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

[Sewfrickinamazeballs]

Hi! New thread!

@GardensandGrandDesigns Sorry can't help as we have a different set up. Agree with getting a Which subscription.
I feel your pain with being sick of the same rooms (or in our case - room). Heartily done with the sofa bed.
@NewHouseNewMe a weekly report! Amazing! I love the sound of that.

Not sure what the plan is this week for the build beyond more plastering and electrics. Paint colours have been chosen and hopefully ordered. I've gone a bit blander in the bathroom than I'd ideally like but it has no windows so a bit worried about it being too dark (I can always repaint in my original choice - Green Smoke, if I think the room can take it once everything is fitted).
I've also mislaid a box of tiles somewhere so that's my job for today!!!

@AwkwardPaws27 What a beauty! Well done! You are a trooper for doing building work and having a baby. Hats off to you.

That's very frustrating. Did they say beforehand what was due to happen last week?

We sourced our appliances through the kitchen company as it was much cheaper than buying direct. Can only be done of course if your not using DIY/howdens or the like. I've used AO a lot and they are pretty good. Depends when you need them as to whether you wait for the preferred option or go with what's in stock at the time. I can't remember the exact ones but many brands are owned by the same company so effectively the same thing but with a different label. Worth checking this out in case a lower priced brand is available over a top end one.

As for us, we moved back in to our house last night. We have a few sockets and lights downstairs, - semi-functioning utility, one room we can use upstairs for all our stuff, no door on the toilet and it's dusty as hell but we have hot water and more importantly our cat has her freedom back.

More plastering this week, then some guttering, painting and second fix plumbing and electrics, and the patio/driveway work is due to start next Monday. They were hoping to finish end of May but getting the impression they will do a major push this week to get the majority of the big stuff done. We also have a leaky flat roof where they redid the old extension so that needs looking into. Quite pleased with where we are, just want it done in the next few weeks.

@GardensandGrandDesigns our neighbours are also my biggest source of information regarding what's happened each day

Oh he looks gorgeous, many congratulations!
@AwkwardPaws27

I may have oversold the weekly report 😄
It's only a brief description of the work schedule that are used to value the interim payments, e.g. Steels (100%), Plastering (30%), Tiling (0%) etc.
Then we pay accordingly. We've still got over half to pay!

Today felt like very slow progress from the 2carpenters on site. Not sure what was done really beyond big window sill and stair fascia. I might ask tomorrow what happened if I can summon up the will and courage.
Still no progress on an upstairs bathroom. Will definitely be speaking to boss builder about the plans for that as that was supposed to be plastered this week ready for tiling next week and there are still no floors.
Have reached one of those low points in the build so mindful to try and take notice of all the little changes and remind myself of the next big milestone (And console myself by looking at Liberty fabrics I can't afford 😂) Week 13 and another 14 weeks to go.

Thanks everyone!

It rained a lot today so they've postponed the screed until tomorrow & focused on plasterboarding instead. The bathroom is ready for plastering, and the suite & floor tiles should arrive this week, so that's good.

I didn't realise the screed could take a couple of days to dry. We have no doors between upstairs and the kitchen at the moment, & with two cats I really didn't want a repeat of the cement incident (younger cat leapt into freshly poured footings & had to be showered!) so I have found a cattery with space to take them tomorrow until Friday evening when it should be dry & safe to bring them home.

So close to the finish line! How does it feel to be back home?

Builders arrived at 11 today. Had a good chat with them about little progress last week but sounds like they did do a bit on Wed ready to plough on this week. They are on our site for full days for the next 2 weeks to get our walls finally all built. More steels to be put in next week. Apparently 3-4 weeks before upstairs knock through then we are definitely out of here! He was telling us about the process of the floors - we're having all the concrete dug up and then stones compacted for better insulation and ufh. The neighbours will love us...

Good to be back @Sewfrickinamazeballs and on the home straight (pun intended!). How many of there are you in the household? Fingers crossed for a big week next week so you can gain valuable space

That's great you were able to talk with them @GardensandGrandDesigns This month should fly by with all the progress!

Hi, please may I join? We got our planning permission granted at the weekend after a long long time of emailing with architects/parish council meetings etc. We’re demolishing a conservatory and adding a two storey extension to double the size of our kitchen and add a utility and extra bedroom upstairs. Also converting the loft to add a master suite. Never done any building work before but I am a kitchen designer so can’t wait to get to grips with my own dream kitchen!!!

Is anyone at the same stage as me or are you all much further into the builds?

Most others are much further ahead, LazyDoll, but it’s really useful to read and see what challenges people are negotiating.
Im a similar stage to you, maybe a little
further ahead? Planning a ground floor in-fill extension and internal reconfiguration. March 2020 to April 2022 was a frustrating period of planning permission and building control delays, with us also getting councillors involved. We’ve now sent the plans out for quotes and are finding it difficult to get responses, everyone is so busy I guess. We’ve one quote to work with (and a QS estimate) and we met with our FA today to arrange financing. Would love to start this year but no idea if we will get a building slot.

@LazyDoll What’s hot in kitchen design? I see champagne troughs are a feature in the magazines but I’ve never seen one in reality. (I also don’t host enough or drink enough champagne to make it worth it!)

Hi @LazyDoll, I came to the thread before our build was due to start and then it got delayed 5 months so we aren’t starting until august. Though I have planned and picked most of the details already down to rugs, wallpaper, paint colours and lamps. Big things still to decide are utility room - need a Howdens visit, and some bathroom details.

scaffolding has been up for weeks and re-roof is in progress so thought we haven’t started with the extension, I am still in the land of chemical toilet, skips and mess (though confined to outside, garden is a horror show).

@GardensandGrandDesigns appliance wise I was guided by our kitchen designer who recommend a Bora downdraft induction hob and Siemens oven. Decided we weren’t going to pay NEF or Miele prices and we were convinced that (not being master chefs) we wouldn’t actually use the fancy features of the top end ranges.

There is just the three of us and a cat. It's lovely being home. The dust is a challenge but we are coping.

More lights went in yesterday. Noticed an issue with the island lighting. The kitchen fitter stuck the LED tape to the units rather than waiting for the worktop and sticking it under that. It looks great when you stand up but when you sit down it's blinding and you can see the tape. I was adamant I didn't want to see the lights (he knew this as I stopped him sticking it to the underside of the cupboards and made him create a channel for them). The point of LED tape is to provide indirect light. Will have to speak to the fitter in a couple of weeks when he is back. He should have fitted a profile or got a groove taken out of the worktop for it. Nothing major and will be for him to sort out.

Tiling in the bathroom finished so should be able to finish the tiny bit of plastering in there today. All plastering meant to be done by today but not hopeful as there is so much still to do.

I did have a long awaited bath last night though. No lights, no door, dust sheets everywhere and using a picnic rug as a floor but it was lovely!

I dont think I could recommend our builder now. The individual teams dont communicate to each other. The project manager is terrible, almost non-existent. We have been managing the project ourself. I thought we would know it all as we went through a similar or even bigger project with our old house previously but this renovation so far has been so stressful and so many compromises that we had to accept to move on. We are supposed to finish next week but plaster is only half way, bathrooms havent been installed, porch build is still in “discussion”(they didnt agree with the size that was in the contract).

Hi Sheriff. I’ll definitely read through…I’m sure I’ll get a very good idea of what we’re letting ourself in for! 5 of us in a 3 bed house (including 2 teens) so more room is desperately needed and moving costs are so prohibitive to us in our area so this is our only option. I’m a little scared but very excited about what we’ll achieve so will try and keep focussed on that. Still well and truly at the paper stage for now so will lurk (and scare myself reading the thread!) now!! Good luck to everyone. Little missweepy it’s the mess that worries me. I’m such a control freak. Need to work on letting go!!!!!

NewHouseNewMe….COLOUR!!!! And I for one am DELIGHTED!!!! After years of white gloss slab doors, then putty EVERYWHERE and of course GREY-GATE (with a touch of navy). Finally we are designing in glorious colour!! Greens of course but recently done dusky pinks and anthracites. People are being bold and we love it!!!!! Also 2 dishwashers are properly becoming a ‘thing’. And of course pantries and larders and bootilities are going strong!!!

@LazyDoll I feel very on trend then with my sulking room pink and 2dishwashers! 😂
I adore colour 😍 and having lived in a white wash house for 5years whilst we waited for the work to be done also am delighted to be surrounded by the rainbow soon 🌈

Welcome @LazyDoll and @SheriffCallie

@Sewfrickinamazeballs good that you are now back on site to pick up on those issues straightaway.

Feeling much more positive today. Plenty of people on site and some significant visible progress. Think maybe it was the Monday blues.

My marble washstand arrived today 🙌 but delays on the loo and towel radiator. The supplier is saying the 9th but we shall see.

BlueMooMoo sounds beautiful!! I’m the only female in a house of males so I’m going to get me some of that pink in somehow!!!!!!! Choosing the colour of my kitchen is going to be SO hard!!!!