Building work during the pandemic?

[FollowingAmirage]

So I have been dreaming about a kitchen/diner knock through for a while and have just saved up for this. Would you do the work now? Or wait given the current pandemic situation. Obviously if we do any building work we will vacate to ensure social distancing...I am worried house prices might go down etc but at the same time I feel that the layout change will improve family life massively especially if we go into lock down again or if kids go back to part time education come Sept (who knows!)...any thoughts?

A few weeks ago I would have said do now. But builders are incredibly busy again as 3 month backlog. Those that wanted to work struggled due to lack of supplies.

If you can get a good builder do it but otherwise wait for it all,to slow down when the economics fully hit late 2020 - early 2021 and it could be cheaper and more choice

We are in the middle of an extension now. It started in early february, was delayed during lockdown but should hopefully be completed in the next couple of months.

Starting now would be a really tricky decision for me. I would be concerned that knockthrough would be taking place in the autumn and any delays through a uptick in covid cases in the autumn could leave you without a kitchen over the winter.

On the other hand with a hard brexit round the corner, a fall in the exchange rate and the prospect of hyperinflation I can't see building costs coming down.

On balance I think I would be looking at waiting until early next year and reviewing the situation. It may be more cost effective to move at this point given that house prices are likely to fall but you would have to factor in the difficulty of selling your current property.

Hi I am getting building work done front and back - I am glad I had it done because the cost of supplies is shooting up and so will the cost of Labour. I think many people will have saved money and now want work doing. The builders have said how difficult it has been to get some items and how the queues for basics are a problem. My personal view would be to start now if you can get builders to do it.

We are starting a kitchen refit in September. We don't need to vacate as the men will be working in the room and we won't be near them, if we need to discuss we can do it from 2 metres away! My only worry is another complete lockdown which is why we've brought it forward to September to avoid a winter resurgence of the virus

Thanks all for the comments. We are not really planning a house move. I think we will just stay put for the next 5 years or so (we only bought the house 2 ys ago)...The plan is to have a knock through, flooring throughout and repurpose the existing kitchen units (until we can afford a new one down the line). Theoretically speaking the work should take 2/3 weeks but it is all dependant on material availability. It’s more the space/improved flow that I am after...but you can’t plan for anything in the current situation!

We started a loft conversion two weeks ago, we've had no issues with supplies. In fact, things like the steels we needed were here really quickly because they had so much stock where things had slowed down.
I do feel bad though, because even though we are living here with a baby and preschooler and handling the noise, our neighbours who are WFH are going through it with us.

Good to know that supplies are easier to get now. I think realistically, if we can’t start the work before the end of the month we will be waiting until next year...

Supplies wise at the moment the main thing builders seem to be having trouble getting hold of is plaster so make sure whoever you go with can access it. Also check on lead times for your windows, they seem to vary a lot between factories. Some people on the extension 2020 thread have been waiting months for theirs. Ours (ALUK) had a 6 week lead time before and after the pandemic as they were non stock colours/shapes.

We are going to crack on. Who knows what’s around the corner. We couldn’t foresee a pandemic. Builders need work where we are at the moment and have reduced costs to start now...I think because they were to expensive in the first place!! Ours is a huge extensions over 1000 sqft. I’m concerned but we need to get going

Good luck mumdone with the building work. I hope everything goes smoothly for you. I think with a little bit of organisation if everything needed is ordered in advance and ready when builders need it, it should be ok. Flooring/tiles etc seem to be readily available but as you said it’s mostly the plaster. Ours should be a smallish job compared to an extension...builders seem to be have more capacity these days hence we want to get going. Although I am yet to receive a quote!

Also, can anyone who perhaps have researched things more than I fid explain to me if part P electrical qualification is needed. We are planning to install few soot lights/move a couple of sockets our builder has electrical qualification but not part p to sign it off...

Spot lights!

@FollowingAmirage as far as I recall from our last kitchen refit ( different house) we needed part P to change to spotlights. Cost a fortune

It’s something that I wasn’t aware off. I just received an electric bill for 4.5K. Please someone tell me this is over the top for a kitchen diner knock through!! I haven’t budgeted this kind of money just fir the electrics...what did everyone else have been quoted (have paid) for similar work?

I meant to say electric quote (not bill!)...brain not working properly today!

Sorry to hear that Elizabeth! If we do get anything done, I am planning to order the materials, stick them in the garage before starting...not fun living in a building site! But surely, the builders should finish what they have started first before moving to the next job?

So we are taking the plunge and starting the work in the next couple of weeks...

What is the electric quote for? New fuse board? Extra power points?

I've found building costs seem to increase 15% year on year. If you've got the money do it now.

Yes, new fuse board, downlights, removing sockets from the wall coming down and placing new ones plus fitting cooker/extractor fan in new position etc. I got a second quote for £1700 which seems a lot more reasonable! I have some savings for the work so hoping to use these without having to borrow more money in the current climate!

£1,700 sounds a lot better especially if you're upgrading the fuse board!

I paid £4000 for total rewire of a small 3 bed house in SEast. This included putting kitchen on new, individual circuit.

Just to say, depending where you are the good builders will be booked up for months. We have had 3 quotes in the last week or so, none can start before March. March, May and June are the predicted start dates, and thats without another lockdown / restrictions. Plus, there is absolutely NO CHANCE that prices have gone down for builders and this being a good time to get work done (i.e. it'll be somehow cheaper in the future) - they are massively in demand now people having realised they need more space / lots of people looking at WFH on a permanent basis. I can't see that changing any time soon.

Very interesting that builders are so in demand. You would think that with economic situation and potential job losses ppl will be less keen on spending money...we are lucky enough that a builder we used before is now available and ready to start next week hence the rush to make decisions before he gets booked up or we go into lock down again! But then we are not having major building work so perhaps easier for him to fit us in between other jobs?

So just to update anyone who is planning building work at the present time. I think it’s ok for smallish projects but not sure I would have the guts to start an extension or similar. Plaster is still hard to find. Windows/doors etc (especially if made to measure) are taking longer than normal. And the biggest thing I guess is organising/managing the build work while materials are lacking or tradesmen superbusy (now that the lockdown is over). The 2/3 weeks project is now looking more like a 4/5 week one...few pics below showing progress...we still have a long way to go!