Home extension 2019 the Third thread- Drowning in Dust

[WhereDoesThisToiletGo]

And we're off again

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo he seemed really keen and even came out to meet the structural engineer. But maybe he didn't want it.
@soakedat3 it's 6 by 3.5 single storey, sliding doors with some internal work adding a utility room in existing space.
We are in the south east though so maybe it is a reasonable price?

The builder we have gone with was the middle of 3 quotes, I still thought it was a bit high but when we went through his spec sheet (the have all sorts fancy soft ware to help them with quotes) he had actually included a lot more than we realised, ie decorating the finished space.
However you have to allow for the fact that there will be extras not included. Our quote allows for plastering some walls but not all, the ceiling in the extension but not the original part of the room. On Monday I'm going to ask him for a figure t also plaster the remaining walls and ceiling.

We’re about to start our extension. Can I ask those who have started, did you see your builders public liability insurance? What sort of contract did you sign? Anything else I should be checking before they start?

Show me your kitchen island lighting I need inspiration!

I've got a blue ( main L shape part) and grey island with blue granite work top over island kitchen - wanting some nice modern lights above island ...
Thank you

@Whyisitsodifficult our house insurers required to see builders public liability insurance and all risk cover as well as contract prior to agreeing to insuring us during this build

@custardbear I'm afraid I've not got an island yet to help.
But I found this site useful for ideas - that they show pictures of real completed kitchens rather than showroom kitchens (that are always lovely but not always practical.
www.sncollection.co.uk/real-kitchens?action=filter&layout=Island

We have tilers here today starting the floor! This is the first bit of "nice" stuff going in rather than essential boring stuff.
Extension roof is leaking (mainly because it doesn't have a roof) so it is being seen to today as well

We're two weeks in and I currently hate everyone

The architect who just decided that his plans for the cellar steps, which he designed many months ago, 'maybe' breach buildings regs.

The builders, who cannot explain why 'levelling the ceiling as necessary', which was included in the quote, somehow doesn't include the work needed to level the ceiling and so must cost more.

The other builders, who think asking for the bitumen on the fence posts as specified in the quote means they can charge extra for adding bitumen to the fence posts.

Oh just all of them. So I left them a pack of rich teas this morning rather than the usual chocolate digestives as a symbol of my displeasure and that will teach them

Oh dear.
You see, your first big mistake was giving them Chocolate Digestives which marked you out as a Nice Kind Person /Pushover.
However the Rich Tea will have made it clear who is Boss.

Mine get bugger all

I left Penguins on day 1 to set the mood, get everyone off on the right foot.

No more Ms Nice Person. If they piss me off again they're getting sodding fig rolls.

I like Fig Rolls...

Actually I did do bacon sandwiches in the very early days, but that was a kind of peace offering as I'd complained to Boss Builder about the brickwork and made them redo it.
They used to get tea made but since they ripped out my kitchen it's self service with a dusty kettle

Poncy radiators have arrived, crated and packaged to the nth degree.
Of course, I can't put them in the garage with all the common plasterboard and cement.
Oh no, they are currently snugly sitting in our warm living room. I might just pop in and see if they need a cup of tea or a cushion to make sure they're comfy...

Oooh! Can't wait to see the radiators @WhereDoesThisToiletGo!

I've started treating our builders as an extension of the bin. Any sweets or biscuits I don't like or want the kids to have get put out for them :D

We are down to 3 tiny jobs now. Builder said see you in a couple of hours and went to get the 3 things needing put on and never came back to stick them on.

chopc thanks very useful. Did anyone’s insurers ask for JCT insurance?!

@whyisitsodifficult ours asked for a JCTcontract. We were insured for buildings with Hiscox but moved to Direct Line who were reasonable and didnt' ask for proof etc

Ordered kitchen, have found an internal door supplier, living room half decorated, coving being fittedthis week, gas meter moved. All progressing albeit slowly

@northernruth was it you who wanted a baby blue kitchen?

I've been reading about all your progress but my last message somehow deleted rather than sent and i didn't get round to reposting!
After an easy (ish) few weeks of builders outside building our extension, it's now mayhem inside and a bit of a shock to the system!
It all kicked off with the plumber accidentally cutting off the gas to our cooker. As I'd been pretty well promised keeping half of my current kitchen for most of the build I wasn't at all prepared for having nothing to cook on! Head builder managed to borrow a single induction hob and mini oven for us so I'm desperately trying to cook relatively simple meals in one pan for the next few months.
Electricians today told me they will be removing all the sockets from the kitchen tomorrow so no dishwasher, washing machine etc etc. Have now bargained with them to use an extension lead from another room ro keep me connected as long as possible... we live in a tiny house currently piled high with boxes filled ready to go into my new kitchen and stuff everywhere. We have a friend coming to stay at the weekend and i can't open the spare room door at the moment!!!! Aaaaagh!!!
How did you all cope with the mess and the dust??

Yeah, the total kitchenless phase arrived quite a bit sooner than I expected (and is going to last longer). We are lucky that we have a dining room to make do in, but it's a bit like living in a caravan.
Mess and dust depends on if you can isolate the building work from the rest of the house, which isn't always possible.
We have the door to kitchen sealed shut and we have to go outside to get onto utility to wash up.

I'm impressed you are having house guests! Don't you like your friend?

Problem with kitchen floor - my kitchen will be sort of 50s inspired with baby blue cabinets and a diner booth. I wanted Marmoleum flooring. Apparently it comes in 2m wide rolls - the kitchen is 8m long and 4m wide so we will have to have a join down the middle or across the length. The interior designer I worked with originally thought that this would be invisible, but the fitters say no - it will look like a fine paintbrush line down the middle of my flooring. I wanted pale grey and it will be dark ish. No idea what to do - suck it up and put up with/ get used to the line, go for a paler floor (pale yellow if I can find it would work and look nice) or abandon plans and go for some form of Karndean/ Amtico. I have wood floor in the dining room and am going to have french doors between the two, so dont' want wood effect or wood flooring in the kitchen because it won't match. Any bright ideas? Don't want tile as not having underfloor plus I drop stuff all the time

@gleegeek I would see if you can get a storage unit - I tried early on but we live in a student area of the city and all the units were booked up over the summer, it feels a bit late in the process now to bother

@northernruth When making blinds wider than the fabric, you put 2seams at the edge.
I've also done them with an inset contrast along those seam lines.
Would something like that work? Depends on your unit layout. But it could look really cool.
I think when you have to do something less then ideal, you have to make it purposeful, and maybe an inset border could be just that.

Or this?

I've realised that the proportions and widths are quite different but it's an idea!

I assume that you don't want the Marmoleum Tiles instead- I guess it's quite a different look from a length

@wheredoes thats a good idea - will see what other colours they have! and no, I'm not keen on the tiles - they look like tiles IYKWIM and I wanted a proper "lino" look