Extension 2020 part 2: pandemics, plaster & plumbing

[birdbrained]

Original thread: Extension / loft conversion thread 2020 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/3783237-extension-loft-conversion-thread-2020

Hopefully during the course of this thread the plaster will be in abundance, the windows will arrive and houses will be put back together...

Just staking my place

Yes same here

Great colour though @missfliss. I’m trying not to just think ‘white’!

👋

Not exactly, extension but we are doing a kitchen/diner knock through and can’t even get a quote for the window let alone order and have an estimated delivery date!

Staking my place.

Our build is going well. They only started 2 weeks ago and the foundations are in and the hardcore for the base was delivered today. They are hopefully pouring the concrete for the slab on Friday depending on the weather, if it’s too hot they might wait till Monday.

@intheningnangnong I've generally gone 'white' before - but I noticed that colour and light can change the way a room feels, so have decided to be braver ...

Our scaffolding goes up tomorrow - can’t believe it’s actually all happening! Terrifying! Maybe we’ll finish just before the second wave?! Bit scary but hopefully we’ll get there by the end of the year...

Fellow extensioneers .. help me out with downlights.

1. our builder wants to install the integrated ones that if they go wrong you need to replace the whole unit not just the bulb. Is this madness or is this just what you do these days?

2. colour - he's suggesting warm light in the bedrooms and cool light in the kitchen/bathrooms. Does this make sense? I have no idea...

@birdbrained we had integrated ones in our hallway when we did that pre extension. I think they have a 10 year guarantee, I think we'll opt for the same in the extension so we have the same type throughout. Ours are warm light, I'm personally not a huge fan of the cold light being a bit more dull and blue.

We've had a hold up with Building control signing off, our building inspector was on leave this week so planned visit for next week but he's told us he's currently in Spain so won't be visiting next week due to having to isolate🤦🏼‍♀️ so I think we'll be doing a video call with him instead.

Found you.

@birdbrained I don't like the replace the whole unit ones they feel excessively wasteful and not environmentally kind to keep chucking full lights away. But agree with warm light in bedroom need to decide what we do in our bathrooms too. If you went with a light unit where you just replace the bulb you could always swap the tone of you decide to.
We have slowed again. Waiting on doors for and windows and first fix plumbing downstairs.
Am making builder re install the bath as am not happy with a small gap on one side by the shower I want it on the other side that won't collect water.

But I finally have a kitchen ( apart from Window and door )

Bold blue wall and bathroom painting today ! Happy with it all ...

@birdbrained I would go with warm light everywhere personally. I think for 70% of the year we need it in this country!

Hi all, hope I can join in. We are carrying out the London cliche mid-terrace full reno including side return, new loft, plumbing, rewiring. Bascially back to brick and start again. After MONTHS of bureacy with planning and party walls, our builders started 4 weeks ago and have got the loft done and started on the foundations for the extension and rebuild of the first floor bathroom it supports.

Our architect just finished our lighting plan, we have mostly downlights except the living room and a couple of bedrooms. I think they were leaning towards the integrated ones you mention because you can get them totally flush to the ceiling. I agree with all go for warm light!

My builder recommended Cool White but since my kitchen was going to be mostly white with a navy island, I thought this would be too stark so I went with Warm White. Our units are the ones with replaceable bulbs mainly because builder and electrician were sure I'd want to change to Cool White! (I didn't)
The under cupboard LED strips are cool white.
We had the kitchen diner zoned into 3 sections and the LEDS are dimmable.
Very happy with the result.

@missfliss can i be cheeky and ask what paint that is? It's a beautiful colour!

@cosmo30 of course! Yes it's Tanzanite from Graham & Brown.

It's actually colour-matched Johnstone's trade paint. We painted white card and it was scanned in by our painter at his decorator centre. It's a brilliant match and much more pigmented too.

@missfliss thank you! It really is gorgeous.
Seen a few pics of what you've been doing to your home and love it.

@missfliss love that colour, makes me a little sad I'm sticking with all white, but I know that's the right decision as there will be lots of things on the walls to provide colour!

So, finally managed to get a quote for a window to match other existing windows: £450? Does that sound about right for kent? Window is smallish about 110 x 120 cm just to give you an idea!

So this is where you're hiding.

@birdbrained I went for the replaceable units, 8W dimmable LED versions. Compared to the old 50W halogens I had in my old place that I had to replace every other week these are a massive improvement. Think I have warm white everywhere.

I have a decorator coming tonight to take a look at the outstanding stuff as I can't take the painting anymore...

Hi everyone, enjoying reading updates from those of you who are well underway with your projects. We have just had our building controls approved plans and steel calculations back from our architect so we can now start the exciting process of getting builders round to quote. I'm so excited to get started!

@UptownFunkYouUp exciting! What’s your project (sorry if I’ve missed it in the chat before!)

@jeb86 I did post on the previous thread but only once or twice so would have been easy to miss. We are doing a full width rear extension, double storey, creating a large open plan kitchen/living area and making the landing and a couple of the bedrooms and the bathroom a bit bigger. We're also adding a send en-suite and making the exuding en-suite bigger, and finally we're converting the garage into a study and utility room. We're adding around 60sq metres altogether and I cannot wait! We've been in our house for 11 years from new with two young children and three dogs and haven't decorated for ages or replaced any of the original fittings so it is very much in need of a bit of attention.

I've only got warm white in the bedroom. I have daylight bulbs in the bathroom, making the switch from warm white - It's great, I can finally see my skin in the mirror!

In the kitchen/living room, I've got cool white. My flat was entirely warm white when I moved in and I just didn't like the effect at all.