Extension / loft conversion thread 2020

[missfliss]

Hello,

Thought I'd start a thread for 2020 extenders and converters.

Might be good for us each time say a bit about what works we have planned / are in the midst of if folks are happy to share some / al details.

Current house:
1970s semi with 2.5 (!) bedrooms on South Coast ( Sussex).
Single storey extension ( large kitchen / diner with bifolds) was completed in 2013.

Planned works
Loft conversion with full width rear dormer and small front dormer to create a new master bedroom with large bathroom.

Stage
Planning permission received, builder appointed to start in March

Costs
Build is £60k including VAT. Bathroom / decor extra.
It is a double dormer with aluminium sliding doors to rear and lots of pipe work due to siting the new bathroom at the opposite end to the existing bathroom below.
It's more than expected but we have non-standard plans and are doing the work to stay in the house for years as opposed to maximising profit to sell.

Reasons for doing work
An adult space to hide away and relax!
Also our son has additional needs and we may need to use au pairs in the future ( new room needed). As our son gets older he may need to live with us into adulthood

Plans
Attached

Next steps
Party wall agreement
Deciding on bathroom fittings / flooring within budget

Hope you can still manage to lift a well deserved glass of wine @Loofah01! Tips would be great. Not factored in much for decorating in the budget so resigned to having to do it ourselves!

@Loofah01 up for any tips. We could only afford the second story if we did alot ourselves. When the builders leave we will still have to fit a kitchen, lay patio, paint, tile, sort flooring in 2 rooms it makes me a bit wobbly just thinking about it. We have done a bit before so something we can do although last time we didn't have 2 tiny kids "helping". So up for any lessons learned from everyone. My best tip so far was to budget £50 per room for things you don't think of. I have already had to use it for bathrooms I mean who forgets toilet roll holders.

I have however just saved a gem of a mirror from a skip on my walk ( chap just about to chuck it in, instead he left it for me to collect) . It is old and battered but a lovely shape and is going to go in the downstairs w.c. I think some rich/ darker paint colour and leafy plant on the window sill, need to find the right slightly deco piece of art. Its right up my street and the exciting bit about this whole process.

That's a very cool mirror (I resisted 'cracking' and 'smashing' lol), great find :)

I've woken up cursing ceiling painting and think I now have an addiction to ordering samples... With the tiles, carpets and wood flooring done it curtains of all things next!

My question is is there any way to use up all the tile samples? it seems such a shame for them to go to waste bit I haven't a clue what could be done with them.

I have used tile samples as coasters and fabric samples are great for patching trousers.

You could make a nice mosaic table, Tim Dowling style www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/may/23/tim-dowling-a-parcel-arrives-for-me-its-a-tasty-insect-medley

@Loofah well done on the painting - did you do a mist coat?

Praying to the god of plaster this week

Fingers crossed for roof tiles here!

@missfliss Yes, but a fairly heavy one. The paint I used is specifically for bare plaster and says it doesn't need thinning... but I don't believe that lol ALWAYS thin the base layer, it makes round two much easier.

@Loofah01 we've always used the Screwfix "No Nonsense Trade Bare Plaster Paint" when we renovated the rest of the house and found it really good. I just seem to make such a mess watering it down myself 🙈

Getting our kitchen design finalised next week, has anyone got or fitting a food disposal unit under their sink? I like the idea but not sure if they're any good or just a fad. I think the most popular one is the "InSinkErator" - what are people's thoughts on them? Do they take up much room for anyone who has one?

Update from the builder - always cushioning the bad news with good.

Tiles should be here this week.

Windows not till last week of June or early July... bummer

@bez91 we had an insinkerator in the 80s so not sure they're a fad 😂. I used be terrified of accidentally getting my fingers in there... and many a spoon was accidentally mangled. I'm sure new models have much better safety features though. But I wouldn't install one now - all our food waste goes on the compost.

@bez91 Yes and it stinks to high heaven. Thankfully I'll be leaving it in the rental when we leave to our new place :) They don;t take up any space, it the goop that's left behind on the blades and under the rubber flappy bit. It's just gopping.

Had a row (several actually) with Tile Giant as they've failed miserably to deliver in time. Had to dash out to Wickes and get some last second tiles for the utility room just so the tilers days wasn't wasted.

Windows...ah, I dream of windows!!

Our builder is saying lead times are difficult, but we get our floor on Monday. Block work up to floor level this week. I can’t wait to see things go up instead of coming down.

Interesting on the @Loofah01, I did wonder if I needed one.... sounds like my slovenly ways could be incompatible with it though.

I've been "comfort buying" aka ordering pretty things for when the loft is finally bloody finished ...

what house plant would look nice in this play stand? Will be in a fairly sunny spot in the eventual loft...

Peace lily @missfliss ! They look good everywhere but that stand would last about two seconds with my little ones hammering around.

We had some tiles laid today apparently... Might go hack a hedge in half and take a peak

@missfliss love that, a fern could look really nice particularly a feathery one. Our roofers are doing half days. I suppose it is as it's so blinking hot for them up there, and we are totally south facing so it just bakes all day. Starting to find the lack of progress a bit draining. We took the plunge and ordered our bathroom stuff from Victorian plumbing in the end. What swayed it was my husband emailed asking for a discount and they pinged one straight back so ended up so much cheaper we thought we would risk it. Going to order tile samples tonight. The ones I like are a bit pricy so hopefully we can achieve the look I am after by doing the smallest wall.

@Slightlydustcovered great tip on the Victorian plumbing discount. I'm a bit torn - we have a bathroom, en-suite and cloakroom to do. We've been to a local kitchen place who've done a design and it would be super easy to just order it all from them and let them worry about all the fiddly bits... but it's expensive...

have looked at Victorian plumbing and start adding things to a basket but then get a bit thrown with all the extra bits you need... like will find a toilet I like but then it needs a cistern. And then I'm unsure about all the connecty bits we might need...

Anyone else finding it hard not just being able to go and look and touch stuff in real life? Guess most show rooms will be open soon...

@Slightlydustcovered also finding the slow progress excruciating... no work done today, Know the builders doing his absolute best to get things done though.

I’m finding it hard being so slow. My builder is fab and yesterday they got gutters and fascias up.

It’s just bloody plaster i need. It’s a bottleneck to so much other stuff. Without plastering the carpentry and doors can’t be done, floors can’t be laid etc, second fix electrics can’t happen and plumbing .... grrrrrr

That and all the other delays - waiting for paint for the bath to be sprayed, still waiting for my sodding vanity unit to be finished too.

It’s driving me mad actually.

Builder is great but this whole situation is just painful isn’t it !?!

@missfliss our builder (for another of his sites) said they had found plaster at £44 a bag - it’s usually £8+ ! They managed to find some but couldn’t get it delivered. Apparently British Gypsum is at 70% capacity and was closed for 7 weeks. He thinks it’ll sort out but take a couple of weeks or so.. a bit like the loo roll. I have no idea if it’s also regional though.

In really want some plants in our new rooms, but kill everything. I’m looking into stunt plants that will just need dusting

*I

I agree it is really frustrating at the moment with all the hold ups. I find it frustrating that the builders can't plan ahead more for supplies but accept it is tricky as they say they will not know how many roof tiles etc they need until they use up our old ones and measure the remaining area.

How is everyone getting on with social distancing? I am starting to get a bit worried about knock through which should happen in a couple of weeks and we will lose our kitchen. It wouldn't be so bad but we have an autistic child who is home from school now and keeping him out of the way of the builders will be a nightmare. Plus we were planning to escape to our local pub and stay with relatives some of the time which is looking unlikely now.

@weepingwillow22 we were planning the same with family, not now going to happen mother is higher risk. We are considering trying to find an air b&b locally for 2 nights to give the builders 3 days where they can move kitchen and bathroom. I will definitely remember C19, as without it I do feel this would have been miles easier. Oh well such is life. Our knock through should have happened next week but they have dropped behind on the roof. I am not sure how I feel about it really, pros. C19 isn't going anywhere fast so crack on and get it done. Cons the disruption is more difficult, and there is an increased risk of catching the virus. We have decided just to push on through but with some temporary ply walls. Mainly to stop the kids

@weepingwillow22
I have an autistic child too and we knocked through last week.
It was really tough. The thing she found hardest was the noise. Even with ear defenders on. We were all in my bedroom for about 2 days trying to home school, eat and sleep. If you can get away somewhere for a couple of days I would advise you to. Or as the weather is so nice try and get out during the day.