Is there a 2021 extension thread?

[Yellownotblue]

Just that really, I found it very informative (and exhilarating and at times heart breaking!) to read the 2020 extension threads. I couldn’t find a 2021 extension thread. Please can you direct me, or if there isn’t one, let’s start it! All welcome.

As for us - we’re awaiting PP for our extension and our architect said the work might start as early as March (ha! I’ll believe it when I see it). It’s a large extension and we will need to move out for about 9 months so I’m a bit flustered at the thought of moving out in 7 weeks’ time. We’re extending over the garage, in the garden and in the loft, and doing a shedload of other stuff from electrics to roofing and redecorating everything. We’re in SW London.

@LongIslandIcedT

It's taken some time but our plans have arrived and they look really good. Slight tweak on the utility room and then off to planning.

Ooohh exciting. Good luck with the planning application. We should have an answer any day from today with our application.

[quote LittleOverwhelmed]@Notyetthere. Yes, don’t underestimate the destruction upstairs.... We have now had those areas reskimmed and they are awaiting decorating. Two bathrooms removed and refitted (with a bit of juggling with the tiling - we didn’t want to completely retile).

So, upstairs, due to the structural work downstairs we have had the following done:

• two bathrooms taken out and put back (we replaced the sanitary ware)
• a couple of bits of wall reakimmed.
• two ceilings reakimmed.
• two bedrooms and two bathrooms redecorated (probably could have been patched, but needed doing anyway really).[/quote]

I anticipated that this would happen and I do wish we could have been able to afford to do both the downstairs extension work and the loft conversion on our bungalow but alas we need more bedrooms than we do a bigger kitchen and utility. Two bedrooms at the moment with DC2 on the way, so we decided we could scrape together just enough funds to do the loft. We shall have to deal with the damage done to the upstairs when the time comes.

I realise I'm early days compared to the rest of you.

I've just seen that our neighbours have objected to our application on the basis that they will be more overlooked (they won't) and they will lose light (they will).

I guess it's just a case of waiting to the council to respond now....

@Mallowmarshmallow you aren't the only one in the early days. Here is to hoping that whilst both issues raised are valid for objection, it is deemed to be that your particular project doesn't infringe on your neighbours.

We received our planning approval today. However, it has only been granted for the downstairs extension. They mentioned that our permitted development rights are intact for the loft and that they wont review our application for the loft as part of the application. They mention that our proposal for the loft falls within permitted development so we should seek a certificate of lawful development.

Now initially I thought this meant we had to do it putting us back by atleast 8 weeks but reading into it some more, it seems to be we can just get on with the BR drawings and continue with our planned loft conversion and just apply for the certificate of lawfulness in the meantime. I mean the council have confirmed that the loft falls within permitted development. Please correct me if I have understood it wrong.

@Notyetthere Natwest just asked for planning approval and a quote from the builder. We didn't need anything to do with building warrant or anything special from builders.

The only extra I needed was to show how I'd fund the gap between quote and mortgage extension.

We've got planning permission for our extension, but are extremely worried that costs have seemingly near to doubled here in London.

Does anyone think that building costs could go back down again in a years time???

When the Brexit effects have had time to settle - and Covid etc ...

@Alonim

We've got planning permission for our extension, but are extremely worried that costs have seemingly near to doubled here in London.

Does anyone think that building costs could go back down again in a years time???

When the Brexit effects have had time to settle - and Covid etc ...

Sadly I don't think prices will drop. The demand for building work is still high so I can't see builder lowering the estimates. I can imagine that the prices will stop rising but they will not drop.

For those who are building within their permitted development rights, are there any that have gone straight to building regulations and started on their project without applying for the certificate of lawful development?

@Alonim cost of timber is also a huge factor in why prices are increasing so much (assuming timber frame construction). This is due to a global timber shortage not covid or brexit and obviously isn't something that will solve overnight.

The combination of demand, timber shortage, covid and Brexit is horrifc though!!! All you can do is get quotes (I'd recommend writing a very detailed brief and then going out to a few companies simultaneously) and see what they come back with.

I don't think prices will drop either I'm afraid, there is huge demand for building work at the moment.

Super exciting visit to the kitchen shop and a sliding door place this morning, feel like it's coming together

I’m near Bristol and just had costs come back for refurbishment of a dated three bed and a two storey extension to include a master bedroom, ensuite and then downstairs adult sitting room and small home office.

I’ve only found one builder willing to quote and I’ve used them before, so don’t feel they’re trying to rip me off. Others won’t even reply to emails or come round as they’ve got work coming out of their ears.

The quote for the extension is about £110k and the refurbishment £50k before VAT. And that’s not including kitchen, bathroom or landscaping. All in all I’m looking at around £200k which seems insane.

I’m going to have to rethink and just refurbish I reckon. Interesting what you’re saying about costs unlikely to come down because I agree.

Our plans are back and we are yet to speak to the neighbours over 'party wall agreement'. I'm worried they might refuse.

@QueenofWhatever are you within the crazy Bristol house prices? We live in Bristol and prices are so high here that at least you get a fairly decent return on your investment in the house. Could you do the extension and then do the renovation room by room (using a smaller company- maybe one under the vat threshold as that can save a lot)?

We're having a two storey extension (7.2m by 2.3m roughly- enlarging three rooms and adding a utility), that's going to be £93k inc vat to plaster finish, all electrics but not flooring/painting/fitting bathrooms and utility. So we're going to do the kitchen later down the line.

Our builder said materials have really gone up in price so he hates quoting too far ahead. He's booked up until September next year now!

My worry is that prices have gone up so much that the amount we budgeted for has now doubled. I mean that our architect told us it would cost 100k and now that's doubled.

I realise that house prices have gone up too - but what if they drop? I think that is quite likely.

@perenniallymessy @LittleOverwhelmed yes, I’m in that weird Bristol property vortex. I bought this house from an elderly widower who was increasingly frail and the house needs thoroughly updating. New boiler, electrics, windows and doors. The bones of it need fixing so doing it room by room doesn’t really work and borrowing money isn’t the issue as such, more the overall costs.

In the crazy world of house prices, this house has gone up in value by £40-50k since my offer was accepted last September and me moving in last month. But the plan has always been to do it up, live here for a few years and then sell on so I can move somewhere more rural once DD16 has finished her education.

I spoke to the EA who sold it to me and he thought the costs were nuts too and wasn’t confident I’d get me money back. At the end of the day, it’s still a semi detached ex Local Authority house from the sixties. I have a provisional slot with the builders for end of September that I don’t want to lose. Can’t face a winter here as it is, as it’s a cold house with drafts everywhere as the rubber seals on windows and doors have perished and the heating system is on its last legs.

Our plans are back and we are yet to speak to the neighbours over 'party wall agreement'. I'm worried they might refuse.

@finished31 They can't refuse can they?

We've had party wall thingy given to us recently by our neighbours and there isn't an option to refuse. They could say that they wanted an independent surveyor to make sure it's all being done properly.

I’m excited to be joining you on this thread. We have just appointed an architect and are planning two projects, a single storey side extension to create a dining room, plus small utility & study - approx 20 sqm, and essentially a loft conversion with roof lift to create a large bedroom/reconfigure the first floor. Our house is a bit quirky - it was originally built as an L shaped bungalow and when upstairs was added the previous owners only added it to the long bit of the L - we are going to add the other bit.

I want to do it in stages as we won’t move out, so hopefully side extension first. I’ve had 2 architects out who have said ballpark figure £80-90k for it all.

We have just over £70k and are due to remortgage in Sept, so hoping we can borrow a bit extra and also get a new drive done at the end...

I’ve never done anything like this before - we’ve chosen our architect based on gut feeling/reviews and it’s the more pricey one, so I hope we’re not wrong. He said he can recommend some builders and is coming back soon to survey. I assume then we get plans drawn - and then we get builders to quote from the plans? I’d like to get the side extension finished this year, and then look at the stuff involving the roof next spring - as we need a spell of dry weather for that I think. Not sure if it’s realistic or if we are looking at next year for the lot really.

Sorry for the thought vomit. It’s very exciting - to no one except me!

A bit of progress here - we had our builder round the other day and he gave us a rough quote that was about in line with what I was expecting, which is great news. I also talked to our neighbours on both sides and they were fine with the plans so I've put the application in. Really hoping it all goes smoothly now.

@Dontrainonmyparade we’re in the same position as you, just appointed architect (and also the more expensive one) for a kitchen extension approx 18m2 and an en-suite first floor.

We’re hoping £65K but we’re in SE and apparently everything costs all the money!

Also very exciting to nobody but ourselves!

And I’ll be no help to you as we’re completely new to this all and don’t have a clue!

@LATBOTG it feels a little daunting when you don’t know what you’re doing doesn’t it?! I’m all over Pinterest at the moment but I’m not sure I’ll really know about finishes until we get close. It still feels a bit like a pipe dream right now.

Our plans are now with the local council for building control approval (full plans I think). My question is do we need this signed off before getting quotes or will the plans we have now be ok?

I'm pulling a document together with the list of stuff we want beyond the obvious structural stuff. Soooooooo much to think about. Does anyone know of a list available to check off items that we need to consider?

Also, as we are doing loads to the original house. Would you structure the spec by room or by type (e.g internal doors).

Sorry for all the questions.

Everything I read at the moment is around escalating prices, materials shortages and huge wait lists. Almost convinced myself we won't be able to do what we need to do to the house, let alone the stuff we would like to have done. Really hope this crazy period settles down. We are in no rush but in the next year or two would be nice!

@Alonim

My worry is that prices have gone up so much that the amount we budgeted for has now doubled. I mean that our architect told us it would cost 100k and now that's doubled.

I realise that house prices have gone up too - but what if they drop? I think that is quite likely.

I fear this too. Our architect originally wanted to work on the basis of £1500/sqm for the new bit. I made sure he worked on a £2200 basis so we at least were close to realistic. I expect even that is too low now, hants/berks/Surrey border area.

We started our loft conversion 3 weeks ago and will go from there into a ground floor extension. We currently have 40mph winds and heavy rain with not much of a roof.... our builder has been great and was over today checking and securing the tarps but the noise is terrifying. Have spent most of the evening in tears.