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?

We're starting our build in April. We've been talking about it for years, had planning 18 months ago, put everything on hold last year as not organised and neighbour didn't want us starting in the summer! We're knocking down a lean to and extending to the side for a utility room, extending at the back for a sun room and minor changes to the layout of the kitchen and new kitchen fitted. Hopefully all quite simple and not much that can go wrong!
af2000 ask for local recommendations, also have a look at architectural technicians if plans not overly complicated.

Can i join?

Our extension is currently due to start the beginning of march.
A single story kitchen diner extension to the rear going out 4 metres and a utility room to the side.

Mixed feelings ate the mo. Waning it to start but not looking forward to the dust and upheaval that goes with it. Just have to keep focusing on the finished room!

Ironing out lots small details at the mo and deciding the small things which has been hard as im so indecisive.

I'd like to join too, we're just getting drawings done up to knock down existing kitchen and build large kitchen/dinner at the back. Hoping to get a 4th bedroom and second bathroom above it too, cost & planning permitting.

AF2000 we got quotes from 4 architects, 2 bigger companies and 2 smaller ones. Bigger ones came in around £10-12k mark, smaller around £3k-5k to post-tender stage. Needless to say we've gone with the smaller one. But because it is basically just one person, it takes her a bit longer to do everything.

And yea, I think if you're doing standard loft conversion or Victorian side return, you may not need architect.

Just heard from our builder - we might be starting a week or two earlier in Feb instead of March! Better get a move on the packing

We have saved up for this for 11 years since we bought the house - I am so excited for it to start!

redrobin- How exciting. We've just been told we are expecting to start 6th March give or take a bit either side so just waiting for that final date. Due a site visit 2 weeks before so any time soon really ...eek!

af200- Our architect fees were about 2k. Your quote does sound alot. maybe get some other quotes to compare.

I was looking for an Extension 2017 thread - I followed the 2016 one wishing we had started work/dreading starting work! We're doing a two storey side and back extension (and demolishing terrible old extension which leaks) and a loft conversion. We should start end of Feb/beginning of March. Moving out next week for 6 months on the builders advice. Am trying not to freak out. I have picked the kitchen but not windows, bathroom stuff or flooring - I feel behind the curve already. Our architect cost £2000 and then planning permissions fees on top. Planning permission took a good few months as we had to amend the roofline (despite it replicating our neighbours .

Mortgage offer issued this morning

I'm off to start planning kitchens/bathrooms/wardrobes!

I only paid £500 for an architect to draw plans for planning. Have I missed something here, or is my build not grand enough to need one?

Great news on the mortgage offer ! Monkey ours was £900 including him doing the building reg drawings which I now realise is cheap !

This morning the entrance to our old living room has now become a brick wall. Chased the builder doing the extension this morning as think the interior builder might be pretty much finished phase 1 of inside alterations by end of next week. It's all quite exciting at the moment.

Redrobin, probably just the usual stuff, sockets, door openings, where I want the handles on the new windows, what type of opening mechanism, where do I want light switches and which lights should be on which circuit....etc, every day there are just loads of small things! Electrician and plumber doing "first fix" this weekend so need an idea of where things are going even at this early stage! Roof came off totally today (brrr) so we're under tarpaulin until the new roof structure goes in on Saturday. It's moving really fast so far.

Monkey, great news about the mortgage! You must be so relieved.

Relieved is an understatement.

Now we are in pizza hut celebrating- as it's all we can afford now

Glad everyone else is moving onwards.

Congratulations Monkeyface!
I suspect architects charge whatever they can get away with - and maybe they saw us coming
I am ignoring the massive pile of empty packing boxes clogging up the hallway - hoping they'll magically pack themselves...

Is anyone doing anything about attic space? Above my 2nd storey bedroom there will be attic space. Tiny tiny though, probably 7 ft square. I'm thinking of asking the builder to put steels in to hold the ceiling up, then plasterboarding it, popping in a velux and using it as an xbox den for ds? I won't get building regs on it as it's only about 5 ft high, so would need to be officially storage. But I can get a power socket up there and a heater and it sounds cool!

Thoughts?

I just want to wish you all good luck. I was in your exact position this time last year. It's very scary and stressful, but I look back now and am thrilled with finished result! Just keep thinking it will get there in the end!

I'll join! We're planning a rear kitchen extension and have just agreed an architect to do our drawings. Hoping to incorporate a pantry/utility and cloakroom but may depend on funds.

Ideally we would love for it to be up and finished by the end of the year but having mixed reports on how long it will take to find a builder and their lead times.

Hi ItstheKissing and welcome! Denman that is very encouraging to hear, thank you.

Monkeyface, it is a thought and useful storage. Another thought is could it have a vaulted ceiling to that bedroom?

All exciting here today as our new downstairs reception room really coming together today and we can paint it next week apparently. That's our first big milestone. I would like the outside builder to give me a date as to when he's coming to do the block and beam floor now.

I think an x-box den sounds great, how will he access it? Fixed stairs or ladder?

Mirabelle I've had to google block and beam floor is . I need to brush up on some technical building terms or I am going to be very lost. But it sounds like you are making lots of progress.
My builder has confirmed 20th Feb as our start date - now it feels like it's really, really happening!

kissing- We got planning permission the end of July last year. Building work stats beginning of March.
Good Tradesmen get booked up quickly. We have to book our decorator 3 months in advance!

Hello, I'll be joining you soon if that's ok. Our architect submitted plans to the council last week (after I got some advice from MNers and completely reconfigured his first attempt!)

Really hoping we can spend next Christmas in our new extension, I can picture it now!

We're selling a property to pay for some of the building work so fingers crossed that completes in the next couple of weeks.

Our architect came recommended as he does lots of work in the area - he seems ok-ish so far, but let's see how it goes.

pigleychez and Notonthestairs sounds like we may start at the same time too. Our builder has said 1st week of march but could be earlier.

We have picked our kitchen design but I can’t choose between the 5 different shades of Grey for cabinet colour. We are visiting the factory to see the worktop choices soon.

Bathroom and Toilet sanitary ware have been selected but we haven’t ordered it yet. Just made a note of what we like.

Getting quite excited now, packed away the toys (god! help me entertain my 2 dds who do not know how to sit still) last weekend. Just got to pack up the kitchen next week. We are moving out mid march for 6-8 weeks as well.

Can I join you? We move out tomorrow and the build starts Monday. It has been a long long time coming as we are leasehold and have been through a nightmare with our freeholder getting the license to alter. We have spent a fortune on surveyors completely unwillingly (including 3 sets of party wall). Finally, we can start spending money on the build itself! Our focus has been so much on the paperwork up to now, that we are only just beginning to think about the build and picking things like patio doors and other exciting stuff!

Very jealous of you guys that are moving out during the build. We are staying put.
I know its going to be a nightmare. The lounge is going to be turned into some kinda student digs with a makeshift kitchen in the corner and the dining furniture rammed in somewhere too. The bedrooms are going to piled with boxes too as everything downstairs will be effected/ worked on so needs to be clear, including the garage ( full of crap!)

With 2 children and a lively pup its going to be a nightmare fun :0

If you are staying put during building work I can recommend the sofa bags you can get (basically a really big bag you can fit a 2-4 seater sofa in). We sealed ours in and then upended them to make space. Also pigletjohn talks so much sense - screwfix cannister vacuum is very useful - you want to put your regular vacuum away for the duration. We also put down floor protectors (big sheets of corrugated plastic) to keep a lot of dirt out.

I'm stressing as I haven't got enough money for the build and the new kitchen that I want.

It'll take probably another 5 months or so to save up enough for my kitchen.

Am I being nieve or is it okay to live without a 'proper' kitchen? I'll have a cooker, microwave, sink and fridge freezer, but it'll all be dumped in the room not fitted. I'll have one 3m strip of old work surface too.

Well, I probably would have had enough for the kitchen, but decided I wanted sparkly quartz worktops and today bought myself a Rangemaster.

I'm dangerous with £££££ in my current account

And I'm also jealous of everyone moving out! We (family of 5 Including a toddler and dog) are going to have to live in a living room, downstairs toilet, and one bedroom upstairs. Every single other room is going to be messed with.

I think that will be OK Monkey, just try to arrange it as best you can.

Milestone this week as DS's new room is ready to paint so first bit of the internal renovation done. Also the beam and block floor of extension went in yesterday and the shed in the front is down so we can see where our new parking space will be. Outside builder reckons a couple of weeks then up to plate level. We'll be on a break then as need to save and don't want roof off till summer and haven't actually found a roofer yet.