Extension Thread 2021.....aka "where's the bloody builder?"

[Callmejudith]

New thread!

Oh no sorry to hear everyone's tales of woe. Posh I hope it gets sorted soon.

@GardensandGrandDesigns @swimdrum we can all be on the thread together when this lot are living in their lovely finished houses!!

We are about to submit planning for a large 2 storey extension - about 130m2 all together. I'm trying desperately to minimise renovation of the rest of the house but it's all going to be wrecked isn't it! The architect is coming tomorrow and if all goes well and we get planning I'm hoping to start in March and finish for next Christmas.

I've spoken to a couple of builders one who drove a Porsche and told me it was going to be £750k and a couple that didn't come back to us at all. I think we are going with a project manager who seems to be quoting £220 plus vat plus his fee. Which I think is around £350k all in. I have no idea if this is a good deal or not and is around £100k more than I wanted to spend and we haven't even started. We have to do the build though - literally can't fit around the kitchen table as the kids are getting bigger. I can't believe how much compromise I'm having to make on what I thought was a huge budget.

I've got their roofer on our roof at the moment as it's leaking again and he seems like a good guy......

Anyhow, we have to get planning first - where we are pushing the limits of what is likely to be acceptable. I've spent literally all weekend marking up the architects plan. I actually feel like I might as well have done it myself.

It is 6mx4m downstairs and 3mx4m upstairs. Yeah I'm impatient so have enquired for costs early but will firm up with building regs and once we know steels etc. Includes all new electrics.

@Indecisivelurcher that's so exciting that you don't have long left though just read about the patio people gggrrr

@GardensandGrandDesigns welcome to the chaos!

@MrsF that looks sooo good with the plastering.

@LivingInABuildingSite fingers crossed for negative test.

@PoshWatchShitShoes I'm sorry you're having such a shit one. That's horrendous about the french doors. I really hope they can decorate them in time.

@nomoneytree I hope the architect meeting goes well

I had a huge sort out over the weekend and the spare room is no longer full to the ceiling with crap. Also a big trip to the tip this morning, nothing more satisfying. Waiting to hear from builder when they're going to come back and do the skirting and architrave and doors to utility and WC.

I really need to continue stripping the hallway, kind of wish I hadn't started to be honest.

Forgot to say my budget is 140k so now I'm thinking about what we might have to save for another time. Maybe the garage conversion.

@NewHouseNewMe penalties are common under commercial contracts. But they price that in. I wouldn't sign a contract with penalties unless I was getting a huge uplift if it all went to plan. I don't think you will find many builders doing residential renovation and extension that would sign it (particularly in the current market) and I suspect they would be hugely expensive. I'm a solicitor (not construction though) and if a builder asked me I would tell them not to sign it unless they had properly priced in the risk. That's easier for massive construction companies, but even then, in the current market of delays and unavailability of materials I suspect that the caveats to penalty are enormous. I'm not expecting my builder to sign that sort of contract but I will be having very upfront conversations about timetable.

@nomoneytree

Oh no sorry to hear everyone's tales of woe. Posh I hope it gets sorted soon.

@GardensandGrandDesigns @swimdrum we can all be on the thread together when this lot are living in their lovely finished houses!!

We are about to submit planning for a large 2 storey extension - about 130m2 all together. I'm trying desperately to minimise renovation of the rest of the house but it's all going to be wrecked isn't it! The architect is coming tomorrow and if all goes well and we get planning I'm hoping to start in March and finish for next Christmas.

I've spoken to a couple of builders one who drove a Porsche and told me it was going to be £750k and a couple that didn't come back to us at all. I think we are going with a project manager who seems to be quoting £220 plus vat plus his fee. Which I think is around £350k all in. I have no idea if this is a good deal or not and is around £100k more than I wanted to spend and we haven't even started. We have to do the build though - literally can't fit around the kitchen table as the kids are getting bigger. I can't believe how much compromise I'm having to make on what I thought was a huge budget.

I've got their roofer on our roof at the moment as it's leaking again and he seems like a good guy......

Anyhow, we have to get planning first - where we are pushing the limits of what is likely to be acceptable. I've spent literally all weekend marking up the architects plan. I actually feel like I might as well have done it myself.

Wow now that really is a grand design. That sounds huge!!

@nomoneytree our extension is 110 sqm plus a new detached garage and we are in NW, it's looking as if it will be £ 350k all in; far more than we anticipated!

Negative test thankfully!

Means kitchen delivery and f/f delivery can happen tomorrow. Phew.

Have also ordered the hob Dh wanted and the Qettle tap. Money certainly flowing in one direction only right now!

GardensandGrandDesigns, thank you for your positivity. We can stick together through months of waiting and chaos. Are you going to live in your house while all of the work is done? We were quoted 136k. We will have to buy the kitchen and bathrooms on top of that. We are waiting for two more builders to get back to us. If they can quote for us within the next couple of weeks we might still be able to get on a list for next summer.

@swimdrum

GardensandGrandDesigns, thank you for your positivity. We can stick together through months of waiting and chaos. Are you going to live in your house while all of the work is done? We were quoted 136k. We will have to buy the kitchen and bathrooms on top of that. We are waiting for two more builders to get back to us. If they can quote for us within the next couple of weeks we might still be able to get on a list for next summer.

We are 100% moving out! How about you?

Loving the sound of these new projects!!

We signed off the Wren contract as all done on Saturday and got confirmation on email today. Place your bets as to whether they'll take the first payment on 1st December or if we've got away with it for this month!

@Callmejudith I think you will be ok. I don't think they will have time to set the payment up.....

So much has been happening today! Sorry to hear about the delays and mess ups though. Well my kitchen fitter was at the property as agreed today AND IKEA delivered. He has sent me a very gratifying photo of the gutted kitchen. My late dad bought the flat off an elderly couple in the 90s, I inherited in 2018 and I’m embarrassed to say that apart from changing the Lino nothing has been done to update the kitchen. Here’s a picture, admire the decades’ worth of accumulated pipe work ( this is going to be rationalised).

The carpet fitter also turned up and my kitchen fitter (whom I trust) was not impressed, found him lackadaisical and generally not particularly professional. Those were also my feelings from dealing with him on the phone My gut says find someone else, although likely to cause more delay.

Those pipes are crazy @whataboutbob

How much carpeting needs to be done? I'd be tempted to just let him get on with it rather than be delayed trying to find someone else

@NewHouseNewMe agree that it's rare to find penalties in domestic contracts and if they are there you will be paying a hefty premium for them. At the moment due to the supply chain issues they aren't even being included on many commercial contracts. The way to keep momentum in domestic contracts is to agree staged payments and do not (very important) pay in advance for any building work (exceptions to this are for certain bespoke components but make sure these are in your name and are delivered to site not your builder). Basically they only get paid as they progress so it's in their interest to get on with it. It doesn't always work but it's usually the best incentive.

@NewHouseNewMe my BIL had a liquidated damages clause for his renovation a few years ago.

Nowadays I don't think it would be reasonable. The delays are ridiculous and out of the control of the builder in our case.

I have had a FUCKING 'NOUGH of today!!!!

Off to bathe in 🍷 😭

P.s. I don't swear in front of DC every and rarely in front of DH, but I hate this process. Hate hate hate. I just want everyone to finish and fuck off

@PoshWatchShitShoes your swearing is totally understandable and I hope therapeutic.
@Callmejudith I’m speaking tomorrow to a reliable carpet shop owner I’ve used before. She initially didn’t want to take it on because she doesn’t stock the vinyl I want. I’m going to see if I can incentivise her to release her guys for the job.

Posh - I hope the wine is helping!

Good job no one came today as Dd was sent home from school and asked to PCR. Fingers crossed for negative test

Oh 🤞 for you!

Fingers crossed for a negative PCR @Indecisivelurcher

Thanks for confirming that the architect was right @wonkylegs, @nomoneytree and @PoshWatchShitShoes. I find extension building has become the new baby sleeping topic - everyone has a very strong opinion in real life It’s great to get your more recent and current experience here.

Hope you get a negative result through for your DD @Indecisivelurcher. Yesterday our results came through in 13 hours, which was impressive.

Please send strength for tomorrow. The kitchen painter is such a prima donna. It's like he thinks he's Picasso. I suppose it's better than dealing with the aggy tiler and pissy plumber 😂😂😂 New mantra is laugh, don't cry!