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

"oi mate, do you wanna buy some plaster? I've got some in the back of me van, no questions asked, OK?"

I seem to have a room full of it too although probably only need a bag to complete everything...
Well done @missfliss!

@missfliss hoorah plaster. We also have roofers today, arrived in a hire car.

@missfliss wahoooo!

We now have our very expensive pile foundations in, bit of brickwork done and drainage going in today. I'm super excited about that so I don't know what I'm going to be like when plaster arrives on site!

Feels like things are picking up for everyone! You must feel pleased @missfliss!

Well it feels like a flurry of activity here. Roof was finished Monday, guttering today. All the demolition is pretty much done. The builders have fitted temporary 'windows' so they can get on with the inside... Will be pleased to see everything being put back together after so much destruction in the last week.

yay for progress everyone. We have a plastered ceiling :-)

Nice tiles birdbrained and yay for plaster missfliss. Our tiling is coming along nicely and hopefully we will have windows next week ready for the knockthrough.

Jealous of those roofs! We do have a bit of floor though, so some improvement.

It's lovely when it starts to look like a house again rather than a building site.

Gah - convo with builder, the window company is not going to even start manufacturing coloured windows until July... he's now talking about end of August/September for things like flooring and Kitchen. Looks like we won't be moving in before the Autumn...

Oh no birdbrained. Can you try a different window company? The one we are using (AlUK) has a 6 week lead time from placing of order on colours if you are doing aluminium.

@birdbrained oh no you poor thing not the news you were after. Definitely an excuse to put a bottle of good wine In the fridge for later) .
Just a thought would it be worth putting in some really cheap and or 2nd hand windows with some wooden boarding to cover gaps, boarding up doors so you can continue. Not ideal but if you are renting the money saved on rent by moving in earlier could get stuff moving again. Around here there are a fair few 2nd hand doors windows for only a few quid on local buying sites. Doesn't need to be pretty at all just protect the insides from the elements and secure it up.
2nd thought do you have building work insurance, could you claim back any costs? Our additional cover had a clause that covered changing supplier due to closure ( not sure about delay) .

If we get any more delays on anything then we're proper f*cked! Moving in on 3rd July come what may... still looks like a building site because it is. Hmm

Yikes birdbrained that’s difficult. It’s so frustrating. We are try to match bricks and hitting logistical brick walls at every turn - ha ha. Is a 12 month lead time any good madam? Er what do you think?!

Thanks for the sympathy everyone! I'm hoping it won't delay everything by more than a month (on top of the 3 month delay already...)

No insurance unfortunately... perhaps not the wisest decision in hindsight.

They have put in temporary 'windows' and are pushing ahead with everything else...

New problem is the potentially leaky water pipe which we were going to disconnect (have put in a new connection) but have now realised is connected to the neighbours...

Beautiful roof @weepingwilllow22!

Fingers crossed for elusive bricks @intheningnangnong I feel deeply guilty at the number of 100 year old bricks are going into our skip... I'm sure the could have a home somewhere!

I am so sorry for the delay. Honestly it really takes the shine off things doesn't it! Despite having plaster now I do feel so drained by all the waiting for stuff - sending hugs 🤗

Well some progress here, main roof ( 1st floor) should be done by the end of the week and we are moving in to a caravan for first knock through next week. In that week they are planning to move 2 bathrooms and knock down 4 walls? This will then mean our 1st floor becomes a 3 bed flat for the foreseeable while they sort out the ground floor. Hopefully this is a practical solution to getting stuff done, but safely. I am starting to think about the fun stuff including kitchen so enjoying it a bit more now.

Flooring delayed!! They have to do more prep on it so nothing until next friday now. On the plus side, it's one less week of builders moving about on it. The kitchen will get fitted regardless and the floor installed around it (not the ideal).

The tiler has fucked up the direction of the tiles but we've compromised to get it done.

Am feeling particularly shit today, I need my windows! The weather is also impacting works because of it :(

Keep the faith @Loofah01 it’s really a tough time to be building. I’m sure they will sort it all eventually. for in the meantime.

I woke up fretting about bricks at 3am. Ridiculous really, but there’s no going back once I press go.

Thanks. I know, but I like things to be sorted with definite timing and well, that's not the building trade this year!
Also have an absolute deadline for moving so windows more than anything are the issue for me...

Have also realised I have the door samples from DIY Kitchens kicking around as forgot to give them to the driver when the kitchen arrived. Bugger.

FFS just had a call from the builders and our bricks that we finally settled on are on a 8 -10 week lead time, not off the bloody shelf as we were told. God I’m pissed off.

@intheningnangnong

FFS just had a call from the builders and our bricks that we finally settled on are on a 8 -10 week lead time, not off the bloody shelf as we were told. God I’m pissed off.

Welcome to our world lol Think we've all had issues like this in last months :( I'm reduced to 'smile and wave'... I'm waiting for the call that says the windows are delayed again

Aargh what a frustrating time eh?
I'm so sorry for everyone looking at lengthy lead times etc. It's painful