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Original poster

Home Extensions 2017 - come along on the journey

970 replies

RedRobin1 · 06/02/2017 13:04

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?

OP posts:
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112
Tika77 · 09/10/2017 09:28

Oh, monkey.... I can just about imagine how a build can bring all sorts of things to the surface. Congrats on the treats you got for yourself! 😀

As for things here, our architect still makes mistakes with clear instructions given... We’ve also stalled as some docs that need confirmation from council are still waiting approval. We have brickwork waiting for some beams to put on top, it was supposed to have turned up on Friday.

I am now about a day away from ordering my kitchen which will be done by a carpenter in my home country. He’s been recommended by someone who I trust but not going to lie that I do have some worries about transfering thousands abroad to something I’ve never seen etc. There’ve been numerous discussions over details and so on but still a lot of money.

Ah, and we visited the bifold company on Sat that gave me the best quote only to find out ‘they might have made a mistake and not have included the integral blinds’ that I asked for... but they’ll give me the best (higher) price possible. Great.

guilty100 · 09/10/2017 09:52

monkey - I am so, so sorry. I can't imagine how it must have been coming to this realisation while your home was torn apart. It sounds as though you are really certain it's the right choice, however, and I have to say - having been previously married to a manchild - it is an immense relief not to have to deal with someone who won't pull their weight, or who moans about doing every single practical thing to help. Good for you on treating yourself, sometimes that is the best use you can ever put money to.

string - that is totally NOT your fault. Do you know any architects (other than your own) you could ask for recommendations for builders? Going to tender, with a reasonably short deadline - though not so short that it puts people off - sounds sensible.

A whole load of nothing happening here today - the panels for my house are being made in a workshop across town, so it feels eerily quiet while the builder is there. I'm quite enjoying the sensation of having my own space back again - and I haven't even reached the point that so many of you are at, where work is happening inside the house. The builders are absolutely lovely, but it's just nice to have a few days of my own space. It's a busy time - big birthday for DH, plus BIL's wedding next weekend, so a bit of headspace is v welcome.

spydie · 09/10/2017 17:10

Sorry you are having such a crap time Monkey

I've just posted o the main page, we are having a nightmare with our builder. Just want to cry.

guilty100 · 09/10/2017 17:21

I just replied to your other thread spydie - I think you may be in a stronger position than you fear. I hope I'm right!

In the meantime, hugs, handholding, and humungus amounts of Wine for you.

TeamRick · 09/10/2017 22:15

Spy so get the wanting to cry thing! Ours is plodding on at the moment but we started at the same time as you and it's just tooooo long! Fridays are my wibble days when I'm tired after a week at work.

6 bloody months of the upheaval, uncertainty, anxiety, living like animals I've been calling it! Bloody builders, I feel like I've lost the whole year!

I just want it done!

monkeyfacegrace · 10/10/2017 07:19

Who wants a giggle.

Had plumber here yesterday moving my stopcock and putting in first fix for my new kitchen, which is being delivered Friday as my new floor has all been finished and everything!

But. Overnight the old stopcock site has sprung a lovely leak and we've had mains water pissing into our house all night and we can't even turn it off as it's before the stopcock Grin

Can't get hold of the plumber as his phone is obviously off.

Hilarious, right? Grin

guilty100 · 10/10/2017 07:31

Oh my God, monkey!!

Do you have a stopcock in the street so you can turn off the water to the entire property? They are often under those postage-stamp shaped metal lids on the pavement.

Paging @pigletjohn for urgent advice!

TeamRick · 10/10/2017 07:36

Monkey Arrrggghhhhhh!!!!!!

guilty100 · 10/10/2017 07:38

This is the thing I'm talking about monkey - if you look underneath it, there is a stopcock you can turn. All your water will switch off, so get yourself some drinking water before you do it. It might say "water" on it, or something else altogether - it could be on your drive/front garden, or on the street outside.

Home Extensions 2017 - come along on the journey
monkeyfacegrace · 10/10/2017 07:39

Yep we've got one of those. And the valve is stuck fast!

Fourmagpies · 10/10/2017 08:07

Angry just what you don't need monkey. Hope he turns his phone on pretty sharpish, though I don't think I'd like to be in his shoes today!! Hope you dry out soon.

monkeyfacegrace · 10/10/2017 08:36

So managed to turn the mains water off, thanks to a neighbour and a crow bar.

Plumber said all he can do is apologise, he checked it before he went and it was fine and it was fine in the evening. I guess he has a point. Yet still, my £2k floor is going to have to come up. And it's been glued so probably replaced. I presume that's his public liability insurance?

guilty100 · 10/10/2017 09:21

God, monkey, I reckon you are due a lottery win to compensate for the bad luck you are having.

I'm so sorry about your floor. Yes, I would hope this would be covered on insurance.

Sending you unmumsnetty hugs.

spydie · 10/10/2017 09:21

Oh bloody hell monkey FlowersGin for this morning, what a nightmare. Yes, yes, to public liability!!!

glorious · 10/10/2017 09:27

Oh monkey what a nightmare. Glad you managed to turn it off and I really hope the plumber is helpful and gets the insurance claim in quickly.

Anyone know of a company that does bi-parting sliding doors like these that isn't quite so expensive? I'm going to try a few of the usual sliding/bifold door companies as I guess if you can make a sliding door you can make these. We were going to have slide and pivot doors but that was mainly because I wanted to be able to have the opening in the middle, and these sliding doors would achieve that goal more neatly but I can't pay 20% more for them!
velfac.co.uk/domestic/windows-doors/casement-and-sliding-doors/Bi-parting-sliding-door/

johnd2 · 10/10/2017 09:36

@glorious you can get a big discount on velfac, the first quote is the standard rate but if you're ordering a few they can give you whatever the latest discount level is. It varies from time to time but we got more off our second phase than the first.

johnd2 · 10/10/2017 09:39

@monkey sorry to hear about your floor, actually it's not public liability anyway but he would have to pay for the damage regardless, the fact he may have some kind of insurance to indemnify himself on that is his own business. He might find it cheaper to just sort out the damage through other tradespeople he knows.

glorious · 10/10/2017 09:41

Oh thank you johnd2. I need 9 windows as well, which they've quoted for but which are also too expensive. I will see if there's any movement on price.

monkeyfacegrace · 10/10/2017 09:45

So, floor was all squelchy throughout the entire downstairs. We've got concrete foundations, celotex, chipboard, laminate.

It's now not so squelchy. Any reason I couldn't just pretend it never happened? I'm hoping it will just dry up and go away 😂

guilty100 · 10/10/2017 09:53

It might dry OK, but my guess would be that as the moisture evaporates, you will get movement, warp and blow. Take advice from your builder!

I had a massive flood in my house a few years ago. My exP put the tap on in the bathroom full blast, put the plug in the sink, and then went out for 14 hours. One tile floor survived, another had to be replaced. Every single wall and floor downstairs had to be taken back to brick and replastered. I had only just finished renovating the house for sale at this point, so I was fuming. (We had already broken up).

Tika77 · 10/10/2017 14:07

monkey, I think problems will arise. We once viewed a house where the solid wood floor had been flooded and it was all warped. I’m so sorry this has happened. Does your builder have all risk insurance?

Titsywoo · 10/10/2017 14:25

God what an awful time you are having monkey! I hope they get it all sorted for you quickly.

I feel a bit bad coming on here as our work is going so smoothly in comparison to the rest of you! I bloody love our builders. The dormer is nearly built now. I've just ordered out new front door and am about to order the roof tiles. The carpenter came this morning to measure for the staircase and he is starting in a week and a half. They reckon they'll have the loft done in 5 weeks tops then they just need to build our new porch and move some walls around downstairs. So should definitely be done by Xmas bar some decorating and flooring and our ensuite.

monkeyfacegrace · 10/10/2017 14:34

I'm literally done with this shit.

guilty100 · 10/10/2017 14:45

It's not at all what you needed or deserved, this, monkey. I'm so very sorry. It's just not fair.

spydie · 10/10/2017 14:55

Flowers and Cake and Wine for later now Monkey. Our builders are tossers.

I want to say it will all get better in the end!!!! Not quite sure I believe that though!!!!