Home extension 2019 the Third thread- Drowning in Dust

[WhereDoesThisToiletGo]

And we're off again

Thanks @soakedat3 @avocuddl and @PazRaz10 - I'm glad personality is a sensible factor to use, as I have a suspicion the one I like best won't be the cheapest!

Re ceilings, we will have three different heights in one room - and one section is now rafter line glazing as I was worried about it being low and feeling dark/oppressive. We are also putting pins in the floor above for the roof of the extension so that the steel can sit (a few cm) higher - I may be paranoid about ceiling height!! 😂

Another question: do builders generally work over Christmas/New Year or not? Or does it vary? Feeling like it might be 2020 before we actually do any building...

@Spidershuffle my main criteria when choosing a builder was whether I thought we'd be able to sort out any problems or mistakes along the way amicably, something will ALWAYS go wrong

Thanks @northernruth good point, it seems inevitable!

Hope you hear from the window company soon, the crittal style french doos sound beautiful!

@northernruth love that green

Whoever said about a ring doorbell you are a genius!! Installed last night and it's brilliant!! Just seen the builders arrive and can even hear what they're saying 😱 I should probably tell them shouldn't I?!?!

Ooh what's a ring doorbell?

That was me using my Ring doorbell checking up on what time the builders turned up!
Tho it took me several weeks before it occurred to me.

Just spent an age with lovely electrician deciding on where LEDS are to go.
They love symmetry so want them centred, but my island is slightly off centre to make the most of extremely limited space on either side.
So because the island is "wrong" we have to do the lights "wrong" to match. This goes against their principles

Ooh lighting plans are exciting! I think we will have the same issue with ours, and I'm still debating whether or not to have the pendant lights above the island!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Doorbell-doorbell-motion-activated-notifications/dp/B072Q48WQR/ref=mpssa113?keywords=ring+doorbell&qid=1569428402&s=gateway&sprefix=ring&sr=8-3

We are going to be moving out soon so I thought the added security/piece of mind would be worth the cost!

Yes it's a good idea to be able to feel you can discuss changes and problems along to way as northernruth says. Mind you, not stopped me worrying!

We were hmmed at when placing sockets as new dad wanted symmetry but we have a solar panel spur so it had to stay and ruin things.

Another thought about ceiling heights, if they are lower then your wall cabinets may not hang high enough.

Discussed dropped ceiling first thing yesterday and agreed to drop it only by as much as the acoustic board needs.

I'm amazed by the wiring the electricians are putting in. And I don't think my kitchen is all that complex. Each cable is nearly labelled at each end - it's a thing of beauty

@soakedat3 good point about cabinets but ceiling in kitchen end is remaining as it is.

Total disaster here 😭 foundations dug for the side extension but the torrential rain has made them collapse and they'll have to dig them again! Hate stupid delays!! Just has to be done by next Thursday as doors arriving and a big trench is currently blocking access!! Pray for me 🤞🏽

Eeek! That is rubbish luck!! Fingers and toes crossed the trench is gone next week. What's the forecast like for you @avocuddl? It's a no win this year for weather. Doesn't seem to matter when the build starts, rain always appears.

Somebody else had heavy rain after foundations were dug and ended up with a moat!

Decision has been made to delay doors till the following Tuesday 😢 feeling like this is going to be it now we've hit winter, just going to be delay after delay. I'm sure it won't be so bad but feeling sorry for myself 🤣

@avocuddl I'm finding the most frustrating bit is wanting to do A, but it can't be done until B is done which needs C done first.

Hi. Can I ask about spreadsheets. How are you doing them? Is it based on getting quotes then real cost filled in as you go along?
I feel we need to begin one but can't imagine where to start.
NB we are just waiting for planning permission to be granted in the next few weeks.
Thanks.

Mr WheresDoes is in charge of the spreadsheet as he actually is an accountant.
We started off with estimates but so many unexpected things creep in.
I admit to having buggered the budget, as we didn't really factor in new furniture etc.

But I'm only going to do this once...

Our spreadsheet started off quite detailed - handles, taps etc but then as the kitchen was a lump and then "the rest" was a lump it has all blurred together. The builder has been ok about things like sockets and lights.

If I were doing again I would put items like:-
Fees
kitchen cabinets & doors
Kitchen Fitting
itemised appliances (unless included in kitchen)
flooring
pendant lighting
building - see if this includes skips, electrics and plumbing else separate items
Internal doors
Radiators
Decoration
Residual groundworks
And a small budget for cleaning!

Thank you. I think there is just so much to plan for and I've been mentally planning this for so many years that I'm feeling a bit intimidated by it all now it's finally getting closer to the moment!

If you are going to be kitchenless, you also need to factor in increased meal costs possibly if you are going to eat out or have takeaways or rely on microwave frozen dinners

Yes like @wheredoesthistoiletgo says, extra budget for food or a portable hob. Although I did find my appetite reduced from stress and the not great taste of ready meals!

Pouring rain here today. Looks like we may have full crew finishing off the final bits of my list today. I REALLY HOPE SO! And a start on patio.

Hope your foundations are still ok @avocuddl. It was me who had the moat. Rain sucks.

We are keen campers so I'm going to be using our camping gear set up in the living room (which they won't be coming in. ) so fingers crossed we'll not go overboard in that department.
I've been googling costs all day and have come out at 4k over the architect's estimate.

We're surprisingly comfortable with our temporary kitchen set up in the dining room.
As there is no plumbing in there I have a couple of Tesco 5l mineral water bottles which I use to top up kettle for convenience.
While we fully expected to be living on the contents of the freezer plus the occasional steak on the bbq, we actually cooked coq au vin from scratch last night.!