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!

I ordered our DIY kitchen in Feb in studio green. Since then I've worried is it too dark and 7 months later I'm relieved and so happy. Just day 1 of fitting but...

It’s lovely @GardensandGrandDesigns but i would say that as my own is bakewell
green which I think is even darker and mushroom. We’re all clearly on a theme!

@Yellownotblue that looks fab. Is it a side return? You’re nearly there too!

I empathise on the Costa front. The lights and mirrors etc have been extortionate and how did I not know this? I guess I only ever bought one or two at a time before!

This is probably not the time to admit we never did a proper budget..

Costa? Costs! Id Love a coffee now clearly!

@NewHouseNewMe it’s a side return plus the width of the former garage (not seen in the picture). The door on the left in the second photo is to the scullery. For which I have yet to sort out everything…

Cant believe I stopped posting. Well I can - I got a smidge overwhelmed with the whole project. I started 49 weeks ago - which was pic one and moved in on Saturday just gone. Pic 2. Still have a couple of rooms to decorate and furnish, however the budget for them went on roofing and foundation "issues" which were unforeseen. Painters still to finish downstairs, and I am using a friends shower, as we managed to loose key pipe work for the bathroom, downstairs shower is being tiled as we speak. I insisted that my bedroom was completely finished, decorated, lights working and carpeted before I moved in, so that at least I could get a decent nights sleep!! Can post the inside if anyone wants to admire what I am now calling the "island of dreams" 4 weeks ago I never thought I'd get this far - but it all comes around. I have no money left to titivate the inside, but just being in, having friends round for fizz, more than made up for that.

@NewHouseNewMe i suspect my faliure to do a proper budget was due to the fact that i knew i would have to
compromise somewhere. So instead i just ploughed on and hoped for the best!!

We are adding 3 ensuites which plus the existing bathroom which has changed position a little bit means we are doing 4 new bathrooms plus a downatairs loo. I'm not now sure why i thought that would be affordable.

I went to the house yesterday and counted 9 diffferent men. I'm literally running a small business it would appear.

@plumstone i would love to see some pics.

@nomoneytreehere here you go. The first is what it looked like at 7am last Friday, and the rest are approx 10 hours later, all credit to the workmen, they were amazing, ITs unclear, but behind the kitchen door, there is a walk in pantry, which I forgot to order doors for, so that's another thing expected this week!! Island and wall lights still to go in. Painters have just arrived to do the second coat in here, so it no longer looks like this!! The worktop has been oiled five times over the weekend, so hopefully should be OK!

@plumstone that is an incredible transformation!

Wow @plumstone that's amazing and in only ten hours?!

@plumstone wow. You have given me hope!!

@GardensandGrandDesigns that is beautiful. I have the same colour in the bathroom and I still love it every time I go in. Are you pleased? The big larder(?) Cupboard looks fantastic.

@plumstone what a transformation! 49 weeks! Do you feel at the end now? Or not quite?

Agree re costs @nomoneytreehere it has been at points a fair bit of stress and pressure. There are some items that were so worth the money to look at at least (time will tell on usability/durability) but some where now we've come to the end I do think maybe I could have compromised. However I'm still thankful we remortgaged for the work when we did.

@NewHouseNewMe lights definitely caught me out too! We have left some bare as I can't face the price yet.

@RidingMyBike it was, but to be fair, the two joiners were in and one spent the afternoon, clearing all their kit out and using a very cool "blower' to move all the dust into a corner and then their every trusty Henry hoover finished the job, all i had to do was mop. They even moved the sofas, into place!!

@nomoneytreehere you have to have hope, it will all work out in the end!

@CameliaLeaf not quite, probably take till the end of year to get the whole house bar two rooms (next year's project) finished to include pictures, furniture, rugs and accessories. My main priority now is the snagging list done by end October, and all the little annoying things ticked off my list. Will then reassess in November and see what we can achieve by end of year.

@plumstone that sounds sensible. We are hoping to finish snagging by end of November but I have no plans or more importantly money to do the finishes yet (rugs cushions etc.). Hoping we can take a full break from all house things until probably Easter and then we will start to think about where we are.

@CameliaLeaf I hear that, I need to press on and finish the bits I've started before the year end. I then want all the builders/joiners stuff out my house so I can give the place a really good clean and then close the doors on the two undone rooms for a good three months, I also need to do something with the mud pit that is the garden, but that will be late spring next year!!

@plumstone 😂I daren't look outside the new windows on to the garden 😂
Having no builders or trades will be bliss and yes, that compulsion to just have clean, tidy rooms!

Joining in to vent!

We started our single story extension/ground floor reno the first week of January. Floor was due to go down yesterday ahead of the kitchen being fitted on Monday but there was too much moisture in the wood planks. I could cry.

Industrial heater and dehumidifier on at full capacity in attempt to keep to schedule but reality is in all likelihood we're screwed.

Everyone's projects look really ace. Hopefully I'll have some nice pictures to share soon (not holding my breath!)

Good luck @OBface really hope it all comes together for you.

VAT question...
So I've sourced a Bora hob and I was wondering if my builder buys it will he not have to pay vat or how does it work? Serious penny pinching going on!

Oh my word, that is a lovely space @plumstone . I can’t believe they did all that in 12 hours! An amazing transformation.

I feel the same @CameliaLeaf . I spent a fortune on crittal doors and the kitchen very early on that might not have been chosen towards the end! But literally everyone who does a Reno says the same.

@OBface last week we week in the same position following a leak and a rented industrial dehumidifier for 3 days worked a treat. Floor is almost down now!

Looking forward to seeing your floor @NewHouseNewMe

Kitchen cabinet doors and handles going on today minus the island. The quality of DIY kitchens has astounded me when I compare it to our old Wren kitchen.
Also hoping plasterers turn up today. Please!!!

EEEEEEEK we have a confirmed start date of next week.

It's really happening!

Thanks for the positive comments!!! @RidingMyBike a start date the best date, the "end date" a moveable date. I was 50 weeks from start to move in, will be 54 week (end October) to get snagging finished. But as well as the extension, there was the complete re-wire, re-plumb, block up doors, create a new hall, move one bathroom and create and install another. Then there was the unexpected joy of rotten joists in the foundations, and more in the roof!!

I did get my bedroom finished last night with some curtains being put-up, so no more arse flashing! Not what I originally planned, but I fell in love with the wallpaper, and then had to work everything else into it!

Today is more tiling, electrician, and I am hoping a plumber, cannot keep using friends for their shower facilities - I mean they are great, but me popping in to shower at 7pm each night, is getting ridiculous!!!!

Oh wow @plumstone that does look lovely and I can see why you've chosen the wallpaper.

Our project is basically yours minus the actual extension and plus under floor heating/heat pump and solar panels. We'll get the estimated time frame next week. Gulp.

Very nice @plumstone , love the light too!
it looks grown up and finished, in a way that none of my house really looks!

but, in very exciting news…. 🥁…. The skip has gone!!! 🎉💥🥂😂

think we’ve had a skip for 18 months on and off. Have litter picked the driveway under all the bushes and DH filled the garden bin with odds and sods we just haven’t been able to get to. Have lots of pruning to do now.

the builders are going to come and spread out lots of hardcore to cover the dirt before it turns into a mud bath in winter. Have vague plans to apply for a larger driveway at some point.

not much else happening, no activity inside this week and the outside tiler has covid. Sigh.