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.

I'm a bit worried about costs too @NoTeaForMe ! We've got 25% over and above the expected build cost in savings. If it's needed as contingency then we'll just have to wait a bit longer to furnish the new extension! Feedback with these builders is that they don't tend to go over on costs.

Just worried about unexpected asbestos etc after hearing horror stories about it holding up builds and adding £££!

@sluj glass delays sound awful. Must be really hard for builders to work around those delays. No wonder builds often go over!

@NoTeaForMe

Can I join? I’m in the very early stages here. Had plans back from the architect and are busily looking over them. Trying to get my head round what the rooms will look like, especially size wise. I’m also trying to have a rough idea in my head re costs so we don’t get carried away and plan something in we can’t afford. Any tips on that? Good luck everyone!

The very rough estimate is 2-2.5k per new sqm to first fix. Architects can get carried away so make sure you communicate your requirements to them. Draftsmen tend to be more modest and simply create your own ideas into CAD. It is a process whereby you have to go through iterations; have a rough size in mind, sketch what you think it might look like and use the numbers above to see finger in the air cost. Don’t forget VAT gets added. Have some initial drawings done and talk to some builders and get their ideas on price and timeframe then make changes. If you can, create a design that could be done in phases (eg ground floor then loft conversion) so if costs go silly you can break up the work.

Just a general thing for me - before starting anything have a damned good poke about the structure of the house. Check the loft spaces, lift some carpets and see the condition of walls inside and out. You should be able to avoid a lot of unforeseen issues this way.

May I join? We submitted our planning application last week and I believe it will be about 2 weeks before we can see it on the planning portal. We are looking at a loft extension with a dormer to the back of our bungalow. In the same application we have also applied to have the downstairs with a back extension for kitchen/diner/living space. However, we need more bedrooms now as expecting DC2. We plan to do the loft first and the downstairs in 3-5 years depending on our finances.

In the meantime, our architect prepared some drawings with a specification of some parts, electrics and plumbing, windows, etc... and we got a couple of builders to look over them and give us an initial estimate for the loft conversion. One got back to us and we are waiting for the other one. The first came round yesterday for a site inspection to check the drains, loft and generally how access would be. He knows we are waiting on another builder's response.

We will obviously get quotes once we have the BR drawings but we wanted to start the conversation with builders sooner and get a feel for how we might get along with them.

We are still to look into how we shall fund the project. We are looking to borrow an advance from our current lender but we reckon they might not give us the amount we need as we shall be getting close to their maximum for affordability but we have a few other options to explore and of course depending on when we actually get to complete the project, savings will be growing.

I will read through the rest of this thread later on to get all the tips.

We are now in week four and have a side wall built for our side return extension (after some neighbour challenges so I’m glad that’s up now!)
Waiting for the steels to be installed but they are delayed because the plan had to be slightly changed due to a miscalculation the architect made... so we seem to be in a bit of a lull at the moment. Boiler getting moved tomorrow so hoping it’s not tooo cold!

That's really helpful thank you @LittleOverwhelmed, I feel a bit less overwhelmed now .

We are knocking into three existing rooms but they are 2 x bedrooms and a reception room, so hopefully nothing unexpected will come up there. We do need a slightly bigger brick support in the upstairs room than we had thought, but builders said that I'd only a couple of hundred £ more.

We are having a gas pipe moved and the stop tap moved but not too far. We're pretty confident there's no communal sewer or Roman relics under the house .

Next door neighbour finally signed the agreement to use our Party Wall Surveyor (we're detached but digging below his foundations within 3m) so our Party Wall Award can be in place before starting- phew.

Well the sliders were installed today but I still have a tarpaulin where the lantern roof is going and a big hole where the window will be. The anthracite sliders are really good but look quite black in today's rain

We should have our structural plans this week. This waiting to get quotes is so irritating.

Last time we extended, we did all our plans way in advance.
This time we only completed on this house in November so it's been a made rush to get everything done.

I know the build is the worst part (remember it vividly still!) but I just want to get started!

We plan on getting a HKOC kitchen. Has anyone here done the same. I think I'm going to put the deposit down to get the sale price. If anyone wants me to name drop so you get the hamper, pm me

She's messaged me 😊 it seemed silly to miss out on a hamper!

Hello! Just had building regs through for a loft conversion and single storey extension. Trying to get builders to quote now but have a feeling we'll be waiting until 2022 thread as they are all going to be super busy. We're thinking of doing it in two stages and doing loft first to make it more bearable. Was wondering whether to get specialist loft firm to do that bit (on the basis might be cheaper / faster?) or whether better to work with the same builder for the whole project? Anyone got any opinions on this?

Thanks for mentioning me @LittleOverwhelmed - I never pass up the chance for free choccies and champers from Harvey Nicks.
Unfortunately I have to wait for them until @Baxdream to install her kitchen before I get them.

Hi again. We’ve had plans from the architect through and after a few tweaks we think we’re happy with them. Our builder has given us a rough estimate on cost.
Our architect has said he will put them forward for planning and we should hear in 8 weeks. What about structural drawings? Who does those? Do we need to find someone else or is that included with the architect?
I’m sure these are all really stupid questions!

Any idea how expensive the structural drawings are?

Our structural engineer was £600+VAT.

Recommended by our builders.

Our architect is doing our structural drawings. We should get them any day 🤞

Ours are £1k

Can I join please? We started our build for 2 story side extension with single story at the back in January.
The roof went on yesterday and we are now on the slippery slope to marking it watertight and knocking through! I was hoping we might be able to move out for a couple of weeks for that to happen but looking unlikely now with covid restrictions. I am just dreading it

Here is a picture of the front of the house from the weekend complete with husband and son!

Can I join too please? Our extension finally starts on Monday. It was meant to start this time last year but we put it off due to Covid. Am feeling very nervous now!
Looks like great progress chuckaluck! I’m hoping we will move out when the knock through happens. Have been thinking about maybe going to a premier inn for a couple of weeks as air bnbs are so expensive round here.