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

[Sewfrickinamazeballs]

Hi! New thread!

@SheriffCallie it has crept up a bit but partly due to choices I've made (new consumer unit, replacing rather than reusing some interior doors) and partly due to having to dig up the whole kitchen floor. It's coming in about 10% more than the original quote for the build.

It's all the extras I didn't really account for at the start, plus the things I underestimated like appliances. With the kitchen, appliances, bathroom, tiles, flooring, radiators etc, and the architect & building control costs, it'll be over £80k in total (I'd originally thought around £70k but it was quite a rough budget to be honest).

I'm not sure I can actually afford a decorator at the moment, so we may have to sit tight on that for a few months or DIY it.

First night at the premier Inn... I can only describe it as like I'm in a bad American movie and I'm on the run from something or someone (obviously the builders) youngest got sent home from nursery as he developed a fever. It's all feeling pretty rubbish but from photos I've seen good progress today and most of the chimney removed. Can I really do 7 weeks of this. We're in a family room so kids taking ages to fall asleep. I'm going away with work tomorrow - that's my silver lining right now!

@AwkwardPaws27, that all sounds in the same ball park as ours, which is reassuring. Builder we like most has quoted £70k for the build, and we’ve been quoted £22k for our kitchen (all furniture, appliances, lighting and fitting). We’ve have £110k, so that leaves 18k for flooring, replacing windows, lighting, and decorating, (which we too may attempt ourselves). The money disappears too quickly 😬

@Sewfrickinamazeballs splendid kitchen! What is your sink, if you don’t mind me asking? It looks just what I want...

Can I join?! Have been watching this for ages and then the builder we’d decided to go with can start in two weeks’ time instead of in late August! Am freaking out massively…..

We are building a single storey extension to house a kitchen-diner and turning the existing galley kitchen into a downstairs loo and tiny utility room. They think it will take ten weeks - any thoughts on how likely that is?!

Thanks. It's this one from Blanco. The colour is allumetic. Very pleased with it so far

www.blanco.com/gb-en/sinks/subline-f/subline-480-320-u-silgranit-w-o-pop-up-waste-pdp-91.413/?articleNr=523584

Our skip company recycles 80% so maybe yours has a scheme @LivingInaBuildingSite ?

I feel like the final stages are probably the hardest to see progress so hoping you are getting there and will be done by the deadline.

@nomoneytreehere yes they are in. But with plastic wrap and protector mats on them. They were incredibly heavy - definitely a 2person job to lift and they feel sturdy and thick. I wouldn't say they win any awards for design, but I guess there's only so much you can do with a stone square!
Showers screens we went with a mix kudos pinnacle and frameless crosswater. Those aren't fitted so can't say much about them. How many ensuites do you need to do? I don't think I would go for the cheapest but I would be practical and more budget orientated for the kids ensuites. Less design, more reliability and ease of function and cleaning. For example, plain radiator valves etc.

@GardensandGrandDesigns that sounds horrendous! You're in my thoughts and sending the sandman your way. It's been the toughest part of the build - managing the children.

Welcome @MyCatIsNotFittingMyKitchen . I'd plan for 13weeks and hope for 10. Is it a period house? They may uncover something that has to be fixed - there's always something that delays it.

Thanks @BlueMooMoo. It’s a 1930s semi so I suppose anything is possible… Everyone who has quoted says it looks straightforward. Famous last words. Basically a box on the back of the house.

I’m expecting supply chain issues though. One of our neighbours is extending and it’s all just ground to a halt. Looks like delays getting windows. So am definitely expecting stuff like that. If it’s completed by the end of the year, I’ll be pleased as we assumed we wouldn’t find a builder free until next year.

@MyCatIsNotFittingMyKitchen sounds like a good mindset. The smallest of items being delay can have a very significant impact (as we are finding!). How lucky you were able to start so soon. We waited 2years for the builder.

@BlueMooMoo, 1 bathroom, 3 shower rooms (we have decided against a bath in our ensuite) plus downstairs toilet. Ive bought duravit wall hung toilets with gerberit frames) for everywhere (hate a wobbly loo) but now need to try and bring the rest in without blowing the budget! Its vanity units getting me currently - everything is either ugly or flimsy or ££££

Hi everyone, I’m rubbish at keeping up but I’ve read back to page 20 and think I’m up to speed 😏

it’s all very slooow here, there have been delays with various things but tbh I do like our builders and they really knuckle down and get on with it when they are able to. They were hoping to be finishing up the side extension by end July, but I think that’s optimistic, I’ll ask for a new estimate in a couple of weeks.

we have started a major declutter operation as the kids will not have bedrooms when the work moves inside so we really need to streamline. I’m getting rid of all their furniture as it’s so old and falling apart and I want built in wardrobes and storage in the new rooms. I feel like my house is full of dust and boxes right now.

In random and positive news we bought a dining table at the weekend, 5 weeks delivery so hopefully there’ll be a room to put it in…

As well as the declutter I want to go look at LVT this weekend, I think I want parquet wood style amtico throughout the new extension. The rest of the house is tile/solid wood downstairs but we aren’t doing underfloor heating and I think the LVT will be warmer underfoot, and hard wearing? And I want to think about paint, but I feel a bit overwhelmed to be honest, I am not sure what sort of colour I even want!

@nomoneytreehere there are savings to be had by scouring for the best deals for sure.
We ended up not getting a vanity unit for the guest ensuite due to budget. There is room for a tallboy if we want to put it in later and we went for a cabinet mirror so there will be storage in there. Is that an option for you? Otherwise our other vanities are Tavistock, burlington, and victorian plumbing. If you're flexible on design, have you tried calling a few local bathroom shops to see if they are changing their showroom sets anytime soon and if they would be selling any display vanities?

@BlueMooMoo , we have been incredibly lucky. Although until we got quotes a couple of months ago, we had an incredible run of bad luck with the planning, including using a totally incompetent architectural technician at first. But that’s another story.

We found three out of the five firms who quoted for us could start this year, which surprised us - I’d expected to wait up to a year for a decent builder. The firm we went with has recently expanded, hence having capacity.

As soon as you have the measurement then order straight away. It varies so much with regard to delivery. We wanted a bespoke door for our living room and was told that minimum 6 months wait, we then had to go with a compromise, similar to the staircase, took 6 weeks instead.

@GardensandGrandDesigns , the choice between the 2 devils isnt it, the good thing is, the room can be serviced everyday. We havent had a cleaner through out the project so alot of my time was hovering.

@MyCatIsNotFittingMyKitchen sounds like you're doing exactly the same thing as we are. We were originally planning for 12 - 14 weeks but it looks like it'll be more like 16 weeks as we've been slowed down, mainly by glazing delays.

On the plus side, I ordered my flooring today and it's due to arrive on Wednesday, so that was nice and quick.

@HouseyHouse21 , that’s interesting - how many weeks in are you? I am anticipating delays. Our first choice firm originally said 8-12 weeks and then said 12-16 weeks when we called to book in. I think this was partly as it would definitely have run over Christmas. But I did wonder if there were other reasons.

What kind of flooring have you gone for?

Has anyone seen the harbour bathroom stuff anywhere? I really like this vanity for my daughter but worried that the quality won't match the price tag!!

www.drench.co.uk/p/harbour-serenity-630mm-floor-unit-worktop-grey-bp

Morning! Posting also about Drench. Does anyone know of a discount code we could use? We want to order a shower tray. Thanks!!

@nomoneytreehere we’ve got a harbour vanity installed in our en suite. We’re not using the room yet but impressed with the quality. Word of warning though, it was showing in stock but Drench delayed delivery for weeks due to stock issues, which was frustrating as impacted on install.
@DarlingCoffee I never found any codes for Drench unfortunately.
@MyCatIsNotFittingMyKitchen we were 12 weeks for a double storey side extension. (35 sq m each floor) Week 12 is next week and everything within the original scope will be finished by then, only waiting on tiling /install for downstairs WC and some minor bits in kitchen/utility. Have a few other things we’ve added on, new balustrade and retaining wall that will be after this.)

@DarlingCoffee if you make an account and add stuff to your basket on the Drench website, then don't check out, they often send a £50 off code after a couple of days.

We're in week 10 now, and the kitchen is arriving in week 14. I think 12 weeks would definitely have been possible if the doors & rooflights hadn't had such long lead times OR if I'd been in a position to measure up and order much earlier. But we have had trades here every single day so it's not like they've been twiddling their thumbs.

My tip would be to make as many decisions as possible at the very start, and stick to them!

I had a layout designed at the very start and that made some things sooo much easier. Unfortunately that didn't cover all the minute details like exact finishes & electric / lighting plans, but it definitely helped. Dithering is stressful!

Definitely add a few weeks to whatever they tell you. If it works out to their schedule it’s just a bonus.

Five Guys Day here today, and I don’t mean the food.
electrician, plumber, painter, kitchen unit guy and one other doing something 🤷‍♀️

most architraves up around doorways
most skirting done that I’ve seen
the weird gap above the kitchen cupboards boarded up
one layer of paint on all bare plaster that I’ve seen

tumble dryer is out of my bedroom! 🎉
and in its rightful home in the laundry - apparently they didn’t know I had one so making the vent for it wasn’t a priority until I asked specifically the other day. These guys have been here on and off for four years 😂

one washing machine in place, haven’t tested it yet. Haven’t ordered the new one, thinking Samsung 10kg series 5, which is a bit like last seasons clothes as there are newer ones but I don’t think it matters to me. Don’t need to text my washing machine.

need to poke around and see what else they are up to. Ds2 (14) fell over at scouts last night and broke his arm/wrist. Many many hours at a&e so cried off work and school for him today. Having a mega lazy day upstairs to avoid the chaos. But have at least hoovered where the tumble dryer used to live!

Just revisiting my To Do List:

The hallway; including taking out the old under stairs loo and wall to allow the hallway floor to flow under the stairs

The original old sash window halfway up the stairs hasn’t reappeared from the window people yet - window frame is onsite, glass is not yet.

skirting around the whole rear and side extensions ✅ (apart from two small bits around the fireplace, waiting for the hearth)

painting - started

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

repainting the old front door, porch door & side shed doors

security lighting & cameras

wall mount the big tv - mount is here

hang 3 new internal doors - 1 left to do

granite worktop guy to fit pantry ✅ utility and hearth still to do (Monday maybe)

sink in utility to be fitted - ✅ except for the tap, waiting for worktop

patio to be tiled

patio glass balustrade put in (not ordered yet)

architraves around new doors ✅

first coat of paint on skirting and architraves ✅
first coat on any bare plaster ✅
fill in gap above kitchen cupboards ✅

electrics in my bedroom (always been dodgy)

doorbell repaired and reinstalled ✅ (I’ve seen it’s up, I haven’t tried it yet)
(then take away battery doorbell)

second coat of paint in the pantry - then I think I can start using it?
maybe need to wait for door handles in pantry sliding doors.

move all light switches from behind doors - all but one ✅

install new downstairs loo - not sure what the delay is on this 🤷‍♀️ Maybe the door being hung which is the last one left to do.

extra flooring to match hallway to go under the stairs & the downstairs loo

Hi
I am new here and need some help to where I start.

I have gotten some quotes but not sure what should I ask or how to validate those

It is a Victorian End Terrace

1. Windows - 10k - 1 french door, 1 balcony door, 1 backdoor, 3 windows


2. Bathroom - 2 bathroom - 8k each - retiles, change all units


3. kitchen Extension


4. 35k for 3 meter extension


5. 15k for kitchen

Does it sound about right?
Base in N.London
J