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

Oh crud. That is very annoying. I know there is lots if " wait until the job starts" type decisions and adjustments for a job tlike this but that spuds like a major cock up. Poor you & ur little ones. We have no heating but do have hot water and are pretty much living out of one room at the mo so really can't wait to start getting things put back.
I think 12 weeks in and I'm only now getting jarred with it is pretty good going-I'm not tr most patient of people!

Oh no mcbaby
My architect said (sort of in jest) yesterday that this is the bit where she keeps her fingers crossed for a few months, in the hope her design will actually work!

It's unbelievable how much they still don't know, for example we've 4 steels and they all are still trying to work out how long they'll be, I dunno, seems pretty obvious to me, but hey, who am I!

So mcbaby I can totally see how your situation can happen :(

"Spuds like a major cock up"?? Ergh, no. Sounds like one tho!

Yeah I know things go wrong and need to be decided as the build goes along but this seems a bit ott. We would not have passed building control or permitted development the way we were going.

Lots of rain today (feel for you all without walls/roofs) no builders turned up today

That sounds a huge mess with the steels! You'd think they'd be more certain before it got to that stage. Did the structural engineer not flag it up when they did the calcs?
We has 4 put in yesterday and I just couldn't be around. I got back from work about 5 and saw they still hadn't finish and just turned my car and drove off. Only returned when DH called to say the coast was clear. He told the builders and they teased me mercilessly this morning for my lack of faith. Acrows are now down and the all is much calmer but still very dusty.
Trying to redeem some of the blown budget by going to B&Q to buy radiators with my dad tonight so I can use his 10% pensioners discount card. Bit of a drop in the ocean but every little helps... as Tescos don't actually seem to say anymore.

B&q are good for multi deals too. We were looking at internal doors. £100 each or 2 for £150. ... So done deal!

Hi all,

Enjoy your trip to b&q I love a mooch in there.

Our builders didn't do anything today either because of the rain, they did finally order the steels and we viewed bricks but none were right :( is anyone else using old stock bricks? Mine are salmon, which is a problem apparently. The local area are all yellow, so hundreds of yellows no salmon ones :(

You can get brick matching done by larger reclamation yards.

Have a Google and look online. You're bound to find similar. Do make sure you get a sample to make sure they are the same size.
Failing that Northcote Bricks will match bricks and make bespoke for you. Only snag is the 10 week lead time.

Hi MrsFlorrick Hope you do not mind I have messaged you with a question re kitchens - I devoured your tips on previous points and am about to pay deposit but having a bit of a wobble

Radiators all sorted and in the garage,valves on order from Screwfix. Feel I've achieved so a glass of wine is in order. Window and bifolds are going in on Friday, very excited about this. I'm envious of all the talk of beautiful reclaimed bricks, ours came on palettes from Travis Perkins,much less romantic.

And much less hassle marylou

Today the garden supporting wall foundations were concreted. And we had some example bricks arrive, they look ok to me but the bricklayer isn't sure about the colour...
We've got to clear out our garage at the weekend, it'll all be moving into the house... Woooo!!!!

McBaby that is rubbish. Fingers crossed it gets sorted out soon. Do you have anywhere you can de-camp to if it gets too grim?

No news here, dh rang the builders today, but no reply. I'm going to pop in on him tomorrow though. I know where he is...

We'll need to match old bricks too and have a choice of using the same brick, which they still make but which looks completely different new than when it is 75 yrs old (as our house is), or a brick which looks like ours does now, but might not in 30 years time.

I never realised how flipping difficult it was to match bricks...we were shown so many...
I feel as if we have really turned a corner today. Ufh pipes are down ready to be screeded tomorrow as we have eventually order the kitchen...it was supposed to be one of the first things we sorted in aug!!
I can see sit all coming together now. Keep the faith girls...it's going to be SO worth it!

New steels signed of by surveyor and architect yesterday and ordered at steel place. Should be with us early next week so we will only be a week delayed. Could be worse and at least it's still warm outside.

Got home from work yesterday to a garden full of steel beams. Brickwork continuing to rise (slowly as only one brickie and labourer on site)

Contract signed today so full systems go!!

Oh, and as it is pay day - Bacon sandwiches with morning cuppa for everyone

All running very smoothly just waiting for the money to start hemorrhaging due to unknown problems

Can I join?

DH has started digging out the site. The back garden now looks like DH is trying to receate some of the worst aspects of the first world war complete with trenches. The dog is trampling mud in and whatever we suggest to the builder all he says is 'no problem'

Fortunately DH has worked with the builder before so the pair of them are as happy as mudlarks.

Did anyone see my post about wet rooms? I need to buy the gully for it, but don't know which to get :/

gnome welcome!

Good Morning everyone! No lie in for me this Sunday as the electricians are here to do the first fix. DH is obsessed to ensure we have enough sockets and that they are all in the right places. I was completely unaware of the kind with powered USBs . They're a great idea with all the phones/tablets plugged in all over the house at the moment. If I was wealthy (Ha!) I'd have a separate charging room. Now the bi folds and windows are in I think we've turned a corner. Looking forward to the day when I order stuff and I don't have to beg people to keep it until we're ready.

Marylou2, your post made me smile. We have done a couple of renovations for resale and in each DH (electrician) put far more sockets than anyone else would have considered necessary.

I entertained myself yesterday with a trip to sofa showrooms. We havent even finished digging down let alone building up!

I feel like we are in the middle of a standstill again. I might start ticking building days off on my calendar. :-(

Well we finally have a start date agreed with the builder - January!!

It makes sense for a number of reasons, but I feel like we've been waiting for ever!!.

Still, it'll be nice to still have a roof at Christmas .

Today the bath from the downstairs bathroom was removed and is now in my front garden, I think I'm going it ebay it.
We've still not agreed on bricks #rollseyes

Steels due to arrive tomorrow so the builders can hopefully put our roof back on soon :) very happy as its getting colder each night!