Home Extension thread 2018

[Baxdream]

Thought we should get the new thread ready!
Our front door is in. Long story but it arrived damaged 😫 it's in and lovely but it's going to be replaced!
Our fencing has started today, the short ones are new, the others are getting ripped out

Bax it's looking great. Are you getting anything else done once the landscaping is done, or is that it and you'll be able to enjoy your new huge house and garden? No jealousy here, obv .

Tinydesigns does the quote include the chimney breasts? I don't know, but I gather that can be pricey. If it's literally just side return, moving walls and installing kitchen and bathroom, that does sound expensive. Agree that builders seem to be able to pick and choose these days. I wonder if you could break it down to individual trades and project manage it? Might be easier to get a groundsman, then a brickie, and so on, although a total pain. Is the quote broken down?

Well we got a response from South West Water yesterday, with no real progress but clear information on what needs to happen next. I have sent off the relevant information, and I think they're going to need to come and do a sewer location survey (only £180) which I suspect is going to consist of looking at the access point on the floor outside and going 'there it is', but since we don't have a detailed sewer location map, it might need to be done. Waiting to hear back again. Once that's done, assuming it's not a flat out 'no, forget it' I think we're into CCTV drain surveying, foundation rules to stick to and a debate over whether we can have the access point inside.

No once our landscaping is done we are finished!! It's an odd feeling to actually get to enjoy it!

Just to clarify we are getting a new patio and grass 😂 I'm very aware how bad our garden is 😂

Sounds like at the rate they are going you will be finished really soon!

One thing I was not expecting about building work was my needing to have opinion on stuff like grout colour and what sort of lightbulbs I might want. Yesterday I was asked which exact red bricks I wanted for our front porch. Who knew there was so much choice?

I was quite everything from 55k to 120k for a side return similar to yours and also in SE London. The lower quotes didn't have any allocation for fixtures and fittings ( all the stuff you have sourced already) and so you should be looking at that lower end £50 - £70 k. If you then take away plumbing and electricity less again. I'm not sure tho how you would separate those as most builders bring in theirs in and out if the job as they are needed at different stages..... maybe you cd negotiate that with a flexible Builder?

Quoted not quite!!!

Oh... the only time I don't miss London is when I hear/read these quotes. :-)

Tiny well done on sourcing all that, you're really prepared.

We're nearly all plastered in the extension... top bathroom nearly in and lots of other 'nearly' things. The dog had a good roam around the new bit, it was quite fun to see how he just made note and was visibly happy to go into his nice bigger dog kennel (the house).

Thank you for the input on floor, I'd like to run it towards the bifolds as I feel it'd make the space longer visually husband wants it the other way.

Our shower is tiled. We were hoping to have it working for the weekend but it was awkward so it isn’t ready yet. I am so impressed with how the tiler did the step though. I would have said they could just use plain tiles if they’d asked, but he painstakingly cut & matched the floor tiles to keep the line. Pic attached.

Dustandrubble, tiles are beautiful and tiler has done great job!

Those tiles 😍

Wow, that's some impressive tiling! Great choice of tiles too.

Love those tiles!!

That looks fantastic!

We have a finished fence 😍

Nice fence! And huge garden.

Nice fence @Baxdream - your garden guys are really not hanging around. You will be able to enjoy it all very soon - perfectly timed for summer!

Ooh exciting garden progress Bax!!

Dust I’m with you on being overwhelmed by all the choices. Where exactly do you want light switches? Which paving stones for driveway? Which window sills? What doorbell sound?

We’re almost completely finished now with those thankfully except for finalizing the kitchen colour choice.

Went in yesterday to re-work for a white kitchen to see if I like that better. Not sure. Both pics included and also the cabinet colour and sample of worktop (kindly ignore the lack of wood floor in one render and too-dark backsplash in the other). Which do you think is better? The white worktop is quartz and is super thin (12mm), so looks v trendy but also needs supports underneath. Part of me wonders if getting a 12mm worktop with a 40cm overhang is a terrible idea with 3 kids under 5.

I really like the white with white, however I'd be worried about the worktop overhang and little kids running into it. Could the corners be rounded?

I like the white with white best based on those pics. The black made everything else disappear a bit. But might look very different in real life of course.

My kids would definitely hang heads on stuff, but they grow very fast! So I wouldn’t write off the idea.

Tiny I should've said that my extension is 7 x 5 so a bit bigger. Worried that I mislead you in the quote!

I like white on white! Unsurprisingly, given my own plans for a white-based kitchen.

I'm so glad I found this thread! We're about a month into our build and I need somewhere I can vent/discuss/laugh/celebrate the whole event.

Our builders are great (APT Renovation) I'd highly recommend them if you're in London.

But I can't wait to get my (new and improved) house back!

Seahorse- I'd remove your advertising as it just seems like you work for them rather than a customer!
We've all learnt that you can't recommend until the job is finished

Oh sorry, yeah I get what you mean, oops. I just have had no issues with them yet - fingers crossed it stays that way!

That's what I said but I sacked mine two weeks ago!

Welcome Seahorse! Hope the builders stay as good as they’ve been so far.

I’m still waffling about the kitchen like a numpty. Decided to go for a white marble effect quartz worktop to hide the dirt (or possibly a textured matt gray one, but DH is less keen). So that’s progress. But he’s quite keen on a charcoal kitchen and I’m not too sure! What do you reckon? Options pictured along with real life materials.