Home extension 2019 the Third thread- Drowning in Dust

[WhereDoesThisToiletGo]

And we're off again

Still here. We are done inside...bar a tiled splashback for the vanity. And we are still glossing but otherwise finished.
Outside we had steps built from the patio down to the garden. The builder used two different types of slab...apparently it was an error but who knows...so we will be having it redone. It is dragging at this point.

So jealous of the people nearly done!!! We are living in such chaos it's really getting to me now.
We live in a narrow house where each room goes straight into the next one. The living room has boxes in it but I'm trying to keep it as our one decent space downstairs - fighting a losing battle with the dust!
The dining room has a table with microwave, mini oven, induction hob,kettle, mugs etc on it then boxes and bags full of kitchen stuff and the rabbit in his inside hutch
The kitchen is nearly fitted but we're waiting for the electrician to put in the lights/sockets/cooker etc and for the doors and windows to arrive, so it's not yet usable. We're washing up in the bathroom upstairs, and actually went and bought new undies for all of us yesterday as I've no washing machine😂😂😂
I'm hoping we make faster progress this week, last week was slow...

@gleegeek I think you win the thread for having a rabbit hutch in your temporary kitchen!

😂 he wasn't supposed to be inside this long. We moved him in because we thought the noise of the builders and the dust would freak him out and because it was soooo hot when we started building. Of course we didn't really consider that he might still be inside in November... it's started to get frosty and he won't be acclimatised so I guess he'll be a house bunny til the spring now!

I can't believe that when they were digging the foundations, I insisted the lads wore Factor 50 suncream.
I've just been outside to peel the plastic film off new windows and had to come in before I finished because it is sooo cold !

Splashback : do the glass ones normally come in panels? Not one panel with holes cut in?

I think glass splashbacks are templated in the same way as granite worktops, then cut to size off site. There must be a maximum size or length they can be

Welcome to my science laboratory!
It looks very white here but the unseen wood effect floor mellows it a bit, and there is still the dark blue splashback to go in, plus some wood accessories

Sorry- it wasn't clear - we had the worktops put in today.
The wall where the hob is is seriously on the wonk, so i think we are going to need the plugs brought forward to align with the Alusplash

Can I join in although we are almost (I think) done? Entire downstairs being renovated (except for downstairs loo) with new flooring throughout too. We were away the first 2 weeks while the really dusty and dirty stuff happened, then we were back and the kitchen halted so the flooring could go in (that was last week). This week the builders are back and working hard and I think we may be less than a week off finishing ... poor dog has dealt with being stuck upstairs with me very well (and topped up with food and walks) while I try to work despite the sounds of building downstairs. But today the first set of worktop and gas hob went in as well as some door knobs ... 😊👍

That sounds in The Thick of It rather than done, but I guess if you've have the entire ground floor knocked to bits, getting a worktop in feels like done!

I've spent the day wandering through my kitchen, lightly drifting my fingers across my new quartz worktops like something out of a 80s Cadbury Flake advert.

Yes WhereDoesThisToiletGo, you aren't wrong but I'm trying to see the positives 😊👍 I can't wait to be able to eat some eggs for breakfast rather than a sandwich or cereal (I don't like microwave eggs). I can see they're getting closer each day .. we can use the sitting room again albeit surrounded by tools and a tumble drier 😂

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo oh they are lovely. Remind me what material they are? And I still do the Flake advert stroke with my worktops 😂

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo we didn't discuss before hand but I had my white quartz worktop fitted today too! Only thing was fitter said not to put anything hot on it! I had not heard this as she previously

What will go in the space next to the oven?

We've bought lovely tiles from Topps for a splashback but I'm doubting myself ... I tend to get quite a lot of oil spitting when I cook .. the tiles aren't shiny and smooth, they've got a rough texture. Will they be easy to clean?

Ignoring the extremes of temperature, there should be a full height integrated fridge on one side of the oven, and a freezer on the other!
And an oven/ microwave in the gap above the lonely oven,, (except they need to be swapped round and have oven on top,, microwave underneath.

The quartz is by Artscut, and colourway called Waves. Looks like all over pattern marble.

@WhereDoesThisToiletGo your kitchen looks FAB!! Very serene. Blue Aluspash will complement the island perfectly. Have you decided what to do with the gap above wall units yet?

I also run my hands over the worktops on a regular basis - still!

We have building control visiting tomorrow as aiming for completion certificate. The man sounded nice. I had a little chuckle that as soon as I texted builder that this was happening he was around the same day to fix that sill I had been asking him to look at for month. Many apologies and sheepish looks. He's v lucky that we love our extension and it was such a minor point so we have forgiven him.

Well as long as we get sign off!

@MiniCooperLover lovely tiles but I understand your worry about cleanabilty.
Maybe let some oil and ketchup dry on a sample tile before you commit? See how easy it is to get off (remember that you will be wiping them on a vertical surface at arm's reach.

I too am waiting for an internal window sill but unfortunately too early to use Building Control as an impetus!

We blitzed the rest of the house at the weekend to clear away the worst of the dust. Hours it took.

Came home yesterday and when they were sanding down the kitchen walls furiously, they forgot to hang up any dust sheets. There is plaster dust now on every surface going up 4 floors, thick, thick white plaster dust in every nook and cranny. My husband almost cried.

@PenguindreamsofDraco
God, that is so annoying!
I do think some (not all) builders are completely blind to just how much mess they make and how they could mitigate this with minimal effort.

Is your kitchen open plan to the stairs?

No, but when you sand without closing the kitchen door it might as well be

@PenguindreamsofDraco What Muppets!
Ours did similar- Put the Arcos in place with boards on top and below.
Started knocking down the wall, then I came home and pointed out that the bottom board on the floor was stopping the kitchen door from shutting.
Y'know THE ONLY DOOR BETWEEN THE BUILD AND THE REST OF THE HOUSE.
Of course, by then it was too late to move the props or the board they were sitting on because they were holding my first floor up.
So that door remained open for next few weeks with only a zip up dust door for protection.
Eventually we unscrewed the door and placed it back in the frame - closed - and taped it in place. Which meant we had to go outside to get to our utility which was our only sink...

Someone suggested on an earlier thread how much better a building firm run by women would be.
Sexist, but sadly true

Well we still don't have any running water, fridge or hob in our new room, but we do now have a new kickass TV installed.
#GettingMyPrioritesRight