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

Thanks everyone. It's a cement fibre plank so it'll theoretically be maintenance free for 25 years. We're lucky I could sneak it in under planned development (I have an email from the planning department confirming we could do it ) We went for Cedral Click so that it's flush and not lapped.

@PostNotInHaste it's amazing that you've been able to do all that on that budget! Fantastic achievement

@Whyisitsodifficult it's not a timber frame. Typical block construction with cladding on top

I think we might have cement fibre plank around our dormer, was wondering what it was as surprised how heavy it was when I moved a plank. Yours looks really lovely 4years

Work on back garden started yesterday, he moved a huge rose that I hope survives and worked out where summer house base will go. We have enough blocks from the old bathroom wall to make the base. Friend kindly gave me summerhouse and I have a pot of Cuprinol shades in garage. Am at £25 labour cost so far. Am then going to salvage old shed to convert to chicken coop and build a walk in run for them next to it so I can sit in summerhouse and drink tea watching my chickens.

Supposedly last day of the builder, fingers crossed.

Actually that is my top tip. If you have the garden to do afterwards think about whether materials can be reused before they get thrown away. The old fireplace was made of stone that have made walls around a couple of trees and will be used on porch base when we do that. As said, the bathroom breeze blocks are a summerhouse base. Bits of tree that needed cutting back as were in the way will be fence posts and plant supports. It’s surprising what comes in handy. Channel your inner Womble.

Oh and I was staggered to sell old French doors for £300 on EBay. If you’re ripping out a kitchen well worth putting that on EBay, Gumtree or Facebook . And I suggested a friend put old conservatory on EBay, they did as buyer to dismantle and ended up with over £500 in their pocket and no disposal cost.

How's everyone getting on? I'm still struggling with builders quotes! Think I might have to look further afield from my town now and see if neighbouring towns might be willing to travel?!

@PostNotInHaste I'm hoping to do that with some appliances as our kitchen was fairly new when we moved in 3 years ago. Hoping to sell cooker, hood and dishwasher. Good to know french doors sell too as we have those! :)

@avocuddl ours was from a town 20 minutes away. None of the local guys bothered to quote/turn up when they said they would.

We're just waiting for everything to dry so we can kit it out. Our electrician did the down lights and sockets in the extension last night so we can move the fridge out of the hallway

@4yearsnosleep that's so exciting!! Any pics??

We have structural drawings now and need to call and see if can hurry the architect up into submitting that application! I've been telling builders that the building warrant should be in place by the end of May. They are all booked up from what I gather until Aug at the earliest anyway.

@avocuddI really am not enjoying getting quotes. It feels like such a slog just to get them to look at the house and plans. We've had 2 quotes in now. One was 46K, 6k over my max for the build and would really squeeze the fit out side of things. I wasn't impressed and spent a few days worried that it wasn't feasible. Then a 2nd quote came in at just under 40K which is more doable as long as I understand what the state of the shell will be.

I've still got another quote to come in as discovered a neighbour is a builder. I really hope his quote is good as would be good all around as he can see when things are being delivered as they'd need to pas his house anyway! :D

And another slightly bigger company booked to look next week.

When people have been given quotes, how have they been laid out? What should I expect? For example, should I be able to paint and tile when they leave or is there some extra costs to get it to that level? Sorry if that's a stupid question!

@soakedat3 I know!! It's so frustrating to arrange them to come round and view the house when they're not going to even bother quoting?!

I think you get it left ready to paint and do flooring. That's my understanding of the quotes.

The 2 I've received, ones been a number, and one has been a breakdown of what actual work he's going to do

Oh and it's the VAT that's the killer!

Oh no!! I've not heard a peep about VAT so I am going to ask before I decide as you are right - it's so much on top! Thanks for reminding me!

Mine is ready to paint but a bit of filling and caulking around door frames etc need doing. Tiles were done. No VAT as just one guy so he doesn’t meet the threshold.

@PostNotInHaste, are you all done now? I'm so envious of how much you've managed to get done on your budget. Please post some pics so we can all hope for our own finished pics :)

There are ways and means around VAT.

No not done yet, need carpet and things like that plus all the outside. I’ve got some painting to do and need to make blinds then will put some pictures up. Can’t remember if said this before but favourite bits I think are utility room which has shower in it that one of the DC uses and I use if up early and don’t want to disturb people and also can chuck dog in.

Also have made an inner porch so dog can’t eat the post and to ditch muddy shoes etc, am waiting for a tiny milking stool to fit in it plus I have discovered Ikea Trones that are really slimline and unobtrusive.

@PostNotInHaste sounds brilliant! Can't wait to see some pics! :)

We've had a quote back from the builder I liked. He's come with a really decent quote and he's done work up the road previously and has good reviews online etc and photos of his previous work look good. Now it's finally all becoming a bit real, I'm just so nervous to take the plunge as you always hear horror stories! Committing to so much money is so scary!!

Oh and no VAT to pay 🙌🏽

Hello all,

I'd like to join in if I may. Today is the day I have just confirmed the Builder ( he thinks they should be able to start end of May start of June). it's taken us three years to get to this point, as we had issues with bats and then needed a bat survey, and then winter came, then our very lovely architects had personal issues and needed time. So this day is momentous!

We are planning a single story rear kitchen and utility extension, and then going up to the front over a current extension to create fourth bedroom with ensuite. We do have planning for a hallway extension and new front entrance to but the cost is extortionate for all three, so we are sticking with two for the minute. ( I've not given up on the front as it completely joins together the look and will make the house more useable).

Chin up to all those up to their eyes in dust and plaster

Eek @MoreHairyThanScary that's SO exciting!! Your plans sound very similar to mine!

Hi all, I was on this thread last year. We started out house renovation and extension in May last year and were broadly finished inside by Xmas. We have been doing all the final decorating and finishing touches inside since then and are still working on the exterior final rendering, landscaping and painting!!
Though I would share some pics of the glass splashbacks that went in yesterday in the kitchen and boot room.

Looks fab @Threesocks

We finally have a window! Off to buy paint tomorrow

Looks great @4yearsnosleep - love the cladding.

This thread is so exciting! We've just got planning permission and chosen our builder All a bit scary tbh!
We got 4 quotes, all within 1k of each other. Dh did a spreadsheet of what they were all including and we've chosen the builders who a) we liked and b) quoted for the complete build and finish. We're not DIY friendly so need it painted/tiled etc.
We're having a single storey kitchen extension 3mx5m and shower room and utility in what was the old kitchen. Unfortunately it's taken 9months to get the plans approved but builder starts at the beginning of August!!!! I can't quite believe it will actually happen

Thanks @Threesocks 😊

@gleegeek congratulations on the planning permission