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

You need to submit a building control application to council before starting work. Our builder said he is working on quote and get back to us. I have asked him to quote for everything including landscaping. We have a small rear extension but I want to change it to add bi-folds and roof with lantern. That is something we would do as next step if rest of the build doesn't go over budget .

Ah right - we are using private BC and it appears that we just need to submit an initial notice 5 days in advance? Is this right?

The private BC I spoke to had said 2weeks. So it might be different from BC to BC
Anyway the builder I am talking to doesn't have a private BC to work with so we need to use Council BC.

Hmm thanks, I’d better get in touch with them!!

It just shows that things that are big and worrying to us are nothing to the professionals who do stuff like this all day every day.
We haven't used an architect because we don't really need any creative input but we've used a Chartered Building Surveyor to draw up our plans and deal with all the planning stuff.
Yesterday we got a "to the homeowner" generic letter from our Water Company stating all these forms and applications we had to do if our works were within 3.metres of a public sewer.
We haven't a clue but our garden front and back is full of manholes. Panic central!
Contacted BS and he said not to worry they send those to everyone who applies to Council and he sorted it out.
Water company were zero help when we rang them as they say they have no plans of where their public sewers are!

There’s just so much to think about and every time I think I’m ahead of the list, something else crops up. I do wonder what I’ll fill my time with once we’re finished the work 😂

wheredoes that sounds super stressful and I am now wondering if I need to do anything re the water. We are including a new water main in the works so I’d better check.

One more positive news, we have the party wall acceptance through from the first set of neighbours so we’re good to go with the loft on that basis. Just need to get the excavation drawings and finalise the neighbour on the other side.

And speaking of tiles, I’ve just ordered a sample of these beauties for the back of the ledge in our en-suite shower. Am thinking of large white tiles for the rest of the shower cubicle so that these pop out.

Example of how I’ve seen this done elsewhere. God bless Pinterest.

OOh they are lovely tiles - I chose these yesterday for behind the sink and the window sill in the WC!!
www.claybrookstudio.co.uk/old-havana-bauta.html

Love Claybrook stuff and much more reasonably priced than anticipated. Those are lovely!

Wow, from where are these tiles. I want to drool over tiles instead of worrying about quote!

Sorry I see the link now. Off to tiles world now

Oooh yes those tiles are lovely!!

What are your thoughts on Party Wall... architect says we only have to get party wall agreement from 1 side. House is semi detached so he's saying the 'attached' side.

The other side, is connect by outbuildings- imagine like if it was connected by garages. And that's obviously where the second story extension will go. So architect reckons they don't need a party wall agreement.

I feel like they do?!

@avocuddl I would just give the council a call and ask their advice.

avocuddl there are some really useful online guides to party wall planning. We are in a semi as well and have to have agreements with one side - the attached because of the adjoining wall, and the non attached side because we are digging foundations within a certain distance of their house. I’ll see if I can find a link to the guide our architect gave us.

Found it!!!

www.slough.gov.uk/downloads/guide-to-party-wall.pdf

My BIL had his van broken into outside our house this afternoon and they took his tools. Why do people do this?!

Well still ongoing here. Not a huge amount has changed but I have been promised a lot of progress in the next two weeks! We shall see!! In the meantime I've decided to decorate the rest of the house. So far I've done the bathroom, painted half the kitchen and fixed lots of niggly problems like sticking doors. Ive ordered my new tiles and have decided to do them myself so currently watching lots of YouTube videos! 😁 Builder has said he has another job starting 2nd week of June so that my new deadline.

This is my newly decorated bathroom and the tiles I've ordered!

Oh @MyNameIsJane that's terrible 😔 I'm so sorry

Thanks @WorrisomeHeart ! Really helpful :)

Love the bathroom @NonTraditionalFeelings ! It looks brilliant! I really love the colour! Good luck with the tiling!!

That looks amazing! Love it.

@MyNameIsJane, Some people are really horrible and I hope they get what they deserve!!! During the day as well! GRRRR!!

I love your bathroom colour @NonTraditionalFeelings. Also your tiles :) Your painting is very neat! Any tips for the cutting in with dark colours? If you are tiling yourself I would recommend an electric tile cutter. For some reason (I don't remember doing much tiling!) we have one and when we needed to repair our bathroom after a leak it was invaluable. It really helps cut down on waste as the hand ones are hard going. Especially if it's quite thick tiles. Good luck! Remember to post pics!

This is brilliant, I shall be following your progress!

MyNameIsJane,
That bathroom is beautiful. Very nice paintwork.

no good news here. Builder-1 quote is much higher than what he said initially. Builder-2 not replying to email...

Bathroom looks amazing! Love the colour!

If anyone can help or advise please???

We have a fire hydrant in our back garden. Turns out it belongs to our water supplier and is a Washout System Hydrant. I was informed by the Fire service (who rang his contact in the Asset Management Department) that because it is the water companies asset that it is their responsibility to maintain it and that because it is on my land that I have the right to ask them to remove it at their cost. I spent 2 days running in circles trying to speak to someone who could help and now they want me to pay for a survey to work out how much it would cost me to move it!

We want to extend on the side of the house and the pipe runs down the side. We are on a very tight budget so if we can get this out the way then it would help massively. Also as it stands I have 2 manholes in my back garden (including this one) at the end of the build we may end up with 5 with one on the driveway. Ive only got a small plot, 4 in the back garden seems excessive when you've got kids playing out there.

Anyone come access this before or have any ideas?