Anyone starting / in the midst of an extension?

[AalyaSecura]

I'm feeling in need of a support thread! We got planning permission for a big single storey extension 6 months ago, and are just finalising the builder's contracts after getting quotes (which were all at the top end of what we were expecting). So now we have lots of decisions to make before we start building proper - need to settle on kitchen, render, flooring, doors etc - as well as clear the madness that is our garage.

Anyone else out there?

Just to say I would really recommend oneplan if anyone like me is feeling overwhelmed with all the decisions and struggling to visualise the space. She drew me up a 3D render of what the space would look like and it was fabulous! (Very competitive prices too!)

Ah ! Thanks 3kids ! I love how yours ended up !

It can help if you are getting snowed under or going around and around !

I'm working tonight doing my own Alts to my lounge ! So I even do it for my own projects on my own home !!

Luckily DH is a bit handy with some CAD software, so we were able to visualise the interior reasonably well. I struggle much more with visualising the outside, and had a lot of to-ing and fro-ing about 'modern flat roof' extension or 'try to pretend it's always been there pitch roofed' extension. Practicality (and DH) won out and we're going for a flat roof, sliding doors out. The render dilemma is because we have part brick / part pebbledash (50s house) on the rest of the house, and I'm not sure sharp white render will work, even if we long term aim to take off the pebbledash and render the whole thing.

Builders arriving on Monday to start on a small single story extension at back of house. Knocking out back wall of house to make one large kitchen diner. Schedule is only 4-5 weeks I'm told!
I'm due DS2 on Friday!

A doodle app is good for that sort of thing - drawing on a photo

Just popped back to the house and kitchen windows out - we're knocking through kitchen and existing dining room and then putting in a lot of glass.

Glass sure aint cheap either

Cheers OnePlan, I'll try that.

MrsCB, it's amazing how taking out windows instantly turns it into a building site, and putting them in instantly makes it feel like a room!

Is anyone looking at or already bought bifold or sliding glass doors? We're looking to choose ours (planning to go for three large pane sliding doors, with one of those fixed), and so I was wondering what the options might be.

Yes, we have 4m bi folds. There were a couple of threads going 2 or 3 months ago (if you search you'll be able to find them). I think it comes down to what your personal priority is. I did love the profile of sliding doors (much sleeker than bi'folds so the view is less interrupted) but wanted the opening to open completely. Also didn't like the depth of the track for 3 doors to slide into.

Go with what works for you. It's a lot of money to spend on something you don't love!

We've been thinking about getting an extension for a while but we're put off by the PP. It seems like it can take so long.. do conservatories take this long? Would I need PP for this? So many decisions! I just need extra room to be honest, with 3 kids in tow, the house is becoming cluttered!

Thanks namechanged for the thread suggestion - I have been browsing and scribbling down some recommended manufacturers. Just got to track down some show rooms now!

user, PP for us was pretty quick, but you may find you can do your extension under permitted development if it's not too big - your council planning website should tell you what would count or not.

Yes! Us!
We're on the home stretch now - hoping for only a few weeks more.
Hopefully you have some amazing friends who will drop round the odd home cooked meal and/or invite you over from time to time for dinner.. believe me - a whole summer without a kitchen and being surrounded in chaos and brick dust isn't fun and it does take its toll. There's only so many takeaways, meals out and camping stove concoctions one can take.

What's still left to do Itchy?

we're at the very early stages - so early that we've not actually bought the house yet! we're almost at the point of exchange of contracts, but want to out on huge 2 storey rear and side extension asap. First job once contracts are exchanged is to start talking to architects. We've got a pretty good idea of what we want, so hopefully can get plans submitted before Christmas....

Ooh, I'm glad I've found you all!! 'Waves madly'

The builder and project manager have just left our house! They popped in to have a look at the site...We're at the awaiting PP stage (should be by 6th Oct) for a rear single storey extension.

When they started talking about diggers I felt a little queasy. I like my peace and quiet. Don't think I'll be getting too much of that!

We have a budget of £35K to do a 4mx4m extension and kitchen. Is that bonkers? We have already spent nearly £1k on architect, planning and camera for the sewer that we intend to build over. I'm just worried about costs mounting up. I just hope that the water board don't order us to change the pipe just cos they can (apparently the pipe is absolutely fine but well deep so if we have to dig up and replace the pipe at our expense, it could cost another £3K....

I'm a mix of excited and sick as a dog. I know it will be worth it but I don't want to end up with a beautiful extension and no kitchen because we ran out of cash...

Ooh can i join as well please?

We started this week on a 2 storey extension with loads of complexities that I'm really hoping go well.

Op I have chosen velfac 200 sliding doors with one pane fixed. Each pane is 1.3m wide. Thin frames absolutely lovely.

It's exciting and totally terrifying.

Pressed send too soon...

So we have a budget of £120k to do the two storey extension at the back of a 1930s mid terrace. It is actually a lower ground And ground floor extension as the garden is 1.5m lower than the back of the house. We are knocking down walls internally as well so we have a kitchen then a mezzanine dining area and then stairs down to a living room opening Into the garden.

Can't even imagine what it is going to be like to live there. The builders said 16-20 weeks which seems short compared to what most of you are saying 6 months for a two story. Not living there thank God. Still in old house!

Hello
Puts up hand to say me too
Like itchy we are almost done with the building part but once they've moved on we have the rest of the house to bring up to standard.
It has been stressful and Tbh it would have been a nice gesture to be offered the odd home cooked meal by friends but they have busy lives as well - my sister has come to the rescue several times bless her.
We are having our kitchen plastered and floors leveled up ready for tiling and kitchen installation. I've been awake all night worrying that I've chosen the wrong floor tiles and we've spent a good couple of grand on them - large area.

We are having very light grey gloss units with a light quartz worktop which has a grey fleck in it. We are going to have a coloured glass splash back but I can't yet decide on colour - smoky grey or a plum colour spring to mind.

The kitchen has been made squarer and we've knocked through into our side extension to give us a new dining area at one end and both trifold and bifold doors the other end with a pitched roof and value windows. I'm worried the floor tiles will close it all in - the walls will be white. The light rejected in the tile is the reflection from the plug in plasterers light that we've borrowed as we haven't 2nd fixed the electrics yet.

Velux windows not value

I'd like to join too. We're at extremely early stages, just speaking to architects but reading this thread is worrying me.

We'd ideally like to do a two storey extension to get a fourth bedroom, 2nd bathroom and big kitchen dinner, but looking at the budgets on here, I think we need an extra £50k.

Where did people find the best places for inspiration? Pinterest? Houzz?

I was hoping we could do it without moving out. We can't afford to pay mortgage and rent, and there are no relatives nearby that we could stay with.

I think I'm struggling with the mix of old and new. Our house is a small detached Victorian villa so we want to keep the original look - it's very pretty - while expanding. So much to think about, it's hard to know where to start.

Hi can I join too? Just had full PP through for a 4m X 7m rear single storey extension and redesign of existing ground floor. Had to go to committee because there were more than 5 objections because of a campaign bupy our next door neighbour, all objections relating to her (from her pals in different towns!!).

Anyhow, neighbourly relations are now non-existent, hey ho.

Waiting on building warrant now and we'll be good to go. Complaints carry-on cost us 2 months so now we now face a winter build.

Now PP is through I am looking at kitchens, large sliding doors etc -wouldn't let myself get excited before, very excited now

Pinterest / houzz / right move (for sale and sold locally) and lots of kitchen websites often have a "recent projects" or "real life kitchens" section which shows normal projects rather than very top end / show home designs.

If we'd just done an extension then I doubt we would have needed to move out. However, have just been to house this morning and there is no way we could have lived through it but we are doing a total renovation with every single room being stripped out.

The extension walls are up and neighbour who looks on to our garden has separately asked me, my DH and builder if we are doing a double or single storey extension - umm single as per planning!

Steels are going in and kitchen/dining room wall is out.

The costs are a lot but then I think people don't generally say in RL how much building work costs so it is hard to estimate it. We are having a lot of glass so that alone is c£25k and that doesn't include the new windows which we did at the beginning of the year.

It is very exciting though! Have just been making final decisions on new oven (am getting rid of aga) and fridges etc. Also have to decide on TV's this weekend as builder needs to know for wiring/cabinetry stuff.

Also now looking into getting garden designs done and am astonished at how much landscaping is. We have a third of an acre plot so not big and it seems that £20k won't be enough.

When will I get a quote which is less than I expected

Stokey - has anyone near you done what you want to do? I became obsessed by H&G magazine, houses I drove by etc etc I have also used an interior design firm which has added £££ but has saved quite a bit of stress.

Happygirl - what type of kitchen are you thinking of? There are so many amazing ones out there but again all seem to be £££

Hiya MrsCB just going for a mid-price one, got some brochures from the kitchen company. No particular make in mind but fancy black handle-less doors and currently erring towards black granite, but one with some interest through it.. Would like so induction hob, currently have gas.

You?