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Original poster

loft conversions

37 replies

Rhiannon · 14/03/2001 20:37

I'd love to know the name of the company, not Choice was it as the same has just happened to us and we're in North London too.

We have been thinking of a loft conversion for god knows how long and have been messed about by Saxon, A & W (who wrote his quote on a fag packet). Econoloft managed to write a quote (not cheap though).

It baffles me that something which seems straightforward should cost such a lot. No foundations, no cement, no bricks! We don't even want any plumbing whatsoever and the price is still extortionate.

Good luck.

OP posts:
Mooma · 15/03/2001 19:29

We used Priory Loft Conversions, 24 Brighton Road, Salfords, Surrey RH1 5BX tel 01293 774580. They handle everything from drawing up plans, getting planning permission, and sub-contract the various stages to joiners, plumbers, electricians, plasterers etc. The quotation lists exactly when (staged) payments are due, so you are fully aware of what's happening and do not pay until each stage is complete.
As we are in a bungalow, ours was a large conversion (2 beds and a shower room) and we are delighted with the extra space. It took about 6 months from the surveyor's first visit to beginning the work, but the delay worked in our favour, as we had time to develop the plans as new possibilities emerged on how to configure the staircase. We ended up not needing a dormer window, which cut costs considerably.
They quote for fitting any bathroom, but you have to provide the sanitaryware, which is quite a job in itself. Our plumber was great and helped a lot with this.
My only criticism is the finish of the plaster, skirting boards and doorframes - frankly a bit on the rough side - but this is more than outweighed by the extra living space.

Modaddy · 03/04/2001 18:05

we ended up going through yellow pages and having a v busy schedule of appts. with various surveyors/salesmen etc but went for a company based in finchley. they gave us a v good quote and had a slot sooner than we had hoped for and also filled lots of our other criteria in terms of workmanship etc etc .......they are into their 4th week and seem to be cracking on ..........if anyone is interested i'll let you know how it all turns out.....3rd baby due in 4 days and eldest off school for a month now so plenty to keep me occupied at present!!

Lil · 04/04/2001 11:05

Mooma/Modaddy i'm trying to find a loft company, for Surrey area. As a rough quote I was told £50k for 1 large bedroom and ensuite. Including sanitary ware and fitting. does this sound as expensive to you as I think it is! as someone just said, no foundations,etc.

And how easy was it to work out the staircase - that seems to be the hardest part?

Tigermoth · 04/04/2001 15:03

I didn't know where else to put this message and didn't want to start a new message board .... on a quick scan round,this seemed to be the most appropriate place.....

Help!
My husband has just phned me from the barbers to say he is in the process of getting a blonde crop. Plastic bag/ bleach on his head as we speak.

The present 45-year-old, full head of hair Al Pacino look-alike I can live with. Emanems dad I cannot!!

Jac · 04/04/2001 16:18

Oh my god, Tigermoth, my husband wants to do the same thing. I think it must be a mid life crisis/male menopause or something. Ever since he saw Billy in Ally McBeal do it, he has wanted to do it.

Do you think he means it or is he having a laugh? I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later. Emanems Dad, love it!

Tigermoth · 04/04/2001 16:25

About to go home now and face it. Croppy if only you and your osmosis could have reached him before the bottle of peroxide did!

Croppy · 04/04/2001 17:08

Sorry Tigermoth. To be honest I was stunned into silence by it!. Think the mid-life crisis thing is a fair diagnosis. If I were you I would be on the lookout for signs of him ruminating about buying a red convertible....

Tigger · 04/04/2001 18:16

Another Eminem, oh you poor soul, invest in a pair of very dark sunglasses and then get completely ratarsed to block out the pain on your eyes. Has he gone full head blonde or just the streaks/highlights?, I've got highlights and look like a bog brush whilst getting them done.

Marina · 05/04/2001 08:25

So come then, Tigermoth, what does he look like? I am doing some catching up this am after bunking off work early yesterday and what with your bleach fiasco and Tigger doing colonic diesel irrigation north of the border, I have just had to wipe a quantity of coffee off my desk, I was laughing so much I spilt it. Sadly I have noticed no such sign of sap rising/ entertaining mid-life crisis in my own husband. He did tell me he needed some new socks yesterday (hopefully, the idle eejit) but perhaps I should start a "basement renovation" thread for women subjected to such unreasonable demands. I should keep the shed door locked if I were you, by the way.

Tigermoth · 05/04/2001 09:16

Tigger, Marina, Croppy,Jac, thank for your comments regarding sap/rising-mid life crisis.

Yes he did it. Bleached crop. Makes him look like a snowy white barn owl, with his big brown and grey tufty eyebrows and very round surprised eyes.

Utters two phrases - 'oh I'd forgotten' every time he sees his reflection and 'do you really like it' when he remembers to look in my direction. Usually with his head on on side, so enhancing the barn owl effect.

It's not awful, he's quite a young-looking and trendy 45 year old so can just about carry it off...she says trying to convince herself. I'll like it better once he's got some dark roots.

As for the car, Croppy, he drives a red Ford Mondeo ST24. Exactly the sort of car a frustrated red-convertable-sort-of-man with family ties tends to choose, I should think.

Marina, my husband also looks longingly in my direction when his smalls get beyond redemption. However bearing in mind what is happening to him, I think I better put myself firmly in charge of all socks and pants buying. Who knows what would happen if he tries a make-over in that department, too.

Jac · 05/04/2001 09:29

Tee he tigermoth. I wondered about the eyebrows as hubby thinks they should be bleached as well but I don't, but he's one of those that his clothes need to be checked by me to see if they match. He's sporting a number 3 (I think) cut at the mo.

Bugsy · 05/04/2001 09:49

Tigermoth, I have to say that your description makes him sound very sweet and not remotely Emminem like! I hope I have the confidence at 45 to be off doing wild things to my hair.

Bells · 05/04/2001 09:56

What does your son think of it Tigermoth?

Marina · 05/04/2001 10:09

Tee hee Tigermoth do we know if Agent Provocateur does a menswear line?

Tigger · 05/04/2001 14:50

The Leather Thong vision has just sprung to mind!

Tigermoth · 05/04/2001 15:08

Ha ha, very funny Tigger! But I'd definitely need those dark glasses and a large gin to face him in that without laughing.
Marina, I wonder if M & S have got those Agent Provocateur designers to do a range of men's underwear. If so it would probably suit both my taste and my budget. The female range is really good. Or are men meant to wear the range as well?
And Bells, my older son is pretty impressed. Loves Eminem so not surprising. Rather worryingly he is booked in with my husband's hairdresser tomorrow. For a trim only, I hope.

Marina · 06/04/2001 08:52

Tigermoth, pass on the AP/M&S menswear combination, but they have just got George Davies in from Asda. No, it just does not sound as exciting, does it. And Tigger, do you mind, some of us are trying to drink our coffee.

Tigger · 06/04/2001 09:51

Just to add another thought, husband has developed a rather horrible rash, as he is allergic to the disinfectant, guess what the only part that is not red is YES THE WILLIE!!!!!, ha, ha, aren't I horrible.

Marina, I apologise for putting you off your coffee, just make sure you are not eating when you read this about my worse half!

Modaddy · 01/05/2001 12:36

lil
just to get back to the loft conversion subject ( although the other stuff has been entertaining!) we paid half the amount you have been quoted and have built on 2 beds ( 10ft x 20ft and 10ft x 9ft) aswell as a decent size bathroom. we have had to supply bathroom suite/tiles/carpet ourselves and also decorate but this can be done as and when. we have been really pleased with the co. that undertook the work. when the stairs went in the house felt slightly taken over and lots of dust etc, but this is unavoidable...........our house is edwardian and has quite intricate stairs which they have matched really well....they worked out how it would fit with their surveyor so no probs there. if you are interested i can let you have their details.....i dont know if they cover surrey but it might be worth a call?

Star · 04/06/2001 21:48

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Hmonty · 05/06/2001 15:10

Star,
I think you're very brave but you should go for it. Short hair can take years off you (well that's what I keep telling myself when I bottle out of growing it again!). If I end up with a 1 inch crop I might look like a teenager again....

Had a horrendous perm done when I was younger. Looked like Shirley Temple. Ugggh. I made all my friends swear that if I ever said 'I'm bored with straight hair' again, that they'd lock me up and wrestle me to the floor if I started heading off for the hairdressers. Did a classic with the colour once. Decided I was sick of my (chemically induced) blonde hair, so I dyed it a mahogany brown. Beautiful colour but I looked as if I'd died. Everyone at work was very complimenary (liars!) So I tried to bleach it out. But ran out of bleach. So went to work with half bleached hair and a hat. Finished the job that evening and tried to add a light brown. Of course my hair went orange...bright orange. Went into work like this. By now people were getting very confused! By the time I'd finished I was a red head with flakey scalp and hair that fell out as soon as you looked at it. Very hairy pillows in the mornings....

If I haven't bored you enough I can always tell you about my accidental mohican (Beckham eat your heart out!).

Original poster
Rhiannon · 05/06/2001 19:35

WAIT STAR!!! Have had experience of the long hair chopping off recently. Don't go too mad to start with. Take it slowly. I was all excited with my new short hair to start with but then the novelty wore off and I am really missing my long hair (I don't feel so girly if that makes sense!)
Good Luck whatever you decide.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rhiannon · 05/06/2001 19:37

Oh and another thing, if you have it cut to a certain style you have to keep going back every 4-6 weeks to have the style cut in. What a performance, not like my long hair where I'd just hack at the fringe every few months and have the length cut every six months!

OP posts:
Star · 05/06/2001 21:10

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Message withdrawn

Hmonty · 06/06/2001 11:11

Star,
It was an early 80s one. A friend offered to trim my fringe. Bit heavy handed with the scissors and it ended up about an inch long and spikey! (She swears it was my fault and that I was looking down at the time). To even things up she started trimming the sides. In trying to get them even they got shorter and shorter....Eventually becoming a mohican! My hair was alreay bleached white which added to the effect....I was nursing at the time and it was a nightmare as I had no hair to clip my cap on to! Couldn't walk/run as my cap would flip over backwards.... Needless to say my mother had a fit when she saw me!!

The things I've done to my hair! I now have a very sedate, easy care, mother of two style....Did have a mullet for a while. It was trendy then though!