Extension Thread 2022....plaster, panic and pics

[Callmejudith]

Slightly naff title but I haven't had enough coffee yet

Have an urgent Q for those further on to me.

Do I need trickle vents in my french doors in the extension which is open plan kitchen/sitting room/dining room so will have an extractor plus opening windows as part of the doors.

I've looked up the 2010 regulations and it seems to say "it depends.."

[quote NewHouseNewMe]@Sewfrickinamazeballs - we got the Milano Windsor radiators which are gorgeous but not cheap. Bestheating does them but also available on Amazon..
@Littlemissweepy - I don't have experience of any objections but it's worth looking unemotionally at it to see if there is any grounds. For instance, an obscure window versus a clear window if one overlooks them. But objections do not mean that the plans will be rejected.[/quote]

Thanks. I'm looking at best heating now. Good to hear about the Milano Windsor, I'm looking at this style for downstairs and just some big standard ones for upstairs.

Do builders get a trade discount with them? I'll have to ask I suppose.

Definitely nothing overlooking them, the stone wall at the bottom of their garden is over 6ft tall and the building is a few inches above that, flat roof, no window. Architect has said it won’t block any light so not sure it should be upheld.

@NewHouseNewMe best to ask the building inspector for your project as it comes down to their judgement. Get them to confirm by email if possible.

@Littlemissweepy as an architect I've dealt with quite a few objections over the past few decades ranging from reasonable to completely wacky. They are fairly common but not always something to worry about.
If your project follows the local design guidance then they are unlikely to have any merits so nothing will happen. If it's a matter that a small tweak would solve you may be asked to consider it. If it's something you should have done (ie not have a window looking straight into their living room) then you may be asked to change it or it may be refused (usually depends how serious it is)

Really helpful wonkylegs thank you. I will keep my fingers crossed. In other news I have a first quote from the preferred builder. I did want it to start with a 2, it is 285k excluding VAT, yikes. About to go through it with a fine tooth comb.

Ceiling taken down in dining area in prep for skylights . Building team were great. All done and dusted within 2 hours and mess cleared away. 10 months in of house reno and just beginning to envision the end!

How many quotes are you expecting @Littlemissweepy ?
It’s a bit like dating. You can get a good feeling on builders and some are worth the premium!
Not sure where you are but it’s hard to get quotes at the moment.

newhousenewme I had a second guy round yesterday who talked a very good game, can’t start until August though and first guy can do us in April. Will wait to see his quote. Even this bit is stressful!

Renderer is here today, has done the back around the bifolds and started on the side extension.

Trying to keep the neighbours happy and updated, the guys are talking to them too so hope it’s all going smoothly with them 🤞

We’re off for a couple of days tomorrow but with the terrible weather forecast I’m not sure how much more will get down outside.
The plumber and electrician here too generally faffing about - I mean I’m sure it’s all important just isn’t visibly significant IYKWIM?

Mostly the cats are fed up as they’ve trained us well to open the bifolds to let them in and out the back and it’s all covered up for the rendered 😂

Anyone else getting affected by the weather? Esp if you’re up north hope you stay safe and nothing gets damaged.

Mist coated and painted the snug yesterday. Lunch with the parents followed by mist coat in the kitchen which arrives on Saturday and will need several coats. Impossible to do while either builders or toddlers about, DH has done his back in, and am now in the throes of a long old bedtime routine. Gonna be a long week.

Hello everyone

Very successful trip at DIY kitchens this week, it's as good as you all said it was!! We decided on the Linwood in the end. Helmsley was beautiful but I think the inframe would bug me.
Bad news, building reg drawings have thrown up some problems urgh! 5 beams required and 2 nibs on each side and in the middle of our new open plan family room! Goodbye long kitchen run. However a small kitchen is going to look silly in a 49m2 room!

Please tell me someone else has overcome this issue and there is a magical cheap solution?? 😳

For those of you just beginning on the journey, it's definitely hard and has many ups and downs and twists and turns. It costs more than you ever imagined and takes so much longer.... but it's worth it!
This is our kitchen after 13 months and how it was before......hang in there!

@GardensandGrandDesigns the photo is a DIY kitchen but just needs boxing in.
We had very large steels to avoid a pillar and lowered the ceiling between the original and extension to minimise the nib.

Sadly we can't lower the ceilings as they are only 230mm ☹️

@GardensandGrandDesigns, glad you enjoyed it. We ate just completing the installation of a dove grey Linwood kitchen. It looks good.
We have two little protrusions into our kitchen where the original back wall of the house was - is that what you mean by nibs? We built the kitchen in the original part of the house and used a G shape for the main kitchen so we could wrap the worktop round the wall. I'll attach a photo from a few weeks ago to see if that helps.

@GardensandGrandDesigns do you mean nibs at the side? How wide is you room? We have "side columns" that protrude at the join between original and extension but as our room is wide it's not an issue. (Excuse woeful lack of technical vocabulary/knowledge)

[quote sluj]@GardensandGrandDesigns, glad you enjoyed it. We ate just completing the installation of a dove grey Linwood kitchen. It looks good.
We have two little protrusions into our kitchen where the original back wall of the house was - is that what you mean by nibs? We built the kitchen in the original part of the house and used a G shape for the main kitchen so we could wrap the worktop round the wall. I'll attach a photo from a few weeks ago to see if that helps.[/quote]
Hiya your kitchen is looking lovely! Yes that's exactly it! We have planned a kitchen run in the existing part of the house and through into the new extension but these nibs will cut it significantly shorter.

[quote MissFritton65]@GardensandGrandDesigns do you mean nibs at the side? How wide is you room? We have "side columns" that protrude at the join between original and extension but as our room is wide it's not an issue. (Excuse woeful lack of technical vocabulary/knowledge)[/quote]
It's just shy of 7m wide. How have you joined up the space with the columns dividing your space?

Can you put some reduced depth units along the "nib" then take them to full depth once you are passed it like we did? DH just adapted the back of a corner unit so it was only 300mm deep along one of the sides. Isn't it hard describing these things?

@GardensandGrandDesigns we have extended sideways as well as backwards so our kitchen is in the original kitchen and dining room with the pantry, utility and sitting area all in the new extension.

@sluj

Can you put some reduced depth units along the "nib" then take them to full depth once you are passed it like we did? DH just adapted the back of a corner unit so it was only 300mm deep along one of the sides. Isn't it hard describing these things?

It really is and I'm trying to imagine how we could adapt but it does spoil the vision I had of all quartz splashback above the long run of units. I just wish the architect had put it in the original drawings as I would have designed the kitchen knowing this! Feeling a bit crestfallen and hard to visualise!

@GardensandGrandDesigns don't be crestfallen as the extension will be so much better than you currently have but I do understand how it's easy to be disillusioned with the builders/and plans especially with the huge amounts of money involved; our extension was nothing liked I'd imagined as it being built and I spent months disappointed as it looked small but now it's almost finished I'm delighted and it's far better than I imagined.

[quote MissFritton65]@GardensandGrandDesigns don't be crestfallen as the extension will be so much better than you currently have but I do understand how it's easy to be disillusioned with the builders/and plans especially with the huge amounts of money involved; our extension was nothing liked I'd imagined as it being built and I spent months disappointed as it looked small but now it's almost finished I'm delighted and it's far better than I imagined.[/quote]
Thank you @MissFritton65
It is costing an arm and a leg so I just feel like I should be getting what I want! Diva moment!

@GardensandGrandDesigns sadly I'm known as the ultimate diva so I understand exactly how you feel! We are £300k in and having to compromise on the finish which is galling as that's the part everyone sees; no one says I love the way you're levelled and insulated the floors but they'll notice the cheap flooring!!