Home Extension Thread 2019 - The Extension

[TheFatberg]

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

Got news our kitchen which we thought was in storage awaiting us being ready is actually not ready. The new date for delivery is the 19th Aug. OH and I are really annoyed! Spent weekend being annoyed at the mess and dust.

I have asked/firmly suggested to New Dad Builder that he make the extension at least usable as storage as even if floor tiles, walls plastered we could move the appliances in. V expensive storage but at least we could all just escape the to the living room in the evenings

So disappointed as the original end date was end of July!!

People who had delays please remind me it's all worth it!

Oh no @soakedat3!! Is this DIYK or someone else? What a massive pain.

I’ve been grumpy with builders all day today which is completely unreasonable as we’ve not really had a delay but I’m just fed up with it all. Not helped by the fact that the loft electric 2nd fix is almost done but now the electric veluxes don’t work and the fan in the bathroom switches on but not off 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️

I must start repeating the mantra ‘soon I will have The Thread Fridge’ 😂

Oh no worrisome and Soaked!! 19th will come around quick I'm sure and it WILL all be worth it in the end!

A bad day here too, builders accidentally cut through a water pipe so we are now without water 🤦🏽‍♀️ neighbours were without it for about 2hr but fortunately they were able to do a temporary fix to at least allow for them to be switched back on. Do not want to be on bad terms with the neighbours!

I have been on hols for two weeks and not RTFT. Arrived back to find the upstairs of the extension has been rendered, and it’s beige. We want white. As in, 1930s Art Deco semi white. Builder says that’s the colour that the silicone render is, and that it’s off white (this is bollocks, it’s cream/ sand). So the options are to use a different silicone render or to do sand and cement and paint it. Builder is being relaxed about it considering the scaffolding has come down!

Everything else has come on well, we are waiting on windows which will be in this week, the heritage doors are being made and will be fitted soon. Main living room has openings boarded up and they took the boards down today and it looks amazing

On the subject of payments and also insurance - our insurers quoted a huge amount to cover us during the build so I got direct line to quote and they were good so I moved. We already had contents insurance with them and building insurance with Hiscox (long story) but now all sorted out.

On builders I know that the standard is to have stage payments against valuations. But if you use a smaller builder they do live more hand to ‘mouth. And yes, they do get credit but if they run a few jobs they are often up against a credit limit. We are using a guy who uses sub contractors so we often make direct payments to the subbies - he gave us a rough schedule up front but I’ve paid for stuff as and when he asked. As most of it has gone to the builders merchant or direct to the grounds workers or brickies I dont mind. Ive paid for materials or work done. I’ve also got him cash on occasion. He quoted £86k for the build which was about half what a building g contractor would have charged. So if we end up going a bit over I don’t mind (I’m not telling him that). Windows/ kitchens/ bathrooms are on top of that, and he made an allowance of £6k or so for plumbing and electric which will be more (I deal with them directly) so the final cost will be nearer £125/130k

No it's a local supplier but I am wishing I had done it myself with units online and paid the stupid delivery fee! The local kitchen company are blaming LochAnna but I bet they are blaming Second Nature as they are the actual manufacturers. I am blaming the local supplier for dithering. They were saying they had to fill in a lot of forms about what side hinges needed to be... I don't quite understand the difficulty!! Anyone would think I was asking for some bespoke handmade kitchen but I as far as I was aware I didn't!

It's very tiring having builders around and equally tiring when they are not around because all the eye can see is THINGS TO BE DONE! I don't know if they feel bad but builders here at 8am today. We are aiming to at least have the room be a proper room by the end of the week with floors and plastering done. They can then concentrate on getting the garden cleared and the deck done - IF the brickies appear anytime soon!

Oh no @avocuddl! Hope you get water soon! Did they give you an ETA for it?

@northernruth - Yes I think paying the subs direct is fine as you are kind of making sure the money goes to the right place anyway. When I read that poor Mumsnet thread with the awol builder, a lot of problems seemed to come from builder not paying sub contractors and work stopping as a result. Glad your getting the colour changed also. Maybe the builder doesn't like it either and that's why he's so relaxed about the change?

I think we all need BBB to tell everyone to just GET IT DONE this week!

(sorry for all the caps. I must still be tense from yesterday)

Welcome back @northernruth ! Hope you had a great holiday :) so annoying about the colour! Hope they can fix it easily.
We've been the same with payments and paid stuff when he's bought it. I know they are a reputable company but like you say are smaller and are more on cash basis. I'm happy as our quote was significantly cheaper (but not the cheapest) than other larger firms.

Another problem here, but as I expected and was worried about a few months ago. So as you know we have 2 stages to the project, rear and side extension. They've uncovered that the existing outbuildings do not have sufficient foundations to support a 2 story extension and if they built this next year, they would have to disturb the rear to build the side. So they are proposing to do as some of you had previously suggested, to just build the ground work for the side now and do the rest later. Makes total sense but now got to cobble together another chunk of money to do this and might have to make some sacrifices in the rear extension to afford it. It will be alright in the long run right?! 😫

Sorry for multiple posts!! Will report to get them removed!

Should be back on tonight @soakedat3 but we go on holiday on Thursday anyway so not too bad.

So frustrating with the kitchen company. Hope they give you some nice drawer inserts or something for your trouble!

Yes, BBB is now back from holiday so SORT IT OUT!

Nothing really happening here, 'Arry might be here this week at some unspecified date, ditto Steve the Brick.
I'm resigned to vagueness as technically our build doesn't actually start until 19th so BBB is just sending spare blokes over here from his official build when they are not needed. I'm hoping once we are the primary site, things will move more quickly.

Mind you, since this seems to be a bad week for thread build sites, maybe I should be grateful nothing much is happening

I am FED UP but for absolutely no reason except that it’s all just annoying me 😂. We have a house load again today and I am trying to work from home with little success. I am in the office tomorrow which will help. Spark is here to do the second fix electrics to the kitchen so my pendants will be up by this evening hopefully. I need to remind myself that it’s not much longer and actually it’s not been as bad as some (a friend was living out of one room for almost 18 months during their build).

*avo that is hugely frustrating, but yes long term thinking, it will be GREAT. Or at least done. And there will be space for gin. 😂

.

And there will be space for gin. 😂

I don't drink gin....

Yet.

This build will drive you to it. I took refuge in the supermarket this evening. No plaster dust there!

We have bathroom tiles. Ready for grouting!

Hsuband will grout tomorrow after work and then do some more of fitting the kitchen units. Slowly but surely coming together now.

I feel I need a gin but have to wait a while for one now 😂

Worrisomeheart - I fear that our build will probably drive me to gin too (a virtual teetotaller)!

I just want to move back in.

It’s so tantalisingly close. We just need our sinks and washing machine plumbed in (plus the shower masticked) and We can live here!

@WBWIFE I remember you showing us a sample of those, they look lovely down.
What are you doing with the walls? Nice size bathroom BTW

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo just plain white tiles for walls with a black trim. All our taps are black so don't want to take the focus away from them. Can't wait until I cna have a bath!

We took part of the bedroom. The bathroom used to end literally to the left of the photo where the pillar comes out

We are on holiday and council planning man is coming on 8th.. we've applied for PD as advised by the architect but I'm still not sure we qualify as we've already done the loft and have a garden room. Fingers crossed that it goes through or we are looking at full Planning and a 12 week delay

D-day for moving back in is next Fri for us. At the moment the entire house is a building site, no boiler, no kitchen although possibly this is in, plastering to be done everywhere. Eek. Still they're cracking on at a pace so I'm confident. I just need 2 rooms and the kitchen for moving back in. We will be out all day at work so they'll carry on with upstairs

Three vans here before 7.30 this morning.
I'm going out.

Once they move the vans...

Lol @ gin comments. I also don't drink or smoke but found myself wishing I did so I could destress! Currently hiding at gym cafe with kids and coffee. I both want to go home to see what's happening and dread going home to find that nothing is happening. Think builder may have forgotten that kitchen has a 3.7m run of units and wall is 3.5m just now before it becomes a corner. Also am not sure gutters are working properly. They told me that "deep drain gutters are meant to hold bit of water" but I doubt a bit means nearly touching the tiles... Anyway, I'll face that all after this one properly made, not instant from kettle in hall, coffee.

Those tiles look really great @wbwife. Looks like you made the right decision taking some room from the bedroom.