W
e’reinthefinalstraight,andlikeany
goodgranddesign,we’vefoundourselves
coordinatingtheselastfewmonthsofthe
buildwiththearrivalofourfirstchild!It wasactually
a welcomerespite—paternityleaveprovidedthefirst
twoweeksin twoyearsthatI haven’tspentdayand
nightthinkingaboutthehouse!
We’renowwellintosecondfix,andourvision
fromthreeyearsagois reallycomingtofruition.
We’veagreedanenddatewithourmaincontractor
andallthetradesarepushingforwardtowards
thefinishline,workingfromtoptobottom,with
decoratorsputtingthefinaltouchestothetopfloor
whiletackersfixthebasement.Assoonasit is laid,
theoakherringboneparquetis coveredupfor
protection,sothewholepicturewillonlyberevealed
whenwemovein.Theglimpsesaretantalising,and
inadditiontothespectacularseaviewtothesouth,
the view through the glass floor to the oak spiral
staircase down to the basement below is equally
impressive. Just one month to go!homebuilding.co.uk 213T
hebungalowhasmovedonquitea lotin the
last few weeks. The steels were measured,
delivered to site, erected, and all the block walls
are now built. The roof trusses are also on and roof
now fully tiled. The roof along with the new soffits
and fascias have already made a huge difference to
the look of the bungalow.
The triple-glazed windowsand large sliders were
finallymeasuredupandorderedandwillbecome
ourlongestlead-timeitem.
Converting the original integral garage into the
master bed, and extending to add a study and
further bedroom and en suite for our eldest son, is
almost complete with first fix having taken place and
the plasterboard going up. We designed in a rooflight
in this space and it brings in lots of lovely natural
light — definitely needed in this bungalow where the
centre of the house can become quite dark.
We’ll hold off completing first fix in the kitchen,
garden room and porch until the external walls are
down, the new floors are in and the windows and
sliders are fitted.
So far the build has gone very smoothly, which
is entirely due to our great building team who are
forever telling me ‘not to worry’!yuri &
audry gupta
are renovating
and extending
a detached
1920s house in
East Brightontamara
Hamill
is renovating
and extending
a 1980s
bungalow
to create an
accessible
family homeWe’re finishing our
build just in time
for the arrival of
our child!
Our project is
moving along
at quite a pace
The Build your onsiTe diaries