Completed Extension....as promised

System

martin1959 wrote: »

Guess, all in all, about £64k or £2600 per sqm.

That seems to be around the average for a decent extension at the moment from what we are seeing.
Kitchen looks good for the money - the only thing I don't really like is the sockets on your big orange wall -have you got some lighting over the top of that up onto the ceiling?

Looks like the contractor has done a good job - did you have a formal contract in place with someone acting as the Contract Administrator? And have you retained a sum for snagging items?

martin1959

The sockets are ok. If I had my way they would have been the flush type, but the OH did not like them, and the brushed steel/black goes with other items in the kitchen.


We have two 'troughs' running down the length of each wall with LED lighting in, which does look very effective at night. Our builder also suggested having 3 LED stainless steel driveway uplights cut in to the floor tiles in the corner (in the glazed corner) which I have to say do look good at night. Also he suggested having LED lights outside in the apex soffit which lights up the garden. We also have a Sonos system in the kitchen which is a novelty, and the OH loves her plinth vacuum!


We signed a basic contract (I wanted a completion clause in it, but was told that very few builders would agree, and as it was hard enough to find a good builder as there is so much work out there currently, I did not want to complicate things)


We had our architect project manage it. We haggled over the PM fee, but eventually agreed on 10% of the basic extension build cost ie £2600. He has managed all the payments and costs and has been quite useful. Was it worth £2600??? Would I use a PM again?...probably.


We are still awaiting the completion certificate (Council came round for final inspection today) and we still have about £5k o/s but the builder does not seem to be in any great hurry to invoice for this....suits me!

EssexExile

Very nice, do you have staff to clean all that glass?;)

martin1959

LOL.... I bought the Mrs a squeegee and a very long pole....

Vampgirl

martin1959 wrote: »

Worktops Silestone £3200

Looks fab!
If you don't mind me asking......which Silestone worktop is it?

martin1959

Blanco Stellar


http://www.silestone.co.uk/quartz-colours/colour/blanco-stellar/

Vampgirl

martin1959 wrote: »

Blanco Stellar


http://www.silestone.co.uk/quartz-colours/colour/blanco-stellar/

Thanks so much - you've just made a decision MUCH easier!
We're looking at new worktops and Blanco Stellar is the front runner - my only reservation was whether it had enough texture and sparkle (so difficult to tell from shop displays with no natural light or small samples). Seeing it in a real kitchen has convinced me - its is exactly the look we want :-)

neneromanova

Where did the glass windows by the dining table come from? That is a gorgeous extension!! Very jealous!!

martin1959

All the windows, doors, and apex glass were manufactured and fitted by Altex in Southend on Sea. The two corner glass sections behind the table are under a cantilever corner and are just floor to ceiling double glazed panels in an aluminium 'L' frame. Here is the original plan and costs for the glazing. In the end we did not have a triple, but a double patio door onto the side patio area.

DRP

Really useful, thanks.

We have a more basic rear extension design and wish to put in french doors with full-height windows either side, plus a gable window (smaller in height than yours). So our window design would look a bit like the right hand side of yours, above.

That gives us a nice guide price of £3300 to start with!