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

[Sewfrickinamazeballs]

Hi! New thread!

@J417 I think your quote is very reasonable, especially for London. The windows in particular are much less than we are paying in West London.

Hi @J417, can I check that it isn’t a company in Enfield? If it is, please message me 😁 What kind of windows are they? Aluminium? It sounds reasonable.

The extension seems low - what is the other dimension? 3m x ? Most “box” type extensions costing about 50K these days depending on the size.

Not sure which Borough you’re in but the building control people are slow and can be difficult. So leave lots of time and space in the schedule for that.

@AwkwardPaws27 thank you for the tip for drench. I got a £25 code off £350 and a day later they upped it to £50 off £550. I've ordered!

Glad it worked for you! Those savings soon add up.

Tip for anyone else - when ordering appliances etc, go via a cashback website. I've got about £350 pending on Topcashback (for £4k of appliances), if it all comes through it'll be a nice bonus!

Loads going on here. Old roof is stripped and roofers are up there battoning. We are going away in August (if the baby's passport arrives!) and i think when we get back it will be all change as the windows and bifolds will be in, roof done, render done so im pretty excited about that as we will be onto the inside.

My kitchen doesnt arrive until the first week of October but there is loads of fitting out work to do before that.

I still have so much stuff to choose and order. Its overwhelming.

Builder has said they will dryline the extension rather than plastering. Has anyone else had this?

I’m never clear on the various terms for things. We’ve had some walls plastered and some had something else done to them that I forget now. All ends up looking the same though.

my sash window frame for my very old window is in, waiting for the glass to arrive and get fitted. It was single glazed and very fragile. By now it must be triple glazed and safe, just needs to fit in the holes they’ve made for it 🤞

The skylight in the utility now opens - not sure I really really need it but it’s v cool.

also, the builders have told me they all want to copy my utility/laundry with the raised machines, I am a pioneer lol. Have attached a photo.
still need to buy the second washing machine, often use quidco but very low % returns on many websites, any recommendations for better cash back rates?

and an annoying loose floorboard has been stuck down properly, small job but makes a big difference!

@LivingInaBuildingSite Topcashback have 10% cashback on AO.com at the moment.

If you aren't already signed up you can get a £10 bonus if you use this link - www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/malicia
(& I will get a bonus too)

Thanks, I had signed up ages ago but started a new account with my new email address so hope it works.
Ordered the washing machine I wanted as it had another £50 off.

I got all our appliances from AO except the fridge freezer (as it was out of stock, but Currys had it). Delivery was really smooth for us, so hopefully your order arrives quickly too.

Thanks. Due on Tuesday, no rush as it’s the second machine but want to get it installed while the guys are focused and here.

new freezer in the utility is on and ready, so I just need to find energy to move stuff out of the chest freezer and give that away, hopefully to a local charity.

starting to feel like we are approaching the end even though the list is still long!

The list (definitely not the complete list btw):

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 installed today, waiting for glass

Fireplace: hearth, last bits of skirting, tile repair question, new base plate, new fireback, reinstall surround

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, wrong one was delivered 🙄

granite worktop: utility and hearth still to do (Monday maybe)

sink tap in utility - waiting for worktop

patio to be tiled

patio glass balustrade put in (not ordered yet)

electrics in my bedroom (always been dodgy)

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.

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

whatever else I haven’t thought of yet…

My FIL just called to say he spotted an issue when he popped in earlier. The cupboard around the boiler has been built with the door opening in a way that means you can't actually remove the cover from the front of the boiler, as it slides forward. So if there's ever a boiler issue we'd have to demolish the cupboard or cut open the boiler cover.
Going to have to speak to someone about it tomorrow - it was only plastered last week so annoyed at myself for not spotting it sooner, it just didn't occur to me to check!

I think they have to remove the cover every time it’s serviced , they do on ours.

I think you are right!

Happy Monday all, what’s on this week?

I came home from work just in time it turned out. The worktop guy who’s also making me a new hearth was gluing the hearth down. But it was glossy - as in identical to the kitchen worktop and a tad blingy for a 100-yr old fireplace. We’d agreed on a matt/honed version.

anyway it hadn’t stuck yet so they quickly got it up and took it away to hone.
if I’d be 10mins later I’d have to suck it up I think. Phew.

TO DO:

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 installed today, more work done on the surround, still waiting for glass

Fireplace: hearth, last bits of skirting, tile repair question, new base plate, new fireback, reinstall surround

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 - ✅

granite worktop: utility ✅

sink tap in utility - waiting for worktop, hopefully tomorrow

patio to be tiled - tiles arriving tomorrow

patio glass balustrade put in (not ordered yet)

electrics in my bedroom (always been dodgy)

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.

install new downstairs loo - not sure what the delay is on this 🤷‍♀️ Really really want this done now!

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

whatever else I haven’t thought of yet…

Wow all sounding good and glad you caught the hearth!

We are week 2 and in the premier Inn tonight 😂 think I've adjusted to budget hotel life and I can't complain about the air con in this weather

Internal demolition is go go go and boss builder says all internal stud walls will be up this week. Roofers are working on the new garage and alley roof (to join it to the house) and extension roof. First fix electrics at the end of the week. Any tips on socket placement when you haven't decided where furniture is going?

Forgot to say we are week 13 of the big build and next week should mean half way!

So as a rule of thumb, I went for a double socket on every wall in a room. In bedrooms, I put at least two on walls that a bed could go against. I have five doubles in my nee bedroom. This is more sockets than the whole of the old ground floor (which were all singles!).

As for us, just a bit of rendering to do, and all our stuff comes out of storage Monday. I've just got used to the nice airy space and now will fill it all up again. We still have the study, living room and loads of woodwork to paint before Monday. Not fun in this weather hit we are sooooo close to finishing, it's keeping us motivated.

@Sewfrickinamazeballs what a happy day when you get all your stuff back! So excited for you!

Kitchen worktop is being fitted today (apparently... no sign of them yet) & the floor is being laid in the kitchen tomorrow too. Getting there!

Hope they turned up @AwkwardPaws27

trying not to be annoyed that only one person is here today.

it is the plumber and he’s fitted the utility tap and is working on the downstairs loo as we speak.
hoping it’ll be usable this evening when I have a few of my orchestra round. With no loo roll holder, towel rail or lock on the door, lol.

Can’t see the portaloo going before the summer holidays at this rate! Was just a dream I guess. Just think if they threw people at the job it would get done sooner.

Really hope you got your worktop today @AwkwardPaws27?

My bank account took a big hit today - I ordered all my appliances, to arrive the same day as kitchen and utility cabinets.

Haven't ordered a water softener yet as builder has made me think twice - he asked if I was OK with never being able to drink water from anywhere other than the kitchen tap... or if i only wanted my hot water softened. I'm not sure exactly. Does anyone else have one that can advise??

We live in a very hard water zone so there isnt much choice for us. We always only drink water from the kitchen anyway and yes, really want the soft water for hot water too, skin, hair feel much better, the most obvious thing is the lime scale everywhere without it. Saying that, we have to postpone our fitting appointment as Harvey plumber couldnt get the drinking tap installed because of the current work blocking all accesses.
We havent had much progresses here, the porch foundation wasnt correctly put so will need to redo for the brick work to start, I havent had a date for it yet. Plaster needs to come back for bathroom level 1, under staircase, living room hall. The carpenter is here however on his own so it must take him another couple of weeks. Things are painfully slow, will never hire a big company who subcontract for every single thing again.

Thanks @Newhome321 that's good to know, that's the setup I'd prefer. I'm going to research options as my builder has also suggested these electric 'descalers' or 'scale inhibitors' that claim to reduce limescale. He's not keen to fit the softener but says he can do if I really want it...

@HouseyHouse21 & @LivingInaBuildingSite yes thank you, they did come & fit it and I'm so pleased! Floor is being laid in the kitchen today too.