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

@avocuddl we can trip merrily off into the warm glow , optimism and euphoria that is pre-planning, pre-party wall, pre-builders, pre-building inspectors.....all that to come.

I do hope its less of a shit show than our loft which was 2 months late after fundamental blunders by the architect - THREE sets of stairs, taking down the structure as building inspector wasn't happy, a painter who did the woodwork in emulsion and me having pneunomia throughout. I live in hope.

@avocuddl £10k less is not such a bargain , more it reflects how vastly overpriced my first quote was !
My fault really, I didn't give first kitchen planner a budget so it was much more than I expected.
Second chap, I've given him a (smaller) budget, asked is it doable, and he said easliy doable, no need to be spending as much as first quote.

Second quote in from Beardy Builder (not to be confused with Baldy Builder aka Mr £50k)
Beardy Builder £40k.
Still waiting to hear back from Hairy Builder

@4yearsnosleep I adore your floor! Can I ask where it's from please? Also just wondering how long it's taken you to get to this point. I'm considering laying bricks myself to hurry it up!!!

:( I was looking at the plan and have realised that although the bay is nice and symmetrical on the outside it's off centre from the inside. About 30cm off.

Have emailed both the architect and the builder now even though it's late Sat and they prob won't reply. Sigh. I'm hoping it's not a delay to planning.

Thanks for the responses about sedum roof. Have asked architect to work out cost implication. Another one on a tight budget here.

@NonTraditionalFeelings it's Amtico Spacia, in Honey Oak 917x92 planks

I think we first started planning Aug 17 to sort the finance as our mortgage was up for renewal. Plans drawn Nov 17, builder bids Jan 18, agreed a builder who was due to start July 18 but kept delaying until I got rid of him in Nov. new builder was a recommendation though a friend of a friend. As soon as I met him I knew I wanted to use him and he started Feb 19. In actually grateful that the first builder fell through as Jack was amazing. All built in 4 weeks and we've just been waiting for the floor to dry.

That’s really really lovely 4years. When is the kitchen due to be installed and where are you sourcing it from? (I am assuming that’s what’s going in that space 😂)

See, I’ve been wondering if I was being unrealistic with timeframes but it will have been 6 months since appointing the architect. Humph. DH reckons I’m overreacting and that actually the architect is just checking that we know we need to do contracting and final price agreement, and that I’m just cross that the architect has questioned whether I know what I’m doing 😂😂😂. He might have a point..

soaked that is so frustrating. If it’s only a difference of 30cm, it shouldn’t matter to planning surely?

@soakedat3 if you make it symmetrical inside, will it be "off" outside?
Which would you prefer?

🤣🤣🤣 possibly 😬

I have found the process frustratingly slow as my brain works fast, but there isn't really a fast with a building project! Kitchen from DIY Kitchens arrives next week and installation starts the 20th. In the meantime I'll be painting the bloody exposed beam

Random question re pendant lights over island.
Have always said I don't want them, but spent the last couple of days looking at hundreds of kitchen photos, and have come to the conclusion that they can really add to the finished effect.
Silly query - if you have a ceiling of recessed LED spots, plus say three hanging pendants, do they cast shadows on the island worktop?
It will be our main prep area so I don't want it to annoy me.

I have 3 bulb pendants over the island and haven't noticed any shadow. I will check though. My Dd really loves sitting revising at the island in the evening with the retro pendant bulbs on and a lovely warm glow!

So, the floor guy is coming over tomorrow to discuss the floor issues 🙈. He was so confident he was going to make the floor flat and us very happy. I'm going to have to ask him to level the slope and redo all the edging and remove the sealant around the island. Can I trust him to do it well? What other options do we have?! 😬

How high above the countertop do bfast bar pendants hang? Some I have seen have very long cables!

@Wheredoesthistoiletgo, I can live with it being off centre from the outside as it's part of a longer wall.

Best of luck @hoppahouse!

I went to see my house today. These are pictures of the kitchen, utility & hallway. Just the bathroom will remain the same in our whole house. It is coming together. Hopefully they will be screeding soon.

How high above the countertop do bfast bar pendants hang? Some I have seen have very long cables!
I think the answer is "whatever you want!

I like the idea of having matching pendant(s) over kitchen table, but will want them high up above head height (or adjustable) as we often push the table to the wall when we have Christmas drinks for friends. And this room will definitely be a party room!

We just moved the island pendants up and down until they looked right!
I had planned to have pendants about the dining table too, but decided against it at the last minute in case we moved the dining table to the side or somewhere else and was left with lights hanging above nothing. We got a floor lamp instead and really glad we didn't put pendants there now.

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo We wanted the same with regards to moving the table - electrician recommended choosing pendants on a chain - you can then lift them up and hook the rings together at a higher height using cable ties or swivel clasp keyrings/tiny carabiners!

We have a skylight over island with ceiling spots, so have the pendants over the table - just two. We are only a week away from ending the work, and all snagging and I already wish I'd had my pendants the other way - they run from doors into the room, and I wish I'd had them horizontally. Or, I also wish I'd only had one and then I could have had the table any which way on any given day!!

@soakedat3 You rally can have them at whatever height you want. Ask your electrician when it comes to final fix - they'll have done it loads and be able to advise on what it is a standard height.
I definitely over-complicated the build in terms of the things I thought about, and yet most of the trade guys know the answer and can advise as you go along!

Hi, All! New member here!
DH and I are pondering whether to take the plunge and remortgage for an extension by the end of the year. We’re a bit worried about the financial impact of Brexit tbh and with one child going to nursery soon on full-time we need to be extra careful as outgoings will go up significantly.
May I ask how much people had paid off of their LTV before remortgaging for an extension project? If this sounds a bit complicated, and if you feel comfortable, how much had you bought your house for and how much did you borrow for your extension? How much square metres was it? Was it ground floor only or more? Did it include kitchen, bathrooms?
Thanks in advance! At this stage we’re trying to see if it would be sensible or waiting another 5 or 10 years is the way to go!

Hi @BookishKitten we'll be taking our mortgage initially over a long period to reduce the monthly payments, and then in 5years say when we no longer have childcare costs, reduce the period and increase the payments. we thought we'd do it this way so we get to benefit from the extension for as long as possible!

We’re doing similar to avocuddl, I didn’t want to delay too long and lose the benefit of the space. We have however waited until the year that my youngest starts school to lessen the impact of nursery fees.

Highly exciting (and nerve wracking!) times here - the initial S E details came through and the builder has asked if he can start 2 weeks earlier than planned!! Looks like (planning allowing) the scaffold will go up at some point next week and then they will start on the 27th! Argh, better get that loft clear!!!

Oh my goodness!! Do you think you'll get planning in time?!

Well the SE has done his initial part and so it’s just down to the architect to finalise now. I reckon it will be tight but doable but I’ve not heard back from the architect yet so we’ll see!!!