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

[Sewfrickinamazeballs]

Hi! New thread!

@GardensandGrandDesigns 😁 no they didn’t, very poor form if you ask me! Isn’t that in the rules?

But let’s just say it put all my glazing issues in perspective. Definitely worth watching, if only to feel better about your own project.

Just watched Grand Designs! Wow what an episode! Loved it but I also like to see some normal houses. It did put all of our issues into perspective. All that broken glass 😳

I've made myself feel better by buying an oven, dishwasher and washing machine today. Very excited about having a new kitchen soon.

Plasterer has got in contact thank god. His mum had a stroke poor lady so completely understandable that he dropped everything. My mum died from the after effects of stroke so i have lots of sympathy as it leads to lots of hanging around in hospitals and vast amounts of worry for relatives. He's coming back on monday.

Roof still not finished. Becuase we have the gigantic tin hat i cant even see what is going on up there unless i climb up the ladder!

We are having a mare with insurance. Prompted by @RidingMyBike I asked Dp (who was meant to have sorted it out) whether we were properly insured given we were out of the house for 6 months. He insists we were but he obviously called More Than to check and the next thing we knew, the policy was cancelled. Cost of the building work was too high for Towergate so we've had to go to a specialist broker who is quoting over £2k as the minimum fee (with £500 excess!). We have one last try at towergate with a different division but if not, that's already a chunk out of our contingency and we've barely begun. ARGH!!

Also Dp got quotes for the storage. I thought the quote he gave me was for 6 months, turns out it was per month and we've taken 3.5x more space than both him and the movers estimated. Sigh. So more out of the contingency.

Only good news is the Howdens kitchen was within budget and we've actually saved on the bathrooms but still...

Can't actually afford too many more shocks!

Haven't see the new grand designs but will definitely watch now!

Oh crikey @SpotOnMyBot it's a good thing you checked!

Try a few places for storage - we got an initial 50% discount for first 3 months which made it cheaper.

We actually had quite a productive morning. The structural engineer didn't turn up(!) but the builder, plumber and electrician did so we've been able to work out lots of detail, planning lighting, plumbing etc. This is all for the detailed quote.

We're getting two quotes one for radiators, one for under floor heating as that will work better with the heat pump we're planning.

DH now has a meeting booked with the structural engineer next week. And we'll be making design appts with Howdens and the bathroom company to sort out the details.

The whole thing is pencilled in to start in October!

It's possible we could be in by Xmas but I don't want to get too excited...

Thanks to you for promoting @RidingMyBike otherwise we could have been facing a massive financial disaster!

Being in by Xmas would be brilliant wouldn't it. Hope you can make it! We are pencilled back in for March argh!

Promoting = prompting!

For anyone ordering appliances, tiles, bathroom suites etc - don't forget to use Topcashback. I've got nearly £300 back on my appliances so far, with another £100 or so expected.

If you use my sign up link you get a £10 bonus too (& I get one too)

www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/malicia

@SpotOnMyBot We also have insurance with More Than and they’re covering our build which is extensive and long running. They asked for a lot of documentation like the builders insurance and indemnity docs, the contract we signed with the builder etc. I had a few follow ups but got there in the end.
Have they asked for your builders professional insurance?

Are you living in the house though @NewHouseNewMe? The vast majority of mainstream insurance companies won't cover a longer than 60 day unoccupied period, and not many will cover more than 30 days. This is where we ran into problems as we're now over the 60 day period, building work not even started yet.

Is there any way you can camp out one or two nights a week? Is it even possible and would a couple of nights help get the insurance over the line (just musing to see if it helps - I have no knowledge at all). In case it helps anyone else john Lewis insurance have been great with us, no extra costs at all (we are living in through, but have found them great for several years on other things).

I asked about this last time we did a building project and the property was unoccupied for 3 months. (Yes, I'm crazy enough to be doing it again!). The insurance company was adamant the house had to be our main residence and we had to sleep there the majority of the time. So a night or two a week in a sleeping bag won't cut it!

Oh no, I’m so sorry. Hopefully you get there and find something reasonable. You probably know this but what about looking at the national home builders and renovators website and see what insurance firms they recommend?

@SpotOnMyBot Hi Spoton, could I ask what insurers you've been quoted by? I am in similar boat, have a JCT minor works contract.

We got the insurance in the end through Highworth Insurance. They used 3 different companies I can see but we eventually got cover.

We had to send over the building works contract and the builder's liability insurance.

We're out for 6 months but we're covered for a year now in case it overruns. What she said we can do is go back and get a refund if we complete earlier which would be cheaper than covering for 6 and then having to extend if that makes sense.

Yes it's all to do with the property being unoccupied unfortunately!

We are not living there as we have no plumbing, electrics.. At its worst, we had no roof or back wall! We are already out 7 months..

One thought - did you buy through a company or anything like that? I’ve only heard of one case before when they bought through a company so ownership was complicated.

No, really straightforward nothing complicated normal house purchase!

Maybe the difference is that we were living in it normally for some time before moving out and starting. When I say normally.. Green carpets, vanity sinks and bidets everywhere..

Well the good news is that we went to Howdens this morning to finalise the quote and I don't think the higher priced doors make a difference (they were on display) so we've gone for the cheaper ones which will save us some money. This is lucky as the roof repair work quote has come in and is massive. I went to have a look at it this morning and can see the rotten joists and the gaps so it needs to be done but argh £££!!

@AwkwardPaws27 thanks for the too cash back tip. We haven't ordered anything yet but when we do, I will use the link!

How is everyone else getting on with their work/finishing bits?

Just boring electrics first fix this week and stressing about the overspend here!
Starting plasterboard upstairs on Mon and glazing starts on Thu (sliders, external doors and all new windows)

Moving back in upstairs next weekend (apparently) it's going to be horrendous!

How on earth do you go about finding and choosing bathroom stuff? We went to another bathroom showroom/plumbing supplies place this morning, another one recommended by our builder. It's the third one we've been to. Didn't like anything on display. Don't like the current square/angular shapes that seem to be in fashion. Found it totally overwhelming.

But we need to choose the sanitary ware/furniture etc by the end of the month at the latest (ideally earlier) and I have no clue where to start. I've tried looking up the bathroom range we bought 13 years ago but it's been discontinued.

I just want a bog standard white steel bath with handles. A separate shower where you can actually adjust the water temperature (rental has an awful Aqualisa thing) and a very simple shower screen without doors, hinges etc. And some loos and basins.

I finally bit the bullet and ordered wardrobes and vanities today. Feeling a bit nervous about the Superfront drawer fronts, I hope the colours and finish are good.

First bit of glazing is going in this week, first fix is mostly done, screeding downstairs should go down in the next two weeks, then we can start the interior finishes. Shower niches, etc are now built. It’s starting to feel real.

We’re meant to move back in 12 weeks. Right now that seems hard to believe.