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

Tonight's discovery, the tap in our new bathroom is having pressure issues and the shower in there is set backwards (you think you're making it colder when your actually making it hotter!)

Madblondedog I think it is worth getting others into quote as well. There will be advantages to using your current builder in that they are already familiar with the site. On the other hand there may be a danger of them becoming complacent. Getting other quotes doesnt mean you ulitmately have to go with someone else.

The dog is very territorial and is only appeased by frantic ball throwing games (note to prospective burglars - all you need are tennis balls to win the dog's undying love!). I would rather the builders spent time building rather than throwing a ball for the dog!

Aesops thank you for the tip about the dehumidifier. I think we will be looking to hire one once the roof is on.

Karcheer DH keeps a floodlight to hand so that I can play Clerk of The Works and inspect progress after dark!

Yeah I was worried about complacency and also him expecting the work so quoting more too.

The above bathroom issues have annoyed me somewhat tonight after the leak discovery (one thing after another it feels like)

OFTAA syndrome

Fitting plumbing upside down is just careless. Can you get them to fix it? You will find this a constant source of annoyance.

All our double light switches are upside down so every time a light is switched on or off it takes two attempts. A perpetual piece of grit in my life's ointment!

I've got that plumber coming to fix the leak in the floor so will get him to fix that at the same time.....although given how careless that was I'm a bit more hesitant now to use him to fix the leak

Hello again. Good to see how far you've all come. We originally thought our work would start a few months ago, but it didn't happen as planned.
However, the scaffolding is going up as I type, and there is now a massive hole in the conservatory roof.

I am looking forward to new shower/kitchen stage, but not all the disruption required to get there.

Very daunting exciting!

Council surveyor came, he's happy.
Tiles came off garage.
Continued to build the new front roof structure.
The man from the steel company came he's not happy with the spec from the structural surveyor so we've gone back to her and she's got to do some more diagrams.
Think that's it for today.

The builder did break through between the extension and the bathroom yesterday, hence why he'd locked the bathroom door...

Oh and it hasn't rained today!!!

Mad I feel your pain. Bathroom was one of the first things installed. Taps on bath are the same as yours - bloody backwards. Set the tone for the whole thing really!!

Our builder is back from holiday. No sign so far. He has a till this weekend to make contact, or I'm selling the scaffolding to pay for a builder who will turn up...

Mad I feel your pain. Bathroom was one of the first things installed. Taps on bath are the same as yours - bloody backwards. Set the tone for the whole thing really!!

Our builder is back from holiday. No sign so far. He has a till this weekend to make contact, or I'm selling the scaffolding to pay for a builder who will turn up...

Wombat apparently its plumbed correctly and there is nothing we can do! No leak in the old bathroom anymore though (yay!)

Mainly good news there then Karcheer

Nothing interesting here today, final touches happening tomorrow on the loft ready to start downstairs....although no idea when that will actually happen. I'm struggling to work out what order we should do things

Poop poop!

DH has reported that the builder is back and demolishing the (neither use nor ornament) mini conservatory. Much wood has been delivered to form the roof. Excited now to get home and see the progress. DH has taken himself off to work elsewhere rather than stay at home spying on the builder from our bedroom window - the only viewing place without actually standing in the garden.

Hello everyone [waves]
Do you mind if i hop onto this thread? Weve just been notified that pur planning application has been approved and our architect has been instructed to provide building regs plans ready for us to get building quotes.

If any of you could offer any wise words based on your experiences to-date of your buikding projects i would be so appreciative to hear from you.

Off now to do a little victory dance make some lunch

Not much progress today.

The front bit can't be built any higher as the scaffolders haven't come back yet to add more scaffolding.
Still awaiting the structural engineer to come back with her detailed diagrams.
Think the builder was a bit frustrated today :/

In other news I've signed up for an interior design course ;)

Hello Ballgoof . Main advice I'd say is be sure what you want, if you change anything mid project ask what the cost will be upfront and if you chose the right builders ask their opinions on things. Ours are really helpful (I ask them for advice on DIY stuff I'm up to too)

Gnome is your DH updating you with photos whilst you're away?

That must be annoying for your builder Karcheer

Nothings really happened here. We no longer have a leak (yay) and furniture is upstairs but somehow downstairs is as much as a mess ad it was before. Don't understand that though

Madblondedog that is a kind of shuffling on the spot feeling.

When I got back home from work I went out with a torch to check on progress. The conservatory thing is now dismantled. We now have only plasterboard and a sheet of roofing membrane between us and the elements this evening. Thankfully this is the sitting room so our bedroom will be fine.

Hello Ballgoof congratulations on getting your planning application through. Our tips from a few property renovations plus this extension:

• understand your project. There are lots of books, internet articles. Know what is involved.
• beware of thinking that a few pounds extra here and there dont matter. These can soon add up
• equally though, dont lose the ship for the want of a ha'porth of tar
• agree a staged payment plan, pay promptly on completion of each stage not in advance. Beware of a builder whose cashflow means that they cant afford to buy the materials for a stage.
• if you are pleased with the work of the various trades then recommend them to others. These have been lean times in the building trade and are only now picking up. We know this all too well as DH's electrician business had to fold a couple of years ago.

Good luck and please post here with updates!

We've more leaks, the rain can do one!

Oh no Karcheer, is it coming from work you are having done? This rain is just so relentless.

Yes it's where the roof is off, the builder has covered it but I guess there are little gaps the rain is finding :/

Oh no karcheer that's a right pain

The rain here has been insanly heavy, it just needs to go away now.

Hi everyone. Our builders started on Monday and have demolished our old garage and dug the new foundations and soakaways. Impressed by the speed it's all happened so far... but oh, the mess! We are now living in a mud bath!

I've been getting so excited about the new bathroom (which isn't built yet) that I ordered loads of stuff in the sales. So on top of the diggers, grab lorries and cement trucks filling up our driveway / the street, all the bathroom deliveries are now arriving! Argh!

I feel your pain Karcheer, since the conservatory thing came down we now have only plasterboard and a sheet of roof lining to protect us from the elements. At least ours is just one wall.

The problem with this rain is that it is so heavy. If it were lighter then it would tend to flow down. Instead it seems to be splashing back up.

DH reports that the rafters are now getting fitted and also some of the tricky brickwork which ties the extension into the house on one wall has been started. I will be out with the torch again tonight!

Had anyone had to get fire doors made to measure? If so would you recommend a company to use.

Poor builder is still out there in the dark putting the new roof on (the sheet stuff not the tiles yet).
We had more wood delivered, our scaffolding extended ;) and a new skip delivered today. Chased the structural engineer...

Pleased to hear things have started Currer. Its amazing how much mess they make though isn't it!

Gnome you must be excited for the weekend when you can see everything in the light of day

Sorry McBaby can't be of any assistance there

Will it be watertight when the builder is done Karcheer?

How long did everyones planning take to come through? I think I'm being impatient but I REALLY want to start phase two soon. I am not keen to be last man standing on this thread