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Original poster

Who knew extensions cost that much..help!!!

20 replies

kinkipinki · 27/10/2004 22:23

We are planning quite a large extension on our 3 bed semi and costs are coming in higher than anticipated!!!!(eekkkkkkk!!!). Anyone got any handy hints or been through this and have any words of wisdom for me...?

OP posts:
Twiglett · 27/10/2004 22:26

get loads of quotes .. sister ended up getting a 2 storey extension for half the initial quoted price from someone who was recommended by friends

Original poster
kinkipinki · 27/10/2004 22:27

Glad you said that, have gone a bit mad this week and had 6 builders in to quote for job, was worried getting carried away!!!!

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 27/10/2004 22:27

We recently had work done, and for the building work element we were quoted between £8k and £60k!!! For IDENTICAL work

Shop around

I can give your our fab builders' number if you CAT me, they work most places if it's a big enough job, but mainly London I think

Original poster
kinkipinki · 27/10/2004 22:42

I cant belieive the difference in estimates... so far we have had one estimate back and by the weekend should have a few more..now I am really interested to see them.

I assumed they would be similar!! (how wrong!!)

I am also on my third kitchen quote and have saved up to £7k by shopping around, its scary!!

Now on a mission to find granite work tops and slate looking floors, just not sure where to start..

Also been looking at american fridge freezers, what a minefield...

Feel really overwhelmed with the whole thing, but desperate to get on with the work and have my dream home!

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 27/10/2004 22:46

kinkipinki you should check out all my threads a while ago!
Under products, search under my name

Did Granite worktops, sinks (ceramic and steel), american fridge freezers, kitchens etc

What kind of kitchen are you after? I can recommend brill. granite bloke, where are you?

Branster · 27/10/2004 22:48

thought you meant hair extensions when I read the title
sorry

Yorkiegirl · 27/10/2004 22:50

Message withdrawn

Original poster
kinkipinki · 27/10/2004 22:53

oh yey.. wil do that now countessdracula.. we are going for country/french prov.. kind of look, cream wood with black granite, butler sink, but with a modern range oven and american fridge freezer.. it will be an open plan living space at the back of the house.

My dream is for a big wooden table and 6 different chairs, I plan to go searching junk shops, antique places etc...

At the opposite end to kitchen will be a tv/play are and a bay window with window seat, so also need to find somebody to make a cushion for seat...and all this to start in Jan..

We live in Enfiled, middx, where is your granite man based?

OP posts:
Original poster
kinkipinki · 27/10/2004 22:56

jeez, yorkiegirl that is scary!!!I will definitly get a contract signed with my builder!

OP posts:
Twiglett · 27/10/2004 22:56

whether you get a contract or not .. you need to allow a contingency of around 10 - 15% of agreed cost

there will invariably be things along the way that could not have been predicted which will push up your costs

bobs · 27/10/2004 22:57

I gather that whoever you go with - allow for quite a bit more than the estimate you accept -there are ALWAYS extras and twice the time quoted for the work to be done - sounds like its going to be great though - good luck
Oh - and always get recommendations from people the builders have already done work for

Original poster
kinkipinki · 27/10/2004 23:03

anyone help me, tried to find the messages countessdracula mentioned and cant.. fairly new to mn, what am I doing wrong???

OP posts:
Chandra · 27/10/2004 23:24

Kinkipinki, at the end of decoration magazines there are always little adds from people selling granite, I have checked one of them (don't remeber the name) But I have got a quote for 800 when the local granite sellers have quoted around 2500.

jodee · 27/10/2004 23:38

Branster, I was thinking the same (just coming from the Cap or Foil thread!)

CountessDracula · 29/10/2004 17:48

ok kinkipinki, sorry have been v v busy!

we have something that sounds v v similar to you. We got an unpainted shakery kitchen here they were fab, showroom in Battersea, they custom build exactly to your requirements, whole thing for £3k (you have to get your builder to fit)

Granite was about £1800, black, from Interior Stone in surrey, ask for Kelvin or Nicky they are v sweet husband and wife team, he even built the bits of wood in to support the granite in the larder for free! Tel 01420 521062

Sink we got this v&b one with the little strainer - looks fab under the black granite and a bit different from usual butler ones.

CountessDracula · 29/10/2004 17:51

by the way our builders are lovely and v reasonable, am not putting their no online though as we are still using them for bits and pieces and don't want them deluged with offers of work from desparate mums!!!! Do contact me if you want their no.

We have a huge old oak table and are in process of collecting chairs - just managed to get 4 original Ercol 50's butterfly chairs last week off ebay, they look great, we are now after some others, maybe a couple of different sorts (need to hurry up as we have 12 for xmas!!)

CountessDracula · 29/10/2004 17:55

oh and I live in SW london

Catan · 29/10/2004 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Twiglett · 29/10/2004 22:45

CD re: unpainted shaker kitchen .. this may sound stupid but do you have to paint them, or does it mean its natural wood?

CountessDracula · 29/10/2004 22:59

Yes you have to paint it (or pay someone to which is what I did of course!)

It was bargain of the century - if you don't go for the mega pristine look that is, if you like all that slick stuff then not for you I suspect.

Catan no we didn't need an architect as we just knocked out walls, didn't have an extension. I do have a vg mate who is one if you want her number, she lives in Putney

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