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...

Hello everyone! I've been radio silence for a while, so loads of catching up to do. It is the 60th day of work on our build today, and we are nearly roofed! The two storey side extension is built, knocked through doorways, and mostly roofed. The single storey rear extension is probably 2/3 wall height, and window openings made. The massive scaffold over the main house has to come down before they can finish the back though.

@UptownFunkYouUp Given that floorplan I would swop over what you have on the left and right at the back, and incorporate the pillar into the kitchen island if possible. But that is because I am still reeling over the difference in cost between a wall mounted extractor and island type!!

@TyneFilth sounds like lots of good progress is being made. How much longer have you got to go? We are just under 60 days in but our double storey extension is still only at head height due to the steel design issues and the garage conversion is halfway through so I'm thinking we probably have another 4 months to go.

I had some good news though, the builder has worked with the structural engineer and has found a solution that gives us flat ceilings (ie no steels protruding) and no pillar - yay!

[quote UptownFunkYouUp]@TyneFilth sounds like lots of good progress is being made. How much longer have you got to go? We are just under 60 days in but our double storey extension is still only at head height due to the steel design issues and the garage conversion is halfway through so I'm thinking we probably have another 4 months to go.

I had some good news though, the builder has worked with the structural engineer and has found a solution that gives us flat ceilings (ie no steels protruding) and no pillar - yay!
[/quote]
That's great!
We also had a pillar in the original plans but builder suggested how to get rid of, discussed with the SE and he redid the steel calcs.
I was just looking today at where the pillar "isn't" and glad we were able to lose it.

@Slightlydustcovered lovely floor

@UptownFunkYouUp that’s great news indeed! The space will look amazing!

Our builder knocked on the door and said the ceiling height needs to be reduced again to 2.44m, which prompted me to check the drawings and contacting councils planning office. Turns out parapet isn’t included in eaves height, so we can go up to 2.62m under PD. Almost 20cm more ceiling height gained because we did some homework, very pleased.

@TyneFilth your project sounds massive in scale and moving along very fast! We are 6weeks in now for a single storey extension and just about to finish brick and block work.

Thanks all! We had attempted to live in the house during the build but admitted defeat when the roof was coming off. The plumbing all came out at the beginning of Dec otherwise they'd be trying to build all the new joists and rafters around a header tank, which was just a recipe for disaster! Pictures are what they achieved in 2 weeks. There's two steels across the axis of the house, approx under the ridge line, which all the loft joists come off. The loft is only going to be accessed by hatches but has four veluxes in it so it'll be an amazing kids playroom. The steel means that in future it could be made a full rear dormer though, and there is enough space to put a second flight of stairs up. But that was just beyond what we needed or could afford.

Same experience here - the roof coming off is a bit disconcerting!

Wow those roof pics are great, I don't think it has really dawned on me that my house is going to look like that at some point early next year. We are planning on living here throughout, but we do have other options if needed so we shall see!

Great seeing these photos and I can't believe how quickly some of the builds are going!

Question for those who needed full rewiring and plumbing (including heating) as well as extensions and cosmetic works. Did you do that ahead of the extension work or as part of?

As we will be living here as well (though could head off to live with relatives nearby ) we wondered what the optimal way of doing it is.

We did ahead as we would have burned in our beds, but the whole lot has been redone so total waste - except for safety

@NewHouseNewMe

Great seeing these photos and I can't believe how quickly some of the builds are going!

Question for those who needed full rewiring and plumbing (including heating) as well as extensions and cosmetic works. Did you do that ahead of the extension work or as part of?

As we will be living here as well (though could head off to live with relatives nearby ) we wondered what the optimal way of doing it is.

Move out! Rewiring etc suggests the rest of house as well as the extension work? The wiring, plumbing will be done as part of the extension works, additional rewiring would be sensible to be completed at same time and definitely move out if you can

Ah okay so you've got echoed what DH said too, i.e. wait for the renovations! Thanks @Loofah01 and @Weirdlynormal

Can I add my top tip fir those if you having extensions done?

Take photos when they have done the electrics BEFORE they plaster so you know where cabling runs ...
make it so much easier if a year later you need to do any drilling!

Great tip thanks @wohmum and very timely for me.

Is the snow impacting anyone else? My builder was keen to come and get some more bricks laid and steelwork in place yesterday and today, but it snowed overnight on Sunday and so he can't. Really hoping we can carry on tomorrow but not looking hopeful (sulk).

Argh, just lost my response. In short, no weather impacts (yet!) in Surrey - builders are having two weeks leave having got us to Christmas almost exactly on schedule.

And a question - any recommendations for (or horror stories to avoid) suppliers of tiles, lighting, bathrooms, doorhandles?

@TyneFilth

Argh, just lost my response. In short, no weather impacts (yet!) in Surrey - builders are having two weeks leave having got us to Christmas almost exactly on schedule.

And a question - any recommendations for (or horror stories to avoid) suppliers of tiles, lighting, bathrooms, doorhandles?

Supplier tiles - browse online and get free samples. I used tile giant, porcelain superstore and both good. Bathrooms - Victorian plumbing, get a trade account Door handles, Howdens, get builder to pick up

Happy new year everyone!

We have had no progress at all for two weeks as the builders are off. They are due back tomorrow and updated us on progress and we are about two weeks behind at the moment.

To cheer myself up, I did a mock up with the diy kitchen online tool. Hope to see better progress soon and maybe we can continue in a new 2021 thread?

Looks really good. Have you decided on your kitchen units and colours and everything? I change my mind daily!

Oooh. Is this an app or website?

@UptownFunkYouUp I change my mind daily too! I found choosing the colour the hardest. And DH wants it modern and I want it more traditional. The current style is Diy Luca handless kitchen in carbon and tern white with natural oak open units on the stool side of island.

@Katjolo it’s Diy kitchens online planner. It is quite good. You can change wall colours, flooring, room layout, etc. It automatically adds units and other bits to your basket too so very handy if you want their kitchen

Glad it's not just me. Itching to get to the point where I have to start actually making decisions!

Massive steel went in today...great to finally see some progress after a few weeks of not very much...

@UptownFunkYouUp

Glad it's not just me. Itching to get to the point where I have to start actually making decisions!

Massive steel went in today...great to finally see some progress after a few weeks of not very much...

You might regret saying that lol

Haha I know! It's one thing after another at the moment, typical

I've had a rollercoaster 24 hours. Saw an email from our builder late yesterday which said that because stairs need to be building regs compliant they'd have to take out more of our landing than expected, which would mean a smaller second bathroom and having to make the new bedroom doors only 2'3". Argh! But in the course of today I've nudged him to ask the building inspector why we have to make an original 30s house's staircase into a modern standard, when it's only 2° steeper and the only real change is putting in a three step turn at the top. He had the conversation and got the right result, then I emailed the inspector and got it in writing. PHEW!

@TyneFilth well done, it's always worth making the call and checking.
We have most of the kitchen in and tiles done. Still a mess but you get the idea.