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

[Callmejudith]

New thread!

Looks lush, @MissFritton65

We have almost complete groundwork's. The guys have been amazing. Footings poured, soakaways dug and manhole moved in just a couple of days. They've been here by 7.30am every day and even bought us a takeaway on Wednesday! Hopeful that this is a sign that the February second fix date (not including kitchen bathroom or tiles obvs) is not pure fantasy.

Has anyone had any experience with Hi-Macs or Corian? We have ordered a tonne of the former which I am assured is worked just like solid wood and can easily be made to look seamless. Haven't spoken to the chippie yet but I'm wondering if we should just cut to the chase and use one of their fitters.

I realise i am very late to the party here but could i join your thread?

We have our PP through for single storey rear extension 6mx4m, think we have found a builder although we are still waiting for him to give us an exact start date.

We are renovating the rest of the house ourselves, every single wall taken back to brick and replastered and every ceiling taken down replaced and plastered.

The only thing in the entire house that doesn't need replacing is the windows (thank god!)

So if anyone has any words of wisdom for a newbie in all this I'd greatly appreciate it!

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Decorator asked for 10 more litres of paint. I sent DH. He bought 10 POTS. We now have 75 litres of mixed paint. £500 worth. Idiot.

Luckily it’s a local shop and the owner said he’ll mix it to another colour for me but it has to be a white base which is not what I wanted for the remaining spaces. Decorator can also use a lot of it for base coats etc as it’s so pale. But FFS what a stupid thing to do! At the moment I’m seeing the funny side but I’m also seething

Welcome @Classicblunder and @JustLikeJasper! My only advice is stock up on booze

I am at the end of my tether with ours. We should have had the inside finished for Christmas. We are at least two weeks off that. I’ve just had enough.
For anyone who hasn’t yet started - just don’t

@Callmejudith

Welcome *@Classicblunder and @JustLikeJasper*! My only advice is stock up on booze

Done! Trying to figure out where to store all the booze while works take place

Problem #1: we were told only one of our neighbours needed to do a party wall agreement, now apparently the other needs to as well!

For those of you reaching the end of your build, please could you add any "gems of wisdom" or Things I Wish I'd Known to this resource thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/3680823-The-MN-surviving-building-an-extension-thread-of-hints-and-tips?msgid=99139990

@Callmejudith that was the first thing I bought after the house 😂

So good to see some coming to the end with some fabulous kitchens and others, like me, right at the start. Loving the pics.

OMG to to all the paint callmejudith!!

Sorry for all those with stresses, I guess I need to be prepared to wish I’d never started once we get going.

Builder we met on Monday thinks he can start April, unable to give a price until he sees the construction drawings which the architect is taking his sweet time with. PP should be decided by 4 Feb at latest. I will want at least 1 or 2 more comparative quotes once I get this builder’s one.

😱 & 🙄 at your DH @Callmejudith!!!

Hope he’s feeling sheepish now!

Guys have been attacking our old floor joists in the tv room today. It’s been so noisy, I’ve apologised to the neighbours.
That floor is marginally higher than the old kitchen floor so needs to come down by millimetres to be level with everything else. So much I didn’t know or understand before we started.

Have now also noticed/remembered that the hearth is badly cracked and now is a good time to replace it really. So worktop guy is coming back on Monday to see if he can offer me something suitable.

One more week of work to go before Christmas…. No decorations up anywhere yet!

Oh my goodness @Callmejudith 😂 🤦🏼‍♀️ I reckon you could set up a little paint shop on fb marketplace!!

My advice to the not yet started is...start in April/May, then you may be done by Christmas. And add 30% to the projected costs and add on an extra 2 months to what anyone tells you!!

Today has been an ok day on site. The wood floors in the living room, playroom and hallway are all repaired and sanded. They started the varnishing for the living room.

I'm annoyed that neither the floor guys or the foreman work weekends. I just need them to bloody finish!!

Actually the foreman is nice, but I've changed my mind on giving him a Christmas bonus, as he has no sense of urgency.

We've got some knobs on the kitchen units. They need to paint the kitchen ceiling and walls tomorrow and then start kitchen cornice on Monday. The mantle over the range is ready for the cornice too 👏

Staircase guys are apparently going to finish off the newel posts tomorrow and then they need to paint it.

Wishing everyone a speedy build weekend!!

@Callmejudith

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Decorator asked for 10 more litres of paint. I sent DH. He bought 10 POTS. We now have 75 litres of mixed paint. £500 worth. Idiot.

Luckily it’s a local shop and the owner said he’ll mix it to another colour for me but it has to be a white base which is not what I wanted for the remaining spaces. Decorator can also use a lot of it for base coats etc as it’s so pale. But FFS what a stupid thing to do! At the moment I’m seeing the funny side but I’m also seething

This is so something my DH would do. Can you sell it?

@Littlemissweepy

Sorry for all those with stresses, I guess I need to be prepared to wish I’d never started once we get going.

Builder we met on Monday thinks he can start April, unable to give a price until he sees the construction drawings which the architect is taking his sweet time with. PP should be decided by 4 Feb at latest. I will want at least 1 or 2 more comparative quotes once I get this builder’s one.

One price of advice. List absolutely everything you will need and get the builder to quote for it. Just the architects drawings leaves a lot to the builders imagination. The more vague you are, the less accurate the price and the harder it will be to quote. Examples include specifying the exact skirting you want (style, material, where you want it, primer or painted?), do you also need architrave, new doors, door frames, what door furniture, how do you want them to open, primed, painted, builder supplied or you will supply......go around every wall in every room affected and list everything you will need. You'd be surprised how it all adds up and will be 'extras' on the bill

Posh that is looking soooo good!

So today was the big day for getting the planning permission through. The deadline the council stated has been and gone and no decision. They have asked us some seriously tedious things like reduce the new bedroom depth by 30cm?? We have done everything they have asked so just give us the planning permission already!

I'm desperate to get onto building reg drawings so I can start planning kitchen design 😁

@Sewfrickinamazeballs not all architects are equal
When I do construction drawings they are always accompanied by full notes and a full spec - I don't leave anything up to the builders(although I'm happy to discuss) because I don't think you get what you want any other way.
I know other architects (mainly who I went to architecture school with) who are the same so I'm not alone but I believe from various comments over the years we might be in a minority.

I’ve woken up in a foul mood about #paintgate. So annoyed

@Callmejudith remember that the little things get magnified in these times of intense reno stress (says me who grumbles every day about the placement of a tap hole). Try to laugh it off lovely. He'll never live it down!!

[quote wonkylegs]@Sewfrickinamazeballs not all architects are equal
When I do construction drawings they are always accompanied by full notes and a full spec - I don't leave anything up to the builders(although I'm happy to discuss) because I don't think you get what you want any other way.
I know other architects (mainly who I went to architecture school with) who are the same so I'm not alone but I believe from various comments over the years we might be in a minority. [/quote]

This is good to hear, but as you say I don't think this is the norm. Our architect did have a full spec service but the cost was almost the same as the drawings so we did this ourselves. It won't be up to an architects standards but it's better than providing a builder with drawings, asking for mid-spec and hoping what you get is what you hoped for.

I know @PoshWatchShitShoes it’s just so indicative of how he’s been over the whole build - fucking useless!

In better news the kids had sleepovers last night and I made a huge pancake feast for them all on the island this morning and it was lovely - THAT’s why the blood sweat, tears and possible divorce was worth it

How much did you have to change it @GardensandGrandDesigns?

Hello

I have been watching this thread for a while and now need to join!!

We started in September- 6 weeks we were told!! In hindsight that was wildly unrealistic.

We have been having a small extension on our kitchen rebuilt as it was old and not meeting building control previously- as a result riddled with damp.
We rebuilt it all exactly the same size but put in steels to open up the kitchen a bit more into the dining area.

All went right back down to the foundations. They have rebuilt it really well and so pleased with how it has opened up the space.

Got a Howdens kitchen which is half in. So much of it was designed to the wrong size and then the wrong parts sent or lots of missing bits. Builder claimed he'd checked the measurements previously months ago when we got it designed.. but clearly didn't. It takes days for each missing bit to be sorted.

Tiling and painting is mainly done. Lots of bits still to finish. Electrics half done, underfloor heating in but not yet working. The list goes on! Fridge was too big for the gap left- American fridge freezer and it stuck out about a foot into the kitchen. Managed to return it to John Lewis and got a new one with less depth coming.

We had to move out our living room as it is a terraced house and open plan downstairs so they needed the space. They have now cleared that and we've had a clean today so at least we can move back down. Kitchen will have working oven, hob, washing machine and dishasher from next week.

Howdens not coming for worktop fitting until early Jan. Then the bifold doors not until Feb. So we have a boarded up giant doorway. They put insulation so it isn't too bad.

But anyway, as you can see we are in limbo of being so much further along but also so much to do. Builders keep acting like it'll be two more days or keep putting less urgent jobs as ones they will finish off in February. Keep pushing back. Feel like I'm now micromanaging them! Exhausting!!

Really thought we'd be done except the doors for Christmas. I feel constantly let down and worried if it will all work out. Just needed a rant!!

@Littlemissweepy

How much did you have to change it *@GardensandGrandDesigns*?

Nothing major. Lower 80cm of roof height, 30cm reduced depth in bedroom and remove parapet off the wall.