How is building/extending going now?

[Dustyboots]

We were put off extending earlier in the year because of escalating costs and delays in getting materials etc.

Are things any easier/ more affordable now?

We all wish! It’s far far more expensive, I’d say nearly 50% more than the start of this year. Supply chain issues and Brexit. Not a quick fix so these costs are probably here to stay

Hahahahaha. This is a joke right? It’s horrendous at the moment, costs spiralling week on week, labour shortages and serious supply chain issues.

just don’t do it unless there’s no choice.

We were told at least +30% compared to the approximate estimate at the end of last year. We were hoping to start over the summer, we've postponed to next year.

Oh. That’s not good. I’m glad I asked the question though.

We have plans approved and are ready to go - almost. But moving might be a better idea instead. We need more space quite desperately.

Moving is quite possibly cheaper. Seriously do think twice. We are lucky in that we can afford to spend more but our budget costs are now up almost 40 percent. Everything is moving at a snails pace too due to long lead times

If the cost of a job is going up by 40%, given that wage rates shouldn't have been affected to anything like that extent, then materials should have been going up a lot more. I know some sizes of timber have indeed gone up 100% (doubled) but other stuff, not so much. Ready-mixed mortar, though, which I've been buying for some bricklaying I'm doing, has only gone up about 20% from last year's prices where I'm buying it in the North West. Other things not even so much. I'd expect the % increases on jobs to be very dependent on which raw materials are being used, and what proportion of the bill is labour. I am wondering if at least a few builders may be going a teeny bit far with their overall price increases, because the market right now is running very hot and people feel like they have no choice.

Labour rates are going up due to problems getting people.

I am wondering if at least a few builders may be going a teeny bit far with their overall price increases, because the market right now is running very hot and people feel like they have no choice.

This must be the case too - but it happens in everything doesn’t it, when demand is high?

I wonder whether waiting will help...

My builder friend is overwhelmed with work (he just can't say no) and is up.front with new customers about material costs skyrocketing. With clients he's already committed a price to he is struggling. And some materials he just can't get for months.
I was initially going to buy a house that needed extending and a loft dormer. That sale fell through and I'm hoping to get offer accepted on one that only needs new bathrooms and no building work! Because I wouldn't do any work til next year at least when supply chains normalise and things calm down.

@Livingintheclouds

At what point next year do you think things might calm down? Does your builder friend have any idea?

It's a nightmare at the moment - purely from a logistics reason I'd say delay until at least next year as you're going to be hit with material shortages (we're stalled due to a 12 week wait on roof tiles!). Costs are high but I'm not sure if/when they'll come back down. When materials get more expensive they don't tend to get cheaper at quite the same rate and the labour shortages are here longer term.

I think you might have been better off if you started earlier. I did (builder ordered most of our aggregates and materials 12 weeks before we needed to start, even before we properly confirmed) and with a bit of flexibility on things like roof tile colours we managed to do everything on budget. Once you get your extension built and start looking at interiors it’s much, much better.

Our plans are with the council but we've now had second thoughts and we're going to sell rather than extend.