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

[Callmejudith]

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

Not a chance! He can have all of it when it's all done! After all the let downs, I would hang on to it!

Think I pressed report when I was trying to reply @RinklyRomaine sorry!

@RinklyRomaine definitely not, they clearly need an incentive to finish so suggest the builder pushes the subbies to sort themselves out so that you can pay them when it's finished.

Thank you. He's a bloody pain. Good bloke, great job, but gets arsey if you don't agree. Spoke to his boys who've been here ages and it sounds like another job not paying on time. I've told him he has to communicate with DH and not me as I find it too stressful now. DH doesn't mince his words 😂

On the bright side I have cooked a meal for the kids, I have a gin and I can't stop admiring my doors.

@RinklyRomaine

Our architect advised an independent inspector to approve first and we have had no major issues.

Our doors have gone in. 14w after ordering. No glass yet but today hopefully. Not as grand as a lot of your projects but they are what we wanted and I do rather love them.

Sorry your having a shit time with the builder but those doors are lush.

@BlueMooMoo Don't know how I missed your question earlier, sorry!

We've basically joined two existing extensions and increased the floor space downstairs by about 100%. We had a big lounge diner before. The kitchen has moved from a dreadful tiny galley extension back into the original diner, which then expands into the new extension, and we've added an en-suite, dressing room, utility to the existing office side extension. It squares it off. The old utility is now the office.

Love the doors @wonkylegs
Noted on building control @wonkylegs. We nearly fell foul of this but recovered it now thankfully!

I'm packing up our utility. They are starting on the 28th and the first thing they have to do is knock the utility down. For most people this would be an easy task but we seem to have enough tools to set up in trade, (particularly decorating I'm currently wondering if my husband has a secret life as a painter and decorator). We have a toilet and sink unit still boxed that I don't actually want to use as I've gone off it (haven't told dh yet). For some reason I thought it was sensible to order dog food from Amazon so have enough for kennels. I think I found 5 torches. Rugby and footballs. Bits of string. Aarrgggh it has taken hours and still going. Bags of bits that I don't know what to do with. Shall I just throw them away??!!

How is everyone's family coping with major house works?

DD6 coping ok with the practical side of things given most of our belongings are in storage but struggling with (mostly my) lack of focus on her as so much of our energy is going into keeping this whole thing on track. It doesn't help she is an only, no family nearby and hasn't really made strong friends yet to the point that play dates are happening. Slightly off topic but just started to realise how much of a strain this sort of thing puts on a family.

Could have done with a 6 month house renovation sabbatical from work.

@nomoneytree

I'm packing up our utility. They are starting on the 28th and the first thing they have to do is knock the utility down. For most people this would be an easy task but we seem to have enough tools to set up in trade, (particularly decorating I'm currently wondering if my husband has a secret life as a painter and decorator). We have a toilet and sink unit still boxed that I don't actually want to use as I've gone off it (haven't told dh yet). For some reason I thought it was sensible to order dog food from Amazon so have enough for kennels. I think I found 5 torches. Rugby and footballs. Bits of string. Aarrgggh it has taken hours and still going. Bags of bits that I don't know what to do with. Shall I just throw them away??!!

Sounds like a room of doom!

Maybe put all the stuff you don't need in a box and see if anyone local wants any of it. We have got rid of loads of random stuff this way. After that, I would just chuck it. What else can do do really?

@nomoneytree

We have unpacked a few bits now and I've started binning / selling stuff I thought we'd keep, and am now wishing I hadn't spent the last 3 months tripping over on the bedroom. We should have been more ruthless!

The saga of our blasted builder continues. I eventually agreed to chuck him the cash for some extra plumbing that has been done on pain of someone turning up today. Not unreasonably as they worked yesterday and said they would be in today for all last bits. Said I'd send it when he arrived. So of course, he didn't.

Never mind. I managed to cook a roast today in my half finished kitchen and it was so wonderful to eat real food!

Box of life jackets anyone? What about a boat sail?

Builder is annoying me as he's rushing us to order roof tiles (I told him about the delay in getting them). I want new versions of what we have got (Brosley) he's given me some horrible engineered things that are a flat colour and keeps saying they will look the same. Arrrrghghhh.

@nomoneytree did you consider reclaimed Broseley tiles - would reduce lead times and would be pre weathered so would match in better.
We used reclaimed slates and the roof is beautiful and matches in with the main house fantastically as well as being cheaper & better quality than the new equivalent.

Thoughts on our kitchen before I order it this month... Does a 2.5m worktop run sound ok? We will have an island for worktop too. Sorry for first world problems.

@GardensandGrandDesigns I think that sounds ample. What's going on the worktop, if anything at all? How bigs the island?

I've always had hardly any worktop but have about 2m which I barely use as just use the end of the island which is nearer the fridge and cooker.

[quote Ribb]@GardensandGrandDesigns I think that sounds ample. What's going on the worktop, if anything at all? How bigs the island?

I've always had hardly any worktop but have about 2m which I barely use as just use the end of the island which is nearer the fridge and cooker.[/quote]
The 2.5m will house the sink but hubby keeps saying it doesn't sound very big. The island is 2.9m X 1m with a hob and downdraft extractor.

@GardensandGrandDesigns
Do you have space to have more worktop 👀 how much does DH think is needed?
I have hob and downdraft extractor on my island which is prob around ----goes to measure 2m x 1.2m so it does sound like you've got a decent amount.

Depends what you need to do with it. Food prep or surface area for when you're serving up or have gatherings. I used mine as a bar area and food service for a. birthday gathering a few weeks ago and it was super! We are only a family of 4 and Im the main one using the open plan kitchen. I'd still love more worktop even though I potentially don't need it!

Our island is 2.5 x 1.5 with a sink then we have 2 small 1m stretches and a 3m stretch. It's loads. So far I'm using the island for gods prep and one corner of the long run as coffee spot. Works fine.

I've been using a reduced depth 1m for the last 5years so it sounds massive to me!
Could you mark out the area in the garden or your bedroom wall so he can visualise the space better? Or go to your local DIY big shed and look at a kitchen then with your tape measure?

Food prep. Obvs 🙄

[quote RinklyRomaine]@BlueMooMoo Don't know how I missed your question earlier, sorry!

We've basically joined two existing extensions and increased the floor space downstairs by about 100%. We had a big lounge diner before. The kitchen has moved from a dreadful tiny galley extension back into the original diner, which then expands into the new extension, and we've added an en-suite, dressing room, utility to the existing office side extension. It squares it off. The old utility is now the office. [/quote]
That sounds brilliant.

I think I must be adding the least space here but it's going to make the house work so much better.

@nomoneytree

I'm packing up our utility. They are starting on the 28th and the first thing they have to do is knock the utility down. For most people this would be an easy task but we seem to have enough tools to set up in trade, (particularly decorating I'm currently wondering if my husband has a secret life as a painter and decorator). We have a toilet and sink unit still boxed that I don't actually want to use as I've gone off it (haven't told dh yet). For some reason I thought it was sensible to order dog food from Amazon so have enough for kennels. I think I found 5 torches. Rugby and footballs. Bits of string. Aarrgggh it has taken hours and still going. Bags of bits that I don't know what to do with. Shall I just throw them away??!!

It's so hard! We're going to have no money at the end of the build so it's weighing up storing rubbish furniture that was only meant to be temporary to use afterwards versus actually having zero furniture when the build is finished Packing is going very slowly....

Yes decided it's enough worktop and I'm putting my foot down! Frankly we can't afford anymore as the kitchen units are already coming in at 9.5k. That's double what I thought at the start.

@GardensandGrandDesigns

Yes decided it's enough worktop and I'm putting my foot down! Frankly we can't afford anymore as the kitchen units are already coming in at 9.5k. That's double what I thought at the start.

Where are you getting your units from?

DIY kitchens Norton range.