Going up! chat thread for the converting (lofts, not the lord)

[DukesOfTripHazard]

I am sitting here with my heart thumping waiting for scaffolding lorry. Been lurking on the extensions thread. Vonny please post any tips. Cyb, I know you are one of the converted.

Anyone else about to do this?

I'm a mid terrace 1900 house in London. We're doing an L shape to give a further room above the rear addition. 2 beds and a bath. Can't ruddy wait! Have been too-excited-to-go-to-sleep on and off about this for about 18 months.

Good luck. And remember to tell the builder/surveyor/building inspector or any concerns as soon as you notice them, no matter how small, and if you have to halt work for a day or two til you get the result you want before you continue, do it. Do not plow on if you are not happy with something.

Go out as much as you can.

Don't bother dusting

Brilliant advice woodland.

Work at home so that's going to be a head f*ck challenging.

Dusting? Dusting? Ok, won't bother

Ours went quite smoothly. Took about 6 weeks in total. Most of the time the builders were outside, and entered the loft through a hole in the roof, so apart from the noise, we didn't feel invaded at all. The dustiest bit was when they put the stairs in, and even that wasn't so bad. Always ask what the builders are going to be doing each day, and if there's anything you're concerned about, tell them as soon as possible. I thought I'd be making endless cups of tea, but the builders bought their own, and had their own kettle! Agree about the dusting!

You will be needing the lord by week 2

ask when the stairs will be put in, and pencil to be out of house!

I had a 5 month old when we had ours done so had some kind friends who gave us a key while they were at work.

re drinks, I left some cheap mugs from Wilkos and fairly generous supplies of tea etc. (I left a bottle of squash too as it was hot weather) This was very much appreciated and they didn't mind that I never really made tea for them.

We were lucky to have fantastic builders, it took less than 6 weeks as they worked 6 days a week.

re the dust, each evening when they have finished, do the bare minimum of cleaning. In our case I cleaned one worktop in kitchen, and the bath and toilet seat just so we could use these adequately. You will wear yourselves out if you try to do any thorough cleaning during the process.

Plan to eat very simply. If possible have access to someone's washing line as you may well not be able to get clothes dry (too dusty inside and garden full of building materials outside)

We ate "out" a lot - at Morrisson's cafe!!

Our living room was fairly unaffected thank goodness.

p.s. about week 4 you will convince yourselves that this will be permanent and the gang of builders will be with your forever. really they won't

Thanks for these. They have some ground to make up at the moment. Third day running no scaffolding. Main fitter holiday next week. Some remedial work next week, steels a week Monday. However, they are still telling me how great they are. Am not worried just a bit frustrated.

Aagh, no washing line! There's a thought...

Noddy

yes I am converted

No regrets here APART from my loft floor is very springy-I think they put the minimum amount allowed down of whatever keeps it rigid- something to keep an eye on.

it is FAB though, you really wont regret it

I will grill them on rigidity. Thanks for tip.

Scaffolding up. Very dark in here.

Anyone else in the throes of or throes of planning this?

Some supporting framework's gone in on the first floor. Really no-one else doing this want to share. Scaffolding all over round where I am. I would love to go through it with someone else!

I remember the terror

We converted our loft two years ago, in order to maximize profit when selling: it was really pretty painless, much less stressful than I'd imagined/been told, and I loved our new loft bedroom/bathroom so much we stayed another six months before putting the house on the market.

Now we've nearly finished an extension, and I would SO not have dared to try it if we hadn't done the loft (we have the loft to do next year, in our new house, now!).

Scaffolding is weird, isn'[t it? Like being in a cage.

Thanks Eli. I quite like the cage feeling. Fortress Dukes! So far, not as discombobulating as getting the kitchen done as that meant relocating the kitchen to my office which did my head in.

Clearing the loft meant some anguish, but we managed.

Lol at fortress, but its true - spooky how fast one gets used to living in a cage, too!

Yes, ktichen relocation is hard - did it years ago, pre-kids. Lucky for me we don't yet live in the house we're extending!

Two rooms and a bath is great, who is going to be sleeping up there? We've started getting in quotes for loft conversion next year (by which time we will be livning there).

Well there is drilling and banging and I name this DAY ONE!!!

So far they have....nicked my ladder, which I need to put up a curtain. Will get them to put it up, I think

Builder two has sliced through the top of his thumb which he seems quite chipper about and has covered in duct tape

Builder one has blown a bulb in the loft and
asked for a replacement

Have been called to school to collect 'not feeling well' DD1 who actually seems rather well and just wanted to see the builders

I've got a deadline of later today with work (work at home)

So, in concusion, DAY ONE