Extension thread 2022 part III.. celebrations, crises and will it be finished for Christmas?!

[NewHouseNewMe]

3rd thread of 2022 - can't believe I'm still here!

[NewHouseNewMe]

So we're less than 10 days from moving back and it's looking hairy.. We've got no option as we can't stay here but as yet, we've not seen electrics or plumbing work, and security is iffy at best!

But only 97 sleeps till Christmas 🎅

[RidingMyBike]

Got first kitchen quote back and a room quote due this week. Builder has asked if we want to confirm start date!

[LivingInaBuildingSite]

Well done on new thread!

I definitely hope to be finished by Christmas! Almost done here, hoping to crack on with some snagging bits this week. Should finish the outside tiling too.

then need to get on with glass railing ordering.

can’t remember what I said id do over the weekend but I haven’t!

im very good at wasting time, rubbish at making final little decisions.

[SpotOnMyBot]

Thank you for starting new thread. Tomorrow we are 1 month into a 6 month build plan and we are already 2 weeks behind! Argh!

Really enjoying hearing everyone's updates.

@NewHouseNewMe fingers crossed there is a lot of progress in the next 10 days!

[MyBuggyIsOutToGetMe]

Thank you for the new thread! We are, dare I say it, more or less on schedule. Plastering ongoing and hoping for external window and doors this week - which would be good as currently the downstairs in particular is bloody freezing! Our living room is partitioned off but it is honestly so cold.

Kitchen is due to arrive end of this week and just praying we don’t have damaged units as it’s from DIY Kitchens and their Facebook page suggests quite a few people have had issues this year with chipped or damaged doors, etc.

[Littlemissweepy]

Checking in on new thread! Thanks for starting it @NewHouseNewMe

Thanks for feedback on boilers, now need the plumber to come up with a plan to conceal a water tank somewhere 🙄 that doesn’t ruin any other room! Used the bank holiday to gradually pack some boxes whilst watching funeral coverage. Think we’ll be moving out in about 4-5 weeks.

[Yellownotblue]

Joining the new thread!

Plastering is starting tomorrow. Still waiting for the windows and hoping they will be delivered next week.

Last week I noticed the builders had messed up the height of door frames, as well as placement of light switches etc. They’ve corrected everything already, but goes to show you need to check absolutely everything a million times.

All our tiles have arrived, so we’re ready to start tiling except for the kitchen where the screed is still drying. This week I have to order my final vanity, wardrobe doors from Noremax, bits I left out from ikea order by by mistake, utility units, joinery for tv bench and lighting. So much lighting.

Hoping our render gets delivered so the scaffolding and tin hat can finally come off.

Good luck with the final push @NewHouseNewMe ! We believe in you 💪🏼

[Yellownotblue]

I have the most random question about Ikea- I ordered a bunch of wardrobes some weeks ago when they were in stock. Delivery is for mid October. Now they are showing as out of stock again 🥺, do you think they take existing orders into account and will be holding on to my stuff?

I know I should call them but my experience with customer service has been a bit rubbish - hoping someone here will know the answer!

[Yellownotblue]

Also, for you DIY kitchen experts, what’s the lead time from ordering to delivery? I can’t find info on their website.

[SpotOnMyBot]

Did they confirm the order and delivery date @Yellownotblue ? If so you should be ok

We are in waiting mode - need new party wall agreement plus Thames water to either confirm we are ok to go ahead or come out and inspect what this new pipe is that they have found! Builders reckon 2 weeks and I think we've had one already. I'm hoping they can get on with other stuff while they wait for this

[Yellownotblue]

@SpotOnMyBot thank you! Yes my order and delivery date are confirmed.

[Timwith2noses]

I’m hoping we’ll be finished bar the painting upstairs by half term - maybe totally back together by Christmas! Patio being laid currently, we requested the old borders and rather overgrown mature shrubs be removed and patio all the way to the edges but behind the shrubbery and over the boundary wall is a ginormous child’s climbing structure that said child owner apparently sits on top of - and now has a great view into our patio space and dining room… possibly a mistake. It’s not our main garden though and is a space I think we will use in the evenings really - I like the idea of sitting out there with a glass of wine after dinner in summer - so hopefully the child on top of the climbing frame won’t be present to overlook and might be in bed instead 😏

in inside news we have studwork progressing upstairs and are waiting on the building inspector to return. All seems to be taking shape up there - we need to talk radiators and placement of these in the next few days I think, and then probably lights and sockets, though they already know roughly what we want.

[GardensandGrandDesigns]

We will either be in and all finished for Xmas or on the streets and bankrupt. Right now it's 50/50!

Plastering started yesterday and then today they didn't turn up 🫤 builders have cut through the ufh pipe but apparently it will get fixed tomorrow. Seriously reached the point where I want the builders to leave.

[NewHouseNewMe]

Meet your sister @GardensandGrandDesigns

I am fed up to the back teeth with builders and tradesmen who never seem to be where they’re supposed to be! I know we are very close but we are moving back a month too early at least. We’re going to be living out of suitcases and frequent visitors to laundrettes!

[GardensandGrandDesigns]

Meant to be moving home on Saturday but I can't see it with the absolute mess the plasterers are making. The floor is looking horrible with all the plaster splashed around. We were prepared to just sleep on mattresses for a couple of weeks on chipboard floors but now it's so messy eurgh!

I'm sick of wasting money at the Travelodge though and I really need it to buy carpet!

[Littlemissweepy]

@GardensandGrandDesigns I really feel for you and all those at the end of their tether. I see this in my future! It’s only a matter of time. Being done by Christmas isn’t even a pipe dream for me.

[Yellownotblue]

@Littlemissweepy we've been living in a rental since late January! If we’re not back by Christmas it’s not the end of the world, but it will be a mental blow as we’re so looking forward to being back home now. We’re on top of each other, the kitchen is small, the plumbing is leaking so we’re down to one shower room. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s challenging. And expensive.

[NewHouseNewMe]

Well you will like my plan then @GardensandGrandDesigns .
Carpet down on a Wednesday/Thursday and we move in on Friday.. It’s way too close for comfort but that’s the way it had to be as we didn’t want to move in all our stuff and then move it all out again for carpets.

There will be no kitchen, downstairs floors, electrical supply downstairs, entrance door, etc. But we will be home and living upstairs.

[NewHouseNewMe]

We eventually got fed up paying rent and bills (it’s vvv expensive where we live) and the builder was mentally moving onto other jobs and starting to slow down while he waited for his sub-contractors to be scheduled in. I will say that the return has focused minds beautifully!

[Yellownotblue]

@SpotOnMyBot , I didn’t comment on your other thread but I feel for you having difficult neighbours. We have had ups and downs - immediate neighbours have been great, but neighbour two doors down called me immoral and threatened to get an injunction against us. I found that very difficult and it gave me lots of anxiety as she egged other neighbours on to complain (fortunately they are good friends so told us about it and batted her away).

if you stick to what is allowed by your council, the lawyer neighbours don’t have a leg to stand on. You will have to be firm and friendly, so it’s clear while you sympathise with their woes, the building works are going to proceed. Slowing down isn’t in anyone’s interest, and you can’t do digging/scaffolding without making noise.

Frankly I’m surprised they think they have any grounds to stop you. I’m a lawyer myself - they should know better! Stay strong. 💪🏼

[GardensandGrandDesigns]

@NewHouseNewMe

Well you will like my plan then @GardensandGrandDesigns .
Carpet down on a Wednesday/Thursday and we move in on Friday.. It’s way too close for comfort but that’s the way it had to be as we didn’t want to move in all our stuff and then move it all out again for carpets.

There will be no kitchen, downstairs floors, electrical supply downstairs, entrance door, etc. But we will be home and living upstairs.

Going through the exact conundrum with carpets and when to get everything back from storage myself! We will move in with no carpet upstairs and we will only carpet the kids room to start with. Money has run out! Good luck with your move back home 🙂

[GardensandGrandDesigns]

@Yellownotblue

@SpotOnMyBot , I didn’t comment on your other thread but I feel for you having difficult neighbours. We have had ups and downs - immediate neighbours have been great, but neighbour two doors down called me immoral and threatened to get an injunction against us. I found that very difficult and it gave me lots of anxiety as she egged other neighbours on to complain (fortunately they are good friends so told us about it and batted her away).

if you stick to what is allowed by your council, the lawyer neighbours don’t have a leg to stand on. You will have to be firm and friendly, so it’s clear while you sympathise with their woes, the building works are going to proceed. Slowing down isn’t in anyone’s interest, and you can’t do digging/scaffolding without making noise.

Frankly I’m surprised they think they have any grounds to stop you. I’m a lawyer myself - they should know better! Stay strong. 💪🏼

We've also had problems with neighbours and threats at the start about reporting us to estate management etc. Complaints about building noise - how on earth can you do construction quietly!

They stormed off during one conversation we had but now they are fine with us. In the moment it feels horrendous but once the demolition noise is over they do get over it.

[LivingInaBuildingSite]

Sorry for those with neighbour woes.
We have had issues with a sort of neighbour who is also a local councillor. He unofficially objected to our plans right at the beginning which resulted in a refusal from planning. Although he just had an informal chat with the planning officer so it didn’t record as an objection - as he doesn’t actually live close enough to be invited to comment.

Then he tried to to go to the local press to moan about the state of our front garden (skip, portaloo, Heras fencing, nothing untoward). The paper contacted us for comment, we declined to comment and the story died, but still.

I struggle to smile and wave when I see him but just about manage to do it to keep the peace.
will not be buying him wine at the end! 😂😂

[NewHouseNewMe]

You can see the headline now:
”Family live in building site eyesore” . Its hardly breaking news in fairness 😂
What a plonker!

[LivingInaBuildingSite]

Definitely a plonker! He likes to get in the local rag any old way, can’t believe the journalists were so desperate for a story they even thought of ringing us!