Home Extensions 2017 - come along on the journey

[RedRobin1]

Hi just wondered if anyone has recently started or about to start a home extension. Haven’t seen a 2017 thread so starting one here.

Our two-storey extension is due to start on 1st March and we have just started packing boxes. The planning and research has been ongoing for 2-3 years. Had planning permission approved a few years back and completed all the research around what we would like in our new extended and how we would like to design it all - extending the kitchen / dining area downstairs to create an open plan living, dining and kitchen space and an extra bedroom upstairs.

Have two DCs under 4 and need help / advice / tips and general hand holding.

Is anyone else starting theirs soon?

Nice one fly

It's ridiculous how exciting mess is

And don't fall over in shock, but I had some builders today too! Actual real human men! Doing something to the roof. Unsure of what

BUT I HAVE BUILDERS!

Nice one monkey

I think I spoke too soon. They rocked up at 10. Went for their lunch I assume, at 1pm. And still haven't returned

For fuck sake

Hi all!
Great to hear updates from you all- sorry some of you have been so unlucky with builders. We have obviously been v lucky.
Bi folds and sliding doors went in last week, upstairs is almost finished but still need to plaster, tile and install kitchen downstairs plus electrics and probably a whole load of other things. Patio will be done by the weekend!

Reasontobelieve living on site with 2pre-schoolers and a dog has been survivable but tough. Temporary kitchen with microwave/BBQ and luckily still access to a sink in the utility area (plus washing machine!)

Sushi queen I know what you mean about the dog! Gates always left open but he hasn't managed to escape into site yet. He's even got bored of jumping up to say hello whenever the builders are in or out! Hoping it may help him get over his fear of noise too.

We are probably into our last month now having started early March! Yay!

My bifolds are arriving in the morning, the scaffolding hasn't gone down yet, the access hasn't been cleared, the steels haven't arrived yet & no sign of knocking through!
Maybe that's all normal but I have a day off work & if anything goes wrong I think I'll explode!

Monkey sorry things aren't much better!

This is a great thread:) we've just started planning for a 30sqm ground floor extension. Mortgage has been applied for and a plans designer is coming tomorrow morning. Loving seeing all your developments 😊👌🏼

This is bizarre. They came back late afternoon and spent 20 mind packing their outdoor tools. They left all internal tools in situ. And then left again, together in one van. So one van is still in the road outside, has been there overnight. All tools in situ, yet they aren't here yet today.

How odd.

4years beat advice you'll ever have? RESEARCH YOUR BUILDER!!

Thanks Monkey. Sounds like you're having a bit of a nightmare. I've got 3 personal recommendations from people, so I can't double ch more than that

Monkey that's so bizarre! Are you sure they drove off? (Remembers thread where one Mumsnetter found someone living in her loft). Check the loft!!!

So this morning considering the bifolds are arriving at 9, it's 8.10 and he's still not here!
DH starts helping one of the lads clear the scaffolding!
He eventually arrives - he was getting diesel!!!
DH has a go at him - he's banging scaffolding around I heard him say I don't need this shit!
Well I'm paying for this shit!!!!!!!
😡😡😡😡

Fuck sake Rick I'm mad for you. What an arrogant shit.

Have you made progress though?

P.s apols for my language. Anything to do with builders brings me out in expletives.

Monkey no apologies needed, I've never sworn so much in my whole life as I have this passed 16 weeks! I hope it goes away afterwards!!🙄
I have doors!

They look fab 👌🏼

I'm finally worthy of joining you all, after several months' wait. It's so encouraging to see the progress that you've made.

We're only 3 days in and I'm really struggling with the mess and noise already. At least DCs have been at day camp this week - the next fortnight is going to be hell as I can't see how we can stay in the house during the day - the rubble has to come through the house, so the entire downstairs is covered in mud because of the rain yesterday.

The builders seem nice and respectful though so far, but I do plan on keeping out of their way as much as possible!

We have also started properly today I was awaiting planning last time I posted. Got a call last Friday to say are we ready to go and yesterday scaffolding went up today the roof has come off current ground floor extension ( building a first storey on top of current extension and then having downstairs reconfigured ) it's so noisy today but I'm just so excited it's underway

Congratulations @counttotenandbreathe, how exciting! That sounds like a huge job - are you staying in the house while the work is going on?

Trying to yes but have the option of moving to my dad's if it gets too bad!

Finally got my worktop fitted today ...and am over the moon with it. .I was a little nervous as I had only seen a little square sample and opinion is to see a sheet of it ..but it really is my dream kitchen ! Sink ,tap,and hob tomorrow and final tweaks and cornice on Monday and then after a couple of years we can finally eat off a dinner table

jigster gorgeous! You went for silestone didn't you? Sorry- being so lazy- should just revisit our exchange further down!
We're having those handles on our 1909 kitchen too. Good luck with the remaining bits and bobs. What will you have for your first meal?!?

Unistone Bianca carrera....fitter said silestone seems to be the most popular...I asked him about upkeep and he said fairy liquid with water in a bottle ,but he was using Tesco own brand marble and granite cleaner so that's a on my list too .....the handles we saw at the trade showroom for second nature on a 1909 kitchen and when I ordered my kitchen my retailer didn't even know they existed as they were brand new ! She has said since they are very popular ....Roast lamb and all the trimmings!! Yours must be coming to an end now as are many others ..no photos anyone ??

Bit late, but Minimum97 we had approx. the same size extension, although in an L shape, ground floor only, all it did was extend the kitchen. It involved 3 steels, 2 x velux, 3 x massive windows. We also had house rewired, new heating system/boiler, replastered throughout, new flooring throughout, woodburner, new porch door, new French doors, gravel driveway, new bathroom and included kitchen. All up we spent around 40k in 2013. We managed the trades ourselves and got some of the work done at what would probably be somewhere between mates rates and normal. It was a fucking nightmare but I think it was probably decent value.

I love your floor Jigster!

Au contraire jigster we are nowhere near done I'm afraid! Our builders are moving around the property doing a little bit of everything (we're having three different extensions and a total remodel). The roof alone is going to take 6 weeks to de-tile, re-build and then re-tile. Hoping for November completion...!