Ultra Slim Aluminum Framed Patio Doors have been installed!

The SunSeeker UltraSlim doors are IN! They look fantastic - better than bi-folds - such a shame that they are unlikely to get much use this year as everything else is being delayed. The electricity supplier and internal doors company, having agreed to August dates, want to delay to September and October, respectively.

We prefer the sleek, low maintenance aluminium frames to the comparatively clumsy wooden frames around the windows but we are trying to keep within our budget so compromises are inevitable.

 

The granite hearth has also been installed, ready for the log-burner.

The kitchen will be at least a month or so before installation can start but, to be fair, that's our fault. We have not been particularly happy with kitchen companies that offer fitted kitchens which then turn out not to meet our requirements (despite claims on their websites). We will try another company this week - some include a remote design service, which might speed up the process. We are trying to avoid bespoke as they are likely to take even longer and cost much more. If you know differently, please let us know in the comments, bearing in mind that the property is in Hertfordshire.

We shall also need fitted bathroom units. It would be great if the same company could do the kitchen and bathroom.

More news as it happens... 

Building new walls (part 2)

The picture shows the existing lean-to, the wall of the existing extension next door and the new rear wall up to the damp course.

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We are now in September, the brickie sometimes has his son labouring for him and they've been here for about 3 weeks. At this point, we are ready for the local council's building regulation inspectors to visit and give us permission to carry on.

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We wanted a fully opening expanse of folding-sliding doors across the back of the extension but the architect had advised that anything over 8ft would require additional strength or longer beams or something so we decided to opt for an 8ft opening with large windows either side. We also prefer the look of wood but decided to match the pvc already used throughout the house, partly because we had wooden doors in our previous two houses and wanted less hassle this time!

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Unfortunately, Wooden doors need staining/painting every year or two and, in our experience, don't generally fit properly - they stick in the summer and, worse still, are draughty in the winter. However, our initial pvc patio door investigations taught us that the stronger and better looking (lower sills, less white and more glass, etc) white "plastic" doors and windows are, in fact, powder-coated aluminium. Time to search the Internet for suppliers and quotes!