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

@CottonSock we are parallel.

Also one week into large loft conversion. Not hip to gable, but large rear dormer and front dormer too. Having the roof tiles replaced at the same time.

Will be interesting to see the speed of progress relative to each other as weeks unfold

We have plaster damage on ceilings. Also watermarks from rain. Luckily not pouring in over beds. After reading this earlier I'm in a panic as have not told insurers. So on the phone first thing.

@wohmum how big are the doors pls? Look similar to what we are having 😬

Rhica the centre one is 6m wide - so 3 x 2m each. We got them from home hub group in Bracknell and we’re very pleased with them.

Shape of the rear dormer starting to be formed - there's a smaller front dormer to build too

Oh wow!
And I see you already have a really nice downstairs extension!
Looks lovely your house. I bet its going to be stunning once all the work is finished!

@Peachi82 😊 we did the rear extension 7 years ago and it's been fantastic- yours will be fab too

@wohmum thankyou for that. That is exactly what size we are going for the builder called today he can't source any so will be directing him to that company 🙂

rhica we sourced them ourselves and they also fitted them

The kitchen has arrived and the cat is guarding it

Yay! A dry day finally ! Means the builders can actually come in from there outside and do the roof.
They've had to try and do "inside jobs" all week. Yesterday they ripped the wall from the box room / study down to make space for the new stairs

@gleegeek I'd love to see photos of your walk through utility. Implanning on one but oh is not convinced it will look good, neither in the mil!

Well the water level has reduced here enough we can start Monday. So hopefully we will be making progress soon. Our bit is done and the site clear and ready and we have taken down the garage. Getting a bit excited now really, it's been a long time planning.

@Slightlysurviving what a very tidy site.
I don't envy anyone trying to do groundworks over the last few weeks of hideous weather.

AH, I've just realised that you have personally done that prep and demolition, which explains why the bricks are not just flung anywhere in a buildery fashion!

I was hoping to lead by example

We still have an old radiator flung into the bushes and our old oven is in the middle of the garden.

Very tidy site indeed!!!

I need to speak to the roofer but can't be arsed to put jeans in. Toddler and I are cuddling on the couch...

My front garden is being used as a skip. My poor flowers. I didn't know if I would be picky to tell builders to sort it. A skip shouldn't be long of I imagine

@wohmum sorry one last question if you don't mind 🙈. Which colour did you go for. We had decided anthracite grey but it looks quite light on that website so now thinking black.

Anyone else finding all the decisions overwhelming?

Another question, the rooms upstairs are showing cracks above where the work is being done. Have any of you experienced this? I assume it's normal as the house settles into place following removal of walls and installation of rsj but wanted to check

@Rhica i guess it depends on how big the cracks are!
There's a difference between a cosmetic crack and a structural one...
Somone on the previous thread had problems with cracks but I can't remember the outcome

@Rhica, we went for anthracite - it’s feels quite dark

Ooh I might go back and have a read. I suspect cosmetic as the steel work we have had is extensive (8m one way and corner of house removed) so I'm not panicking quite yet but will def ask the builders on Monday.

Thanks wohmum. Will stick with anthracite then

This is the worse one. Less than a mm. Looks worse than it is in the middle as I peeled the plaster a little bit 🙈. Only plastered about 2 years ago so not old plaster.

We have a few cracks in the plaster from the roof works. I just assumed it's what can happen.

Builder said to us that obviously the whole static of the house changes when you remove walls. I am just hoping that our bathroom will stay safe...... We did it less than 2 years ago before we even thought about embarking on the extension project. Should probably have waited.... But he had a hole in the bathtub and the floor under sink and toilet was rotting away... It was so disgusting.