Doing up your home should be a very exciting time. However, it will induce stress and sleepless nights - and you may many times ask yourselves, 'Were we mad to do this now?'
We are near the finishing line for our small extension – here's a few thoughts that hit us along the way.
Why am I doing it?
Why are you doing an extension? Is it to get more space? Is it for your house to flow better? Do you have a problem with a lack of storage? Do you want a connection with the garden? Knowing what you want is really important as this will define your project. Maybe you don’t need an extension but a reconfiguration of your space.
Will it add value to your house?
Many ask this question and, at the moment with the price of building costs, an extension might not add the full value of what you spend. But maybe it will add value to your life. I would suggest there is little point in spending a small fortune on an extension if you are planning to leave within five years.
Experts are there for a reason
Rely on the experts. If you are spending a small fortune, you can’t do this by watching Grand Designs and Room to Improve. By all means use the Sketch Up app to explore your ideas – but then get professional plans drawn up by an architect.
After the plans are drawn, you should really consider getting a QS to cost up everything. Some things on your plans may need to go but this will save you money in the long run by listening to their advice. Get lots of building quotes.
A few years ago, we got lots of quotes and never ended up doing the extension as we ended up moving instead. It was eye-watering to see the difference in prices just two years later. This time around we only managed to get three quotes. We didn’t go with the cheapest quote but to be honest there was very little difference.
I went with a builder who came up with solutions and also kept saying this was a small job and how he needed it done as he had other projects lined up. We went to see his completed extensions to ensure his finish was good. Remember this is probably one of the biggest spends of your life. You need to see what their work is like. Overall, we are happy that the builder has kept to schedule. This was important as months out of the house costs extra money in rent.
Talk to your neighbours
Tell the road WhatsApp group you are doing work. They may be affected by parking and placement of skips. Talk to both your next-door neighbours and try to tackle any issues as they may arise. No build is worth falling out with your community.
Paperwork
Call your house insurance company and tell them you are doing work. This will change what is covered under your policy while works are being carried out. Make sure your builder is insured. Apply for planning permission if needed.
Inspiration
Have all your inspiration in the one place. You can literally see the builders’ eyes roll when you are scrolling through your page to find the right picture. Be realistic.
Is the inspirational house extension you aspire to achieve achievable under your budget? If not, consider certain parts and incorporate them into your plans.
Order your windows on time
Once you have picked your style of windows get quotes from at least three suppliers. They vary in price, and some do not do roof-lights and you may have to go to separate companies. I wanted a one-stop shop for patio doors, roof-lights and a window box.
We had the builder and window company on site together to talk through the plans and we did in fact change the size of the window while they were there. Even though we had paid our deposit and agreed a six-week delivery schedule, the windows were still a little delayed. We had allowed for this in our plans. So, basically, order your windows as soon as you can.
Boiler
If you are getting an extension, make sure your existing boiler is able to handle the additional space.
Costs
The most terrifying bit is costings. Have a contingency. Write every bit of spend down in an Excel sheet. You need to know where the costs are going and if you can pull back. We needed a new fridge and freezer and found a place that sells ones that shops couldn’t sell for half the price, and they are still brand new.
I wanted engineered wood on the floor, but when we viewed it beside laminate, I could barely tell the difference. We had to cut corners somewhere. We’ve also been busy on adverts selling our old washing machine and dryer and buying second-hand garden tiles.
Clear out
Before the build starts, do a clear out. Either put your contents in storage or lock them away. I bought dust covers for the internal doors to stop dirt getting into the rooms upstairs. They have failed, but I think I could have taped them up a bit better.
Cover stairs and floorboards to prevent any damage done. The amount of dust will blow your mind. Also, don’t buy lots of things for your new extension as you may change your mind - and remember you are on a budget.
Plan, plan, plan
I couldn’t believe how many meetings I had with companies about kitchens. I was originally going to go with IKEA and Superfront for the kitchen doors, and a local joiner for the larder press and another company for the back wall of presses. Yes, that was crazy.
In the end, I went with one company for the whole kitchen and then Superfront for shelving. You will be asked loads of question like where you want lighting, plugs, what type of flooring do you want, backsplashes, doorknobs, skirting, architraves, etc.
Decision fatigue will kick in but don’t be rushed. Take a minute to really think: "Is this where I’ll need a plug when I’m using the blender?" Do get an outdoor tap and outdoor plug sockets.
Schedules
Your builder will give you a timeline for their works. This was really useful as I could see what was going to happen each week and then I could plan ahead for what needed to be bought. If you’re buying tiles, lighting, kitchens, sanitary-ware or the like create a spreadsheet for expected arrival dates as you’ll probably forget what you have ordered. We are still waiting on one set of tiles, and this has held up the bathroom and downstairs toilet installation.
Little extras
Every extra adds up. We know that we may have to wait to do the garden but the big purchases like the windows, tiles and kitchen we wanted to get right. Lights, painting, and all the rest can be bought at a later date.
We chose things like a pocket door in the kitchen to save space, a drying cupboard to replace the clothes horse, a pantry press to store the microwave and coffee machine, and these things were important to us. Do have a think about where you want your lights and if you want plugs put in a certain place mark the walls and write where you want them. Also, if ordering tiles for the floor, make sure they are sealed.
The end is in sight
Get quotes for painters and cleaners. We may not have any budget left for this, but quotes can’t hurt. The finishing line is near for us, but it can’t come quick enough. If you are about to embark on a renovation, good luck!
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ.
