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Home Extension Thread 2019 - The Extension

997 replies

TheFatberg · 12/06/2019 09:31

Only a few posts left on the first thread of 2019, so here's a new one to get us started.

OP posts:
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176
GreenShadow · 27/06/2019 18:40

It's getting exciting here. Over the last couple of days, most of our units have been installed and we can really start to get the overall effect of the new room.
It was originally 3 rooms and has been knocked through to one large kitchen/breakfast room.
Picture one shows the room once the walls had been knocked down - you can still see the shower/wc room in the far corner plus there was a wall down the middle of the room.
Picture two is today.
We're still waiting for the worktop, fridge freezer and flooring but everything is running to plan and so far, no major problems.
The units are DIY Kitchen Clayton Alabaster.

Home Extension Thread 2019 - The Extension
Home Extension Thread 2019 - The Extension
northernruth · 27/06/2019 19:01

@noroof it's me that's having a pastel kitchen, although I'm going for more of a baby blue. I have cream at the moment with blue walls and the blue doors will give it a lot more character I think. I liked DIY but also was put off by the delays. I've just been to Wren and got a reasonable price compared to my alternative, which was Ikea cabinets and Naked kitchen doors (these are painted).

I have seen on the telly that you can get slab doors sprayed to order at car bodyshops but not sure whether that's really a thing or not, or how durable they would be.

Wren have LOADs of kitchen doors to choose from. I can't stand cashmere it's just beige (sorry if anyone has it, each to their own eh?)

So the new door suppliers came on Tuesday for a survey and promised me a revised contract, have been chasing all afternoon and nothing has come through. The guy who's doing the other windows did quote me for Alitherm for the living room, when I told him who was doing them he looked a bit confused because he says he buys his profiles from this place so he's not sure how they are so much cheaper than he was quoting.

Plumber came today to discuss first fix for the bathrooms and the reality moving the boiler has started to hit home - he's talking about getting one bathroom fully fitted out before they knock through, but that's going to mean waiting till we go on holiday, which means knocking through downstairs next week..........

WorrisomeHeart · 27/06/2019 20:07

@TheFatberg I’m sorry to hear that, I was really hoping you might be one of the ones to buck the current trend. 😞

@GreenShadow that looks so fab! How exciting!!

Stokey · 27/06/2019 21:04

Kitchen looks great @GreenShadow quite jealous you have your cabinets before the floor. We were told to do the floor first as it needs time to cure.

@WorrisomeHeart our roof light is from Maxlight but they're quite dear. Think our doors are coming from aluk who also do roof lights. None of it is fitted yet so can't tell you how good they are!

northernruth · 27/06/2019 21:06

@GreenShadow that kitchen looks fab!!

OT but can anyone tell me how to read a thread from the last post you read? It's years since I used MN regularly and scrolling through the threads to find where I left off is a bit of a challenge

GreenShadow · 27/06/2019 21:09

What kind of floor are you having Stokey?

We're having engineered wood. I'm not sure that needs to cure (or at least I'm desperately hoping not...)

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 27/06/2019 21:09

Press the little bookmark icon bottom right of last post (mobile site)
Not sure about app

northernruth · 27/06/2019 22:19

Cool ta @WhereDoesThisToiletGo. I was sure there used to be an "unread posts" button but that may have been on another forum

soakedat3 · 28/06/2019 12:45

I've seen the car body shop spray thing too and have seen that the blogger Swoonworthy used car paint for her unit doors. However, I don't know if the bog standard car body shop would do it. They make it look so easy on TV. Just spray this one lamp please and the nice man does!

What kind of downlights are people getting? I am being asked cool white or warm white by electrician. He recommends cool but will it look like flurescent tubes?

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 28/06/2019 13:27

We've just put some low profile led in bathroom.
Electrician got cool white which I found too harsh so we went for warm white which I prefer. Its warm but not yellowy.
We put the spare cool white one in Utilty and it is a bit fluorescent.
Mr WheresDoes chose cool white for his study and I thi k it's really harsh but he likes it.

soakedat3 · 28/06/2019 14:27

Hmmm. That's good to know WhereDoes. I know I need to see what I'm doing but I don't exactly want it to look like a shop!

soakedat3 · 29/06/2019 09:18

How are everyone's plans going? I'm sitting feeling sorry for the neighbours today as the roofer got here pretty early. Justifying it by thinking we've managed not to disturb them at all until now... Must stock up on wine to distribute!

GowithFlo · 29/06/2019 10:46

Hoping to join you all on this journey!
After three years of planning we final broke ground on Thursday!Grin ... and hit our first problem!Confused Our existing house is built on raft foundations and despite digging out over two metres of dolomite the builders are yet to hit solid ground. Lots of head scratching, visits from the architect and structural engineer means our foundations costs have more than doubled over night!!SadHoping to get all the issues out of the way early onWink On the plus side is good sunny building weather!

Home Extension Thread 2019 - The Extension
soakedat3 · 29/06/2019 11:16

Oh no @GowithFlo. I hope they find a solution soon. It's quite frustrating when they can't know until they start. Ours is the roof. Once again there are mutterings!

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 29/06/2019 12:34

That's the trouble, you don't really know what they are dealing with until they break ground or strip out the old walls.
Although our house is not quite 20 years old, I'm worried what they'll find under the surface. The original builder was definitely the type to cut corners and costs. I hope they don't find our existing foundations are 12 inches deep!

GowithFlo · 29/06/2019 13:02

Fingers crossed for you and that your founds are in good shape. Wasn't totally unexpected in our case as we live right on the river and have lots of trees around and about. It's a shame though as money I had earmarked for lovely new furnishings is now going on a huge concrete slab!

Catquest1 · 29/06/2019 15:51

Hello all! Not sure if you remember me but last i posted i was very frustrated.

I am pelased to report the plumbing is making progress! And the pole holding up the front fascia went yesterday!!!! Which was possibly spurred on by the fact the drive people are coming this week!

Goodbye mud and concrete dust! And it might actually start to look better from the front Grin

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 29/06/2019 16:19

@Catquest1 I remember that your builder said he was finished despite the supporting pole!
Glad to hear it's gone (and house still standing!)

Noroof · 29/06/2019 17:03

Well I took the plunge and ordered the mint green kitchen. Ah.
I went with a company called Betterkitchens which seem to offer the same type of thing as DIY. Was really impressed with the customer service... really helpful guys on the phone and the ordering was simple. I'll update re quality etc when it arrives in 4 weeks but I'm feeling hopeful!

northernruth · 29/06/2019 20:46

@Noroof can't wait to see it!

I'll take a look at Better Kitchens.

I had the plumber round who can't come for a couple of weeks so the builder got twitchy and we have now agreed that he will start knocking through into the existing kitchen - kitchen window came out and is now boarded up. They will fit one bathroom while we are away on holiday (which makes me a bit nervous TBH) so that at least we always have a bathroom......

Noroof · 29/06/2019 21:41

We go away in a week's time and they're going to start with the internal stuff and knocking through to the kitchen whilst we are away. I'll be out with the kids for the next 6/7 weeks. I'll be staying with family an hour away so I'll be relying on my DH to keep an eye on everything

lightlypoached · 30/06/2019 10:55

We were expecting plans last week so chased on Friday. Plans are in but builders have some issues with them so that needs sorting.

We have visits booked to kitchen people and door companies next weekend but will have to cancel those appointments if the plans don't arrive. . Confused

TheFatberg · 30/06/2019 12:39

Builders and joiners here today. It'll be strange having the house to ourselves again and coming home after work to the house being exactly as we left it.

OP posts:
WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 30/06/2019 13:10

Do most people have builders that work weekends?

northernruth · 30/06/2019 14:49

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo mine often work Saturday and they worked Good Friday (which caused some upset with the moany neighbours as apparently the Very Religious neighbours were horrified because it's a Holy Day - not sure why they think their beliefs should stop anyone else working, but there you go).

They did ask to work a Sunday recently just before the monsoon week but I had to say no in the interests of keeping the peace with the neighbours and then of course we lost a week due to rain