We had the builders in. It started when an old cooker broke - having fixed it twice, i though, lets just redo the kitchen. then we thought, why not extend it into the garden a bit so its lighter and so it began.
Firstly, an architect, and party wall agreements.
Then engineer survey says that the 10m eucalyptus tree in our garden means the extension needs 2m foundations.
Then we decide to move utilities to the basement (washing machine etc). then we need ne central heating setup so 1st room gets new cupboard with that in. then the sitting room (which opens out to the garden or now, the new kitchen-garden room/extension) needs re-doing (new power points every where which is good) - basement also needs some air circulation gear.
So new kitchen/extension has a small new bathroom in the corner, which is cool, and nice tiled floor which is neat, but that has underfloor heating which needs smart controllers. and the rooms all need new smoke alarm systems. builder puts in a "mesh" net of stufff that runs off nest and so forth...
i couldn't figure out at all how to actually turn off the underfloor heating - just put it in "holiday" mode, which says its off unless it detects a frost..obviously the smooke alarms have motion sensors so you can find your way around at night (or smoke)....
fridge is smart too, apparently (if we want, when we're away, if ever again, and deciding to come back early (or late) can remote set everything back from holiday mode...)...
Now water pressure in top of house is too low, so need pumps in the attic....which trigger off water pressure, so if you leave a tap running, you can tell from the racket in the attic...
So then while doing sitting room, decide hey why not open up the old (early 19th century- apparently late georgian according to the chimney sweep) fireplace there, and close the one in an upstairs (1st floor) bedroom. oh, and why not just redecorate the 1st floor loo, and get some nice Portuguese tiles. oh, and lets just refit the 3rd floor bathroom too while we're about it. and the terrace above the kitchen. needs new tiles and parapet to be legal too...
Did I mention that meant all the plumbing and most the electrics in the house had to be redone (re-routed and replaced).
It does look nice, though...
A bit more than my annual salary, it bloody should:-)
Firstly, an architect, and party wall agreements.
Then engineer survey says that the 10m eucalyptus tree in our garden means the extension needs 2m foundations.
Then we decide to move utilities to the basement (washing machine etc). then we need ne central heating setup so 1st room gets new cupboard with that in. then the sitting room (which opens out to the garden or now, the new kitchen-garden room/extension) needs re-doing (new power points every where which is good) - basement also needs some air circulation gear.
So new kitchen/extension has a small new bathroom in the corner, which is cool, and nice tiled floor which is neat, but that has underfloor heating which needs smart controllers. and the rooms all need new smoke alarm systems. builder puts in a "mesh" net of stufff that runs off nest and so forth...
i couldn't figure out at all how to actually turn off the underfloor heating - just put it in "holiday" mode, which says its off unless it detects a frost..obviously the smooke alarms have motion sensors so you can find your way around at night (or smoke)....
fridge is smart too, apparently (if we want, when we're away, if ever again, and deciding to come back early (or late) can remote set everything back from holiday mode...)...
Now water pressure in top of house is too low, so need pumps in the attic....which trigger off water pressure, so if you leave a tap running, you can tell from the racket in the attic...
So then while doing sitting room, decide hey why not open up the old (early 19th century- apparently late georgian according to the chimney sweep) fireplace there, and close the one in an upstairs (1st floor) bedroom. oh, and why not just redecorate the 1st floor loo, and get some nice Portuguese tiles. oh, and lets just refit the 3rd floor bathroom too while we're about it. and the terrace above the kitchen. needs new tiles and parapet to be legal too...
Did I mention that meant all the plumbing and most the electrics in the house had to be redone (re-routed and replaced).
It does look nice, though...
A bit more than my annual salary, it bloody should:-)
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