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...

[birdbrained]

@weepingwilllow22 that is going to be an amazing space. So glad you got the beams sorted out.

[Loofah01]

Finally had one of the builders come over and sort some of the tiny little jobs that are outstanding! It's a small victory but important to me lol

[Finals1234]

Hi, can I join this thread please? I have finally appointed a builder for my extension and full house refurb, and he has called today to ask if we can empty the house by Weds for him start work!

So we will be packing this weekend (frantically) and moving 20 mins down the road, whilst work starts on my house. It's just me and 3 kids, and no building experience.

I am a total novice at this. I have the architects drawings, my builder seems very knowledgeable and he is also supplying the kitchen and interiors. But its a huge job, roof will be replaced and the electric and plumbing replaced throughout the house, plus a small extension to my kitchen. I've extended my mortgage significantly to pay for it, so I am nervous this all works out.

It's (hopefully) a 16-week project for them, which takes me nicely up to Xmas. I am hoping for some tips on planning and pitfalls to look out for

He is coming over tomorrow to finalise dates, and a payment schedule for works, so I can then start depleting my bank account and (hopefully) looking forward to a stress-free, smooth-sailing 16 weeks!

[Loofah01]

@Finals1234 Do you know exactly the kitchen and finish items that will be fitted? Don't get to the fitting out stage and be surprised at what is proposed, be sure before they start as to precisely what will be going in.
This includes light switches, doors, paint, tiles, as well as the kitchen etc. Early knowledge avoids frustration, cost and arguments later. Also be clear on what is not included and get it all in writing.
Best of luck

[birdbrained]

Great advice from @Loofah01 I was having this conversation with my husband yesterday. When we met builders and they were asking what sort of finish we wanted we had no idea. So throughout have had to find extra for upgrading certain things like doors and switches from the basic the builder had costed. We will have a much better understanding next time round (although never doing this again!)...

[Loofah01]

@birdbrained Same!! General advice to people - if you haven't picked it, the builder has chosen a low spec version!

[Jeb86]

@finals1234 that’s exciting! Can’t give you any advice as we’re at the same stage - starting on Monday! I’ve heard there are backlogs on most things so perhaps look at trying to order in anything you are due to supply (for us that’s the bathrooms and flooring) so it’s ready to go when they need it. We have asked out builder to do it at as low a cost as possible so yes, we know we’re getting £6 doors and cheap light switches. But we just decided to go budget now and change bits out as and when we need it. I’d just make sure that you tell him where you want sockets and what kind, make sure you’re on the same page with what kind of lights and where they go etc. I think they’re the sort of thing builders can make assumptions or just not think and you have useless sockets. So for example we noticed there was no socket on our new long loft landing and they’d put in for a pendant light Rather than spots. I think as long as you just keep talking to the builder about all the little things then hopefully there won’t be too much to be undone. Good luck!

[Itwillbelovelywhenitsdone]

Just harking back a bit to earlier in the thread(s).... what do you all feel about the precise shade of white paint? I’m going a bit mad trying to work it out.
We have already painted some of the house is dulux rock salt which I thought was a very soft grey-white but is in fact light grey and actually lilac under electric light!

I’m thinking of dulux timeless everywhere but not sure if its creaminess will clash with the dove grey kitchen with white marble (grey veined) work surface.

And to cap it all my husband is colour blind so thinks it all looks green. Argh!

[WhereDoesThisToiletGo]

Whitish is the hardest colour to choose. It was much easier when i chose soft blue green for the dining room and terracotta for the living room

[weepingwillow22]

Has anyone just gone for pure brilliant white? I am getting so overwhelmed by all the decisions I am tempted just to paint the whole extension this and change it at a later date if necessary.

[birdbrained]

Yes the bloody paint just feels like the straw that broke the camel's back!

I actually quite like the white mist layer that's gone on. But for better or worse we've gone for Farrow & Ball Wevet... which is not far off the brilliant white but with a hint of grey. They have quite a good webpage that explains the different shades of white they have.

Have gone with a local paint company that colour matches though!

[missfliss]

Well I have just finished the painting stage - flooring is next week.
We paid someone to paint and so I was a bit braver. I have gone a bold mustard yellow in the hallway with dark wood.

It's a bit work in progress but I'm glad I was bold. The pale grey striped carpet will work well.


We used two 'off white' shades in the loft. Shadow White by Farrow and Ball and Joanna by Little Greene. I also got a bit overwhelmed so in the end I just chose those whites based on getting close to the ecru tiles in the bathroom and a pale green grey that would work with our existing furniture and the bold blue feature wall. Flooring has made it easier ( wood look LVT parquet)

[Itwillbelovelywhenitsdone]

I love the bold colours! But I’m not confident enough in my choices.

@birdbrained how did the colour matching work? Was the paint good quality?

[Itwillbelovelywhenitsdone]

weepingwillow22
We did brilliant white in our old house and it was fine - really functional and bounced the light round nicely. But not very cosy, which is why I’m not keen this time

[missfliss]

This is the shadow white ( bedroom) and Joanna ( bathroom)

[missfliss]

Also I meant to say ours was colour matched paint too - mix of Johnstones trade and valspar.
Brilliant quality

[Pashazade]

I'm embarking on my second coat of pure brilliant white tomorrow. The back space of the room is going to be the kitchen so won't get much light. The other part is very light but will have lots of things on the walls to add colour so I didn't want colour to make it too busy plus pure white is easy to paint over if need be! Although I reserve the right to change my mind once we've lived in the space a while.

[Slightlydustcovered]

I'm glad I'm not the only one struggling to choose a white, it's driving me bonkers. South facing room but will have green kitchen units so am contemplating just leaving it. Who knows, I can always change it I suppose.

[missfliss]

@birdbrained lovely floor tiles

[Loofah01]

Nutmeg white is brilliant, just a soft grey really. Very much like 'timeless', both from Dulux.
There's a few areas we went bold - mustard in the loo for example. Wife thought I was mental until she saw it on the walls and now very happy with it. Most of the house is pretty neutral though. I have to confess to being a bit frustrated by it as having two people make decisions just forces compromise on everything and you end up with neutral! I wanted a few more bold colours but there you go. Happy wife, happy life!

[Loofah01]

Sparky back in today sorting under cabinet lighting... Have got the final invoices from builder at last!! Trying to add in a few little extras so have to refer him to the contract...

[missfliss]

We have the start of flooring being laid today - carpet to hall and landing and parquet LVT in loft room and en-suite ...

Inching closer !

[Jeb86]

Well our builders have arrived and spent no time in making some very loud noises above our heads! We’re just excited at the moment, but I’m sure it’ll wear thin soon enough. Helps that I got the baby down for his nap during their coffee break and he hasn’t woken with the banging, drilling and general smashing noises 🙌

[birdbrained]

@missfliss nearly finished finished!!

5 week countdown for us before we need to be out of rental. All hands to the pump at the build. Plastering hopefully finished this week. Windows Thursday (or maybe Friday). Tiling this week. Kitchen due to be delivered next week.

Love to see some pics @loofah01

Good luck @Jeb86 and fingers crossed the baby sleeps through it all!

[missfliss]

Chuffed!