Extension and renovation thread 2026

[needmorespace2026]

Looks like we are finally starting building on our extension in Feb. I’ve been mentally planning it ever since we met bed in over 10 years ago, and first met our architect in autumn 2024 so it’s been a long time coming

Wondered if there are others out there who want a space to share the highs and lows? Ours is supposed to be an 8 month build so maybe done by Christmas (famous last words!)

I am in awe of your DIY abilities. I’m ok at the “taking things out” side but completely useless at putting it all back. I can paint but that’s about it. Tiling a floor would be way beyond me.

We’ve had a builder come around today to give a quote to fix the joists in the main bedroom after our previous builder went MIA. The quote was decent and he can come to do it in a few weeks then we can have the en suite put in. Let’s just hope this one sticks around because we have a baby coming in 3 months and time is ticking!!

Oh no @EllieWalesthats so frustrating that the previous builder dropped out. It’s so hard finding people- most of the builders we contacted ghosted us before actually sending a quote :-( I’m very happy with the people we have now, but it’s very much a sellers market for trades.

@EllieWales fingers crossed this builder comes through for you!

I just read back to my post of 23 Feb when I said we'd turned the corner- ha ha ha ha ha. We so hadn't and not sure we have yet although the dust generation seems to have slowed down and we have floors downstairs and one outside tap (previously just using the stopcock as a tap).

The dramas of the last few weeks have included

• All the roof tiles are fit only for the skip and need replacing
• Neighbours are pissed off as it's taking so long - wait till they find out about the demolition and rebuild down the road.
• The whole of upstairs needs reskimming
• We have 2 weeks to tile 90 square metres of floor so they can fit the kitchen/ utility/ downstairs loo.
• All the soakaways need redoing.
• I've extended the Airbnb booking by a month as we are nowhere close to finishing.

Argggh.

Placemarking for ideas

I forgot about this post!

Seven months on from quote, we have started work. Foundations dug and poured. Two trees (poor quality) removed from front garden. Kitchen picked but not paid for, so many more decisions to make.

I’ve been too depressed to post 😂. 6 months on from when I last posted I was so wrong about having turned a corner- we are now on the territory of “don’t dread that 4 month renovation. Those 10 months will be the best 2 years of your life” 😂.

we are probably now about 2/3 of the way through. I still don’t have an upstairs bathroom though or any carpets. And there are many rooms which are still building sites.

I am never doing this again. Next time I’m buying a “done” house!

Hi @AllJoyAndNoFuni was wondering how you were getting on! Our build is still going. Mostly it has been ok and some bits I’m really pleased with. Still don’t have a habitable house though and I’m realising quite how long 7 months in a temporary home is for young kids-like “most of year two”! Also a bit overwhelmed with all the diy fit out I will need to do as I’m now busy at work as well :-/

@OotontheRandanget ahead of the decisions. My builder tends to suddenly ask me questions like “where is this door going” and “what is the depth of your toilet cistern” without prior warning

Joining please!

We’re doing an extension/renovation/complete reconfigure and have also added a garage.

Building works started in March and we’re now 10 weeks into living in a caravan. Caravan life is very much not for me! But we have at least another month here.

Been very stressful lately as we’ve realised that we do not have funds for the remaining block work, joiners, roof, windows so we’re desperately coming up with strategies. Anyone blocked up window openings with eg boards? We need the main roof to be built to have it watertight before winter so trying to see what we can postpone..

Its definitely been a stressful process and I just can’t wait to be back in the house and start decorating. We’ll be plastering and doing painting, wallpaper and floors ourselves. We’ll tackle the kids bedrooms and 1 bathroom first, can’t wait!

@needmorespace2026 that totally resonates- my DC are mid teens and I feel like the poor cherubs have never really had proper "kid themed" bedrooms- we lived overseas for years in rentals (not allowed to repaint so a beige wonderland) and then when we moved back I was kind of like "well we're moving soon" so didn't want to invest a lot. And now 18 months of this (me shouting "wear shoes! you'll get nails in your feet" ad nauseam). They'll have left home if I don't get a move on!

Also yes re. the decisions- I have overthought the positioning of many, many light switches and thermostats. Then there are always a few cosmetic things where I'm already "fuck why did I pick that?" Once I'm done I'll come on here and write a list of best and worst decisions for the benefit of new generations of renovators! Also realised I kind of need to accept that it's not going to look as amazing as I want it to. Went to an acquaintance's house for a BBQ on Friday and her house is properly stunning but I just do not have the interiors skill for it- it looks like a magazine but she did it all herself - obviously just has a great eye. It was all so layered without looking cluttered.

@Rapunzel91 - you could technically board the windows but I'm not sure they'd be 100% watertight (could combine with plastic sheeting maybe like roofers use) and obviously the rooms would be dark. But I agree prioritise the roof.

Our builder remains optimistic he will 100% be done by christmas. We've got a delay with a gas pipe location so really hoping that the gas network can do the work necessary ASAP. The architect and builder knew that there could be surprises in terms of what was under the front garden so priced accordingly, we just didn't know the nature of the surprise. ANYWAY. at least the builders are neat and tidy when they finish each day...

Gas network are here today! There has been no progress on the build for the last two weeks as we have had to wait on the gas folk to come out and move the pipe. Here's hoping it is all sorted today and tomorrow. The builder says progress will be rapid after that.

I had awful dreams over the weekend, in part due to the storm and in part over worrying about the gas pipe. One dream was the gas network came out and whilst putting in a new pipe they bulldozed the garage and the extension foundations. I was relieved to see them turn up with shovels this morning... (told builder my dream, he laughed and said all is fine and not to worry. Nobody is bulldozing anything.)

Placemarking! We have bought a house which needs lots of work. I was on the 2017 extension thread and said never again & yet here I am!