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

[Callmejudith]

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

That's interesting, LaBelle, thanks. Admittedly I've only spoken to one firm so far - they're a design and build outfit - and they said 2 storeys would be double the cost of one. Online sites generally seem to say you can add a bit to the cost of a single, but twice the cost did seem pretty horrific to me.

Perhaps it depends how large you're going to be? I'd certainly ask another couple of firms though

👋 Thanks for the new thread @Callmejudith

Lots of activity on site today as they're finishing up. New door handles and final bits.

Plumber actually turned the radiators on today. I had to buy a new Nest thermostat as our previous one is somewhere in storage 🤦🏼‍♀️

I LOVE my new rads!! They look beautiful and feel toasty. He's turned the system off for the weekend though in case of any leaks, which seems sensible.

The foreman is pissing me off, as he just said that he doesn't work Saturdays....despite just having 12 days off with covid. He'll "be in after lunch on Monday!!". I give up. I thought he was awesome till his work ethic took a cliff dive in mid-December 🤦🏼‍♀️

My 2 favourite labourers are leaving the job after tomorrow. They're heading back to their home country 😭 They are very good, so it's a shame that they won't be around for the last few days next week.

Overall everything looks good. Post-build cleaners booked for 26th. Hopeful to move in on 29th!!!

@GardensandGrandDesigns there are some gorgeous DIY Kitchens on Insta accts I follow. If you DM me, I'll send you the account names, as they both had detailed Q&As on their experience.

I ordered from Handmade Kitchens, which I love. Not sure how they compare to DIYK. I've had to have it painted myself, whereas DIYK come finished I think. Super long lead times with HMKC, but I'd definitely recommend quality

@LaBelleSausage

Perhaps it depends how large you're going to be? I'd certainly ask another couple of firms though

Oh yes, we definitely would if we have the nerve to go ahead! We're getting some plans done to start, though. At least see what's feasible.

@GardensandGrandDesigns my kitchen and utility room are from DIY and I'm really impressed with the quality for the price. We had some of units bespoke painted to match our quartz. Their customer service is fantastic too!

I've used DIYkitchens for a clients job and it was great. You have to do the design and order though - we'll my clients paid me to do it. It still was worth it though even with my fees. They got a kitchen for less than half the price we got quoted from Tom Howley which due to the size was substantial but looked as good and was fab quality. We bought the handles elsewhere and got a local fitter.

Hi everyone

I am 18 weeks into a 24 week build- double storey extension and loft. It has been without doubt the most stressful thing I have done. My builder was lovely, a complete gentleman, did very little mansplaining and seemed to have lots of integrity ....UNTIL the build started.

I know its common to only discover things once project starts but he so ever happily refers back to the scope which now I have some experience on this build is very cleverly written. I really hate being taken a mug of, but given how hard it is to find trade and current house is sold and buyer wants to move in, I have to grit my teeth and get on with it.

Until today, I realised all invoices didn't have a vat number, but you guessed it- he's charging VAT. His reply was that he was registered months again but there was a problem and now his accountant has to do it manually ( copies in said accountant. Looking for advice on how to navigate this.....

Lurking for the moment. We had an initial meeting with a designer and space planner, and we're looking to do a single storey extension to 'fill in' the L-shaped back of our house. We'll also be knocking through to the living room, creating a snug and remodelling the upstairs of the house. Can't wait to get started!

[quote PoshWatchShitShoes]@GardensandGrandDesigns there are some gorgeous DIY Kitchens on Insta accts I follow. If you DM me, I'll send you the account names, as they both had detailed Q&As on their experience.

I ordered from Handmade Kitchens, which I love. Not sure how they compare to DIYK. I've had to have it painted myself, whereas DIYK come finished I think. Super long lead times with HMKC, but I'd definitely recommend quality [/quote]
Hiya, think I've dm'd you!

I’m in too! 👋 Planning permission in for a kitchen extension and building some garden rooms. Doing some internal remodeling and a full renovation on top, re roof, re wire, re plumb and full cosmetic overall, new bathrooms, new windows, garden redesign. Every inch of house basically 😮 . Waiting on builder quotes and hoping to start in March.

I still can't believe how expensive the build is going to be. I naively thought I could totally renovate and extend our house for 100k.

Yes why is it on the TV shows they have modest budgets and get the moon on a stick for that!? Whereas in the real world…. Am thinking Your Home Made Perfect in particular.

Can I ask what kind of prices per square metre you are paying (assuming VAT, appliances and decorating on top, so to plaster finish)? And where in the country, very roughly, you are? We have planning permission and building control through for a ground floor rear extension but have taken our foot off the accelerator due to reported supply chain issues and it sounding as though everything was going through the roof. Need to get back on it but not sure what we should expect price-wise….

@Littlemissweepy

Yes why is it on the TV shows they have modest budgets and get the moon on a stick for that!? Whereas in the real world…. Am thinking Your Home Made Perfect in particular.

Definitely agree although I do love that show!

Anyone been to this glass door showroom?
www.iqglassuk.com/
Apparently it's the biggest showroom in the UK. I really want to source some amazing wide as possible frameless sliding doors. And now I understand why my build isn't under 100k 😬🤣

@MacaroniCheeseCat

Can I ask what kind of prices per square metre you are paying (assuming VAT, appliances and decorating on top, so to plaster finish)? And where in the country, very roughly, you are? We have planning permission and building control through for a ground floor rear extension but have taken our foot off the accelerator due to reported supply chain issues and it sounding as though everything was going through the roof. Need to get back on it but not sure what we should expect price-wise….

I'm in super expensive Hertfordshire and I would say 3k/SQM maybe a little less, to plaster stage. Excluding flooring, kitchens or anything like that.

@MacaroniCheeseCat

Can I ask what kind of prices per square metre you are paying (assuming VAT, appliances and decorating on top, so to plaster finish)? And where in the country, very roughly, you are? We have planning permission and building control through for a ground floor rear extension but have taken our foot off the accelerator due to reported supply chain issues and it sounding as though everything was going through the roof. Need to get back on it but not sure what we should expect price-wise….

I can't help I'm afraid. Ours is an extension and renovation so not really looking at sq/m prices, but our builder did say wood prices have dropped 15% so think we are over the hump
of price rises and maybe even some drops (in some areas at least)

@Littlemissweepy totally agree!! I love watching Love It or List It and they seem to spend £50k doing what's costing me £350k 😂

[quote PoshWatchShitShoes]@Littlemissweepy totally agree!! I love watching Love It or List It and they seem to spend £50k doing what's costing me £350k 😂 [/quote]
I'm convinced the production company contribute. No way can any of these builds get done for the money they say they have spent.

@GardensandGrandDesigns Just replied 😊

I’ll lurk for a while. We have planning permission for a 15m2 in-fill extension and interior renovation, and are currently awaiting building regs sign off. Will then go out to tender, no idea if work will start this year or not but I’m so ready for it. We’ve lived in the house for 6yrs, trying to get a feel for what changes would suit us best, and now we know, all the flaws just really irritate me 😃.

@PoshWatchShitShoes do you mean Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch or somewhere else please? We love the quality of DIY kitchens but have a difficult shape to navigate so need some bespoke elements sadly.

Found you all! I am at the start of a 9 month project to extend and refurb an entire house. The price is easily 100% more than I thought it would be before we started! We were quite naive despite doing this before.

@callmejudith - please explain why your downstairs toilet is unsuitable! Don't tell me you're putting in a glass door?
@Sewfrickinamazeballs - I am a couple of weeks behind you but you got to this point well before me. Planning and quotes took a long time for us.
@PoshWatchShitShoes - you're almost a graduate so we're relying on your experience to guide us all!
@Myfabby - is he now charging the VAT at once for all previous invoices? Although it's irregular, I guess it's to be expected. A lot of builders are being chased by the tax man after claiming Covid help after flying under the radar for years. We had two quote who subsequently went bust and started up again under a different name

@Callmejudith so for background- we are Victorian double fronted - all very symmetrical. we are knocking down a death trap garage and building on top of that and shifting the garage into our land next door. The architect is working off my very amateurish floor plans (but he was impressed with my graph paper 😂). Have attached my doodle of the ground floor (green is existing house and pink is all new) and will update with more when we get it. I’m excited and terrified all at the same time. The architects ballpark figure is between 90k and 140k but I know how out of touch architects can be with on the ground costs so we’ll see when the builders come round

Cropping the photo down would be easier to see! Head in the game Tom 😂