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

Ha don't worry, our dog did the same. They've laid a self levelling compound over the top to lay the floor

Floor going down 👏🏼👏🏼

@WorrisomeHeart it's 6m x 9.2m

@NonTraditionalFeelings, this is highly likely to happen to us too.

Did you manage to get all the concrete out ok?

What a fantastic space. What’s the flooring? It looks gorgeous

.

Wow looks amazing 4 years!

Thank you. It's Amtico Spacia Honey Oak

Lovely floor.
Much as we all hanker for big knocked through spaces, they can look cavernous.
That herringbone floor really breaks up the expanse.
Very classy looking

I love the amtico!

Just ordered several Amtico Spacia samples on the back of those photos 😂😂

I’m cautiously recommending The Flooring Hut to supply the flooring. Their quote was £200 less than what I thought was an already decent quote from elsewhere. 7% off if you purchase via their app too. I’m going to go for limed oak Polyflor laid like planks. Let me see if I can get a picture...

Hopefully you can view it!

Wheredoesthetoilet our architect is saying to expect to pay £1200 to £1300 per sqm for our single storey, box on the back extension plus whatever the kitchen costs. Not in London/SE.

We are just finalising drawings for planning.

Anyone put a grass/sedum roof on an extension? DH keen on the idea.

Oh that limed oak is lovely MyNameIsJane, I really like lighter floors.

FreeFresia I liked the sedum roof idea but it was a ‘nice to have’ so was quickly cut off the in budget list.

Annoyance here. We started with our architect in Jan and then found our builder pretty quickly after that. Based on initial (very thorough) quotation, we pencilled said builder in for the start of June, with the expectation that it might slip if detailed planning etc took longer than anticipated. The architect has been aware of this timeline from the start. So we had the structural engineer do his site visit this week, so I emailed the architect to check that he felt the detailed planning could still be completed in time, given we were just a month out from the potential start date. I’ve been reconfirming the dates with architect on pretty much every communication and at no point has he said it might be an issue. Cue a response overnight from him saying that actually it’s all going to be a little tight and unmanageable. Grr. I know it’s a minor thing and hopefully the builder will be able to flex (he knew that start date was contingent on detailed planning / confirmed price / contracting) but I am annoyed that this is only just being thrown up as an issue now, when it could have been managed better if the architect had said this from the start. Bah. I’m probably being unreasonable but I don’t like being thrown curve balls (which is why I will no doubt hate the build itself) and I am worried about losing the builder potentially.

@WorrisomeHeart when was your planning submitted?

We have the planning through already - it came through a fortnight or so ago. I guess my frustration lies with not being given the heads up that our timeframe was potentially going to be a problem. There’s no burning need to start in June apart from the builder being available then, but if we have to wait, then it won’t be a major deal. Just irritating I guess.

@FreeFreesia in my area, you're normally looking at minimum of £2k per square metre for extension, I expected mine to be more as the actual box extension is only part of the works. As well as knocking through from extension to TV room, we're also knocking thru TV room to kitchen (and extension to kitchen). Plus 50m² of underfloor heating.
But we need to get it cheaper than £50 k!
Good news is that I've got an alternative quote for kitchen which is £10k cheaper.

Hi FreeFresia, we're having a sedum roof. It wasn't that much more expensive than the normal roof - about £2k more which we decided was a worthwhile investment. You can also future proof for it, so just build the roof with the appropriate membrane and plant it at a later date.

I've got gardener coming round today to discuss layout and plants. I'm very glad I stuck to my guns on keeping it as now that they have put the roof on the extension, it's a large expanse of black which obstructs most of our view of the garden from upstairs. Also environmental benefits of encouraging wildlife & better insulation for the house.

My architect did say it's normally the first thing that goes from the budget though!

Is a sedum roof something you can add later? I really like the idea (and must stop reading articles about it) but we just won’t be able to afford it for this phase.

Oh Worrisome you're not being unreasonable, that is really frustrating. Has he said how long he anticipates it taking? I'm sure the builder will be accommodating, as you say, you were open about it all being subject to various factors so you haven't lied. Hope it all gets sorted soon and you're not too delayed.

I've decided I'd like a freestanding wood burner (I may have mentioned this before) but starting so look now! Anyone else thinking of this or got any thoughts?

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo where did you find your £10k cheaper kitchen quote?!

@4yearsnosleep i love the floor!

We have commissioned the builder - went with the slightly more expensive but very professional and recommended. looking at an early Sept start! £70k build cost (gulp!) plus underfloor heating, kitchen and installation, trimmings, decoration, furnishings....! tell me it will be worth it .

Now working on getting solar panels put in before the builders get going. anyone got experience of that?

Brilliant Poached!! That's so exciting!! Remind me of your plans/sizes?

I just spoke to a previous client of FB builders. She couldn't recommend them enough. Said they're really conciencious, meticulously clean at the end of each day and generally brilliant. I'm sold! Ours will be September start and just under £70k too Poached so excited to go on the journey with you!!

Now how do I let nice builder down???

Don't worry poached I've just scrolled back and read yours! :)