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

999 replies

monkeyfacegrace · 12/10/2017 19:29

Link to the old thread.

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

As you were ladies.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
141
TeamRick · 26/10/2017 18:04

I remember the days of worrying if the screed would be dry in time! Hallow laugh!

Still no sign of builder, the excuse this week, he’s pouring the footings for his own extension at home! That’s not even an excuse in my book that’s him taunting us to sack him!
I could just cry!

Lovely to see the pictures of your progress though!

TeamRick · 26/10/2017 19:10

Will end on a positive!

The heating is on! ❤️🍾❤️🍾😄😄!

Whatthefoxgoingon · 26/10/2017 20:05

That’s a big positive, it’s getting chilly now!

Tika77 · 26/10/2017 20:36

Oh, great news about the heating TeamRick!

Tatlerer · 26/10/2017 20:47

Hurrah for the hearing Rick! Beyond bollocks about your builder being awol on his own project though!!!

Titsy lovely stairs! This might be bleedin’ obvious but have you tried Pinterest? Always my go-to.

Thanks all for the screed advice, sigh. Apparently our builder has some ideas on how it can be ‘helped along’, to keep us on track.

If I’m on here in a few months time venting that the floor’s coming up and my solid wood kitchen is f*cked you’ll know it didn’t work. And then I’ll be mainlining Wine.

whiskyowl · 27/10/2017 08:13

Tatlerer - I think I've mentioned this before, but I had a really, really bad flood in my old house so I have some experience of drying things out! I assumed previously that heat was what you needed to dry things out, but found out to my surprise that air movement is every bit as significant. You can help things along with big industrial fans that you can hire!

I'm so jealous of you and monkey with your gorgeous bespoke solid wood kitchens! They are going to look stunning - it will be worth the wait.

I'm off to Ikea later today. I think I'm going to be presented with a dilemma. I've heard unofficially that you can only have their quartz worktops if you get your entire kitchen fitted by the Ikea team. I need to check whether this is true. If it is, it means two things: firstly, the kitchen definitely wouldn't be done til January, whereas my builder might be able to do it before Christmas (possibly). And secondly, it would mean taking the work away from my builder, who is super-good, careful, accurate and precise and would do a brilliant job. The main thing weighing on my mind is that, at a personal level, I would feel like an awful person for letting him down. Sad

DustandRubble · 27/10/2017 16:09

Sending drying thoughts to those with screed.

Our builders seem to have been pretty busy in my absence. Getting the steels in and taking out a chimney breast. I was slightly freaked out that I would get back and find the children’s bedroom covered in dust and rubble. However they have just sent me pics and the removed chimney breast has been carefully covered and everything has been vacuumed and cleaned. Hooray!

Baxdream · 27/10/2017 16:48

We have a roof (can’t add a photo). We have had such a productive week. One week until the knock through so all systems go.
Hope everyone else has had a good week

HideHide · 27/10/2017 17:56

How long is TOO LONG to live without a kitchen sink??!? I am seriously over not having a sink down stairs Angry
Flooring going down Mon/Tues (everything crossed screed is dry enough) then final plastering of futility and downstairs wc Weds/Thurs. Hopefully plumber can at least fit the mini hand basin in the loo Friday? It’s amazing all the little things running water is needed for! I know, I know, #firstworldproblems

Happy Weekend everyone! WineWineWine

monkeyfacegrace · 27/10/2017 19:23

I've had no running water downstairs for 4 weeks. Do I win?

Washing up once a day in the bath upstairs.

OP posts:
TeamRick · 27/10/2017 19:45

Oh hello Monkey you’ve been MIA!

I’ve missed you!, misery loves company and all that!

That sounds grim! When will it be back?

we’re more cheerful here today now the heating is on! I had a shower in a warm bathroom this morning with towels that weren’t still damp from the day before! Absolute bliss!

We’ve been to Ikea today & ordered units for the utility room, exciting but everything comes back to the fact I need twatchops to plaster! Sigh!

Tika77 · 27/10/2017 19:46

Drying thoughts 😄

Oh... camping in your own house for 4 weeks monkey... how’s your back?

Tatlerer · 27/10/2017 20:13

Hello monkey! You get the overall medal for having to live with absolute shite (well, you might have to fight rick for it).

Hidehide I love the utility/futility typo. That made me chuckle!

Bax your builders sound like heroes! I’m so glad it’s all going so well for you. Same for you dust- yours sound very thoughtful.

Thanks for the fan tip whisky! I’ll definitely look into that. I do remember your flood story. Was that with the ex partner? Interesting re the Ikea worktop/fitting situation. Could you tentatively mention it to your builder to see what he says? Ours was positively relieved that we’re having someone else fit our kitchen as he’s got so much else to do on our job (and wants to get to the next one). It would be a drag if you couldn’t get it done pre-Christmas though.

Well, the screed is laid! Dust, send those drying-thoughts my way!

Titsywoo · 27/10/2017 21:56

I'm very jealous of your roof Bax! I'm getting a bit fed up of being chilly in the morning and can't wait until the tiles go on - they arrive on Weds so hopefully they'll be getting started on that by the end of next week. Lots of progress here this week. Plasterer starts next week in the bedrooms! Had a mad dash around today getting the stuff for the bathroom built. No tiles yet but he reckons they are 2 weeks away from that stage so I have time to think as I still can't decide. Veluxes go in on Monday too and maybe the windows in the dormer.

Today we finally got some dust in the house - they had to take the plaster off the old bedroom wall so they could insulate and board to match the wall at the top of the staircase. The dust from that came under the door into the hallway then got walked all through the house Angry.

TeamRick · 27/10/2017 21:59

Monkey wins on time I think, she’s been going a whole month longer than me!

devondream · 28/10/2017 06:58

German builders are being rather infernal this week! & are out of my good books.
They forgot to order the kitchen tiles - which means the kitchen can't be put in on 10/11. Next free slot for kitchen firm is 23/12!!!

They have been cross faces, some swearing and came close to tears!

DP who speaks fluent German is going to talk to the kitchen fitters today to see if he can pull off a miracle and get it installed by 30/11.

We don't live together but he was a great support last night. Cooked me a hearty German meal washed down with Las Jung's of wine. The world seems a better place this morning.

Onwards and upwards.

devondream · 28/10/2017 06:59

Las Jung's? Lol
Meant lashings

whiskyowl · 28/10/2017 10:20

My roof has just been treated with this weird fibreglass mesh and resin. It bloody stinks! I'm going to have to take a bottle of wine round to the neighbours each side and apologise for honking the place out.

Hugs to those living without running water downstairs. I'm absolutely dreading that stage.

devon - I'm so sorry about your kitchen, how very frustrating. I really hope your DP can sort it. I am very jealous of his cooking skills too, it's lovely to have someone make a meal for you.

I spent 4 hours in Ikea yesterday, to the joy and delight of DH (sarcasm). I don't think there's a kitchen drawer in the entire store I haven't opened and scrutinised. I have good news on the quartz, which may be useful for some of you. From 13th November, you can order the stone from Ikea on its own - without having to get the rest of the kitchen or installation. This is ideal for me - means my builder, who knows where everything is, can fit and then Ikea's stone people can template and do the worktops.

johnd2 · 28/10/2017 13:25

Oh yes that fibreglass stuff stinks! I did some research after a week of the smell, and apparently that smell your nose can detect even the minute amount in the air and it won't cause any health issue.
Unfortunately the weather got worse after our top roof was done, so they didn't come back to do the low roof until after Christmas last year, so we got a double dose of it!

TeamRick · 28/10/2017 13:57

On a roll! Front door in!

Home extensions 2017- the one where all builders are dickheads.
TeamRick · 28/10/2017 16:22

And Team Rick & DH Building services ltd have put the plasterboard back up in the utility room so as far as builder is concerned we’re back where we were 3 weeks ago but with the wiring fixed!

Baxdream · 28/10/2017 18:19

Here’s our roof and our kitchen has arrived 😍😍 the handle isn’t fixed there it’s just to show the colour

Home extensions 2017- the one where all builders are dickheads.
Home extensions 2017- the one where all builders are dickheads.
Whattodowithaminute · 28/10/2017 18:47

bax that cabinet door is gorgeous, where is it from? Love the handles...
Great progress rick, good luck devon sounds like DP has some persuading to do..
Sorry on phone so struggling to go back through more posts
Still yet to break the ground here, do I wait for the builder I trust (with an unconfirmed start date) or get quotes from elsewhere?!!

AnonymousTomato · 28/10/2017 19:05

I come and join you it’s all starting tomorrow in my house although I’m still waiting for some structural permission everything else is going to be stripped back

I’m loving hearing about the new kitchens as that’s what I’m on st the moment

Baxdream · 28/10/2017 19:22

We ended up sticking with howdens. We got it the same price as diy kitchens with some good haggling so I’m really pleased. We just need to source worktops.
Ikea is very tempting! Is £250 a metre good value?

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