Feeling Exhausted with Extension build

[Daphnesmate]

I think my tolerance must be quite low because I know a lot of people have it a lot worse and live with chaos for many many months but I just need a bit of a whinge.

Basically builders have done their bit - structure in place, windows in, roof on, flooring (underfloor heating in place). More plumbing/electrical work next week and I know it is going to be worth it in the end BUT it is the general mess and chaos especially when you have two young dcs to look after. Then there is all the project management side of things (we have had to employ separate trades, chasing them up, and lining them up). I also have a deadline (work related) looming, plus we are planning to paint out the extension ourselves (just started). I'm easily overwhelmed but tired of living with a makeshift kitchen (tired full stop I think) and discussing kitchen layouts (just about there). This should be a pleasant problem but I think because I get easily overwhelmed, I am not enjoying the process. Somebody give me a sympathetic pep talk please (I know it is going to be worth it in the end and the end in the grand scheme of things is not that far off, thankfully). But never again!

I could've written this pretty much word for word myself. We don't have children yet but I am 19 weeks pregnant and I am so done with the building site life. Fed up of a make shift kitchen, fed up of having to arrange / speak to / have workmen in the house, fed up of having to troubleshoot and being anxious about it, fed up of not having all of my stuff (it's in storage).

Uggggghhh.

No pep talk from me I'm afraid, but lots of sympathy!

Have never posted before but can soooo relate to this. I’m the same, utterly fed up, sick of daily lists for builders of snags to fix, having builders in the house, no kitchen, the dust and dirt. Escaping out on days off with the kids as I can’t face being at home. I knew it would be a pain but didn’t think it would get to me as much. I reckon it’s like childbirth, we’ll forget the pain within a month of it being finished. I’m
Picturing Christmas Day with a glass of wine looking around at my lovely house to get me through!! It’ll all be worth it. .

My makeshift kitchen is dark and a bit grotty (but functional).

My stuff is all over the place (lots in boxes shoved in the spare room). There were quite a few issues with the builders (fortunately so far they have returned to sort snags). At the moment we are trying to secure a kitchen fitter but they haven't yet got back to me with a quote. It's nearly 8 pm and really, I should be starting the next coat of paint. The kids are playing up, there is a glitch with the on-line shopping and I need to confirm final requirements for kitchen in the morning, so need to go over these with dh after painting! Gah, the list is endless but yes, S4555, I am trying to picture the end result and it will definitely be completed by Christmas!
Sorry to hear you are both in a similar situation but it is comforting to hear that I am not alone.

We have a build in progress too and to top it all, a few days ago we had a concrete mixer parked in the road in relation to mixing up some screeding for our underfloor heating. They hadn't been here long when there came a knock at the door and with toddler under arm I answered it. Someone in the street was moaning about the mess the concrete mixer had made, apparently it had dirtied the side of the road and the grass verge (it wasn't even on their side of the road). I asked the builders if they could clean it up please because a neighbour had been complaining about the state of the road which they duly did (well most of it anyway). We are up to our necks in it and these people (I'm guessing with grown up kids) get the time to examine the road and moan about a bit of sand (it wasn't concrete) which will probably wash away with some heavy rain/a visit from the road sweeper.

We are lucky in that our neighbours on one side are retired but he used to be a builder and still does a lot of DIY so they are really relaxed about noise. The other side have complained to our workmen (even though I gave them my phone number so they could complain to me and we are well away from the truly noisy stages of the build), saying that this had been "going on for months". Yup! Well, how do you think we feel?! Tempted to start complaining about his 'working from home' phone calls that he insists on taking at full volume in the garden multiple times a day, every day!

Currently trying to search for something to cover the 'legs' of our shower tray with because the kit that came with it has covers that go up to 96mm and the plumber has helpfully decided to raise our shower tray more than that.

I'm just going to keep repeating "it will all be done by Christmas...it will all be done by Christmas..."!

There should be a support group out there!! In fairness our neighbours have been very easy and builders great at keeping them onside, bringing in their bins etc. but I just want it done. Even the kids are struggling with having builders in and just want their house back. I feel like the smallest little thing will just tip me over the edge!

I feel your pain. I have builders erecting an off the shelf 10 x10 conservatory, they started first week of June and it still nowhere near finished, it should have taken 2 weeks, they keep saying their waiting for supplies and it’ll be finished next week! They been saying that for 6 weeks! Argh. It’s connected to my bedroom and they knocked through weeks ago, when they were finishing the next week, so I’ve got dust everywhere and I’m sleeping in amongst it all too. I keep typing shitty emails to them but storing in draft! I’m so close to the line where I just send press! 🍷to all who needs one. And ‘it’ll be worth it 🤨

@PutTheBassInYourWalk our plumber used fascia boards to cover our shower legs as ours had to be higher due to the configuration of our bathroom. Thought it might help!

I’ve got a house full of builders, kitchen fitters and electricians too. Is bloody awful isn’t it

@claire697

Yes, that is helpful. Thank you!

Another annoying feature of a build - searching on the internet for things you don't know the name of!

I totally get the entertaining the kids bit whilst builders/dh carries on with bits of the build. To be fair, dh as had the kids whilst I've done a bit of the painting but he is physically stronger than me and it makes sense for him to plough on with the ceilings etc. whilst I entertain the dcs.

Ugh I feel for you, next door's extension went on FOREVER and they've still not finished it! 2 years+

Feeling exactly the same here it really is stressful. I feel it's cost me my job to some extent as I was meant to be working from home which was impossible and stressful. My poor dogs have been cooped up in one bedroom ( they have had plenty of walks) due to doors being open and risk of them escaping. My poor kids have had to stay cooped up with the dogs whilst me and dh have been working - I have had to take a new job so haven't been able to take time off. In the middle of it all I have been diagnosed with depression and I'm sure the build has completely exacerbated that. We have 4 teenagers and stuff everywhere and haven't had the use of a cooker for about 5 weeks now which has just meant expensive ready meals and take aways. The extension has gone way over budget which has added more stress. I just hope it is worth it.

Just wondering how everyone is doing now. Builders still here and I’m so sick of it at this stage. Hopefully coming towards the end of it but I’m really struggling by now.