As you'll see from the piccies the house is continuing to take shape before our eyes and it's been amazing seeing the way things pop up or suddenly appear. I know it's no surprise to the builders who are working there every day, day in, day out, but a lot can happen in a week!
So, progress report:
Watertight
We are now watertight as far as most of the main roof structure is concerned (felt and batons in place but still waiting for tiles). You can now stand inside the extension and stay dry which is perfect timing as the weather seems to have broken after a gloriously dry year so far and there are now more heavy showers. It also means that the builders are now working on laying the floor screed, underfloor heating and will begin to dry-line and plaster some of the interior.
Electrics
Dean our electrician is busy with the first fix and covering some of the builders trigger happy tendencies when it comes to knocking down walls that have the mains electricity switch board on! Thank the Lord they didn't fully knock it down before sparks flew!!
Flooring choices
We've been brave and decided on our downstairs flooring - we're choosing slate throughout the new extension and hallway and outside (in order to create a seamless inside/outside transition) and we've chosen a smoked engineered oak in the formal lounge, playroom and workshop space.
Bathroom and utility layouts
We've now decided on our layouts for the two new en suites and the utility is almost decided - subject to our plumber guiding us on the best place to locate the underfloor heating controls. Trust me when I say I never knew you could have a full 30 minute conversation on the pros and cons of locating the underfloor heating controls in the hallway cupboard versus the utility!
And so to negotiating family life! We are now becoming masters at navigating showrooms with 3 children under 7. Our 2 girls are the hardest to amuse whilst visiting window manufacturers (there's something irresistible about opening and closing windows and doors that no toddler can overcome) but we have survived! We were also brave enough to take them to the Homebuilding and Renovating show last month. I'm sure all the tradespeople we've seen think we're slightly crazy bringing them with us. I have to admit, carrying on a conversation about RAL colours and window frames or which side of the sink the Quooker tap should go is particularly challenging when you have the youngest screaming at the middle child 'miiiiinnnne' over a packet of biscuits. However, we cannot just dump our kids on the kindness of our friends all the time - especially when the times we do want a sitter we'd rather be having a quiet dinner for two! I just want to thank the several showrooms (The Myers Touch, Kloeber and Total Windows) for having large boxes of tempting toys which have blissfully managed to distract our brood for long enough to make vital decisions.
And so to the piccies;
Looking up at the roof from inside ( the only time we'll be able to see it like this from the ground floor)
View from the guest bedroom in the new extension.
View of the master bedroom balcony window. Roll on blissful mornings of waking up and looking out at a tree-lined garden)
Floor screed laid in the formal lounge and slider steels now fully in place waiting for the sliding window which we have now agreed upon.
What was once the wall holding the mains electricity board is now gone and instead the board is rigged to a temporary fix whilst we wait for the board to be re-located outside!
Front view - still waiting for tiles and the room above the playroom on the far left to be done.
If it's possible we have even less windows than before as the builders now move over to focus on the left of the house (as you face it).
See you all in two weeks with more updates!
Xx
