Extension thread 2022 part II...demolition, delays and decisions, decisions, decisions

[Sewfrickinamazeballs]

Hi! New thread!

When we moved last year we had to pay £900 for additional stuffs that wasnt “seen” when the remover company came and quote. I then threw most of these “additional stuffs” away when we unpack for the renovation even we have a large garage. Mostly because I dont think these furniture will fit with the new layout anymore. So the stress, pack and un pack isnt as important in the end. Just wanted to throw our story incase if you have to pay for storage.

We are planning to paint the house ourself. Is it crazy. It seems to save about £5k and needs 2 weeks holiday plus 2-3 weekends.

I sorted out the loft before we started and gave away a lot via our local "eco community" group (I had several pairs of curtains and some throws, for example, that we wouldn't reuse now as we have shutters and have changed decor). I've also given away the dining chairs (DH currently has the table as a temporary desk), and some other bits we aren't reusing.

It's more just the volume of kitchen stuff surprised me, just how much there was in 4 base units and 4 wall cupboards! I'm using heavy duty plastic storage crates so I think partly its just that they are bulkier than I realised. Trying to use things like tea towels to wrap stuff / fill gaps to save space.

Some things DH has packed without sorting - spare lightbulbs, for example - as I just don't have the headspace to work out which ones are for current fixtures, which will fit the new fixtures etc. We'll sort that out when we unpack!

DH also forgot to label the crates he packed (he has ADHD) so I have half a dozen mystery boxes

Finally got a price for digging up the kitchen floor, new concrete and insulating - £1700, so not breaking the bank, thankfully. Now to wait & see what price Howdens come back with for the units and whether I am up to haggling at 40 weeks pregnant

Our build has really progressed in the last week, brick work completed, roof tiling mid way through completion, plumber on-site with electrician coming tomorrow. Our knock through will happen this week, we’re away for a few days so that will be exciting to come back to!
we’ve had to bite the bullet on some decisions I’ve been delaying so will be ordering online this week lots of items we’ve agreed over the weekend, mainly lighting, tiles, radiators and en-suite/ downstairs wc.
I could really use some help over flooring for those that are going with LVT as I’m going round in circles. 🙈 Looking for LVT to cover open plan family/ kitchen/ diner into hallway and utility/ downstairs WC.
originally we were going to retain our real wood oak flooring in part of this space but managed to talk my DH round, think it needs the same flooring throughout and the real wood looks trashed now, we’re not into maintaining it. A local fitter recommended moduleo lay red but have since read lots of negative reviews and not sure a click system is good for a large space.
now looking at Karndean or Amtico.
Anyone fitted either in a large space? Glue down or loose lay/ rigid core. I’m at the point I need someone to make a call for me! 🙈
@AwkwardPaws27 I read your progress updates on last few days, glad to hear you’re moving in the right direction.

We are having Karndean throughout the ground floor (kitchen, utility, WC, living room, play room, office and hallway) and in the bathroom upstairs. 115m2 in total. It's arriving this week so can't help with what it looks like but I wanted the same floor throughout. I visited a local company who had it all on show with our kitchen door samples and chose from there, then ordered from Stories Flooring (the cheapest I could find it). Builder getting a floor specialist to fit.

I can keep you posted as this progresses

Forgot to mention it's the glue down. I didn't want click. It's more expensive and i wanted something that didn't stand a chance of budging

I need to get some quotes for Karndean - I like the Van Gogh gluedown range.

@Sewfrickinamazeballs did your floors did any additional prep / levelling, & is that being done by the builder or flooring installer? I'm imagining they need to be super smooth and level but actually have no clue 😅

Plastering happening this week. Deciding on paint choices so I'm ready but need to go into f&b shop with my tile to decide on the right blue.
Hoping for a sunny weekend to give the rooms a headstart on drying out but pouring with rain today!

@AwkwardPaws27 So we have new screed in the kitchen and utility that is a smidge higher than existing floors, and existing floors are all sorts of levels due to a mix of carpet, parquet and tiles. I think the plan is to basically pour a butt load of latex on it to get it all one level (aiming for new screed level). It's costing about £5k to lay with the fitting, screed and latex. I asked the builder to fit it but he will sub this out to a specialist floor fitter.

Good progress @JoanDarc . Has your builder had any other clients who have chosen it who would let you have a look?

Thanks @Sewfrickinamazeballs
I have a recommendation from family (friend of the in-laws who also did a lovely job on their floors) so at least finding someone to do it isn't too painful. I just need to bite the bullet and decide now! I keep getting sidetracked by images of lovely period patterned tiles in hallways...

@Sewfrickinamazeballs thanks, I look forward to hearing your progress with it!
Our builder has told us he’s seen movement in click in larger open planned spaces so it’s definitely made me nervous and reconsidering a move to glue down because of it. If I can find a decent local fitter who would let us supply our own then I would do that. Supply & fit companies locally have such long waiting lists and seem to be much more expensive.
@BlueMooMoo our builder doesn’t fit LVT unfortunately, this would have been our preference. Good luck on the paint search, plasterer is on-site in two weeks so will need to make a call quite quickly on what we’re going with.

All these things just take time don't they? It's never as easy as just picking a paint or a floor or a tile
I'm struggling to find time this half term but am probably going to have to drag the children along and do my best to get in and out quickly.

Starting to feel more like a house and less like a building site every day now

So jealous, looks lovely!

If you’re getting Karndean and not using the approved sellers fitter, please check it’s covered by the guarantee.. In a previous house, I got it from a shop and used their fitter. It turned out they were licensed to sell Karndean but not licensed to fit. So when I had problems with cracking due to installation, I couldn’t get any help at all.

I was told that the click version is used where there is an existing floor that can’t be preprepared to the right spec so a floating floor is used. However you need to leave gaps at the edges for movement which may involve new or altered skirting boards.

This time I’m going for Amtico which I’ve also had before and loved. I’m keen to use their fitter after my previous experience. I am not getting all the floors done though as the originals are quite lovely (ballroom style) but totally different. Hopefully they won’t jar when placed beside each other but we will wait and see!

You’re racing ahead @BlueMooMoo ! Looks lovely

Thank you @GardensandGrandDesigns

Also if anyone was wondering about black aluminium windows/sliders and how they look with brick, please feel free to PM me for pics (no doors yet but the windows have come out so much better than I thought they might look).

Thanks @NewHouseNewMe . Have you finished the roof now?

Oh yes please!

Roof still not finished @BlueMooMoo 🙃

@NewHouseNewMe that’s great to hear about your experience with Amtico. I contacted a local LVT glue down installer today who recommended Amtico over Karndean for wood plank effect LVT, he felt it had the edge over the look of real wood. He came round within about 2 hrs of calling as was on a local job, waiting with baited breath on the quote, will need ply wood for the whole area before installing. Think this will blow by flooring budget but click is definitely off the cards now after further research.
@BlueMooMoo you must be so excited to be moving towards a finished build. Looks great! 👍

I will say that the Karndean (Van Gogh French oak) was lovely when first down. The problem was definitely the installation and not the product.

Thanks @JoanDarc still on track for a September finish hopefully but it's lovely to see it coming together.

@NewHouseNewMe do you have a Dutch barn style roof? When do they plan to have finished the roof?

It is unbelievably roof heavy! The angle in the roof pre-work was 65 degrees and slopes over the garage, while there are “peaks” in other parts.
I thought they’d finish the tiling this week but I’m not holding my breadth as they’ve still at least one whole roof section to go and they seem to have forgotten the porch.

It will be great once it gets done though as that's such a big job ticked off.