Extension thread 2021 - countdown to Christmas

[Callmejudith]

New thread for continued celebrating, moaning and commiserating

FFS no sign of builder this morning, phoned him and he said he’s on another job and wasn’t told to come to us today!!! Tried the fucking useless foreman and no answer so have sent him a text. Now in utter panic that we’re not going to be able to get these doors fitted. The foreman is a total liar I asked him two weeks ago if the opening was ready and he said yes. I hate him

@Callmejudith that is so frustrating! I hate the fact that so many of the things depend on other things being done first. I constantly feels as if we take 1 step forward and 3 back!

@Indecisivelurcher that is so so exciting. How ridiculous about the table. What did you put on your spreadsheet? Did you have a column for budget and then a column for actual spend? I seem to be spending £1000's already (architect and structural engineer) and haven't even submitted planning yet. The builder is coming tomorrow to discuss the quote.

I've had a big jig around with our extension layout (haven't told the architect yet....) but I realised that I was really compromising the kitchen due to the utility position. So I'm going for a bootility instead and we will get the full width of the house for the kitchen/dining/seating which means I can get windows on 3 walls (I'm so worried about light as we are north facing). I think it will cost more though as will need a bigger steel.

The good news is I have convinced DH that we need to knock out the fireplace in our existing hall (him being of the school of all original features should be saved at all costs).

Yes 100%, I feel like we’ve not had two good days in a row ever! My very creative friend came over this morning and gave me lots of decorating ideas so that’s exciting.

Got hold of foreman who pleaded ignorance but I apparently on the case.

@nomoneytreehere sounds good for the layout. Exciting!

My spreadsheet I did three columns, estimated, actual and spent and it’s been really helpful.

Oh @Callmejudith that's totally shit!!

So frustrating.

Spent loads of money in IKEA to cheer myself up

@MollyLolly38 I asked my friend who is a gas engineer your question and he said gas boilers aren't going anywhere particularly fast, he thinks the next thing will be hydrogen boilers and then heat recovery ventilation. Also apparently for heat recovery you need a pretty hefty unit somewhere. In 3-5 years time the units will be dramatically smaller.

I’m in the wait and see camp too, we only put our new boiler in a couple of years ago.

When they’ve figured out the tech properly I’ll consider changing.

Everything is ready for the screed to be poured tomorrow, can’t wait, seems like the next big step.

I'm excited for you @LivingInABuildingSite the screed makes a massive difference

New fridge freezer delivered today along with other appliances. Unfortunately there is a big dent in it so that's going back. Anyone else feel like it's a constant saga of dodgy deliveries?

Our doors are due on Wednesday. I should be really excited but to be honest I won't believe anything until they are actually in. I realised there is a big gap between the drainage change and the building which installed doors will make impossible to fill. Pointed it out to the builders who have been insisting for months the door openings are ready for doors. Oh yeah, suppose we should fill that before the doors block it shouldn't we. Yes you should.
Fgs

Wine time everyone. Small steps forward.

@MollyLolly38 I also think early adopters are going to pay through the nose. We are sticking with gas for now (but we renewed our boiler a couple of years ago).

Hello all - I need to see happy IKEA shopping haul photos please 😆

Finished my spreadsheet... it's looking like £40k over, which £10k is furniture so doesn't really count... so that's close to £24k 🙈🙈🙈

I need to chat again with my builder about VAT on literally everything. So jealous of my friend who somehow did her entire £120k extension cash in hand!!

My bathroom tiles look nice. I'm just so upset with the mega overspend though, so it's totally taken the shine off.

Windows will start to be fitted from Wednesday and new staircase is being fitted on the 20th!!

Fingers crossed on the bloody master bath being delivered sometime this week. And I'm still waiting on my fire surrounds stuck in Italy.

@PoshWatchShitShoes those tiles are lush.

They are lovely tiles!

I love those tiles! They look a bit like birds swooping up.

More swearing from me. The fucking range cooker doesn't work. I think there's something wrong with the door lock because the light comes on straight away which it isn't supposed to do and it won't preheat. DH has put in a ticket to SMEG and we should get a call in 24hrs and an engineer in 3 days if needed. Annoying. I was SO looking forward to something oven cooked. Another microwave meal it is. And more wine.

That's rubbish @Callmejudith. Hope Smeg get it sorted quickly. I think they prioritise cookers when it comes to appliance failures.

In better things, these turntables/lazy susans are a game changer!

Oh how rubbish @Callmejudith. Hopefully they will fix it soon. @PoshWatchShitShoes stunning tiles.

@Indecisivelurcher your extension sounds wonderful. I'll love to see a before and after. Where're you based? I was admiring a wildflower roof yesterday at a restaurant. I'm not sure if that's what it's called. They had plants near the lights were the sky light was.

Love the lazy susans @Callmejudith!! Are they IKEA? Will make cupboard storage so much easier 👏

Last night I finally placed the order for kitchen knobs and pulls. No idea why I was procrastinating. It's supposed to be a 4 week lead time and I'm hoping it isn't longer!!

Today I'm hoping for a delivery date on my master bath!! And I THINK I've found the very beautiful (very expensive) quartz worktop I want on sale for cheaper than the cheaper fall back option I'd found🤞

@PoshWatchShitShoes omg those tiles are amazing! where are they from?

we have finally decided on a layout - only took a few months. Now just need the architect to draw it and then we can finally submit plans. Hoping we will be able to do the drawings this week and then a load of other info has to go in with the plans here (sustainability, trees etc. etc.)

we will be keeping the back fireplace hurrah. Also means the 2 front rooms won't get touched so we can start decorating those which is a relief as not sure how much longer we could live with the horrific carpet (especially with the world's muddiest dog!).

Good updates! @StrongArm that’s great about the layout and keeping the fireplace.

The lazy Susan’s are from Amazon they’re great.

they look great @Callmejudith - love the fact that they have a bit that holds the bottles in!

@PoshWatchShitShoes we have a similar overspend, it's pretty depressing! I don't understand how lots of people are able to get their extensions built for £40k but we're somehow overspending £20k just from bits and pieces that needed tweaked as they built and uncovered the reality of things.