have not budgeted fr final decor. But DH had been looking at which telly he wants in the new family room...yeah. Won't have anything to sit on to watch the telly but don't worry about that
Also, there's another thread running tonight about spreadsheets and costings...ummm..how about scribbling everything down on the back of an envelope

[gabbybaby]

2 months into a 7 month+ project. Ground floor rear and side extension, opening up inside, and loft conversion plus knocking through family bathroom. We're living in the house through it (for as long as possible.). Currently loft is about 4 weeks from completion, foundations are in for the extension, open plan living area is a building site. Kitchen is set up in the hallway. It's freezing as we have no heating and holes in the walls in various places :). But the loft is nearly insulated. I'll be following this thread with interest. Currently stressing over the loft (master bedroom & ensuite), as have to order the bathroom pretty much immediately, and how do you time for these things when we both work full time... ?

[Titsywoo]

We are currently in week 34 of a 45 week project - this is due to the fact that we had a shell built and are doing everything else ourselves in evenings and on weekends. Getting close to having the kitchen done now. Floor goes in this weekend then kitchen arrives next Thursday and we fit over a week then add finishing touches while we wait for the worktop to arrive. After that we have a couple of months to do the lounge which is easy in comparison!

Still have no heating and am tired of it all but luckily the dust bit is over temporarily.

[TigerFeat]

Just the thread I need Karcheer! Our extension will hopefully start this month after waiting nearly a year for the builders. Still don't have a definite start date, but fingers crossed.

It'll be good to have some solidarity through the winter months. I'm still not sure it's the best idea to start this now, but I just cant wait any longer! Lots of DIY has been put off till after the build and it feels like we're living in the house that Jack built.

We're having a single story back extension across the width of the house which will give us a large family dining room, and a loft conversion which will give us a 4th bedroom and ensuite. This will allow us to have a small office in the box bedroom so we can both work from home more often. Our house is a fairly standard 3 bed semi.

The original plans included a downstairs bootroom/utility and shower room plus new kitchen, but have scotched that now as too expensive. It could always be done in a few years if we win the lottery I suppose.

Interesting to hear that you are living through it Gabby, everyone keeps telling me to move out for 6 months, but we just don't have the funds for that. I'm thinking about making onesies out of duvets . (I'm grinning now....)

looking forward to hearing how you all get on and picking up some tips.

[Kaekae]

Good luck. Our two storey side extension is complete. The extension went up pretty quickly but it has been the cosmetic work which has been the long hard slog. Just trying to get reliable tradesmen to finishe the work has been a pain. I also didn't take into account...bigger house = so much more cleaning!

[Kaekae]

Good luck. Our two storey side extension is complete. The extension went up pretty quickly but it has been the cosmetic work which has been the long hard slog. Just trying to get reliable tradesmen to finish the work has been a pain. I also didn't take into account...bigger house = so much more cleaning!

[Lasize]

Do think about moving out if you are having extensive works - there may not be that much difference in cost when you consider the builders will add a whack onto the bill if you are living there as it will take them much longer to complete. We are 5 months into our build and we have moved out - the BEST decision ever - it would be a NIGHTMARE to live there. We are changing every single room though.

[carmugz]

great, you must be glad.

at least they will be confined to one area hopefully leaving the kitchen/living areas ok to use. hope its not too disruptive. we are 3 weeks away from finishing - only a week over. i really dont like having builders in. dont feel i can relax as i am sahp with small dc.

[Titsywoo]

We didn't have the option to move out. But yes it has been a nightmare

[TigerFeat]

oh god. We cant move out either. Rents around here are extortionate and for 6 mths minimum.

keep telling myself it will be character building .

[Karcheer]

We aren't moving out either. I'm secretly looking forward to it as when I was growing up my parents had an extension done and I remember it as fun. I'm in for a big shock!

I keep going over our plans today hoping everything is designed correctly...

[321rd]

We have got the funds to move out. And for the first 6 weeks the builders didn't really effect our day to day living. Now I'm stood here with my dining room furniture in my lounge. The front garden looks like a builders merchant and the house us shaking due to them gunning out the existing rooms to fit ufh. But it's fine. I'm still cooking as they have set up a v make shift kitchen.
One massive help has been the fact that we had a little cloakroom downstairs that tr builders can use. I wouldn't want them using our ensuite. Which is the only other toilet we save ATM.
DH is slightly deluded in the fact that he thinks it will pretty much done. It won't. The builders will be gone just weeks and weeks of painting

[321rd]

Oops we have not got the funds!!!

[Karcheer]

I'm thinking it'll be good to be on site as I'll be here to make decisions and make sure they don't do things I'm not happy with.
We have a downstairs loo that they can use. We also only have one shower which is downstairs that'll be moving so I'll be shower less for awhile... Guess I'll be using the shower at the gym more often

[gabbybaby]

We couldn't afford rent as well. My mum is round the corner. We'll stay with her if it gets too bad. And lots of family helping out with meals. I agree there are advantages being on site when quick decisions are needed. we both work full time so hardly see them. And they have a portaloo so not using our bathroom!!