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

[Callmejudith]

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

Oh, and I love our Vispring mattress.

@Yellownotblue that sounds a bit rubbish and sorry you're having to bear the brunt of someone else's problem. At some point everyone is just going to have to grin and bear it and it will be over before they know it.

Thanks BlueMoo, would need to put credit on beds too, will be googling kaymed for matresses, thanks so much. I have been searching online couple of weeks on bed and couldnt get to anything that I like. I have a quote from revival bed around £3100 however not too sure about the design.

We have problem with some anonymous neighbor too, the council called 5 times the last 2 months about someone in neighbourhood complaining. One was the banner of the construction company is bigger than the allowed size( they have to switch the 2m to 1m banner). I could guess almost certain who is it.

Can I please have another question, on water softener( thinking of getting Harvey to fit it). Would it reduce the water pressure massively. We dont have great pressure however improved it with accumulator and cylinder which has a pump. I am now worried that the water softener may dampen the effort.

Sorry to hear all the neighbour troubles. Ours actually simmered down a bit. Invited them round on Sunday for a cuppa and a chat, they were here over an hour and a half and afterwards we all understood each other much better, and we have made some goodwill gestures to solve somethings that were problematic for them, and our build isn’t compromised atall.

On a more fun note, progressed the kitchen design lots and I am very excited about it. One thing I can’t seem to decide on is sink of all things. Was planning on a simple double stainless steel sink, though a niggling doubt that it will get scratched and look rough quickly. We could go for a glazed ceramic sink, but I had one of those Belfast ceramic sinks in last house and it was so rock hard, chipped a few dishes and glasses on it.

@littlemiss I've decided to go with ceramic Belfast after a similar dilemma. My main reasoning is that most plates and glasses go in the dishwasher so it will primarily be pans, knives, and baking trays that will be washed by hand and less likely to be damaged by ceramic. I also much prefer the aesthetic so I guess although it's less practical I'm prepared to live with it

We're making good progress so far. Building control is happy, our foundations are being poured right this minute, and bricklayers arriving on Tuesday. Next on my list, I need to chase up glazing quotes.

Slower progress today as there is a delay on skips. Carpentry work has been started in earnest now for the internal frame. Downstairs looks like rubble mountain but 80% of the internal walls have now been taken down.

Has anyone please got any tips for a cot dependent napper? I wish I could take the baby in the car or the pram but they will not have it. At home they go to sleep OK but invariably get woken up between 10mins-25mins due to the noise from the build. Not sure what else I can do.

That sounds like really good progress! What happens after concrete pour? Do they have to wait for it to dry?

Can't help with the toddler but I'm afraid, but just wanted to mention we are always waiting for skips too. We will be on number 11 next week, two more to go they think.

Good chat with the builder, his wife who I speak to the most via email and the electrician. Decisions made regarding lighting, staircase and made a list of other stuff that might cost money.

Have had to extend our air bnb by 10 days as they predict a 3 week overrun. Urgh!

Hi @BlueMooMoo I would just keep putting down in cot. They will get used to noise I think. I have a 21 month old and we are just carrying on as normal. Can you play music in their room when you put them down that might drown out some of the banging?

Superstructure is going up here. I caught a couple of mistakes on our plans yesterday thankfully. We want the worktop to run into the window and the plans didn't allow for the dropping of the cill. Pretty unimpressed with the way the architect dealt with it (and they now have to cut some of the blockwork out. Also we have two sets of sliding doors specced and for some reason they have put them in at different heights. I picked it up previously and they were meant to alter the construction plans - but didn't. Luckily I checked with the bricklayers as they were about to put the lintel in.

We have to move out but house we are going to is my parents (sadly passed) and I'm still house clearing - so trying to pack up two houses. Builder wants us gone after bank holiday. No chance! I get bogged down at my parents looking at old photos or finding badges and stuff that remind me of things. I realise that we are very lucky having somewhere to go though as rents in my area are £££.

@sew it must be a nationwide thing maybe. We are also filling a skip a day at the moment.
How many weeks was it meant to be originally?

@nomoney thank you. We've got white noise on to the max already. The day is just so difficult when it's broken into 4 x 20min naps. Baby gets so grouchy and then we get broken nights. So we're all feeling the tiredness a bit. Oh well, we have to keep persevering. 4months (hopefully) to go (by which point the baby starts nursery).

I'm hoping some of the internal trades such as plumber and electrician aren't quite as noisy as hammer impact drilling! One more structural beam to go in this week.

@nomomey I am very much trying not to be jealous of everyone who is moving out! Hoping last minute cancellations pop up on airbnb.

We had skip delayed 1 week couple of weeks ago as well so I would just remind the office when its almost full, hopefully to save time on that.

no-one on site today but they informed me. Its supposed to be 14 weeks and I think it has to be 18 weeks now which means mid July. Its only a loft and renovation of bed rooms, bathroom and 1 living room.

We couldnt afford rent in the area either. We moved to this house as the whole family needs the tube on daily basis and renting with close approximate distance isnt possible(very small and very expensive). We have a garage so dump all stuffs there and have 1 living room for the whole family to sleep in and the open plan kitchen, both are separated from the work by a door however there us only 1 bathroom/toilet which is in level 1 so if we are home, we have to go through the builders for it. If it isnt holiday like this week, no-one is home from 8-6pm so it has been manageable. Many days I just reminded myself about the rent cost and tried to bare with it all.

Sorry about typo, trying to catch up during a short lunch

@newhome that sounds tough all being in one room. Has that been for the whole of the build?

@newhome yes, being away from it during the day must make it much easier. It hasn't phased me too far except for the nap time trouble. The lack of sleep is just hard. But the filth and noise is about what I expected.

First major supply issue - roof tiles. We can't get any to match our existing. No idea how long a wait might be. We've been given one other choice by the builder which is a reasonable match but noticeable. Have asked if he can source any other options at all in stock so we can at least compare but decision needed by 9am tomorrow morning.

Have you asked how they might weather? They might not be as noticeable a few years down the line.
I had the same issue with bricks and then spent a week getting sample tiles from all over the country. It was annoying as the builder just thought it would be okay!

The colour has been matched to the weathered colour of the existing! There is a pretty big difference in the base/pure colour and it's ok with the weathered colour but still noticeable. To be honest I think we'll have to go for it - we can only really wait a week or two as otherwise we need to crack on. Have a meeting with the main builder tomorrow to decide.

Plasterer finished in the side extension, stayed late to finish off.

Tomorrow should be patio steps and the electrician I think.

We've decided to go with it. Not really a choice in the end as none of the suppliers could give any sort of estimate as to when new stock might come in. Our existing colour isn't popular now so we could have been waiting potentially months. The front is all the same so that's the main thing we see. I have a feeling this has probably been similar for everyone building since covid - compromises have had to have been with the supply issues and costs.

We went with less favourable tile colour as well as the other choice wasnt in stock either if that makes you feel better.