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Original poster

How long did your double story extension take

28 replies

Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 16/02/2018 10:04

We want to put a double extension on the back of our house.
It will involve knocking down a conservatory then extending the kitchen. Upstairs it will extend the two bedrooms and put in an ensuite.
How long roughly did your two story extension take?

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 16/02/2018 20:23

Anybody?

OP posts:
FuckyDucky · 16/02/2018 20:28

This is similar to what we want to do. Knock down garage and rebuild as a kitchen with two bedrooms and ensuite on top of that. My friend had similar done and it took 12 weeks, they completely gutted her house. Her builders were amazing.

On the other hand, someone else’s I know took about two years and three sets of building companies.

Original poster
Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 16/02/2018 20:30

I like the sound of 12 weeks. We are due a surprise baby at the end of June which we have been hoping for forever but we really need the bedrooms done before then or it will be very, very tight!

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namechangedtoday15 · 16/02/2018 20:53

6 months - we have lots of internal configuration done too. I doubt 12 weeks is realistic to demolish, build, fit out (kitchen, bathrooms etc) and decorate.

Kimlek · 16/02/2018 23:18

Depending on size and if straightforward (use existing plumbing etc) then maybe 4-5 months.

Original poster
Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 17/02/2018 07:57

I don't like the 6 month answer lol.

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whiskyowl · 17/02/2018 09:14

I have been doing a single storey extension and it has taken 5 months, will be 6 before it's completely. I think 12 weeks is what a lot of builders say, but on the extension thread we mostly think this is bunkum, and it's more like 20 weeks in reality.

MoodyTwo · 17/02/2018 09:29

This is exactly what I am wanting doing, is it cheeky to ask you how much your being quoted?

Imisscheese · 17/02/2018 09:34

Ours is supposed to take 14 weeks. We're in week 2 so fingers crossed it all goes to plan. We had quite a few different quotes who gave different lengrhs up to 6 months. The whole process took a lot longer, including planning, building regs and getting quotes and builders who are ready to start. Good luck!

johnd2 · 17/02/2018 11:24

Not possible, as there won't be a builder ready to start tomorrow, plus you probably need planning permission and detailed drawings for building control, although you could do without the latter if you know the builder is good with the regs.you actually need to know the total time, in our case it was 11 months from the first architect engagement to construction, followed by 10 weeks building, a break for Christmas, then another month of finishing off.
Building extension always takes longer than you think especially for any kind of paper work.

Baxdream · 17/02/2018 14:35

We started end of September and are at snagging stage. We have had fab builders. 12 weeks would be unrealistic

NoStraightEdges · 17/02/2018 14:40

We started a 75m2 single storey extension in mid November. We have a plastered finish and are on the second fix. No kitchen or bathroom has been fitted as yet and the flooring is still to be done. It'll be 4 months all in.

pumpingRSI · 17/02/2018 14:52

7 months. But it's biiig and we were living in it for much if that, slowing the builders done. It's speeding up now we've moved out.

imonaplane · 17/02/2018 17:02

We had a large two storey extension built last year. We moved out and also had a lot of work done in the existing house. It took 10 months.

dontsufferfools · 17/02/2018 17:07

We had a 2 up built last year. Took 6 months although we were told 3.

We were living in the house but it was a 2 up to the side so us living there didnt impact the build. Its the most stressful thing I've ever done.

FuckyDucky · 17/02/2018 17:37

Our last house we had a single storey back and side extension with new kitchen installed, downstairs shower and toilet room and study/4th bedroom.
The builders were in for 12 weeks (started in April, finished in July) but obviously planning permission etc took longer.

My friends house I mentioned in my earlier post, her builders worked like absolute dogs. They were there at weekends, bank holidays, they did long days to get it done.
They did everything in the house, every room was redone even in the non extended parts. It cost them a bloody fortune but it was so worth it when you see the extra space they have.

yikesanotherbooboo · 17/02/2018 20:05

We extended our kitchen and built over, bathroom and bedroom; it was an old house and very little was off the peg or a straight line, it took 6 months ; and another 6 months for woodwork/ kitchen fitting/ decorating but that was a one man band with his own sense of time and urgency

didireallysaythat · 17/02/2018 20:09

ilovechocolate do you already have plans, structural calcs, planning and a builder lined up ? When is he/she starting and is he/she a one man band or a company of 10+ with all trades ? Are you having to match bricks with your existing house ?

May09Bump · 17/02/2018 20:11

16 weeks including a partial demolish .

Original poster
Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 17/02/2018 23:29

We have plans drawn up and structural drawings being done at present.
We where pootling along then suddenly the baby news hit us ( after trying for years) so now we are trying to go as fast as possible.
I guess we will just take each day at a time.
We do have a builder, he has a team and he is getting back to us a.s.a.p with start dates.

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Original poster
Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 17/02/2018 23:29

Oh and we have planning permission

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Crumbelina · 18/02/2018 07:40

Ours will take a year, although we've acted as the builder and project manager ourselves and hired the trades independently. Also, it's pretty big.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! We were trying for almost two years, decided we couldn't put our lives on hold and bought a complete wreck. Got pregnant the very next month. Smile

Autumnchill · 18/02/2018 07:49

Started April, moved in in December but we were doing a bit ourselves (in construction) to save money.

Original poster
Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 18/02/2018 08:00

We are going to pay for storage to get as much stuff out as possible. They are going to put a stud partion wall so hopefully we can still live in the front half and not be too much in the way. Although it is big it's just a rectangle on the back of the house so hopefully not too complicated.
Trying to think pma, even if my ds room is done so we can have the nursery back I can cope with that.

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Sherbet38 · 18/02/2018 08:20

We are part way through a very similar extension (2 storey - kitchen/ dining room, study, utility and 2 bedrooms). From the completed foundations we were told 12 weeks. But we're currently in week 15 and still have at least 2 more to go. Plus kitchen fitting. So from beginning to end I'd say 20-22 weeks?

Congrats on your pregnancy. I'm currently 39 weeks pregnant. So at the beginning of the build i thought we'd just about be finished by the time the baby arrived. In reality we have no kitchen, interupted plumbing (sinks mainly) and the areas we've knocked into are ridiculously dusty... so much so that I've given up on cleaning floors as they just don't stay clean.

I hate to say it. But i wouldn't do this while pregnant again. It's very stressful and the thought of bringing a baby home to this isn't great. If you can stand to wait, that's what I'd do. I would have preferred our small house right now to a bigger duster one!