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

Great progress whilst away this week Mad Second lift brickwork well in advance. I actually think we may have the roof on before Xmas!

Brickies working tomorrow to get it done ASAP. Yippeee.

Oh that does sound good Karcheer. It sounds like you are steaming along.

I think I will feel more reassured when the builder actually does something rather than just acting as tour guide for the building control man.

On the plus side DH has now diverted all the guttering from the back of the house so that it flows through pipework in the garage to the front of the house. My suggestion that we should do it as a cascade with goldfish jumping from pool to pool was rejected for some reason.

Gnome What a marvelous idea! You must convince your DH to include a water feature. How about including a Laser Light show on it in the evenings, he would not be able to resist that. Oh, the vision I have now with your dog's reaction alone. T'would be great Feng Shui too I would guess.

Hasn't it gone really cold? Every time I turn the heating on I hold my breath until the boiler kicks in...there will be a day when it does not click on I just know it, have jumpers at the ready.

, I'm not sure if I could cope with the building control man's reaction. Just imagine all the building regs which would be invoked if we had an internal water feature!

Excellent news about the possibility of roof!

Morning all, our big apex window goes into our new bedroom today. Soooooooooo excited

Love the water feature idea, I think you should go for it

We have a bedroom window!!!

Looking good Mad

That does look good Mad.

Have you come to any conclusions about the vaulted vs flat ceiling question?

Another tuppence on this one. A colleague of mine has just had a big extension built with some sort of roof windows which he is already saying are a sod to keep clean.

mad it looks lovely!

Gnome I'm going to speak with the builder, he's really good if I say "what would you do" but interesting to hear about the cleaning issue

This is the view from our bedroom, I'm so excited to get up there now

Wow!

Hey Everyone.
I did post ages ago. we are getting V close to the end...and its just like expecting a baby...the last weeks go sooooo slowly. our kitchen is in, and 99% working, a few doors need changing etc.
but we now have to wait two more weeks for the screed to be fully dry before flooring can go down and ufh can be turned on...cant flipping wait. So, we have two weeks of hiatus...we are going to crack on with decorating but its still so dusty :-(
There still seems a lot of things to do on the list, but the builder is confident that it will be pretty much done by xmas...we shall see.
We haven't had any major disasters but I really cant wait for it to be over

321 I feel the same, just want it all done.

Our downstairs wall should be coming down tomorrow so the stairs can go in but I am trying not to get my hopes up that it will actually happen tomorrow (been waiting ages). Also very conscious that its the first thing to happen that may well cause masses of dust, I'm supposed to work from home tomorrow so will see how that goes.

Hows everyone else getting on?

Evening everyone.

Good progress finishing off the brickwork to all exterior today and contractor confirmed 'Chippies' are coming on site from Wednesday. Roof will be done for Xmas. Like you Mad I am dreading the proper knock through, which we think will happen either directly before or just after Xmas.

I have secretly started looking for a short term rental for Jan/Feb and March. DH has no idea but as it has turned so cold I just want to see if there is a contingency available if needed. Freezing Weather+Dust+Damp+no kitchen = miserable winter. There is no budget for this rent though

On a brighter note, we have paid for the bathroom today and snapped up the builders trade prices via Grant and Stone so that part of the budget is on track to come in under.

Very quiet day here, apparently it was too cold to do the brickwork as the cement wouldn't go off. So the brickie had a duvet day, and the main guy had a funeral. The poor apprentice had to clean and cut up slabs and bricks for future use.

I'm excited for knocking through, we have broken through in one place but you can't really see as it's all blocked up with wood, but it's absolutely freezing in the room next to the hole.

Busy couple of weeks here. Windows went in upstairs along with the French doors. Good job as it was snowing Saturday morning (they were fitted Saturday afternoon). Have a leaky wall where a pipe is f*cked up. I'm on a course this week so more stress. Had to agree to pay for one builder to keep people on site. Main dude has agreed this is out of control. Staircase should be here in a few weeks. Still optimistic for Christmas finish.... Just

Wombat87 oh no. Is the pipe something the builders have done? And more importantly, will they fix it?

DH has nearly finished the digging out. Builder back on Thursday to look into the holes and is talking about getting the concrete down.

In my more delusional moments I dream that the builder will be finished in time for a family party on the 29th of December. I know, I know!

Perhaps we could come up with an extension building buffet:

• mushroom & brick dust vol-au-vents
• muck mouse (a little heavier than is traditional)
• trifle with grout instead of whipped cream

All served on platters made from broken tiles!

Gnome the new shower pipe was literally streaming water into the wall for about a week before we noticed. The wall one side was covered with crap and the other side under a breakfast bar type thing so we didn't notice. We think it's a rising damp issue. We've damp proofed all other walls but that one, which has now been done and is drying out.

The power of positivity is a great thing. Stay strong!!

I know what you mean about dust. My white sheets aren't white anymore. Even after washing, the dust is in the fibres. Nothing I own is nice anymore.... I still remain positive and Christmas focused! I've accepted I may not have carpet hall stairs and landing. But will in 2/3 bedrooms and quite frankly, that'll do for me!

Oh my god the dust, they broke through the ceiling and knocked down a wall today. It's everywhere.

Sounds like we're all at a similar (horrible) stage.

Has anyone got end dates yet?

The car port floor was sealed today I think the cat subsequently walked in it, as I've little cement coloured paw prints all over the kitchen and the posts were built which will have steels on them. All of the steels should be put in place tomorrow for the ground floor.

That's good progress Karcheer, your cat is keen to make sure it has made its mark on your home

Slightly stressy day here

Aside from fact DH is working away for 10 days from next Week we have a stand off between builders and bi fold co on floor levels. Started another post for the treasure known as Piglet John to help guide us.

Seems like putting in Wet UFH is not going to be that easy.

Yes to more knock through here also. Very noisy/dusty

Cooking dinner and convinced it all tasted of brick!!

Karcheer so funny, your cat car port is all sorted . Good news!

Aesops I hope the stand off gets resolved! Are they both blaming the other?

We've got stairs now and the plasterers are in today. I really need to start getting plans together for the next extension and getting carpets and wardrobes arranged. Oh and tiles! I really could do with a month off work to sort all this out

Oh frabjous day!

The builder has been along, looked into the holes DH has dug and expressed himself satisfied. He also expressed himself please with the work DH has done on directing rainwater to the front through the garage. Sadly no cascade or goldfish!

Hopefully Building Control man will come tomorrow to give his benediction on the holes.

If the man from Building control says 'yes' then concreting will be done on Wednesday.

I have my hopes raised that we are now moving to the phase which will be called 'building' rather than the phase which we have been mired in (quite literally at times) which was 'digging'.