Page 20 | Extension Thread 2021.....aka "where's the bloody builder?"

whataboutbob · 09/12/2021 13:21

Cross post missed the update. Well done for sticking to your guns 👏

LivingInABuildingSite · 09/12/2021 13:38

Oh good news @PoshWatchShitShoes!!

My worktop guy has been and just popped back, he reckons he can get it all out of one slab instead of two which should save me some ££

Maybe before Christmas so let’s see what price he comes back with. I mean I have absolutely no idea about worktop prices so the number doesn’t actually mean much to me.
An island top 3.3m x 1.2
A bit that goes around the sink that’s about 2 x 0.6
And an upstandy thing about 2 x 0.3 maybe

Have no figure in mind to prepare to flinch or sigh in relief!

PoshWatchShitShoes · 09/12/2021 14:52

@LivingInABuildingSite shop around for worktop quotes. I compared the same exact stone across 6 different ones and there was over a £5k difference between some suppliers!!

I can PM you the company I wish I'd gone with!! They were slightly more expensive that the one I went with, but considerably nicer!!

PoshWatchShitShoes · 09/12/2021 14:53

Just received a message from Picasso...

"Dear Mrs X,
Conditions on site have become unacceptable and no one has kept their promise of leaving the 2 rooms empty. Traffic is constant, dust is flying everywhere, I’m trying to finish the utility but I’ve 2 plumbers working under the sink.
The final top coat is supposed to start tomorrow. Things have to change immediately on site. This is impossible to deliver a showroom finish in that mess.
[name]"

Roll of eyes 😂

whataboutbob · 09/12/2021 14:59

@whataboutbob

Cross post missed the update. Well done for sticking to your guns 👏

So sorry, now realise I’ve mixed two posts up, please ignore me. Well done @PoshWatchShitShoes!

Indecisivelurcher · 09/12/2021 15:32

@PoshWatchShitShoes

MAJOR UPDATE... replacement worktop is going to be fitted next Thursday!!!!!

Oh my goodness, I hope it's perfect 🙏🙏🙏

Whoop! 🎉

LivingInABuildingSite · 09/12/2021 16:58

@PoshWatchShitShoes loving Picasso and his attitude!
Please do PM me the company but I just don’t know how much energy I have to hunt down various people.

Todays guy is unofficially recommended by the Howdens guy.
His quote is £2810, does that sound reasonable? I have no idea seems not extortionate and I’m tempted to just say yes. He can get it in before Christmas and is flexible about the tap hole as he wants the sink moved slightly forward so says he’ll do the tap hole on site. He didn’t wind me up which adds bonus points too lol.

May check with the builders boss guy if he thinks it’s an ok price. I’m sure he sourced the similar top for my bathroom unit.

PoshWatchShitShoes · 09/12/2021 18:46

@LivingInABuildingSite I don't think it sounds unreasonable. Is it a particular brand you're looking for?

The guy I will recommend was great at suggesting less well known brands that were excellent quality and similar in look.

I ended up going with the other arsehole because I could get the Silestone for a very good price, but obvs wouldn't recommend that company.

PoshWatchShitShoes · 09/12/2021 18:56

And at very long last...the bath that took a lifetime to arrive has been installed 👏 And the utility tap has been installed 👏

Wish I'd ordered the bigger bath and I put the tap rinser in the wrong place...it should be 4" over to the right 🤦🏼‍♀️ Trying not to obsess about tiny details 😂

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

Sewfrickinamazeballs · 09/12/2021 19:57

@PoshWatchShitShoes that bath is amazing! Major bathroom envy here!

LivingInABuildingSite · 09/12/2021 20:06

Love the bathroom!!
And I wouldn’t stress about the placement of the tap ringer thingie it looks fine where it is and you’ll get used to it I think.

I haven’t got a brand as such in mind, I want the same black as I have in the bathroom which todays guy said is called Indian Black?
Anyway I think I’ll check with the boss guy and if he says it’s reasonable I’ll go ahead.

Current kitchen photo, getting there…

Sewfrickinamazeballs · 09/12/2021 20:09

Had a meeting with our builder this week. He's all set to start 3rd January. Garage will be pulled down first so we need to empty it. We have a removals firm who are coming to the house in TWO WEEKS with storage containers to empty it of all our belongings bar our mattresses, clothes, a camp kitchen and absolute essentials. We don't want to pay them twice to come and empty the garage, then the house, so will have to live with next to nothing (like no washing machine) for a few months even though the builders won't be inside for a good few weeks. He also said we might be stuck to one room at some point and most likely will need to be out for at least a bit. We have no family nearby, an elderly cat who can't go to a cattery, and a 6 year old that needs to get to school. Oh, and full time jobs. No idea what we will do.

Current job is making a list of stuff we need and packing the rest.

Still, it's exciting. Expecting a few bumps along the way (like how we deal with next doors garage that's leaning on ours so might fall down when we knock ours down) but can't wait to get started.

GardensandGrandDesigns · 09/12/2021 20:33

@Sewfrickinamazeballs

Had a meeting with our builder this week. He's all set to start 3rd January. Garage will be pulled down first so we need to empty it. We have a removals firm who are coming to the house in TWO WEEKS with storage containers to empty it of all our belongings bar our mattresses, clothes, a camp kitchen and absolute essentials. We don't want to pay them twice to come and empty the garage, then the house, so will have to live with next to nothing (like no washing machine

) for a few months even though the builders won't be inside for a good few weeks. He also said we might be stuck to one room at some point and most likely will need to be out for at least a bit. We have no family nearby, an elderly cat who can't go to a cattery, and a 6 year old that needs to get to school. Oh, and full time jobs. No idea what we will do.

Current job is making a list of stuff we need and packing the rest.

Still, it's exciting. Expecting a few bumps along the way (like how we deal with next doors garage that's leaning on ours so might fall down when we knock ours down) but can't wait to get started.

When you work out what to do about moving out please let me know 🤣 Getting a 6 month rental + bills sounds extortionate but a few months in an air b n b will probably cost the same 🙈 I just don't know what to do either. Jan 3rd is so close, so exciting!

Sewfrickinamazeballs · 09/12/2021 20:53

@GardensandGrandDesigns agree about the costs of a rental. As costs have soared since we first started this process we can't afford it. I have only found one air bnb that will take a cat locally and that's £2200 for four weeks .

GardensandGrandDesigns · 09/12/2021 21:04

It certainly is tricky when you don't have family to live with.

Indecisivelurcher · 09/12/2021 21:29

@Sewfrickinamazeballs that's exciting, and brave! We are just finishing here, haven't done as much as it sounds like you have but sympathy on the cat front as elderly diabetic cat has been an issue here, and 7&4yo kids, ddog has been living his best life upstairs on my bed however! My strange tip to you is to keep your microwave. We packed it away and really missed it, had to get it back out. Things like ready meals, soup, my kids like sweetcorn so at least that's 1 veg!

Indecisivelurcher · 09/12/2021 21:32

@PoshWatchShitShoes Everything looks so tasteful. I can't believe you have any shit shoes.

newnameforthistbread · 09/12/2021 23:23

@sluj

Thanks for your prompt replies. We are having vinyl planks so the potential for damage is greater if we do it first, I think. The problem is that I have been seduced by all your photos where the units have gone in and suddenly it looks finished!! I also have to step up my search for quartz/ granite now. I am undecided. Any recommendations for either kind or national/ North home counties companies? We are having a largish G shaped kitchen so I am expecting expense and lots of corner seams

We have used Rock n Co - based in Stevenage for our worktop. They were recommend to us and we have recommended them on. They people we recommended them too were really happy with their work. We are still waiting for them to measure and cut ours but that's another story!!

whataboutbob · 10/12/2021 08:15

Just for anyone on this thread, I previously used a natural stone worktop company in the south east which I can throughly recommend, happy to share details.

MissFritton65 · 10/12/2021 08:35

@PoshWatchShitShoes that all looks beautiful!

niki26 · 10/12/2021 08:39

I'm sure you guys are a lot more knowledgeable than me but just wanted to flag up something that happened yesterday .... so it doesn't happen to you!

We have had our carpets for the upstairs booked in for months and months - as we pretty much wanted it done last thing. We had it booked for yesterday and planned to move furniture in this weekend and generally get everything as sorted as possibly for when we move in on 18th December.

Well, we've also overhauled our heating system and hadn't put it on yet due to not living there. They've been using portable heaters to work on the place. The carpet fitter turned up yesterday and said it was far too cold to fit carpets and we wouldn't be able to have them done until next year now. My husband basically kicked off - he said how were we supposed to know that and the carpet firm are saying it's 'obvious'. It honestly didn't even cross our minds that the house would be too cold for carpets!

So after some angry phone calls he's managed to get the fitter to come back before Christmas - we now need to turn the heating on and up it slightly every day and it should be fine for the fitting....on the 18th. Which is when we move in. So very stressful now and could have been avoided if we had been aware. We have tenants moving into our current flat on 20th! Deep clean on 19th so defo have to be out!

As I say - perhaps people do know about this but we didn't so I'm sure someone else out there doesn't - so wanted to raise awareness of potential carpet issues on a renovated house!

sluj · 10/12/2021 08:41

@newnameforthisbread

Thanks for that, I have heard of them. Are you having problems though?
Any recommendations for South east stone/granite suppliers would be appreciated.

LivingInABuildingSite · 10/12/2021 08:51

@niki26 - I have never heard of that - too cold for carpets?! Amazing. And certainly not ‘obvious’ to me!
I did get in trouble previously with carpet fitters as I hadn’t moved all the furniture out, even though I’d told the office I was on my own and wouldn’t be able to clear the rooms of beds and wardrobes, they hadn’t passed the message on. I still remember being told off like a naughty child!

Speaking of cold, log delivery for the fire arrived, yey. Our house is always cold, and I’m a cold person so I mostly keep my woolly hat on and huddle under a blanket indoors. Hoping once the new UFH gets switched on (probably in time for summer!) it’ll be a warmer house.

One guy here working on the kitchen, feels like it’s taking forever….

PoshWatchShitShoes · 10/12/2021 09:22

@niki26 thanks for the heads up. Our wood floor repair guy is insisting that the heating is on for 2 weeks before he starts...

Well, he's starting Monday and the radiators still aren't on the fucking walls!!!! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Oh look, an expletive before 10am 😂

niki26 · 10/12/2021 09:30

@PoshWatchShitShoes

Well I think I can beat that - our very experienced contractor, who has been amazing throughout - has already laid all of our wooden flooring downstairs!!! And there was no heat! So I'm dreading what is going to happen to that over the next week or so....

Fingers crossed!!!!!