After many months of build-up we started 2014 by spending today viewing static caravans.
I was disproportionately excited about the whole thing despite the fact that the caravans are cold, very unglamorous and the bedrooms are tiny, because the moment we move in we will be on the way!
The caravan we have our eye on is HUGE - 35 feet by 12 feet. We need to check it fits in our garden and work out the logistics of getting it on site. We don't actually need all the space, but it turns out the smaller ones don't have double glazing or heating... and that is a sacrifice too far!
Anyway as we are now counting down to the start of our build, I thought now might be a good time for a quick Q&A...
Q. Are you demolishing your house or are you just renovating it?
We thought about demolishing it, we even got planning to, but in the end we settled for a complete remodel. We are decapitating the existing bungalow, adding a first floor, knocking two of the ground floor rooms into one and replacing (and in some cases relocating) half the windows on the ground floor and then cladding the new building.
Q. How long will it take?
The builder says 4 months, we think nearer 6! We start on March 3rd and we'd love it all to be finished by the end of August when Theo turns 3, though even then I suspect there will be a lot of finishing work to keep us (as a couple) going for several months.
Q. Why the caravan?
When the build starts, only one bedroom, the kitchen and bathroom will be left untouched and we will need some of that space to store our furniture (and everything that's currently in the loft!) Our isolated rural location means we need to stay on site for security too.
Any other questions? If so, just leave a comment and I'll update this post with answers...
Best of luck! Will you be on Grand Designs?!?
ReplyDeleteThat was nearly my question 4!! :-)
DeleteI think Grand Designs only want people who are building houses beneath the ground, or at the top of a water tower these days! We are VERY boring in comparison! ;-)
This all sounds very exciting! 4 months really doesn't seem very long does it? I love that you've added a couple of months onto it, at least you won't feel disappointed if there is a glitch. Good luck :)
ReplyDeletewhat an exciting time you have ahead of you xx Hope there is more FUN than anything else xx
ReplyDeleteBest of luck! I itch to be able to renovate somewhere all over again! It is more than doable in 4 months. The most common thing to hold up builds (if it's not down to tradesmen themselves.) is not knowing what you want well in advance. The amount of people that leave obvious decisions to the last minute and then wonder how comes they have to wait to get bespoke things manufactured and on site!
ReplyDeletebest of luck we are remodeling a 164 year old house and living in it as my 71 year old hubby is doing it slowley by himself
ReplyDeleteMe being me, I would plan for being in the house by Christmas. I know that is a long time, but what that means is that there is no frustration when delays occur as your deadline is more than realistic. It should definitely be finished before then, and you will feel great that you did it "early".
ReplyDeleteGood luck, it will be worth it in the end!
ReplyDeleteOhh how exciting but I am inclind to agree with Dasha Christmas may be a better deadline, these things always take way longer and sometimes more money than you planned, but it is still very exciting. Looking forward to some war like pictures before the beauty comes through it all.
ReplyDeleteI think this will be an exciting adventure. I am doing it slowly - bathroom, siding, windows, and roof. No big beautiful reveals for me just spending lots of money. And fixing the problem areas - hopefully it will prevent my present issue - snakes in the basement!
ReplyDeleteGood luck. This is so exciting. We did ours 12 years ago but it was a two story. We rented another house whilst it was being done because we still had 2 grown up children living with us. But it was so much fun, in the end and I would so do it again because you end up with exactly what you want only problem is 12 years later ibreallynhate my curtains!!!
ReplyDeleteIt will be so worth it in the end. Good luck l, not that you will need it.
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting year you have ahead... I'll look forward to seeing it unfold!x
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