New kitchen extension, advice re keeping costs down

[MrsGherkin]

I'm a bit horrified at the actual costs of an extension and new kitchen in our area, and wondered how we can cut a few corners?

We live in SW London and have had 5 quotes, all for around 50K for just the build, not the kitchen or appliances! So we have gone back looked at the finances and have found when you add VAT and contingency it's getting unmanageable. Realistically, putting a budget kitchen into a very expensive build might be a false economy as it will affect resale in 5 years, but if we want a quality kitchen, I'd need to factor in eating baked beans and tent holidays for the rest of our lives. Got any ideas re:Builders, reasonable priced kitchens that look high-end, radiators, flooring and any other useful tips gratefully received.

No help really but totally sympathise - we had single story extension last year for similar price. In addition i spent about £14k on the kitchen (shaker style painted MDF, granite and integrated appliances) and £3k on engineered oak floor. Also aluminium bifold doors and windows were about £7k.

We were going to have a v cheap kitchen but in the end I thought the same as you and went for something nicer.

Thanks marmitelover55 what kitchen company did you use?

We have gone/going through exact same process, we have saved money here and there by obsessive research (and I mean obsessive!!!!), we have shaved a few hundred here and a few hundred there by this approach which soon adds up eg we bought our Bosch appliances months ago when they had up to £150 cash back per appliance, we also negotiated on our flooring and got it for £1000 instead on £1300 and got good quality underlay included, also saved a good amount on radiators by sourcing them off ebay, we saved over £300 there by buying ones that were perfect apart from tatty packaging. I could go on but all I would suggest is do your research and it will pay off

No advice (sorry) but we're in exactly the same position. SW London and want to build a big kitchen extension, plus a first floor bedroom.

DH has decided to project manage the build himself, e.g. digging the foundations himself and then employing separate tradesmen (bricklayers, plumbers, plasterers etc). It'll save a lot of money as builders managing the project will slap on mark-ups for each trade. Then again, I have no idea if this will actually work or if it'll turn into a Grand Designs disaster!

Oh, and I'm expecting our first child in October so it has to be completed by then!

Re kitchens I'd go for standard units (Ikea etc.) but splash on the handles, taps and worktop. Diapol are fabulous for the latter. Also try eBay for cheaper sinks and cooker hoods etc.

There's a really good thread on kitchen lessons learned - will try and find it now. Good luck!

Can't link as on phone but search for the MN kitchen lessons learnt thread. It's great!

Thanks Kieron79 I can see that's def way to go, and we're beginning the trawl.

Someone also suggested massive savings in taking on jobs myself e.g tiling, but as I'm unskilled it'd just be doing the labouring - mmm, not sure my nails'd cope!

We used an independent fitter and local supplier, which I don't think would be any good for you as we are in the West Country.

Crumbelina, good advice, slightly wish DH was handy, has hernia over flatpack!

We have just had a back and side return extension built. We are in Surrey and the extension was 40 sq metres. The costs were as follows:-

£13000 Ground and blockwork labour inc drains
£8000 Ground and blockwork materials
£4500 Roof labour inc knocking through
£3500 Roof materials
£4000 2 x large roof lights, 2 5ft french doors, 1 large window, 1 normal back door (all UPVC to building regs)
£2000 Skips and grab lorries
£4800 for Architects, planning fees, inspections etc (this includes the planning for our loft conversion too so more than you would expect)

So £35000 if you just count the build cost not including the drawings and planning stuff which I presume aren't included in your £50k quote?

We project managed ourselves and ordered the materials ourselves which saved a lot. The people we have used have done a very good job and we are really pleased. It can be done for less you need to shop around a bit.

Oh sorry that was just the shell we built and it included supporting steelwork which cost more - the plumbing, electrics are being done by DH so just materials and plastering is not that expensive if you employ someone based out of London who is prepared to travel in as they don't charge as much.

Tell me about it. We are building from scratch but here are my tips for kitchens:

Think hard about work surfaces. Corian wears v well. We shopped around, there were lots of differences in price. I haggled a lot (very unbritish!)

Splurge on the taps that will be turned a thousand times. Save on the handles for rarely opened high cupboards. We are using ikea units, I've changed the handles for nicest in budget. PigletJohn recommended Bristan taps, I bought nearly all from them.

We are getting ex display appliances from local kitchen suppliers. Scout around your area. I picked up an ex display wooden floor planks for a hallway that way, from an order that wasn't fulfilled. I bought some rolls of now discontinued wallpaper for pennies. One advantage I have is that because it's a new build, I can buy end of line items with a rough idea where they will go and then fit them in later by jiggling things around.

Do whatever you can yourself. I'll be clearing rubbish and pushing a wheelbarrow until I'm too pregnant to move. I have no diy skills but my husband can paint and tile. Can you project manage (you must be very organised) as that's a very expensive extra?

When we were tendering I questioned a lot of the builders prices. I trawled the Internet to see if I could do better. I had a structural engineer friend work out the steels. If you're getting scaffolding, get the gutters cleaned.

I have a big thread here with lots of tips from lovely MNers with some great (and some exepensive!) ideas, I will find the link for you.

Here you go, it may be of use to you:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/2342545-If-you-were-building-a-new-house-what-would-you-put-in-it-Please-recommend-anything-from-boilers-to-lights-to-appliances

I love how the thread starts off with me idly wondering about things and then when I find out I'm expecting its like a fire is lit under me and we literally made huge decisions overnight!

We searched all over for our kitchen. Having decided we wanted a blue/grey kitchen by far the best value place was diy kitchens which is online and based near Leeds. We ended up picking a second nature door that we could have painted any f&b colour we liked. The fitter and builder have both commented on the excellent quality of the carcasses and price wise it was probably worked out cheaper than any other quote. I loved the fact you saw how much every element of the kitchen cost and therefore make cost/style adjustments wherever you chose. I would thoroughly recommend it.

Like another poster said, we are project managing our selves and buying our own material, and hired different trades men, like plumber, brick layer, roofer, electrician.. We doing a 2 storey side extension and OH broke grounds last week and took up all the concrete and knows someone with a mini digger to do the footings on the 11th, and we have got someone in to do the underground piping and move 1 drain, OH would have a go but at the end of the day I rather have an expert... Doing this way it will save you money but will take longer as trying to get trades men in after each other...

I am keeping a spread sheet so I know where every penny goes, just on the Architect, Submit plans and Building Regulations we spent £1472.40...

we are partly through a kitchen extension and have got rid of our builders and find ourselves looking to bring in trades ourselves to save money. It is a bit daunting but it can save you a fair bit. The one thing that is sorted is the kitchen (if only the rest of the extension was finished!). My advice would be to search for small independent places (not the high end ones). Our little shop in the south of the country supplies over 250 kitchens. Ours is around 5k for the units and that includes 6 tall units, integrated fridge freezer, tall oven housing, wide drawer unit under hob, 6 other base units and then 6 wall units. We are balancing paying a little bit more to get a high end finish over going really budget - but I expect we could do this for about 3k if we really wanted to save money. We also looked at German kitchens and you can get discounts when the exchange rate is good - just ask/negotiate. DIY kitchens online are also really good - and you could go to any highstreet retailer and get them to spec/design your kitchen and then buy it online. We have compromised on work surface for a German laminate which are not the laminates of old - there are some pretty good ones out there at a fraction of the cost of stone and all the show kitchens at ideal home/grand designs are featuring the 'new' laminates, some of which are stunning - although if this was our forever home I'd be going for granite. You can definitely ask for discounts - don't be embarrassed with the independents - they need the business. And my kitchen company will match Neff products even if they only make £10 because it goes towards their end of year unit sales figures.