Home extensions 2017- the one where all builders are dickheads.

[monkeyfacegrace]

Link to the old thread.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/2847599-Home-Extensions-2017-come-along-on-the-journey

As you were ladies.

Oh my god major panic! Just as I send that last post DH messaged me to say the tiles are gone! The company that make them have a 16 week wait but managed to find an extra 5000 for us. They were keeping them aside for us but they bloody sold them! Shit!

Oh no titsy - just as you were making amazing progress too. How bloody annoying that you've gone to all that trouble to be super-organised and they'be sold the bloody things.

Do you have a case to be able to muscle your way to the top of their queue, since it's really their mistake to set right??

I love your parquet floor.

It's too late as they've gone now. Luckily DH has managed to find the two stockists in the country who have some left in grey instead of black. Our builders say because the black ones are painted they will eventually fade so we'll match our neighbours in the end! So crisis kind of averted!

Thanks, we have parquet throughout the house from when it was built in the 40's. We took it up in the lounge as it was damaged there but I am hoping the hallway one can stay - because the old hallway and the new hallway have to be joined together by removing a wall we will need to get someone to join the two parquets which may be tricky but we'll give it a go!

That’s outrageous titsy!

I’d definitely make a fuss. Are there any other companies that make these tiles? 4 month wait is insane. This will really slow you down. I’m angry on your behalf, that is shit customer service.

Crossposted with you titsy, sounds like you’ve found a solution.

Just double check if there are any restrictions to the new tile colour eg if you live in a conservation area then any colour changes may need pre approval.

So close! Windows are being ordered today including the first bifold door.
I’m assuming the tiles are being done tomorrow but I’m not sure. The windows have to be in by next Thursday so I don’t know if that means the render is done first? Anyone know?

I would think render after windows, but I'm guessing. Putting windows in causes a bit of damage sometimes, and I can imagine the render having to be touched up afterwards otherwise. Confusingly, I think many other types of cladding go in before windows!

Your build is huge bax - it looks like you're virtually going to double your space.

That would make sense actually as we’ve got a horrible damp tiny extension at the back that we’re knocking down so it makes sense that they do the whole render at once (plus we’re getting all new windows).
We are doubling the size I think (there’s a small single storey extension on the side too (utility room). We never expected the council to agree but they did so hence the huge size 😂

So much happening! It is great to hear. Pleased to hear a tile solution has been found.

Kids & I have escaped the building work for a week, getting reports on progress from dh. Steels are going in. Message from builder with pictures of the steel. He says there is over 1000kg of it. I thought he might be exaggerating but having seen a picture of the beams possibly not.

I feel like our build is going a bit in reverse. They are doing the inside knock through and steels first and then building the outside. Thankfully their test dogs for foundations suggest we are not blighted by tree roots so we shouldn’t have to dig and dig and dig.

Baxdream that looks fab.

Bax, I’d insist render after windows as well.

Big progress here today: almost all the beams are down for the double storey side, more bricks went up today and hopefully the double storey foundations will be complete by the end of the week.

Also we did a bit of re-think and might reduce the boot room (significantly) and keep the original staircase of the house to provide an escape route. This means we’ll loose a bedroom and will have two staircases to the first floor... is that a very odd thing to have?

Tika do you have a pic of the intended layout? I ask because two staircases will not necessarily provide an additional escape route if they are close together ie I would check with building regs first.

Also this is a timely reminder that your local fire brigade are often happy to come and discuss your fire precautions at your home. I recommend everyone have a chat with them to ensure your home is as fire safe as possible. They came over to our home and gave us good tips.

Well, I'm happy to report that the spray insulation is terrific! It saves so much time. Instead of cutting boards of Celotex/Kingspan to size, it is literally just sprayed on and expands in the space.

It's stopped raining here and my roof is going on today! (Well, starting to go on!) This means I also have an electrician coming to start cabling.

I have a couple of design decisions to make, and I'd appreciate your thoughts if you have a minute to spare!

• My galley kitchen has a big window at the end, not quite floor to ceiling but close. Do I want the plaster line before the window surround to be in line with the edge of the worktop or the edge of the units? I'm thinking the former?

• Am I crazy not to have any overhead lighting in the garden room?

tika - Wow, how big is your house?!

I think if you live in a humungus place, two staircases is probably not overkill, in fact, it may even be required by regs. However, if it's more a large domestic-scale house, I would worry that the space could perhaps be better used for something else - because even a straight up-and-down staircase takes up a surprising amount of room. Do you have an architect you could discuss this with?

Whisky - I’d also say in line with the worktop.

I’ll try and attach a photo of the layout later when I digured out how to. Husband is investigating cheaper sprinkler systems thannwe got quoted so far so we don’t need to go down the route of having to involve the water company. (Not having an idea how much they’d charge for the works doesn’t go down well.)
Our architect (if she can be called that) is rubbish... she didn’t even realise we’d need fire doors . I’ve emailed her my question, her reply was that she’ll check with BC. I could’ve done that directly myself.

Yeah, I think a layout would be really, really helpful! I'm not very good at seeing great spatial rearrangements, but I bet some of the others here can and will see all kinds of solutions!

There’s so much activity going on here. The floor has been being done today and our windows/bifolds ordered.
We’re definitely in the decision making period now!
Here’s our latest photos. The house will end up flush with the extension at the back as that extra bit is being knocked down

Da da daaa!

I have a boiler on the wall! Not wired up yet but a real life boiler!

I have not had one since 4th August!

Bax that looks amazing!

Yeah to your boiler Team.

I have had a new one for 3 weeks but No radiators! Hoping they have gone in yesterday to warm the house and dry the bloody scree!!! Will have to go and check!

Going to have to push back the kitchen installation by a few days if possible. They are due to install it on 6/11 and we don't yet have tiles on the floor or the walls painted.
So that won't be happening 😏

Kitchen firm can't do week of 13/11 so fingers crossed we can all ageee on 20/11.

We are in temp accommodation until 25/11 so the delay is not the end of the world.

Heard about a local family whose renovation will finish at the end of November (like our's) and they started in April 2016!

Our's began in late June so I am feeling grateful this morning!!!

Hoping everyone is seeing progress and my fellow "it's like watching scree dry" watchers are seeing progress.

Hello all!
I’ll be joining you in the official screed-drying club from tomorrow!
Has anyone (I’m sure they have but can’t think who) on this thread gone ahead with installing a kitchen prior to the full screed-drying time then just applied your chosen flooring afterwards, up to the units?
Not ideal I know, but if it means we can still be in by Christmas as planned...

Hooray rick! Brilliant news.

Tatlerer - I would worry that the moisture from the screed might hurt the kitchen units.

devon - fingers crossed for your installation date being free.

More roofing work here today - battens going in, ready for fibreglass tomorrow.

I'm debating whether I should insulate underneath the whole ground floor before the extension floors go in and I can no longer do it. The spray insulation guy can do the job for £850. I won't earn the cash back on the money saved on heating, by the looks of things, but it might make the house warmer and more energy efficient. I'm uming and ahing a bit.

Oooh I wouldn’t do that tatler. Strongly advise you to wait until the screed is fully dried.

No don't do anything until the screed is fully dry! Their will be lots of moisture in the air and any wood may be damaged.

I have stairs! But I have to choose spindles, handrail and end caps. I have no idea where to start. I have slightly old fashioned taste so no glass or boring straight spindles. Any ideas of where I can look so I can show the carpenter what I want? I'm googling but not coming up with much where I can see how it would all work together.

titsy - there are shops that sell stairparts, and you can go in and see racks of spindles and choose the ones you like. Bear in mind that any ornateness in spindles s magnified greatly by the fact that it is repeated umpteen times up the run - less is more sometimes. You can get ones that are slightly champfered (spelling?!) for a look that isn't totally straight and static yet is still quite modern.

Whisky, BC insists on sprinkler, so no two staircases after all.

I have ordered my kitchen, in principle for the beginning of December. I’m so worried about this screed thing though.... we’ve been told it only needs a week to dry and can be walked on next day. Are there different materials on the market that builders use?
Our builders don’t yet know they won’t be installing the kitchen as the chippie will do it for half the price they quoted... and I’m worried they won’t like kosingnout on the money and up their prices on everything else to make up.