Taking down a wall that was assumed to be independent of the neighbours extension, it soon became apparent that this was not the case as the builder exclaimed “I can see into the neighbours living room!” It turned out that the back of a recessed shelving unit in the neighbours living room had been plastered directly onto our client’s kitchen wall!?
In situations like this a quick reaction is mandatory. Work to the wall stopped immediately and John Ingles, director of JWI Builders, went straight round to the neighbour and talked through what had happened. James from doma architects then coordinated a structural redesign of this area with the structural engineer which meant that we no longer needed to demolish this wall and could carry the weight of the first floor extension on a new beam.
Photo of uncovered hole
Apart from that, everything is going to plan, and JWI are working remarkably quickly.
Our client has been walking past her house, watching as more and more of the rear of it is demolished. We reassured our client that the builders are not ruining her house, and that things will undoubtedly look worse before they start to look better! Now all the walls have been taken down, it is easier to see where the new spaces will be. If you use a bit of imagination, you can see for yourself in the photos below!
Photo of existing cottage
Where the kitchen once was, soon to be replaced by the utility room and showerroom
Walls between utility room, bathroom and dining room opened up to form new open plan kitchen / dining room
Redundant chimney breast removed to increase width of dining room
First floor WC expanded to form new study
We will be out of the ground next week! We will keep you posted with further progress.
