Home Extension Thread 2019

[4yearsnosleep]

Time to start another extension thread. 2019 for lots of newcomers and hopefully lots of finishers too!

We're Day 5 of builders on site and have a roof framed. V excited about the big velux

hoppa that kitchen looks lovely! I really like those island end panels. We are planning similar but probably in an acrylic (Slab Tech) rather than quartz - mainly for cost reasons but also because I have a bit of a auditory reaction to the sound of crockery being put down on hard surfaces so needed to find something that didn’t clank 😂😂

Love the radiators, can you post a link to them please?

greengreengrass that is a great deal on the Miele. How does Costco work, do you need to have a trade account with them?

You need a subscription or to know someone who does! I don’t think it’s much per year to get one though. I bet if you put the feelers out you’d know someone who has a membership.

Just sneaking in. We are in the process of putting in plans for a big extension...two storey down the side of our house and single across the back. Will double the downstairs footprint

Dh is doing all the plans which are more or less done, and then let chaos commence.

We’re pretty much doubling house size too! Which does explain why it’s so damn expensive.

Good luck :)

Your kitchen is gorgeous Hoppa an I do like that radiator. I am hoping for a vertical radiator as New Dad Builder keeps saying it but not sure how it will go once a more accurate cost is possible.

I was wanting to ask about fridges. Sadly, we only have 74cm of room in the area where ours will go so not a large American style one. Is anyone looking at any 60-70cm width ones?

My wobble today is over choosing to have a bay window and seating rather than bi-folds or large window and doors. We are still having french doors. Just off to the side and not right at the back.

My internal self is reminding me

• No reliable warmth in Scotland
• Pets and children mess up glass
• I love bay windows
• A bay window means light from 3 directions

I wish I could do the VR thing from the tv!!

We're the opposite, our actual extension is tiny but the extension plus the knocking through will still make a big difference (we hope)
We've currently got a narrow corridor effect in one room that is wasted space, once we knock through, it becomes part of the room rather than just the bit on the way to the door.

I'd go with the bay Soaked. Hoppa, love the kitchen.

Relationship wise, we've mostly been fine apart from when he's been apathetic and I'm feeling overwhelmed with decision making. He's also asked lots of stupid annoying questions

@greengreengrass19, that sounds a bit like us. OH is going along with extension as I really want one and have been for many years. Some days he is ok and others he says he still doesn't see the need.

I have mainly made all the decisions but have found that despite his proclamations of "whatever you think best. Don't bankrupt me" I have found he actually wants to choose fittings. :o Today he let me in on his opinions of lights. He's lucky I asked IMHO!

Thanks 4years. The bay was my decision. OH got a surprise when despite being told, he really properly looked at the plans while I was in the getting quotes stage! LOL!

We've decided against bifolds because
we already have perfectly ok french windows
Expense!
It would be a big job to bring patio up to be level with house floor, much cheaper to make a platform step down to patio.
Bifolds look wonderful flung wide open but there are 3 neigbourhood cats who invite themselves in if any door is left open for more than 5 minutes!

A bay window sounds nice to sit in and look out.
I'm not sure sitting in a comfy chair in front of huge window doors has quite the same charm, even tho they are wonderful when you are deep in the house looking out

Here's our radiators - they are Reina Coneva ones. The cost wasn't too bad, but installation of these and a normal radiator was £450 🙈

We went for a shower tray and screen in our shower room - I have yet to try it though as the builders are always here before I'm up at the moment! 😬

Anyway, it's looking like only one week left of builders in my house! 🎉

One more week left Hoppa! You'll be counting the days down til you can shower in peace! You'll need to do a celebratory picture post of all your favourite bits. :) I do like a dark vertical radiator.

I'm glad that I'm not the only person who didn't go for bifolds when extending. I should also have added expense to the list! :D Also, our garden is wider than long so it'll be lovely to be able to sit and see both sides of the garden and thus not lose track of the kids.

Dh has started the planning application today. We started talking through the logistics...fuck me it is going to be a nightmare. 🤦😂 Three kids including a toddler, dog, dh away during the week, small house, access to the garden severely restricted by works, no washing machine, dishwasher etc, bedrooms out of order etc. I am getting a little nervous. May have to move into the caravan.

When are you looking to start Barren? We started at the start of January and are due to finish next week although I still have a load of painting to do 😫.
The garden was very much a big mess for most of January, February & March and has only recently getting back to nearly normal. I've had the kids off during feb half term and Easter holiday and it's not been the most relaxing time tbh 😬🙈. I do however think a summer build or anything finishing close to Christmas would probably increase the stress.

Well, I don't really want it going on over the summer hols when the older kids are here all day, but I guess we'll just start when we start and I'll just get on with it 😂

Is there ever actually a "good time" to start?

As it stands we are hopefully starting the beginning of June. 6 - 8 weeks build but that includes the fitting of utility and kitchen. Scottish schools stop for summer at the end of June.

I am thinking build will be done before kids are off. So the noisy and messy bit before the neighbours really have time to sit in the garden.
Then the inside stuff will be during the summer hols. We can't afford to go on a holiday now anyway. 2 primary school kids, a cat, a dog and a home worker during a build. What can go wrong????

@BarrenFieldofFucks there's never a good time. Weirdly our dog has loved the open space and has thrived during the extension and will hate the kitchen being fitted. No date is perfect but it will work out perfect for you.

You kind of just have to go for a it or you will forever put it off; there's never a 'good' time xxx

You are right - it's always an upheaval no matter what. I would have definitely just gone for it at any time tbh! I think I've just

Sorry

I think I'm just at the 'I've had enough of all this now...and I know I've still got to paint everything' stage! 😫

I've tried the shower and it was fantastic!

Can anyone advise on nice, but budget industrial style stools?

I found it harder when DS wasn’t at school. He’s a teen so not much bother really but he wandered around with a depressed look on his face whenever the builder was here. Ours went on forever though as only one guy, it was Sept to March with breaks in between. Definitely one of those things not to over think, just take the plunge .

Hoppa I hear you. I feel done but have so much painting still Bought a bed yesterday and decided it was a mistake so now have to paint that too, am as organised as can be and have different paints on liners so can just quickly switch into the paint kettle, have learned to label as I go along or can’t tell the difference between primer etc. I never want to see another paint brush or roller ever again after this.

Admiring all you folks getting the paintbrushes out! I just couldn’t do it. I’m hopeless and just not got enough patience at all

I have told my two it's like Minecraft but in real life to try to get them interested enough to bear with it...

No choice as no budget for painter. Very important tip - allocate a painting budget and do not spend it on anything else!!

@hoppahouse - the stools, I’m going to use this site: www.atlanticshopping.co.uk/bar-stools/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgoX4252Z4QIVab7tCh0M6AclEAAYASAAEgLEUPD_BwE

I really like these style ones Hoppa, which come in lots of different colours.
Or these Made ones if you want something more stool-like.

Glad to hear your shower was good. Think we have decided to stick to tray and sliding doors rather than screen. The room is only 2.7m wide X 1.2m deep so shower will be 0.9, then shelf with basin 0.6 and should just have room to get a loo in without banging our knees!

Barren if you can get the washing machine plumbed in somewhere temporarily, I would do. It's been a lifesaver and I only have 2 Dc both school age!