Build thread - bungalow to house
Discussion
Lim said:
Very impressive transformation.
If I could click a button and transfer 160k and get guaranteed results like this, i wouldn't think twice about doing it. But it seems so risky. Perhaps I deserve my bungalow!
We had 6 quotes at the start, there was over £150k difference between top and bottom. We still had to work with the builder to get the price down to our budget. Some details changed, roof tiles ended up concrete rather than slate to save a small fortune, we lost the velux windows in the main bedroom vaulted ceiling, another 6k off. Windows we sourced ourselves and the builder fitted, went from £47k in one quote to about £8k. Same with the bi-folds. Spent a lot of time trying to find the best value we good and picked up lots of bargains along the way from sales - I.e. ex-display sink and toilet from Bathstore was £15. We were lucky with some of them and obviously we were still allowed out and about at the time. But give the builder his due, quoted us a price and apart from a couple of changes we made during the build, he came in on his number.If I could click a button and transfer 160k and get guaranteed results like this, i wouldn't think twice about doing it. But it seems so risky. Perhaps I deserve my bungalow!
Milkbuttons said:
Total transformation, the house is unrecognizable in it's new configuration, well done it looks fantastic and your Madagascar Lemur wallpaper looks great my wife has just ordered the same print but with a Teal Green background.
We thought if we can’t go a bit mad with decorating the downstairs loo, where can you?Another one of our bargains bought before we started the build. Found in the b&q bargain bin at £1 a roll, we bought all 7 they had!
Edited by mattman on Tuesday 9th February 22:37
mattman said:
Approx a year since we actually started the build, despite Covid,
Looks fab, well done!! Bet it was stressful with COVID on going!!Progress on your build gives me hope we will get work done on our bungalow soon - Summer is very rough timetable for building work to start!
Would you mind sharing any details on where you sourced glass/doors from?
gangzoom said:
Looks fab, well done!! Bet it was stressful with COVID on going!!
Progress on your build gives me hope we will get work done on our bungalow soon - Summer is very rough timetable for building work to start!
Would you mind sharing any details on where you sourced glass/doors from?
No problem - front doors are an ebay find from a reclamation yard.Progress on your build gives me hope we will get work done on our bungalow soon - Summer is very rough timetable for building work to start!
Would you mind sharing any details on where you sourced glass/doors from?
Windows, french doors and patio doors are from Reading Trade Windows - https://www.readingtradewindows.co.uk/ - they were really good, very competitive pricing and one of the few that would do the double astragal bars. They are supply only though, but it was easier for our builder to install each window when he was ready.
Bi-Folds - from Alulux - https://www.alulux.com/ - again, supply only, but they have a list of recommended installers. Got the installer to measure first because of the floating corner and their bill was about £900.
Covid was fun - the great plaster shortage of 2020 when some sharks were trying to sell bags of plaster for £50 each! we were lucky getting through it though - living on site is not something i'd do again, but made it so much quicker and easier to make decisions with the builder.
Excellent thread, and a lovely project. Thanks for sharing.
We are buying our own 1950s bungalow to do a similar conversion. Seemed the best option having struggled to find something ready made that met our requirements. I didn’t really want a project but can see the benefits. We’re not planning to live in it during the work though!
We are buying our own 1950s bungalow to do a similar conversion. Seemed the best option having struggled to find something ready made that met our requirements. I didn’t really want a project but can see the benefits. We’re not planning to live in it during the work though!
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