Home Extension Thread 2018 - summer edition

[DustandRubble]

A thread to share the highs and lows of all things extension, loft conversion, renovation related. Bring your own dustpan and brush.

Thanks! Kitchen will take 3 days to install. Can’t wait! A little nervous too as there are some bits of it I’m still not certain about, so will be really good to see how it all comes together.

How much did people find prices were varying by?

The only builder I’ve managed to actually get a hold of has named a figure double what we’d been hoping to spend although he was giving me a per square metre rough price. I’m absolutely devastated. No builder would even speak to me without drawings and it now feels like I’ve wasted over £1000 just to be told we can’t afford it.

Have contacted more builders and sent drawings but have been amazed at how disinterested a lot seem. Am hoping to hear back from a few next and I don’t know what we will do if we can’t afford this.

Villanelle what size is your house and extension?

The extension is 66sqm double storey (so that’s the total).

lingua wow what an amazing space-so thrilled for you it’s gorgeous, love it all, the kitchen going in will be incredible what an achievement!
villanelle no advice but that’s really disappointing and frustrating for you.

Wow lingua what a stunning home you've made. Its beautiful. So pleased for you!!!

Wow Lingua your home looks lovely, you must be very happy. I was just checking in on the thread and had to leave a comment as it was so beautiful.

I think ours is going to be more like the size of BirdyandBee, so I am still going to be a little visitor of this lovely thread for updates. I am happily making notes in my little book of do's and don't s

We are still in planning stage so ages away and still waiting on architect and getting a builder to start in the summer so as not freezing when we are doing the extension ( well that's my logic, not sure if it makes sense in reality )

Linguaphile ; where are those beautiful blue armchairs from?

Oh linguaphile it was certainly worth the wait! I bet you’re itching for it all to be done now. I love the kids bedrooms, they look so calm and cosy.

Next week I should have the rest of the roof lights in, have a water tight roof and started installing the shower room and possibly plastering. Although we have no windows or doors yet!

Thanks all. I am just aching for it to be all finished now. So excited for the kitchen so I have a sink again. 3 weeks is too long to be doing dishes in the shower. 😬

The blue chairs are just from Ikea! V comfy though and good value. 👌🏻

@Linguaphile it's all beautiful! Can't wait to see your kitchen

@Villanelle123 finding a builder is difficult and exhausting. Ask around, knock on doors of neighbors that have had extensions done etc.

My quotes varied by over 50%. Those that don't want the job quote high. We've had a big headache as I had quotes in last January, picked a builder to start in July and he kept delaying, so I had to find another builder. I suspect we had 7 quotes total, but it's so frustrating. One guy gave us a quote, I asked him to come discuss and he didn't turn up 3 times. It's a frustrating process, but hopefully you'll find the right team at the right price

@4yearsnosleep I sincerely hope we can find someone to do it for 50% less. The thought of having to go down to one storey which means more drawings and more PP .

Thank you, your post has given me a tiny glimmer of hope!

Plan as much as you can, research finishes like switches, carpets, kitchen etc so you know what you want as they make a huge difference to the price. It will probably come out more expensive than you think. I thought we'd get what we wanted for £45-50k before we got builders round, now finished (inc 10% extra) we're looking at £85-90k

@4yearsnosleep - Thanks again, another helpful post. Is it possible to have it finished just to bare minimum and worry about the rest later? So up to plasterboard maybe? How big is yours?

It looks so good Linguaphile!

Basic shell of ours will be about £55k but that's only to first fix electrics, plumbing and plastered inc bifold doors & 3 velux.

It's 9.3 x 3.3m but only single storey

Ouch! I think we will need to drop down to single storey. Or sell the house because it’s not big enough for us as is.

We had a double storey around 70sq metres. Ours cost about 120k all in. Don't underestimate how much the additional extras cost ie tiles,flooring, paint, new sofas etc etc.

Linga- wow what an absolutely stunning and stylish house! Look forward to seeing the kitchen. We had 6 weeks without a kitchen and it seems horrific even thinking about it

Thanks Bax, Jane and 4years!

Kitchen is being delivered as I type.

This cost stuff would have been so handy to know in retrospect. We were just hit with a 50k ‘end of build’ bill last week when we were expecting 30. Apparently I accidentally deleted the contents of ONE BOX from our very complex excel budget spreadsheet and we are now having to borrow money from DH’s mum. All I can say is quintuple check your numbers and mentally double your contingency, no matter what they tell you it will cost. If we’d just taken out more mortgage instead of having stars in our eyes about keeping payments really low, we’d be a lot less stressed now.

More estimates way over what we can afford. Looks like we are going to need to drop to one storey which we still might not be able to afford. So gutted and even looking at houses to move to which wouldn’t need extended but I love my house and my DC have already moved way more than is fair on them.

Could you project manage yourself and get the different trades in?
What are you looking to achieve? Ie an extra bedroom etc?

I would keep looking for builders myself

We are in the middle of a big project (old extension demolition, reroof and rerender of existing house, new wrap around single storey extension, complete renovation of ground floor and external landscaping) the first few quotes we got for our project including all finished and decorated were around £250k. We kept looking and also went through out spec with a fine tooth comb so we knew where we were prepared to compromise in case we needed to alter plans .. we eventually found a builder to do it for the original spec and we will end up paying around £150k so prices do vary wildly!!

Hello all can i join your thread? Our builder is starting today on our extension and nervous/excited/panic stations here!

Eek our kitchen is in!! Still a few bits left to do (sofits over the top cupboards and the extractor box with lighting) but it’s just as I hoped and huge!

Obviously we are going to get better barstools. 😅