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

[Sewfrickinamazeballs]

Hi! New thread!

Downstairs demolition is finally finished today!
If I never hear an impact drilling again, it will still be too soon!

Has anyone had to do any plan changes as the build has progressed? We put in a lot of work with the architect but things have come up - steel placement, existing walls etc. Most things are fixable but has meant changes to the overall aesthetics. For example waste pipe now has to go on external wall facing the patio rather than at the side of the house; we're going to have a breast that ends half way up a wall as it can't be removed and it would look worse to be continued further up; etc.etc.

And the window is in! Really pleased with it, it does look like it's always been there.

5 weeks down, who knows how many to go... apparently we should have the new flank wall built by the end of the week though, weather permitting.

Baby due in 3½ weeks...

My photo definitely wasn't sideways when I uploaded it!

Hello dusty ladies <waves>

We’re now in week 14 of our build and slightly ahead of schedule. I went to the Grand Designs live show last week and had good chats with kitchen companies (and also eliminated some that seemed a bit rubbish). Unfortunately I also picked up an unwanted gift - Covid 🤬. So I’m going to spend the next couple of days in bed, looking at kitchen brochures. We really need to get started with our joinery plans. The quotes I have so far are crazy expensive.

@AwkwardPaws27 lovely window, looks like it’s original!

I don't want to pack anymore ☹️☹️☹️ storage lorry arrives tomorrow pm. I'm actually looking forward to the boxes being gone and living out of a suitcase. I just feel like we've been packing and clearing out for weeks!

No-one came :(. I was told that they will be back tomorrow.

We had the megaflo in the middle of the area which was supposed to be a ward-robe so that changed the design. We still havent figure out what to do with the area.

The plaster were taken off in bedroom 1 and living room and the wall need to have a good plaster layer both inside and outside to prevent damp. No wonder we saw mould after only 7 months moving in.

Power to the summerhouse at the end of the garden worked on today.
not really sure what else.

I gave the plumber my choice of toilet, hope it’s the right one!

Boiler serviced, not exactly building work but he comes once a year so it’s good to see his reaction to progress.

tomorrow after work is a big sit down with the boss to discuss what’s left.
plus meet with the kitchen guy to start on the utility.

@BlueMooMoo - yeah lots of alterations including a balcony that can’t exist for various reasons in reality which is a shame! We’ve also had a weird misunderstanding with the builder who incorrectly thought our plans said vaulted ceiling and it’s amazing! So we are taking the rough with the smooth. I can see that this would drive any perfectionist mad though!

@Yellownotblue I was there too! Which kitchen companies did you speak to? I didn’t think there were many though maybe I missed an aisle. Get well soon by the way.

@NewHouseNewMe I seem to have turned straight into the kitchens section when I arrived. I particularly liked Uncommon projects (plywood/fenix face) and German brand Schueller. I’ve sent them both my drawings and waiting to hear back.

Did you see anything useful for your project? I was a bit disappointed with some sections - somehow I expected more. But the flip side was that it wasn’t overwhelming.

I wasn’t that impressed - lots of jacuzzis and not many bathrooms or kitchens. I enjoyed seeing the Bora and Quooker demos though.
Im going for an English shaker style so didn’t see much there but I saw the Uncommon project which looked modern and fun. I also follow them on Instagram!

Yes I thought the same about the acreage of jacuzzis and garden furniture. It seemed vastly excessive compared to other sections. The garden furniture was all very samey, there wasn’t a lot of different styles on show. Likewise with the indoor furniture, there seemed to be at most a handful of traders, so if you were not into reclining leather sofas, there was nothing for you. It seemed very commercial and not very “Grand Designs”.

I suppose the same is true of kitchens, they were mostly modern/modular.

I didn’t go to the Bora stand as I’ve seen it used before and thought it was too loud for my taste. We’re having a recessed extractor fitted, flush with the ceiling.

I was expecting to see other appliance brands, that would actually have been very useful as I need to start ordering. But there weren’t any.

I expected a lot more tile and worktop options, and would have liked more bathroom furniture. Maybe I should start my own trade show 😁

We thought the same! Hated all the furniture - indoor or out.. We would have seen more to our liking in John Lewis!

Does anyone have a bathroom supplier for the full suite that won’t break the bank? I’m now buying the last bathroom and need to economise! It can’t be stone or cast iron as the floor won’t take it.

Our not-so-grand design now has walls going up!

@NewHouseNewMe we used Drench for part of our upstairs shower room & will be ordering the whole suite for the new downstairs bathroom from there too - they stock a good choice of mid-range stuff (Burlington, Crosswater etc) & their customer service was excellent when I changed my mind about the size of shower tray (they delivered a new one & collected the original for a very reasonable fee). They have a design service too, I think.

A home show would probably cause me further paralysis in the decision making department, I really really need to start biting the bullet on interiors!
Our kitchen was ripped out last week and a partition put up between the original house and existing side lean. We’ve got a decent kitchen set up in dining space with a sink / rest of appliances in utility at front of house. It’s only day 5 and I’m already over it. We can’t find anything, everyone tripping over each other and this is only without our kitchen! Downstairs loo and utility both useable but ceilings removed so slightly exposed in parts and supports in place till steel goes in. 5/6 weeks till kitchen is installed so final visit to Howdens and our quartz supplier later this week to fine tune plans. I’m now doubting plans for a Belfast sink in utility, anyone thoughts either way? I love the look of them but read they’re easy to damage.

Utility arrived from last DIY kitchens this week. Had an email stating the 2-day window and then a text with an 1.5 hour slot which was helpful. We did have an issue with access though. All was fine until we turned up just before the delivery window and found a huge hole outside the house. The water board decided that this moment was when they were going to fix the leak that was reported two weeks ago. Our neighbours kindly moved their car and then helped us carry in the units. They are amazing (the neighbours and the units).

We are having our electric meter moved today. The network have been out to survey and we have followed up with numerous calls to check it can go where we need it to. Electrician has run cables to this point. Had a call this morning....guess what...it can't go there. Argh! Popped over and he said they could move it somewhere else which I'm fine with but we'd have to rebook as we won't have power. We were literally standing in a building site with not a plug socket working anywhere! Nicely and calmly I basically said, your here, it's happening, get on with it. Have the utility company lined up this afternoon (another drama so didn't want to rebook) and the electrician tomorrow to get power back on. So bloody stressful.

Also put my back out so struggling to move which isn't helping.

Still, plasterboard is going up and the kitchen is being fitted next week!!!!

Week 4. Rear wall was removed today while I was happily at work. Feeling surprisingly calm about it. We're living upstairs which is lovely and clean for now! WFH tomorrow which will be interesting but I have dinner and drinks planned with friends to look forward to ☺️

Here's a photo update

Wow, what a steel beam!

I realised that the side window at the staircase area is ridiculously high up and is asking the builder to lower it down. They are pushing every request but I will stand firm on this as we’d like to over looking through the window. They werent in yesterday but coming in today and indeed I am glad that we are not home.

@Sewfrickinamazeballs what a saga with the electric meter. We’ve had a similar problem, the engineer initially vetoed the position we had chosen, for reasons that made no sense - saying there was not enough space above it. They suggested an alternative location, which has exactly the same space above 🤷🏼‍♀️... I think they’ve now agreed to the initial location we wanted.

How has everyone’s week been? We are making visible progress with the stairs in, roof continuing to be tiled (the house is mostly roof!) and extension roof fully formed. Bar studding the walls internally upstairs, the structural stuff is done.

Now the wait for big stuff begins - kitchens, crittal doors, windows - and a long marathon of 1st/2nd fixes, plastering and redecorating.

We are progressing nicely. They are working all weekend to get the extension plastered ready for the kitchen on Tuesday. 1st fix is done. Boarding up of the upstairs happening at the moment too. Once the kitchen fitters are in they will start at the top and work there way down the house. Utility also being fitted next week.

I have a pinched nerve in my back and I'm in agony. So much for my plan to start painting next week😩

We did go back to the bank and have some more cash to finish off the house and outside completely which is a relief. Probably need to pay a decorator now

Finally feels like we are on the home straight!

Both of your progress sounds amazing! How I dream to be at that phase but I'm told we will have the start of walls by end of next week which is exciting enough for me! On Monday they need to do more digging as a column is going in because we didn't want a large nib to stick out as we want one big open plan room and it would have cut the kitchen off short.

It's amazing how quick the time goes. We started in January and honestly it has gone really quick. There are so many decisions to make and so much progress from day to day that it will fly by. Looking forward to seeing progress.

Your progress is better than mine by some way despite starting together more or less@Sewfrickinamazeballs . In awe of a new kitchen already!