Another bungalow loft extension build...
Discussion
Foundations at the back is taking shape, concrete about to be poured at the front. Walls will start going back up next week, and steels guy coming to do onsite measurements before fabrication. Quite exciting now as the 'build' is finally about to start.
The rental we are in is absolutely fine, but my daughter definitely misses the garden. Project is on target interms of completion before the winter.......hopefully.
The rental we are in is absolutely fine, but my daughter definitely misses the garden. Project is on target interms of completion before the winter.......hopefully.
Fantastic that you've got started, but the extent of the demolition begs the question of whether you would have been better off going all out for a new build?
Is any of what has been saved worth it from a design, feature or usage perspective?
Looking at those big holes must be exciting and scary in equal measure!
Is any of what has been saved worth it from a design, feature or usage perspective?
Looking at those big holes must be exciting and scary in equal measure!
We discussed about doing a full demolish + rebuild, but taking down the 2 story extension that was done in 2015 wouldn't offset VAT savings, but add to extra time to the build.
The planning permission was done based on keeping most of the existing old parts of the house staying the same, it was only when the builders started foundation work it was obvious parts of the old house just wasn't up to standard. The design is very much based on adding to the exisiting house, which I think every owner has extended, so alot of the work is consolidating the existing foot print.
We could have restarted totally but really haven't got the energy to revisit planning etc, plus the design we have will leave us with a truly unique build.
Going to be quite exciting to see the steels go up and the structure finally take shape. I've gone past the point of caring about £££££ which helps with the mindset, though clearly not for the bank account
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The planning permission was done based on keeping most of the existing old parts of the house staying the same, it was only when the builders started foundation work it was obvious parts of the old house just wasn't up to standard. The design is very much based on adding to the exisiting house, which I think every owner has extended, so alot of the work is consolidating the existing foot print.
We could have restarted totally but really haven't got the energy to revisit planning etc, plus the design we have will leave us with a truly unique build.
Going to be quite exciting to see the steels go up and the structure finally take shape. I've gone past the point of caring about £££££ which helps with the mindset, though clearly not for the bank account
.Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 16th April 13:44
gangzoom said:
The rental we are in is absolutely fine, but my daughter definitely misses the garden. Project is on target interms of completion before the winter.......hopefully.
The place we stayed had 70 acres - we didn't want to leave!The foundations on yours look a bit random - the ground looks really ropey - did they take a lot more concrete than expected? Our trenches looked like they'd been cut into plasticine, they were so perfectly formed.
Sheepshanks said:
The foundations on yours look a bit random - the ground looks really ropey - did they take a lot more concrete than expected? Our trenches looked like they'd been cut into plasticine, they were so perfectly formed.
Parts of the original house turned out to be built straight onto the ground....ie no foundations!!! Only found when proper excavations started, puts to bed the theory older properties were 'better' built than new ones .Honestly I have no wish to pretend to be a builder to back seat drive when it comes to the build. The builders are trustworthy (they have built a friends house recently, and the house of the surveyors), they have the plans, I'll trust them to just get on with the job......I know how irritating it can be to have amateurs give 'advice' on how to do a job they have no real idea about.
Next few weeks is when the 'fun' starts properly for us, including waiting for the first proper invoice.
The reason why our projected build costs are so expensive is starting to be clear to me now. The glazing deposit is now down, looking at the quoted size, it's a phenomenal amount of glass.
This project started as wanting to have slightly bigger domer bedroom on a bungalow so we could get a better view of the garden. The result is we are now having a nearly 4 meter wide and over 3 meter heigh bit of glazing out of the bedroom! With same width window opening for the living below.
The main entrance into the house is going from a simple door, to a 2 meter wide double set of doors inside a 4 meter wide and nearly 4.5 meter heigh bit of glazing. This new bit of front glazing is than lined up with a 2 meter wide single bit of glass at the back end of the house. So you can see the garden straight from the front end of the house.
We asked the architect to priorities views of the garden.....he has certainly done that!!!
But before any of the walls can be built, we have a well issue at the foot of the proposed front glazing......more £££££......
This project started as wanting to have slightly bigger domer bedroom on a bungalow so we could get a better view of the garden. The result is we are now having a nearly 4 meter wide and over 3 meter heigh bit of glazing out of the bedroom! With same width window opening for the living below.
The main entrance into the house is going from a simple door, to a 2 meter wide double set of doors inside a 4 meter wide and nearly 4.5 meter heigh bit of glazing. This new bit of front glazing is than lined up with a 2 meter wide single bit of glass at the back end of the house. So you can see the garden straight from the front end of the house.
We asked the architect to priorities views of the garden.....he has certainly done that!!!
But before any of the walls can be built, we have a well issue at the foot of the proposed front glazing......more £££££......
Looking good!
Quick question. Do you really need and will sit at the kitchen island often as the view from above shows how much of your RH area the island takes up and obviously it’s fixed? I’d be tempted to leave that space more flexible and do without the island.
I don’t know your circumstances or the rest of the house design but that RH space could be used flexibly over the years for many thing’s especially if you have or might have a family.
Just a thought
Quick question. Do you really need and will sit at the kitchen island often as the view from above shows how much of your RH area the island takes up and obviously it’s fixed? I’d be tempted to leave that space more flexible and do without the island.
I don’t know your circumstances or the rest of the house design but that RH space could be used flexibly over the years for many thing’s especially if you have or might have a family.
Just a thought
Slow but steady progress, bricklayers have pretty much done all they can now, waiting for rest of the steels to be installed next week so the roof can be started. Front entrance is starting to take shape, cannot wait for the remaining retaining wall to come down and the whole space at the front is opened up .
.dobly said:
Does seem to be slow progress - are you happy with the time it is taking?
Not too bothered, we started the design process back in 2019 so aslong as the thing gets built I'm pretty chilled. The thing slowing the builder down is the steel installation, complex is putting it mildly! 
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