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.

@4yearsnosleep I love your kitchen! That bird and trees mural (?) is fantastic and I do like the painted exposed beam. Really great design choices.

How are you finding the light from the velux? Good?

And do you think builders work harder (and tidier) when they are being filmed? Presume they have to give consent!

@avocuddl, I'm not sure there is a wrong layout with your space. Was the dining table originally to go behind the island? It would be nice to have a view into the garden while eating but at the same time it'd be nice to have sofas to enjoy the view.

Bit jealous of your double sinks upstairs @northernruth! :D

@4yearsnosleep what a massive pain re DIYK. The photos look amazing though, it’s going to be wonderful once fully finished.

Well had a great chat to the builder this morning - they’re doing the floor joists at the moment and are hoping to have the gable and former framed early next week. He said he’ll then get me up there so we can finalise the internal wall placement which is hugely exciting. I have the builder who is leading the kitchen coming over next week to finalise before they start in about a month as well. And he thinks they can install the new kitchen towards the start of the build to avoid too much disruption as most of the actual build work can be done outside with a boarded up knocked through part (if that makes sense!!! 😂)

The velux are amazing and give loads of light.

Our builder is just super tidy & fast!

Wow that's great Worrisome that you'll get the kitchen sooner than you thought!

@soakedat3 yes kitchen was going to be on the walls around where the dining table is and then the dining table was going to be nearer the doors!
I'm swaying toward this layout now as I'm planning a play area behind the sofas and I don't think I'd be able to see it in the original plan whereas I'd have better supervising ability whilst cooking I think in the newer option. What do you think?

@chopc I think it will end up being £120k - quote from the builder is £80k plus about £10k for plumbing and electrics, windows will be £15k and kitchen £10k. Then there will be decorating and some extras eg roof needs fixing, we are doing some landscaping outside.

We are getting a lot for our money because we are using a builder/ PM who uses subcontractors rather than a proper building company. He comes recommended and he's good, but I have a lot of experience in renovations in various properties and I'm having to source a lot of stuff myself. He would have been happy to do all that tho if I just wanted bog standard uPVC/ had been happy with a Howdens kitchen etc

@northernruth thanks for the response

@4yearsnosleep, would you mind taking a photo of your velux windows for me to see how far down the roof they are? Ours now need to be lower due to the roof issue. We are still going to have them regardless but I was hoping to get some good light deep into the room. New Dad said something about angling them but I'm not sure I understand how...

The kitchen will be about 7m long/deep. When I planned the kitchen I did take it into consideration so the "dark" areas will be the F/F and some of the pan drawers. We have glazed internal doors and will still get light through the hall into the kitchen and the hall is a bright one.

Here you go, we went as big as possible as I was paranoid about light and I love them

I got to go up on the loft scaffold today!!!! Look at my lovely new view and this is the eaves framing. The gable is built and the dormer will be done by Tuesday. So excited!!

@WorrisomeHeart Gracious! You look like you're about 4 storeys up !

Lol, it felt like that with only the guard rails! 😂😂😂. The far tree line is our local park which has an amazing fireworks display on Bonfire Night. I can’t wait to watch it from the loft this year.

Has anyone had a sloping shower screen installed? We’re probably going to eat some of the eaves storage space to get more in the bedroom but that means more of the shower is under the slope.

I'm suddenly getting the prebuild equivalent of late pregnancy "nesting"
Now I know that build is still another 2 months away, i've got unusually houseproud. Or actually garden-proud.
Despite the fact that it is literally going to be a Building Site by the end of August, I've spent the last three days out there, weeding and trimming edges. I guess I want the end that isn't going to be trashed to look decent

Hi - can I join in the thread:-). We started our extension/ renovation 2 weeks ago after planning it for ages!
We're extending/remodelling our bungalow in 3 places to create a large kitchen/diner/family room, new utility with separate loo, slightly bigger garage as it had to be rebuilt with the extension, new study where the old kitchen was, adding a 4th bedroom and extending the smallish bedroom to make it the largish and adding an ensuite and walk in wardrobe. All rooms are being re plastered and changing all windows and doors. So quite a bit of work.
We wanted to go up as I miss stairs and we have a huge loft but planning refused. I'm happy with the plans now though - just about got over it!.
Its all a bit real now its finally started!! All seems to be going ok so far - lots digging!

Welcome @Cat882 - hoping for a smooth journey for you.

@4yearsnosleep I love the colour of your units in that photo. Kitchen looks like a lovely light room.

@WorrisomeHeart what a great view you'll have to watch the fireworks.

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo I did a bit of house nesting and sorted out my clothes so that when we take out the much hated fitted wardrobes, I have less to transfer into a new wardrobe.

We suddenly have a very long to do list this weekend. Have to pick door handles, go and look at bathrooms for the en suite and downstairs toilet, look at tiles and carpets. Also pick paint colours. There'll be builders in the house all weekend so probably good to be out!

Wow Worrisome that loft is going to be amazing!!!

Welcome Cat! How long do they estimate the works taking? So exciting for you! Have you decided on kitchens etc?

Wheredoes I know what you mean! I feel like I've got a huge list of things to do and not enough time before the baby builders arrive!

4years I'm obsessed with your kitchen. It's total goals! Hope mine looks as nice as that!

Hi everyone could I join as well? We have just started our double storey extension on our 1930’s semi. It will take (fingers crossed) 6mths and £150k ...that’s without kitchen, bathrooms, flooring...
Feeling slightly odd about it - having waited so long to get going am now wondering if we are doing the right thing at such a cost.

Hi everyone! Looking for some advice. I drew an electrical layout for my architect to submit to the council and I put spotlights on it for the bedrooms. Have since decided I just want regular light bulbs in the bedroom. Will this be ok when we go ahead and build? Not sure how rigidly we have to stick to that once it’s done.

I don’t have the energy to speak to my architect about it so asking you lovely lot instead!!

Hope everyone’s builds are going well

@Fucktuates I'm pretty sure (unless you have a Listed Building) that the Council couldn't give a stuff about your internal lighting.
As long as you have a proper Certificate at the end.

Wooooo that is what I wanted to hear. Thank you!!

I'm no expert because we're able to build under Permitted Development so Council have limited input.

Has anyone else on thread had to provide electrical plan?

@Fucktuates I've got planning and I didn't submit an electrical plan. The way I look at it, you could change all your internal lighting without extending at all so it's none of their business.

@WorrisomeHeart that looks scary up there - I went up the scaffold when they were doing the roof but I had a right wobble and had to come down straight away!

Joiners are here today finishing the first floor joists and floorboards, then they are going to board across the living room and take out the existing french window!

I've done an electrical plan for the builder so that he could price the job up, but not given it to the Council.

@4yearsnosleep can you remember the measurements of your skylights? Our architect has specified roof lights of 2mx1m which seems enormous and larger than the biggest flat roof velux I can see.