If you’ve ever done an extension, what was your experience ? Is it enough to drive most people demented !

[LovelyYellowLabrador]

Please say yes

I am starting next week so watching with interest!

i am already on the edge! Planning office is incompetent! Getting gas lines moved and getting the architect to reply to my emails! I have been planning this for a year- have spent thousands and nothing has actually happened yet😂

Well yes, it does drive most people a bit demented, for at least some of it. It’s worth it though, and it’s a bit like horrid phases with kids, the phrase “this too shall pass”needs to be repeated often. Why do you ask and why do you hope people will say yes?

It's stressful but worth it when it's finished! The bad memories fade away quickly when you're enjoying the new space!

We are trying to do one, but getting a builder is proving very frustrating!

Yes, it was very stressful. So much so that I would never consider doing one again. And ours ran pretty smoothly and to time.
I was ready for strangling the plumber.

Just finished 6 months. The outside part was ok but when the builders knocked through and we didn't have a kitchen for months it stopped being so easy. The hardest part was the radio though, and the singing..

We found it disruptive but it was so worth it. We found it cheaper to hire a shipping container to put on the drive for all our displaced stuff than to take it all to self storage. But if the thought of the end result fills you with joy, don't delay!

We had one a couple of years ago. very stressful but worth it. Our builder was good and caused minimum disruption, set up temporary sink in lounge etc whilst kitchen being done and he coordinated all different trades people. Only regret is letting the builder fit the kitchen just to get it all finished quickly. He made a right dogs ear of it ( or his apprentice did) and ruined a lot of the cupboards and I still hate it now but can't afford to get it redone. I would get a proper kitchen fitter in if I had known.

God yes I put on 2 stone I never lost & poke to the builder one morning in a manner I have never spoken to anyone - before or since!

We did sack him in the end but my god I was definitely demented!

Fucking hell I have PTSD from getting what was supposed to be a fairly small extension done. Builder was nice and good but some of the goons he hired, my god.
They all were supposed to know that we were living there throughout the work being done, but first day, dirty great fucking footprints on our living room carpet (absolutely no need for them to go into the living room, just wanted to have a gander I suppose). And the electricians, what a pair of entitled, messy fuckheads.
I'm a tradesman by the way, involved in the past in building work, I would never dream of behaving how some of these plonkers did. Nothing malicious, just oblivious.
As you can probably tell, no, I’m not over it. Still demented.

Ours is going ok so far, just digging foundations atm, single storey permitted development extension. We know the builders as they have done work for family before and are good guys. No knocking through required and they don't need to come through the house at all. Compared to our garage conversion which did knock through, it is surprisingly stress and mess free. The sparky is a mate and BIL is a plumber which makes it easier too.

Incredibly stressful but it's also horribly stressful for your neighbours especially if you are in a semi or terrace. They have to suffer all the noise, misery and inconvenience but with zero reward at the end.

Worth remembering!

We have done 4 separate mods to our house. The main thing is to spec what you want really clearly and then don't change your mind. Also get builder to project manage.

Absolutely yes!! Things never go as planned. Things get forgotten and people don't do what they said they would which cause stress, anxiety and arguments.
Your relationship and kindness goes out the window too and your whole life becomes another type of work project.
Good luck. When you have arguments/misunderstandings ask yourself/ves would you be arguing about this if the house/build was done ...
good luck 🙏

I suppose I ask to see if it’s normal.

thanks For all the advice I shall keep repeating to myself
this too shall pass

It's worth it when it's done. Have faith

I've just had my kitchen gutted and new one put in.

Any thoughts I did have of a large extension across the back of the house have been totally scuppered by the building work needed for just one room.

It was horrible!! I think I'd rather move to something bigger rather than extend and ever have builders in again.