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

[Sewfrickinamazeballs]

Hi! New thread!

@GardensandGrandDesigns interesting travel lodge idea, didn’t think about that one. I am trying to plan what we do when we need to leave and I keep changing my mind - a small furnished rental vs large unfurnished so no need for separate storage. And of course neither is abundant on rightmove and with way costs ££££s. I’m in Scotland where only need to give 28 days notice on rentals but not sure a landlord would think we were prize tenants if we said we only need about 6months. Air b&bs would be eye watering and also would have to keep moving around. It’s stressing me out now!!

@AwkwardPaws27 that sounds like amazing progress coming your way!

@Littlemissweepy we've explored every option and have no family close by to stay with. Short term rentals didn't exist here and Airbnb is outrageous so Travelodge it is! All our possessions are in storage. Just got to get through the next 8 weeks. Eye firmly fixed on the prize!

Any news @Yellownotblue on the ceiling height? I hope it can be sorted out soon..

My turn for the builders to go AWOL. They’ve got another job in West London - a long way away - so spreading themselves thin. We had trades people on site when I visited though.

@GardensandGrandDesigns wow. That is a commitment. Sending harmonious thoughts your way! 😂
@Littlemissweepy the good thing about small furnished is that if you end up having to stay somewhere else (give notice but then can't move back in) at least all your stuff is already in storage and you don't have to worry about it.
@AwkwardPaws27 exciting! Fir green is a lovely colour.

Screeders are in today!

@Sewfrickinamazeballs after a fair bit of searching I went with this for the mattress cartersfurnitureonline.co.uk/products/kaymed-k3gel-2200-mattress-only?variant=37456915497160
It was free delivery too.

Posted too soon. It was free delivery and they bring it to the room of your choice- although you may have to check if it is a loft

@GardensandGrandDesigns Wishing you luck - will be nice to be away from the dust and noise, at least...? We did a few days in a Travelodge during our last project, and both DCs remember that time very fondly - they particularly enjoyed the breakfast options! 😀

@NewHouseNewMe , yes the good news are in - the builders are going to raise the 1st floor ceiling/2nd floor by 20 cm, bringing it nearly on par with the drawings. I’m relieved!

Great news @Yellownotblue . That must be a relief.

That is a great news that no compromise for it, 20cm is indeed alot.

We waited for almost 2 weeks for the mastic man and he came today and forgot 1 small area around the shower tab. We will do it ourself tonight rather than wait for him to come back.

Plans are for next week outside finish(fascia, gutter etc.) level 1 bathroom. Victorian plumbing is exchanging the cracked toilet pan so we have been using the £70 B&Q toilet in the mean time, hopefully to have the toilet changed next week as well. Still various other bits, the porch build, plaster to finish, carpenter, decorations, 2nd fixes etc.

Yay on the 20cm ceiling fix!

@BlueMooMoo this was SO incredibly helpful - thank you!

@Yellownotblue that must be such a huge relief.

@Yellownotblue that is great news!

so after the tilers disappeared after about an hours work having not finished the side extension floor 🤷‍♀️ I emailed the boss and pointed out I’d have no school uniforms or work clothes clean if someone didn’t come back and hook up my washing machine that they’d disconnected.

the lovely plumber came and hooked it up and connected up the new (2nd) dishwasher (that I’ll never need 🤔) as the old one still isn’t fixed.
also turned back on some lights that had been left off at the fuse box.

so we have a weekend of washing ahead, yey! Sad but true I’m excited.

next week the utility should get finished, the tilers should finish, the fireplace hearth needs to come out and the granite guy come back to fit the new one (old one is cracked and may as well replace now (not in any budget of course).

hoping they may install the downstairs toilet too. We are edging closer to The End….

@nomoneytreehere so pleased with how they turned out. The effect looks pretty real I think for actual limestone. This is taken in morning indirect sunlight

@Yellownotblue Amazing - thanks so much!

Hello again, so nice to hear how everyone’s projects are progressing. I have a question to ask if I may: for those installing bathrooms, where did you buy your bathroom fixtures and fittings from if you would recommend them? We haven’t got a massive budget (thanks rising building costs) but looking to get these ideally all in one place online. We are looking for a Toilet, shower, shower screen, sink and vanity unit. Thank you!

@DarlingCoffee I would have recommended Drench, they were fab last year for our upstairs shower room but have been a bit of a headache this time around with regards to delivery!

That said, they did manage to get a replacement bath to me within a few days, & exchanged the incorrect valves they'd sent within 24 hours. When I changed my mind on the shower tray last year, they were also quick and helpful with the exchange. I wouldn't disregard them, just order early and double check everything before you start installing, just in case.

The main thing I think is to choose good quality makes especially for things like taps and showers. I got Hudson Reed stuff for upstairs - decent quality for the price but I have a few niggles (a decorative part coming lose, bracket that holds second shower head keeps sliding down) so have gone for Crosswater stuff downstairs.

Worth looking at recommendations by Piglet John on the Property & DIY forum. I have a surface mounted mixer upstairs rather than one buried in the wall on their recommendation, for example, as they said its much easier to fix if something goes wrong without smashing up your tiles!

Look at guarantees too - I went for a Roper Rhodes vanity over a very similar looking one. £160 more but a 10 year guarantee on the unit & 20 years on the basin, rather than 2 years on the cheaper model, which hopefully reflects the quality of the product. I was surprised how much the guaranteed lengths vary.

Yet more chaos here, they have taken the original fireplace down so I can replace the cracked hearth. Plus they needed to get the floor underneath level. Looks terrible now but hope they can put it all back together tomorrow!

Tilers are v nearly finished, just the bit around the fireplace now. Hope this means the utility people will be back tomorrow to finish that, as it’s almost there.

Also hoping the plumber gets the downstairs loo in some time soon….

Still to do:

• They still have parts of the hallway to tackle, including taking out the old under stairs loo and wall to allow the hallway floor to flow under the stairs.


• Plus the original old sash window halfway up the stairs hasn’t reappeared from the window people yet.


• soundproofing on the party wall


• skirting around the whole rear and side extensions


• painting


• last electrics (some switches and sockets still to go in)


• repainting the old front door and patio door


• security lighting & cameras


• wall mount the big tv


• sure there’s more but to be followed with a deep post build clean

Dust everywhere again, sigh, as they had to cut tiles inside when it rained earlier.

Thanks @AwkwardPaws27 for the great advice! I will check these sites out now for our bits.

Forgot to say, we went for Burlington for the bath & toilet downstairs. Their sanitaryware is usually good quality.

Our upstairs shower is a Drench 25mm wafer thin luxury stone tray (very heavy!) & a Harbour Icon Easy Clean 8mm Sliding Shower Door (not convinced the easy clean does anything, but we have very, very hard water. The glass is a good thickness - this seemed to be one of the most important considerations for shower doors / screens - & it slides well). The round mirror was also a Harbour one from Drench & my absolute favourite thing in the room.

The rest of the upstairs shower room was from Victorian Plumbing - very delayed delivery & they didn't communicate this to me, but they did replace some faulty valves without a fuss. Not to be confused with Victoria Plum (who are apparently a nightmare, according to our builder & plumber).

Photos hopefully attached!

That’s interesting @AwkwardPaws27 about your builders view on Victoria Plum.
@DarlingCoffee I’ve bought between Victoria Plum and Drench for our en suite and downstairs WC and found VP to be really good, regular communication on my orders, good stock availability for most things. Drench have been a bit of a nightmare by comparison with delays based on items not in stock, but the website never reflects this. Thankfully everything arrived now. It does just show there is a real mixed bag of experience though.
Big week for us this week, quartz worktop is being installed tomorrow, going between, will I still love it?…to …I seriously hope I don’t hate it! once in situ. Door hardware being installed and hob & sink also going in, so pretty much finished in kitchen until flooring is put down in 5 weeks and the last island panels/kickboards go in.
En suite has been tiled and painted and will get everything plumbed in this week. Just realised I was to share a pic for this, will do so once finished as is currently filled with boxes. By end of this week the builders will have finished upstairs, just need the carpets and blinds installed to begin musical bedrooms (and the summer of painting!)
Our old oak worktops have been repurposed and will serve as the kitchen window sills, downstairs wc countertop sink shelf and utility bench store seat. The window sills have been put in place and look fab, so pleased to see something reused.
Have ordered all carpets now, thanks for the carpet right recommendation, now need to bite the bullet on downstairs wc tiles, to go with the legendary pink sink.
Finally, I found out today we need to commit to paint colours in rooms I thought I had a few weeks to play with, the plumbers are on-site this week only so need to paint behind new radiator locations in existing rooms in prep for install this week. Any recommendations for a south facing family room wall colour open planned on to a dove grey / navy kitchen dining space gratefully received. Considering all shades of blue and anything else that may work, frankly I’m all out of decisions. 🙈Kitchen paint is F&B Wimborne white.