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

[Sewfrickinamazeballs]

Hi! New thread!

@Littlemissweepy spoke to our normal builder about the Lusso bath, we’ve gone for the mini oasis so not one of the heavier ones, but he said he’s not concerned about getting it upstairs. He said it may take a while as they will take it slowly but four of them should be fine doing it - so fingers crossed!

@NewHouseNewMe yes, I will 100% be leaving a bad review online - once I no longer need them to do anything for me. Funnily enough more recent reviews have also been pretty awful. The builders were quite shocked by how bad the plan was - I think we struck lucky with sensible, honest builders who know what they are doing and seem to know straight away what is actually needed/how to go about it.

I’m reconciled to multiple velux instead of a single dormer, it’s going to be a child bedroom not the master - and tbh I don’t think I’m cut out for this sort of additional stress - we both have high pressure jobs and because I WFH a lot more than my DH, it’s been me dealing with most of this, and I’ve just about had enough. As stupid as it sounds I just want my home back!

@Martinisarebetterdirty that’s great, just checked and mine is 125kg yikes

There definitely comes a time when we’d accept anything to get our house back!

@Timwith2noses That doesn't sound stupid at all. I think we'll all relish the day we don't have a house full of builders!

I'm praying that this week's is my last visit to a launderette ever. The plumber arrives on Monday and I will make him aware that a working washing machine should be his top priority!

Woohoo, I have a start date, 22 August!

Amazing @Littlemissweepy ! Are you ready to go or do you need to sort things out beforehand?

Between now and the start date I need to empty out the utility room and garage that will be demolished and somehow store all that extra stuff in the main house. They said I could live here for up to 2 months post start and they would find somewhere to plumb in my dishwasher and washing machine that is on the utility room. Goodness knows where though!

Hello all! I've name changed a few times but was on this thread over a year ago when we moved into this property and were applying for planning

Finally ready to go. Packers come in next Thursday, builders start on 22nd and we are choosing kitchen tomorrow.

6 months project, complete renovation and demolition of 2 storey extension (that isn't safe) and rebuilding it. Would have loved not to move out as it's added ££££ to the budget as we have a dog and nowhere near us would let us rent with a pet so we are in a tiny air bnb for 6 months argh!

Same start date @Littlemissweepy :)

Good luck to all the new starters! Look forward to your updates! 22nd Aug is not long 😁

@SpotOnMyBot excellent sounds very exciting, good luck with the prep!

Loving following all the journeys, and those near the end give me some hope that it will be worth it on the end :)

Decorating is well underway; the kitchen and bathroom should be done by the end of the week. The decorators had another job prebooked for next week, so will be back again the week after to do the hallway & study, but this works well as we need some cornicing & ceiling roses put up in the interim.

The kitchen splashback will be tiled in the next two weeks, & then that's the kitchen complete!

I've had my eye on some lovely dining tables on Etsy but haven't decided and honestly I think we need to wait til I go back to work as I don't want to spend the rest of our savings while on mat leave. I grabbed a bargain dining table set with two benches from Dunelm earlier for the princely sum of £32, which will give us somewhere to eat comfortably indoors (we've been eating outside or on our laps on the sofa for months!).

Nice to hear from people, it's all gone very quiet! @AwkwardPaws27 I am seriously impressed you have any savings left! I will be on debt to my eyeballs I think by the end! Oh and my house was valued as inhabitable this week so no more money from the bank until we are water tight. Bugger.

We have every trade possible in the house, it has all gone a bit mad. Feels like a huge push to get us to the end. Plumbing and electrics first fix going on today. Roofer tomorrow and screed on Friday. Toilet is being fitted today. Kitchen delivery on Monday. Staircase on Tue. IT IS ALL HAPPENING!!!

Home from holiday to A LOT of dust here. But, the side is pretty much finished bar the painting - which is great because upstairs is pretty much uninhabitable. I have just cleaned for a good 2 hours and all I can taste is dust.

Message from neighbour tonight - we can hear water coming from your extension. Big leak and plumber has been back this evening! Our insulation boards are waterlogged so no chance of screeding tomorrow. 1 step forward and all that!

Oh no @GardensandGrandDesigns - how long does that set you back by!?

That is a beautiful room, @Timwith2noses - love the colours you've gone for.

We had worktops fitted this week, so it feels like we should be near the end, but there's still all the decorating, electrics and plumbing to go. And the bifolds don't arrive for a few weeks. Still trying to be zen about the whole thing, but it's getting much harder!

hi all, I am waiting for the builder to tell us how much the Howdens kitchen costs that we chose. It's so bloody annoying that you can't tell while you're there. I've had to take loads of different options just in case anything I picked was too expensive. Last time I did this, I used Wickes which was far easier!

also went to 2 bathroom shops and their prices were insane. Now tempted just to buy the stuff myself and hope the plumber and builder can work it out. I am going to speak to the architect on Monday and hopefully she can help make sure we are buying the right stuff for the right spaces as we have some tricky sized rooms.

loads of you are so near the end - I always think once the kitchen goes in you are very much nearly there!

@SpotOnMyBot we found Sanctuary bathrooms very good, they are a bit cheaper than list price and we’re helpful. Having said that, don’t discount the swanky shops, CP Hart will price match and West One bathrooms’ online store is cheaper than a lot of places for BC baths (I’ve had the best service imaginable from West One too so far).

Thanks that's really useful - I will put them on my list!

Update: water had pooled in one area so the builder sawed up one insulation board to see the water damage. Removed as much water as possible and screed went ahead. Builder assures me it will be ok but time will tell. Screed looks fab I must say. Also picked up a screed level issue so sliding doors are flush. Glazers and builders not communicating enough so just got them on a call together in the nick of time. All by half 9. An emotional rollercoaster! Then had a full day of work calls. Now back to Premier Inn that is 28 degrees. It will be worth it, it will be worth it...

We’ve just started getting quotes for our loft conversion plus some additional building works - so far two quotes from two linked contractors. I was a bit surprised that the quotes are completely silent on VAT, not sure if we should be assuming there will be VAT payable on top of the amount quoted? What’s the usual practice? I guess I had expected to see a VAT exclusive price, but accompanied by a statement that VAT was payable. Also one of the quotes specifies payment in 3 instalments with the last one being a cash payment, is that normal?

We've had our outline quote back now @IceandIndigo and it's clearly marked into sections with the VAT amount added on at the end, a % added to cover fluctuations in material costs and a % for builder's profit.

Downstairs loo shopping today and went to CP Hart - very nice and picked out a Celio ceramic basin. Also picked out the Terrazzo tile. Very happy!

The light grey specs are actually pale blue in real life.