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.

I'm really pleased it was helpful - obviously this is only the way our builder worked, and having on done one build I can't vouch it's always the same.
Also to note - we started 4 weeks before this on 5th Nov - I requested this as 4 weeks in, I couldn't get my head around not knowing what was happening each week.
And........ we didn't finish in the allotted schedule. We actually finished up to the point of cleaning on 18th April, and snagging took another 4 weeks!!! So approx 6months

I guess the builder does this list anyway for himself as he needs to know he needs an electrician in week 11 for 1st fix then back so many weeks later for 2nd fix

@avocuddl can you just ask the plumber? he'll advise I'd think

I'm having a bit of a stress. I had a quote for aluminium heritage doors and installation, had the company out for a survey and then said I want to go ahead, I've been sent a deposit invoice.

In the meantime due to the lead time I was quoted I have looked for another supplier and I've found one in Middlesbrough, sent them my details. They have come back with a quote that is £4k less. Obviously I'll make sure that it covers all the same openers etc (for example, I know that I have higher spec handles on the quote I've been given) but that some massive saving. Would be awful to give back word to the original supplier??

Well you haven't actually paid a deposit to 1st company...
What's their lead time compared to 2nd lot?

You could ask 1st ones to price match if they really want the business

They're a couple of weeks less - 4-5 weeks as opposed to 6-7. I could ask them to price match but I already asked them to look at the high installation cost and they reduced it by £100. From £1850 plus VAT

I think it's reasonable to ask them to price match as the difference is too much to ignore. You get a cooling off period I thought?

Great progress @GreenShadow! Looking really bright and open now.

@GreenShadow that’s great news about the kitchen

Hi all

I’m back from NZ now, jetlagged but excited to see that the loft steels have gone in!! The rain has made the progress stop start but DH is happy with the way the builders have been working while I’ve been away, so it’s all good. I now need to get my head back into the planning game, I’ve been pretty much ignoring it while I was away. First task is to read back and see how you’ve all been doing!!

Finally contract signed with Beardy Builder! He had a rough task schedule done for himself but said it's still a work in progress but he'll share it once he's tightened it up a bit.
Good news is his visit coincided with my long term electrician being here, upgrading fuse board /Control panel ahead of works starting so the two of them talked complete gobbledegook to each other and came to some agreement as to what was required without any input from me.
In the absence of any power at home, I went to ikea and bought Tillreda portable induction hob and considered buying the photo....

Welcome back @WorrisomeHeart. Glad to hear the build is progressing well.

And also woo hoo about the final contracts being signed @WhereDoesThisToiletGo.

We are a bit at annoyed today as it turns out the architect didn't pay enough attention to the angle of the roof and how far we went out. It now turns out we have to use an inset dormer window to achieve the roof we want or else have two differing levels of roofs. It's hard to explain even with photos. :(

Not really sure how it all affects costs but at least we have a way forward. I thought I'd see if maybe could use DIY kitchens to try make kitchen a bit cheaper but the lead times are sooo much longer now!! Arrgh!

That’s annoying @soakedat3 especially as you have had an actual architect to measure & draw up the plans.

He is an architectural designer. I think our only consolation is that at least we didn't pay an extra 3K for a real architect only to get to the same design...except we would have at least known it was going to be like that.

So instead of a normal lean to under the window as per first photo it will instead have an inset window like the second picture. That is if we want to avoid having a higgledepigglydy roof as we are joining onto an existing single storey roof. We seem to have an odd house!

I've come to terms with it now and it's not like we can go out less now the foundation and walls are in place. I think we now need to do a building warrant amendment though. BIG SIGH!

OH consoling me by reminding me about the lovely kitchen that will go in. I will go and look at my 1000 larder to cheer myself up! :D

@soakedat3 our single story extension cuts across the first floor bathroom window like that. Insetting the window like that was suggested, but instead we are opting to make the window smaller.
Obviously a small high window is ok in a bathroom but those look like bedrooms so I understand why you don't want to make them smaller.
Really annoying basic design stuff that should have been picked up by the designer at the drawing stage

@soaked I think they look quite cool!

We had a similar issue with roof pitch, ours is only 17 degrees so it was a bit hit and miss as to whether we could have the roof lights we wanted. We could, but the architect had put in roof lights that were physically bigger than could be fitted into the space.

Anyone follow First Sense Interiors on Instagram? She's just posted pics of her kitchen design. She's going with DIY kitchens

My trip to Middlesbrough yesterday was fruitful, yes they do the same profile heritage windows, they are coming to measure up on Monday, brickies are here today changing the window sizes (I changed my mind, they didn't get them wrong) so we should be good to go. 4-5 weeks lead time and about £4k cheaper.

Interior designer is here this morning to finalise some of the kitchen stuff, although I think I've found my own wallpaper. I may see if I can get out to Wren Kitchens later today to get them to price their pale blue units.

Anyone got any recommendations for appliance suppliers? I'm thinking of integrated larder fridge and freezer and maybe white oven (sorry if that's too 80s!)

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo my daughter has that Ikea kitchen. I've also seen those portable induction hobs. There's a vague chance that we could have our new kitchen fitted before they dismantle the existing one tho, which would be great (we are moving the kitchen into what is now the living room)

Will try to attach pics of the plans

Current layout vs what we're building. The layout of the utility and the upstairs is going to be different - we're putting a second bathroom in the front small bedroom and keeping the back bedroom as is

Awh Soaked I'm sorry for the faff that's so annoying!!! What has the architect designer said?! At least the second pic looks great too so you don't lose out other than the cost and time 😬 and yes, at the end of it you'll have a beautiful kitchen so it will all be worth it!

Wow @northernruth that is some build!! It's going to be amazing!

So I'm completely rethinking my layout. Do you think the kitchen would be better set out like this? Running down the left hand wall of the extension and then having the dining table in the space where the kitchen was supposed to be?

And thanks for your ideas on the boiler- I agree with @soaked that it's better to move it out of the way as planned!

This time lapse is awesome! www.instagram.com/p/Bw70IrMnszB/?igshid=iohbjfz1xzxp

@northernruth that is a mega build! We are just doing internal works and a loft and that is coming to approx 200k to finish. How much is your build setting you back?

Hi all

We're still waiting to finish the kitchen. Loads of missing bits from DIY, a delay to the granite install, a delay to the table and the kitchen fitter is too busy to come and finish of the kitchen/fit the doors/fit the architrave before our friends come to stay next week. Feeling rather frustrated. For us the easy bit was the build, the kitchen has been a nightmare.

Quality from DIY is great, customer service isn't; they don't know their arse from their elbow regarding where items are and I'm still waiting on a lot of refunds from them. They haven't even refunded the sample doors which went back over a month ago

I highly recommend both Marks Electrical for branded stuff and Myappliances for non branded CDA/Caple products

Sorry for all the delays and frustrations @4yearsnosleep but WOW!! It looks amazing! I love it!

What's going in the gap above the wine fridge?

There's an oak shelf going up to match the worktop and a navy/copper wallpaper going up there and in the back of the glass cabinets