How do I bathroom / kitchen / extension? etc.

I think the sink might be better to the far right of the counter, just means that its a bit more out of sight from the dining tables. Also the island might be better equidistant from the worktops, like 1000 from both sides. Making it in line with the bifold/sliding door opening.
Looks good though.

A big fixed window is one of the best things we’ve added. Had considered putting in a bifold/big opening window but the un-interrupted view is great

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On the pocket door chat:

We fitted eclisse pocket doors. They are fairly good but I imagine if you spend more you get something sturdier.

Pro move (if you don’t need the space) - mount the pocketdoor alongside a solid wall and then hide it. Less flimsy

Second good move is to use fire door blanks even if you don’t need them, they’re heavier and make the whole thing feel more solid.

Third - the kits specify a range of door blank thicknesses that they work with, pick the thickest door blank that fits, then it will be snug not flapping about.

Fourth - routing a channel into the bottom of the door blank for a “fin” attached to the floor to guide the door on made them feel more solid.

Fifth and finally - putting a pingy clicker mech release thingy in behind the door edge is great, even if you have a finger pull, so you can push the visible edge of the door in a bit and it springs out into the aperture.

Oh that pingy clicker thing is neat - wonder if I could fit one of those now (werent specced)

I know the answer to this too! You can, but they have to cut a ~100mm hole in the wall at the back of the pocket, and eff and blind a lot.

Hmmm builder is coming tomorrow to run through remaining snags - wonder if I throw this his way…

Missed that part, fuck filling a skip lifting every barrow.

I would really really love it if builders actually looked at the drawings and worked to the details, rather than doing what they think and then having to re-do it properly when I notice the errors.

Catching up on the last few pages, I'm glad I'm not the only one having come to realize that with the increased cost of labour and material the whole improve don't move thing isn't as good as it used to be. Having bought a house with a 90s ground floor extension I was planned to knock down and re-build this is kind of annoying ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266225046860
I stupidly bought this last week but it's too big for our basin. Anyone fancy buying it before a reupload to ebay?

Just said goodbye to our builders this morning who have finished knocking a couple of holes in walls for us. Chatting at the end, one of them said that the garage they built for us 6 years ago would cost £85k now. We paid £40k then. I knew things have gone up but that was more than I had thought. I'm not sure we would be doing it now if we had left it!

Insane.

Maybe some of the chancer "builders" will drop out as the quantity of customers dries up.

More likely get more work as they can undercut / cut corners to achieve lower quotes.

I've been priced out of any extending unfortunately. Corner cut or otherwise. I assume others will be the same.

has anyone recently had their floor levelled with hardboard as part of prep for LVT or hard wood flooring? What was the cost per square meter, approx?

Washing machines: ours has just died, and I need to buy a replacement.

We're going to do a kitchen extension shortly, hoping to hide the washing machine in a cupboard. Choice of 'integrated' machines is shockingly low; what do people do? Have laundry rooms with freestanding machines?

Can a freestanding machine be hidden inside a standard kitchen cupboard? Which bloody machine should I buy (under £800)? Do I have to spend the next week of my life obsessively websurfing over frikkin white goods?

There is a thread kitchen appliances. Somone might have Which. Do consider which way the door opens or if ajustable.

Can a freestanding machine be hidden inside a standard kitchen cupboard?

With washing machines "integrated" basically means hidden in a cupboard. It's not like a fridge or a dishwasher where the unit door forms part of appliance door.

I'm a bit disillusioned with all our integrated stuff fucking up and then being impossible to replace and refix as before.

So I'd say if you can find it in your heart, non-integrated is functionally superior.

Integrated washing machines are shite. We had a Bosch that rattled the door fixed to it so much it would swing around during the spin cycle.

Normal machines are 600mm wide, so you’ll need a gap >620mm, which means a non standard wide door. They’re also much deeper than integrated so you’d need a 700mm worktop if it’s going under one. Depending on who’s making your kitchen that’ll either be fine or impossible.

This is my new solution, wide unit with the bum sticking out the back into our “service core”. Works well. Nice to be able to plug in and plumb from behind.

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I have a Which subscription (must remember to cancel it)

The only which best buy integrated washing machine is the Bosch WIW28300GB, available here:

https://www.appliancecentre.co.uk/p/bosch-wiw28300gb-built-in-washing-machine/?utm_source=pricerunner&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pricerunner

Looks identical to the one we had. Don’t do it.

Yeah I'm now wondering if we could improve the current extension. Are there any rules to what you're allowed to do or not to something like a 90s extension?

Yes, this would be nice. Came home yesterday and kitchen fitter has put hinged doors on all the drawer units. Look at the plans ffs!!

How much do your door handles stick out? I've bought some similar ones - they look good, but seem a bit impractical, like maybe I will constantly be scratching the cupboards as I try to fit my meaty fingers into the tiny gap between handle and door.