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Original poster

Is anyone else in extension / renovation hell?

28 replies

PlaymobilPirate · 22/12/2016 21:38

... and fancies a moan?

We're doing all of downstairs and sticking a kitchen extension on at the same time - we've saved for years and I'm happy that it's now underway but I'm so sick of the mess, the cold, tradesmen letting us down... did I mention the mess??

Anyone else? Or have you finished and want to tell me it's worth it??

OP posts:
namechangedtoday15 · 22/12/2016 22:09

Yes finished here, well a couple of bits to finish off but builders left about 6 weeks ago. 6 months of dust, chaos, 4 of us sleeping in one room. But yes absolutely worth it, has changed the way we live, its fab. Our builders were amazing but it was still tough.

Hang in there Smile

Original poster
PlaymobilPirate · 22/12/2016 22:20

Thank you @namechangedtoday15

DP is doing lots of the work himself on top of working full time so I can't moan out loud but I'm truly fed up :(

So glad to hear it's worth it though!!

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SorrelForbes · 22/12/2016 22:23

Yep! Currently living in half a house. The kitchen/diner extension is about half done and as DP is doing it all himself I don't think it'll be finished much before the end of February!

Original poster
PlaymobilPirate · 22/12/2016 22:58

Horrible Sorrel - have you knocked through the external eall yet? that's the day i'm dreading!!

OP posts:
OnePlanOnHouzz · 23/12/2016 08:55

Small in comparison - but I'm doing Christmas - with a house full of peeps staying - with an unfinished fireplace project in my main family living room !!! The man who started it decided to go off on holiday after he got it half done !

Can't complain too much as
A. He's not charging me and
B. It's my DH !

( and he went on holiday to see my MIL who he feels I don't really get on with , so didn't go !! And I had a whole week here in peace and quiet !! Bliss !!)

PunjanaTea · 23/12/2016 09:52

Awaiting planning permission issues to be sorted. Which is incredibly frustrating.

I'm both looking forward to and dreading the thought of work starting on our house!

Original poster
PlaymobilPirate · 23/12/2016 10:37

Putting a wash on / doing the dishes currently involves running out (climbing over bricks, edging past a wheelbarrow, walking down a plank of wood...) to empty the big manky plastic box that the sink and washer are currently draining into with a bucket and carrying it round to the drain!

OP posts:
paulapantsdown · 23/12/2016 10:45

I had three months of washing up dishes in the bath, taking our clothes to the launderette once a week, microwave dinners every night and filth and dirt EVERYWHERE.

It was SO worth it.

wowfudge · 23/12/2016 14:37

Builders have just finished fitting two velux windows ahead of Storm Barbara reaching us then they're fitting the roof insulation in our newly vaulted ceiling this afternoon. Then we can get cleaned up and be thankful we're at a family member's house for Christmas!

Original poster
PlaymobilPirate · 23/12/2016 15:15

Wow Paula - you win!

Fudge- we've got 2 velux behind the settee waiting to go up... bit worried as we're a degree or so out on the roof slant which apparently affects how waterproof they are! 😲

OP posts:
wowfudge · 23/12/2016 15:45

Velux are in, cleaned and no rain coming in. They will be thoroughly tested tonight given the weather. Just had a 'could you please fit the insulation you've already cut to size before you go' conversation as they need another sheet but are going to come back between Christmas and New Year. It's bloody freezing!

SorrelForbes · 23/12/2016 16:35

PlaymobilPirate Walls are at chest height now. Lintels will be next then the roof and then the dreaded 'knocking through'! Our kitchen has already arrived but there's nowhere to out it so it's currently stacked oin boxes in every available space. The glass panels and doors for the back of the extension arrived in three weeks.... We're a little behind!

MaryChalloner · 23/12/2016 16:40

me! The builders have finished for Christmas now and we have a half built back room (that will house the kitchen) which has no roof or windows. they didn't knock down the wall yet though which is one thing.

Half a bathroom too. (1 1/2 to go!).

Until recently we had a bath and all the bathroom fittings in the sitting room.

I'm facing a trip to Ikea next week to get a kitchen plan done.

I'm mostly very excited though, we've been living in a horrible house for 2 years and it will be really nice once it's done (although I'll be bankrupt).

cornflowerblu · 23/12/2016 16:42

Starting soon but we are moving out. We've lived in before and I can't face doing that again

johnd2 · 24/12/2016 20:40

Yes we stated a 10 week project 11 weeks ago and we're still living in a mess. Basically the only room that's not been turned over and covered in dust is the box room we're sleeping in 2x3m. The main problem was getting both chimneys demolished, and the old kitchen wall moved. One day we came home without warning and they knocked through upstairs and took out the back door and kitchen window when it was going to be colder than-3c. And there wasn't anywhere to put anything down for the thick dust. The loft insulation has been out for over a month.
They took some of the kitchen cupboards down and they kept telling us they will take more down but they haven't. We have to clean the floors and kitchen completely every day when we get home.

But that was the lows, highlights were when they finished the roof, and moved the boarded up area so we could see the whole new kitchen diner space. And also when the scaffolding came down.

But overall we've got used to our bedroom being 13c and everything being covered in dust and under dust sheets.

I'm doing the electrics and plumbing myself, so I spent a good few evenings in the cold sinking socket boxes into the wall and drilling joists. But we know in 3 years time it'll just be a story and we'll enjoy it for the next 30+years!

Good luck everyone else with your extensions!

SparklyTwinkleGlitter · 24/12/2016 20:54

Our project started last November and was finished in October. I actually thought it would be done by end April...! Part of the problem was delays caused by bad weather.
However, I thought all our tradesmen were great. A very different experience to when we had builders in, back in the UK. That was a totally horrendous experience.

Here we had a guy blocklaying who was also a yoga teacher. Watching him do handstands on the apex of the garage roof was both scary and entertaining.
I live abroad so they're less 'fussy' about their own health & safety.
Now it's finished, it's fabulous. Totally worth it.
The worst bit was when the internal/external walls were removed and the permanent layer of dust.
We went a little over budget in the end but I really wished we'd put some cash aside for professional cleaners after that stage. It would have been worth it.

johnd2 · 24/12/2016 23:18

Wow I like the idea of yoga on the roof! I was quite nervous when the builder invited me to climb off the scaffolding up the roof onto the top ridge! Effectively 2 floors above upstairs, nice view at least but wobbly legs.
Seconded about the cleaners, the builders do their level of cleaning every day which is 100x better then while they're working, then we do the same when we get home, but even that's only scratching the surface.
I just can't wait for when we get home from work and the contents of all the drawers and the sink and everything in the kitchen isn't covered in another layer of dust!

Ollycat · 26/12/2016 00:31

We started in April - moved out in July and back in 5 days ago.

Not finished but very nearly there. Fantastic to be back home!

littlestar34 · 30/12/2016 18:39

Hi. New here. Last touches to do to ours and we are done. (Single storey extension) Have got a fair bit of decorating and tidying for us to do though. I can't say it was enjoyable but we survived. I am already liking how much more space we have.

MirabelleTree · 30/12/2016 18:42

We started the week before Christmas so only have foundations, a mud bath plus heaps of building materials all over the drive .

AsWeTumbleToTheGround · 30/12/2016 19:50

All of our downstairs is out of bounds really. We are living at my parents 4 days a week which is driving us all slightly mad I think!

I agree that knocking through was the worst bit. Plastering is almost all done so I'm hoping the dust levels will reduce now. Kitchen due mid Jan and should be decorating in Feb I hope.

It will be so good to have a big house (only ground floor extension but it's doubling the floor space downstairs) as it was tiny before hand. Spent many happy hours designing my new kitchen!

dynevoran · 31/12/2016 08:30

We started in September and are not living there. So whilst I don't feel your pain as such I am anxious to get in and instead of finding it hard dust and kitchen-wise...We are feeling the pinch moneywise! As it's eating into our budget to not live there.

Due to move in within 3 weeks and whilst there will be bit to do inside and outside it will mostly be done. So excited to get in.

SorrelForbes · 31/12/2016 08:44

It's been so cold over Christmas that DH hasn't been able to get on with the brick laying (I gave him a snagging list for other rooms which has kept him busy!).

Original poster
PlaymobilPirate · 01/01/2017 10:57

We'very now got part of the roof on so it's getting exciting - I've made DP take some time off over Xmas as he was so shattered (working full time and doing 90% of the extension) so not a huge amount of progress but I'm happy.

Our main hold up has been workmen letting us down - plumber, electrician, digger man and the stove fitter so far 😕

OP posts:
SorrelForbes · 03/01/2017 07:50

DH is taking next week off work in an attempt the finish the bricklaying! I think everything will seem better once he gets the roof on!

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