Extension Day 38: The Hole Is Getting Bigger

The work inside has well and truly started now with part of the old kitchen ceiling removed and a large hole where the old lintel used to be above the rear window...getting ready for a shiny new steel support. 

It has been an inside and outside job today with the waste pipes from the bathrooms also being rerun to the new sewer inlet.

Extension Day 37: Props To You

Busy day as the roof was finished off from yesterday and excited as the next stage has now started...the rear window and the outer skin of the existing kitchen rear wall has been removed and the outer wall is now supported by the props until the steels are put in place. Also starting to run all the cables for the lighting.  Next week we will be breaking through..... plus screeing the floor, insulating the extension, boarding the new walls and delivery of the kitchen units!  So a quiet week then😉

Extension Day 36: Newsflash...It's Freezing!

I certainly hope the builders had their thermals on today as it was cold enough for icicles to be waiting for them this morning......not great when you're working on an icy roof all day!

On the plus side the sun came out, so despite the fact that it was snowing they got all the flashing finished around the roof. Another regulation visit from the building inspector who was really happy with the work.....almost finished with the structure now. Just the insulation and scree floor and they'll be able to work inside in the warm!

Extension Day 35: Glazing Over

The house is so much warmer today now the extension has had the doors and windows fitted. It almost looks finished from the outside now, just a whole lot of messy work to get through!

Extension Day 34: Hello From The Other Side

What an amazing day today, both inside and out! Outside the roof has been tiled (looking really in keeping with the rest of the house) and both roof windows have been fitted, ready for the main window and doors to arrive.

Inside, I take my hat off to the plumber who has put in a really long day today. He has succeeded in moving the boiler from the back right of the existing kitchen (venting to the rear, which would be right in the middle of the new kitchen) over to back left (now venting out of the side wall); he also managed to re-run all the pipe work for the radiators (and we have heating again this evening). 

Extension Day 33: Out With The Old

Loads of progress today, the tiling of the new roof has started and one of the roof windows is in. Love the tiles, there an odd terracotta with black weathering in them so fits really nicely with the house rather than being garishly bright like some new tiles can be.

After all the work emptying out the kitchen it is now time to say goodbye to the (very) old kitchen units we have currently. Steve has kindly left the appliances in place for the time being as the main focus tomorrow is to move the boiler to its new location. 

My excitement has reached a whole new level now the inside work has started, suppressed only marginally by the fun of using a table top kitchen in our living room. 

Extension Day 32: Time To Fascia Facts

Work continues on the roof today although it was very cold again.  They put the fascia in place and getting the roof ready for felting and tiling. The roof windows are ready for collection and the tiles have arrived ready to go.

Now the fun starts for us having to empty the kitchen ready for removal next week. Here is our new temporary kitchen in the front room... it is perhaps just a little small!

Extension Day 31: Waste Of A Day

Today was about getting the soil pipe moved and connected to the new inlet into the sewer. The existing waste pipes have now been moved to run across the inside of the new roof (middle photo) and down the side where they connect to the sewer.  In addition the rear wall has been re-bricked where the small chimney was taken out (top photo).  Finally, the brackets have been fitted inside the velux openings ready for the roof (bottom photo).

Extension Day 30: Prep Work

An absolutely freezing cold day today but the remainder of the small back chimney has been taken down and the t-junction for the soil pipe has been put on in preparation for moving the pipe work next week.

Extension Day 29: Skeleton Roof Part 2

Another day creating the roofing timber frame and all the cross sections are now in place - the openings for the velux windows can be seen clearer now.

Extension Day 27: Chim Chim iney, Chim Chim iney

More demolition today saw the removal of the top part of the small chimney that sits on the back of our house (not entirely sure what that was originally for). This is where it becomes a logistical nightmare as the piping from the upstairs bathroom needs moving, bottom part of chimney needs removing, and boiler needs moving. But has to be done in parts as the boiler can't be moved until after the roof is on, we've broken through and kitchen out, the roof can't go on until the chimney is down and the piping is moved - glad I'm not mapping this one out. 

Extension Day 28: Skeleton Roof

The timber supports have gone on for the extension roof as it continues to take shape. Every time I use the kitchen I just can't help but think of the extra space we will have - it is going to make so much difference!

The wider gaps you see in the placement of the timbers are the sites for the veluxes, which combined with the huge rear window should give plenty of light.

Extension Day 26: Damn Imogen

Another delay due to the 80 mile an hour winds and torrential rain - can't inagine why they can't work through that ;)

Extension Day 25: The Clean-Up

Today was the clean-up for our brickies who have worked so hard for the last couple of weeks (in all kinds of weather) to get the shell ready. All their gear is gone and the equipment has arrived for phase two. The first step will be to remove the top half of the small chimney that we have at the back of the property (not entirely sure what that was for) after which the roof can go on - excited to see how that will look. 

Unfortunately, I have now got to the rather sad stage where I am resenting the weekends because there is no progress on the building work; I think I have become just a little obsessed!!

Extension Day 23-24: Finished Brickwork

The last two days our trusty brickies have been finalising the shell of the extension and I find myself now standing inside it and picturing where everything will go. It is a lovely size and I am so glad we went with 4m rather than 3m.  I just can't wait to see it all finished (though not looking forward to the chaos when we break through).

Extension Day 22: Trench Warfare

Today saw the finish of the inside of the first side wall up to roof height. Plus the tedious job of digging the long trench down the centre of the garden to meet up with the soak away. 

Spot the first soldier in the trenches.....

She's definitely curious as to what is happening to her garden!!

Extension Day 21: One Side Up

Building up the first side wall today to the height of the new roof when it goes on.  The peak in the middle is next door's conservatory roof, ours is going to be a straight shallow pitched roof.