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.

We seem to have ground to a halt.
2 hours of brickwork yesterday and apparently no one coming this morning...
But at least yesterday's lad tidied up the site which was left last week looking like everyone had just downed tools and been lifted in The Rapture.

But my 3 month delivery time piece of furniture from Swoon is coming today!
I also bought cushions yesterday to go on a as yet unpurchased sofa in currently non existent room....

I finally have a Portaloo!
Right in the bloody way of getting the cars out but it has to stay there until they move the remaining bricks off the drive

Sake I've just noticed that the edge of our new kitchen worktop is damaged. Argh. My guys have been great till now but these little things really affect finish. I will be having a word this morning as that's 5 separate bits of damage in the kitchen. I could cry... this is costing a fortune and it needs to last years so I don't want it looking tatty when it's brand new. Hope things don't get awkward when I mention it all....

Good luck NoRoof. It’s really disheartening.

I have one faulty microwave and one leaking dishwasher to contend with at the moment. The dishwasher had only been used twice and the microwave had problems after 2 days.

Well the boss isn't here but I mentioned it to the kitchen guy and it'll be fixed. He seemed really annoyed it was damaged and I explained that I need this kitchen to last. I've been assured it'll be right.

I hate the tiny little problems! Always feels so avoidable! Our worktop hasn't arrived yet as think they have timed delivery to be after time allowed to fit some of kitchen. We've a few missing bits but new dad is just getting on with painting and said utility units look complete so will start on that instead.

@Noroof, I'd complain to argos who might direct to Indesit. I called currys about the ff and the call got redirected immediately to manufacturer to arrange an engineer.

@wheredoesthistoiletgo - love the rapture description. Our build has always been like that! Down to uneaten boxes of donuts. Drives me a bit nuts. I've also decided that Brickies are the divas of the industry. What do they do in winter?? They could be giving the work time to dry? 24hrs to fully cure.

Welcome @gleegeek! Good luck on your build!

It definitely depends on who is on site.
One bloke sweeps up the site at the end of the day, and puts all the tools together. And the other just goes "4pm! Byyyeeeeee!"

The proper brickie doesn't do any tidying - he has other people to tidy for him.

We now have a totally enclosed extension with an open window aperture. I have yet to see how very large brickie gets in and out out there...

Our brickie was a total diva as well!! I felt so sorry for the poor apprentice who seemed to be making tea for La Brickie every 20mins. It seemed he would threaten to stop work if not adequately provisioned 🙄

All quiet here and I’ve just sent a snagging list to the builder. But I don’t mind it calming down as we knew we had a delay until The Great Door Install in mid Sep. Plus I am just so loving using the kitchen. We’re away camping next week - when we booked it, I assumed we’d still be in reno hell but actually I don’t want to leave the kitchen 😂😂

Oh and the fail here has been the electric veluxes which worked for a grand total of one weekend.

Oh @WorrisomeHeart that sounds like an expensive malfunction.... hope they fix it

Sorry been awol! Been on holiday and then Mumsnet logged me out and I couldn't get back in!! Hope everything is going well! Will catch up now, can't wait to see all the progress!!

Our electric velux hasn't been plugged in yet so I don't even know if it works. Prob waterlogged rain sensor by now as we've been having torrential rain!

Welcome back avo!

Wow I can't believe how much progress has been made!! Seriously jealous of the kitchens! Seriously that larder is AMAZING!! I need one! Is it a diy kitchens one?? Sorry I'm sure you've said before!

Soaked it feels like your build didn't start that long ago yet you're fitting your kitchen soon! Glad it arrived!!

Hope the veluxes are fixed soon 🤞🏽

I've been very impressed with our builders whilst we've been away. It's been 3 weeks and they've built up to dpc- now we can actually see the size of it, it seems smaller than I thought. Did anyone else find this but then it's okay after the knock through? I know I'm being silly cause it's huge but I just can't imagine fitting all the things I want to fit in!

Thanks soaked. It's been busy here today. The skip arrived last night and it's already completely full and being replaced in the morning. We had a digger delivered this morning, it's very dinky - am tempted to have a go myself The old extension is nearly completely demolished except for the loo sitting waiting for a plumber to disconnect it! Our back door has been blocked up so we can only get out via the front door now which is good as I feel less part of the building site IYKWIM?
Think it's plumber coming tomorrow and begin to mark out the footings.
I am enjoying seeing all your kitchens and things coming together - seems a long way away for us at the moment...

Im still waiting to see the photos of @WorrisomeHeart new larder, all stocked with matching containers and Instagram ready!
Of course she might not be able to buy the matching containers as @MyNameIsJane seems to have snaffled them all. None in my local branch yesterday when I went back for more Looks sideways at @MyNameIsJane* *

Yes, to it looking smaller. (even tho our extension is officially the World's Smallest Extension). The footings look nice and big, then you realise that they extend beyond the outer brickwork, then you subtract the inner brickwork...
But then you add in the width of the walls being knocked out.

Lol, it will be a LONG time until I have money to spend on matching containers 😱. The lower shelf is great for cereal boxes though and is deep enough that you can rest the bowl there and pour as well, rather than taking the boxes out of the cupboard.

@avocuddl

It was a Wickes kitchen we went with in the end, as we got spooked by the DIYK issues.

Just dropping by to say hello. We're almost ready to go for planning approval but I'm already frustrated with the process. Disappointed by the architect and frustrated by the builder who took 7 weeks to give us a rough quote - started off with £3k a square metre but after my husband complained to the architect has dropped to £1800. We're not starting the build until next year because I am peri menopausal, struggling to make any sort of decision and it's going to take me that long to decide on the 189 tester pots of grey I've bought. Am hoping that I am going to read through this thread and be inspired and find out in advance how to avoid common issues...

Apparently grey is on the way out so that's one less decision for you!

Avo, yes we had days I was sure it wasn't measured correctly. I even went with my own laser measurer to check internal sizes lol! Once the walls came down I went out with bits of wood and outlined where units were ending, sizes of dining table etc. That reassured me most!

A quick word of warning about the Thread Fridge... the open door alarm is NOT loud at all... It also defrosts quite quickly...

I don't think any explanation is required about how I know this...!

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo - I've read that, too...am ignoring it. (Although I've bought a green tester pot as well...Just the one though)

Oooooh. DH spoke to the builder today. Temp kitchen being fitted (in the lounge) w/c 9 sep -when the planning decision is due - with work starting later that week.

If the council says no, we are stuffed 😳

On top of that, lots of work pressure for me and DS GCSE results tomorrow.

My nerves are in shreds. Thank goodness for wine and yoga.

Best of luck @lightlypoached & DS - I will be at GCSE results as I work in a sixth form so it’s enrolment day too. Super busy.

Hopefully our worktops will be fixed on 28th August.

All work currently being done by us atm as BIL is on holiday. So it’s currently just lifting and shifting of boxes. DH is sorting out boarding of the loft/moving items so we can get the internet and clearing dd2’s bedroom so we can plaster and decorate hers. I have one dd sleeping on the floor and the other is on 2 mattresses. I promise, I have no favourites.