Nice People Thread No. 14, all Nice and Proper

kabayiri

Doozergirl wrote: »

....
It would be nuts to rebuild it - would never be worth what it costs. But also nuts to extend like that - a new build would be cheaper.

Really confused!

That has happened around here, even going back a few years.

Most of the houses here are detached houses or bungalows.

What happens is they treat the original house as a shell and build out around it. It's almost like the property equivalent of caterpillar metamorphosis!

If it's done well it can look great, but it's execution which is key isn't it?

Doozergirl

kabayiri wrote: »

That has happened around here, even going back a few years.

Most of the houses here are detached houses or bungalows.

What happens is they treat the original house as a shell and build out around it. It's almost like the property equivalent of caterpillar metamorphosis!

If it's done well it can look great, but it's execution which is key isn't it?

I get that concept, but the original house is invisible to me within it. You'd usually see some reference to the original walls.

It was a small square with no gables. Plans are for a bigger square. No little square in the big square, or even three sides. The whole roof will have to come off to accommodate.

Our LA is quite strong about extensions being subordinate. I can't think of a house that this sort of thing has been done to in this area. They must have money to burn.

Question for you . I am flying to Vancouver and will be halfway between there and Banff for much of our time. Any recommendations?

kabayiri

Doozergirl wrote: »

...
Question for you . I am flying to Vancouver and will be halfway between there and Banff for much of our time. Any recommendations?

I'm guessing you will be somewhere along the Hwy 1 , like Kamloops?

Sis has a house near Banff (Canmore). The apartment in Victoria has been sold now, alas, else I'm sure you could have stayed there for a short while.

I can try and find out from sis about that route if you wish. Any specifics? Accommodation/things to see?

We have only gone from Banff to the Southern Rockies ; I'd not recommend that route - it would take ages.

You will have a fantastic time!

michaels

kabayiri wrote: »

That has happened around here, even going back a few years.

Most of the houses here are detached houses or bungalows.

What happens is they treat the original house as a shell and build out around it. It's almost like the property equivalent of caterpillar metamorphosis!

If it's done well it can look great, but it's execution which is key isn't it?

We have a road where the done thing is to buy a 4 bed detached for 1.5mil and pretty much knock it down and rebuild something with 5/6 beds but twice the floor space. Before the houses were a good size for the plot leaving space around, afterwards there is only a little gap between each one and although they all try to be tasteful they end up looking chavvy.

lostinrates

Two crazy things said by a doctor:

1. This health authority doesn't let us test for vit d [sic often] anymore because its been linked to so many problems that its become fashionable. Its just too expensive.

2. Yes, I am not going to do any swabs, just give two different types of antibiotics. If it recurs maybe we'll swab. I don't really think it matters what the infections are or if they are related we'll just aim to get rid of them.





Hardly a breath between them.

kabayiri

michaels wrote: »

We have a road where the done thing is to buy a 4 bed detached for 1.5mil and pretty much knock it down and rebuild something with 5/6 beds but twice the floor space. Before the houses were a good size for the plot leaving space around, afterwards there is only a little gap between each one and although they all try to be tasteful they end up looking chavvy.

There was a small 2 bed bungalow near me which was demolished and replaced with a 5 bed detached. There was barely enough garden before the change.

I felt sorry for the elderly couple in the adjacent bungalow (there were just 2 bungalows). They found it very stressful and chose to move out of a home they had lived in since it was first built.

I don't think the developer cared.

I missed out on buying the house next door. I wanted to do it up to a good standard but still have the good sized garden that runs up to the side of our house. My neighbour was very proud of his garden, and it would be a shame to lose it. It's great to have gardens with kids in; I love the sound of them playing.

CKhalvashi

Very tempted to ask the council contractors that have just turned up when the footpath outside where I am is going to be fixed (it's only taken about 6 weeks so far)

I promised I'll be on my best behaviour, so won't though.....

michaels

kabayiri wrote: »

It's great to have gardens with kids in; I love the sound of them playing.

If you lived next door to us you would soon change your mind on that one.

kabayiri

michaels wrote: »

If you lived next door to us you would soon change your mind on that one.

Lol

I put a 14 foot trampoline with screen at the end of the garden, but made sure it was surrounded on all sides by laurels / hedges etc.

A neighbour on the left hand side of that part of the garden commented that it was odd to hear kids' yelps as they played, and not see them.

..Then they learnt to bounce high enough so that their heads popped up over the hedge!

That must have been even more disturbing, but he took it in good spirit.

kabayiri

PasturesNew wrote: »

Parents putting kids' trampolines as far from their own living room as possible .... the scourge of modern Britain! I think it should be compulsory that any trampoline is as close to the house as is physically possible
...

There is a much more pragmatic reason for placement PN.

I worked with a colleague who failed to anchor her trampoline down properly. In high winds, the thing took off and left a trail of destruction in neighbouring gardens, including a smashed conservatory roof!

We have a row of connifers towards the end of the garden which must be 25 foot high. We took down one of the apple trees behind, and put the trampoline there. It is screened/edged in on all four sides. Even if it wanted to move in high winds it wouldn't get off the ground. It must be 90 feet from the neighbours back window.

The *key* issue is proper installation for me. Over in Canada the trampoline is at ground level, dug into a large pit. That makes a lot of sense to me; it's much safer.