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

[Callmejudith]

New thread!

Afternoon all - today is a crap day. My very beautiful Quooker tap is still faulty despite the new spare part being fitted by the plumber today 😭 Now a 1-week wait for an engineer to come to fix/replace!!

Then I've got a ridiculously high bill through for some spray painting. I didn't get a quote in advance and just dropped off the bits. Including 3 ikea wardrobe doors that I asked if he could look at and let me know, as I didn't want to keep them long term, but could be a quick cheaper make over. The price he's now charged for spraying them is a lot more than the doors cost 😭My fault 🙈

Also, I keep seeing issues with the wallpapering in my room. Some cock ups that I'm not sure what to do. The room is otherwise "finished". Previous plumber has caused more issues with his fucking pipework. I hate that guy.

Can it be tomorrow already??!

IKEA doors were £35 each and he's charging me £180 each for the respray. Gutted 😭

Oh no @PoshWatchShitShoes how annoying!!!!

Did any of you go for a walk in pantry? I've been looking at my plans again and think I might be able for one in by stealing a tiny bit of space from my utility and getting rid of a pantry cupboard from the kitchen shop. I'm
just not sure what size they need to be to actually be useful.....

@nomoneytree I think as long as all you have space to put shelves all around and can access everything then they can be quite small. There's someone on instagram called goodboneslondon who has a small but perfectly formed pantry cupboard

We have gone for a pantry, although it’s not built yet so can’t add much info.

We’re taking a slice out of the old kitchen, hoping for it to be about 1m deep and approx 2/2.5m wide. Hoping to get some sort of sliding doors so it opens and becomes part of the kitchen sometimes, then slide the doors shut to hide it all away. Not sure I’m describing it well though! Hope to put the toaster in there, on a worktop same level as the kitchen island so it sort of looks similar. Then white wooden shelves higher up for tins, jars, etc. picturing organised labelled thingies full of useful ingredients 😂

Then bigger shelves below for big bags of cat food/bulk buy stuff.

Had promised a deep drawer for crisp packets that I’d totally forgotten to include so far. Maybe a big pull out basket on a lower shelf in the pantry?

Big appliance progress here today:

New fridge/freezer is on and plumbed in, so can get cold water from it now. Ice later this eve once it’s cooled enough. And crushed ice for my Baileys, mmmmm.

Drinks fridge connected, currently chilling some wine and prosecco to choose from later.

One oven and one microwave connected, big instruction manuals to read…..

Tomorrow is the other oven and microwave.
Move the dishwasher out of the old bit into the new bit.
Move the washing machine to a temp home in the new bit with temp plumbing.
Install temp tap until Qettle tap arrives (have tried to choose a good two that can then move to the utility sink).

Then, I think, maybe, perhaps, the new kitchen is finished…?! 😱

We can move out of the old and let them take over as their new building site.

@PoshWatchShitShoes

Afternoon all - today is a crap day. My very beautiful Quooker tap is still faulty despite the new spare part being fitted by the plumber today 😭 Now a 1-week wait for an engineer to come to fix/replace!!

Then I've got a ridiculously high bill through for some spray painting. I didn't get a quote in advance and just dropped off the bits. Including 3 ikea wardrobe doors that I asked if he could look at and let me know, as I didn't want to keep them long term, but could be a quick cheaper make over. The price he's now charged for spraying them is a lot more than the doors cost 😭My fault 🙈

Also, I keep seeing issues with the wallpapering in my room. Some cock ups that I'm not sure what to do. The room is otherwise "finished". Previous plumber has caused more issues with his fucking pipework. I hate that guy.

Can it be tomorrow already??!

I'm having quooker tap issues too. Is your boiling water coming out boiling instantly. Mine starts like warm and get very warm but I'm not sure it is boiling. Hard to know if it's working.

@SugarZebra it should be steaming hot. My tap is just leaking even when turned off. It's both the filtered cold water and boiling that's faulty (not the regular hot/cold water). It's so annoying to call Quooker, as there's always a 40-min wait just to speak with someone. Then they're quick though, so customer service is good. Hope yours gets fixed quickly

@nomoneytree we've got 2 walk in pantries and a walk in larder. The pantries are 1.1m wide. Floor plan below.

We have a 1m larder which is the end of the passageway.. they are cutting the door in for it tomorrow. I had a similar sized one in my previous house and loved it. It will be walk in on the sense that my tween will be able to stand in it with door closed but my big behind will not! Floor to ceiling racking however for bulk food, toilet rolls, Christmas crockery, booze, cat food etc.

Oh posh that looks amazing. More space than I have I think. Is there any chance you could post a photo? I'll post a screenshot of my plan as interested in if people think it will be big enough.

@LimpLettice yes I suspect my
massive lockdown behind will be sticking out of mine!!

@nomoneytree 😂

I am really very pissed off this evening. Trying to find someone to fit our solid surface worktops as the builder isn't comfortable with it and getting ridiculous quotes. £1500 plus vat for a simple L shape with free standing cooker and small island. That's £500 more than the effing stuff cost. It's not much less than the fitting of the entire rest of the kitchen. Eats up huge amount of our contingency. Grrr.

Oh limp that is really rubbish. I think some people just take advantage.

This is our plan. I have circled in purple where I think we could put a walk in pantry, but I'm not sure if there is enough space. Be really grateful for any comments (and on the kitchen area generally tbh).

Arghh helps if you attach it...

@LimpLettice I have used Solid Surface Kitchens too. My kitchen fitter was wobbly about fitting the Duropal worktop but is going to do it. I feel a bit of a hostage to fortune as 1) he hasn’t quoted and 2) hasn’t requested any money yet and is 1-2 weeks away from finishing. I know I am breaking every rule in the book by not insisting in an itemised quote. I ah e used him before though, he is good and charges accordingly.

@whataboutbob I just don't understand it. Everything from the salesperson to the manufacturer website (Hi Macs) says it's super simple to cut and join, but fitters are talking about templating up, taking it to their workshop, blah blah blah. It's like 3 joins and a sink cut out. Will chase a couple more options tomorrow.

Yes it’s odd. I tried another guy, he came round, had a look, then emailed me to give me the “ dear John”. In my case the narrow stairs up to the 1st floor flat probably did it, my kitchen fitter cut it to size on the pavement!

@Nomoneytree I have a walk in pantry well to be truthful my husband does! He's really pleased with it. It's 3.5m by 2m so room for the chest freezer.

Oh god trying again. The bit in purple is where I think I can fit one.....

That’s a thing of beauty MissFritton. I hope to have a pantry when I grow up.

@whataboutbob thank you! It is a very useful space and frees up lots of space in the kitchen.

That looks great @MissFritton65. Where is the door on the 2m side or the 3.5m side.

I can believe it @MissFritton65. When I had my first job rented a flat in a Victorian block , it had a pantry and I loved it.