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Our home extension project kicked off with the basics: laying bricks. One early photo shows a wall made of red and brown bricks in a stretcher bond pattern, with a window opening temporarily covered by blue foam insulation and OSB for protection. Scaffolding was up, and debris was cleared, setting the stage for what was to come. This phase was all about getting the structure ready, ensuring a solid foundation for the windows.
As work moved forward, we tackled modifications, as seen in another photo (bricks-windows.jpg). Here, light brown bricks framed an installed multi-pane window, with blue scaffolding and tools like drills scattered around, showing active construction. Inside, a radiator and painted walls hinted at interior work starting. This middle stage involved fitting windows, adjusting brickwork, and making sure the space was weatherproof, with ongoing efforts to refine the structure.
While our photos didn’t capture the final moments, we know it ended with a fully fitted space. After plastering, there was a drying-out period of about a week, followed by second-fix work: sockets made live, taps installed, flooring laid, and kitchen units fitted if needed. Any issues, like leaks or sticking windows, were fixed during snagging, and we ensured all building regulations paperwork was complete for legal compliance. An unexpected detail was the variation in brick colors—red/brown, light brown, and yellow-brown across photos—adding character to the extension.
The photos suggest a residential setting, given the presence of greenery and neighboring brick houses in the background, indicating a home extension or renovation. The project focused on brickwork and window installation, aligning with common practices for expanding living space. The analysis begins by examining each photo to infer the project’s stages, then integrates standard construction workflows to fill gaps, particularly for the final phase not fully depicted. To verify and enrich the description, each photo was analyzed in relation to the construction project’s stages:
Comparing the photos, bricks-windows-02.jpg seems earliest, with prepared but unsealed openings, while bricks-windows.jpg shows modification around an existing window, and bricks-windows-03.jpg shows window installation in progress. This progression aligns with typical stages: site preparation, bricklaying, window fitting, and interior finishing, as detailed in online resources like Real Homes week-by-week planner and Homebuilding extension guide.
The project likely started with bricklaying and preparation, where the brickwork, featuring red and brown tones, was complete around a window opening temporarily sealed with insulation and OSB. This stage focused on setting up the structure, preparing for window installation, and ensuring the foundation was ready for further work. The setting, with long shadows indicating daytime shooting, and the presence of a weathered existing window frame nearby, suggests this is part of modifying an older structure. This aligns with early stages like site establishment and structural framework, as outlined in Upright Construction project stages, which include securing access, setting up scaffolding, and preparing groundwork. Online resources, such as Which? extension timeline, confirm this phase includes first-fix work like groundwork and foundations (weeks 1-4), followed by external walls (week 5), which matches the visual evidence of completed brickwork and prepared openings.
The process involved modifying existing structures, with an existing multi-pane window and ongoing brickwork adjustments, including cutting and shaping around the window. Depicted a partially installed window within the brick wall, alongside interior finishing like radiators, indicating active construction with scaffolding and debris present. This stage captures window installation and interior preparation, fitting the mid-to-late construction phases where external walls and windows are fitted, as per Real Homes week 9. Online sources, like Checkatrade building extension guide, describe this as the enclosure stage, involving fitting windows and doors (week 8 in Which?’s timeline), and starting first-fix carpentry, plumbing, and electrics (week 9). This progression, in the enclosure phase and moving toward interior fitting, aligning with standard practices. An interesting observation is the variation in brick colors across photos: red and brown. This could indicate different sections of the project, use of reclaimed bricks, or aesthetic choices, adding character to the extension, as noted in Design for Me construction methods.
None of the photos depict the final stage, but based on standard construction practices, the project concluded with the extension fully fitted out. This final stage ensures the extension is functional, with all utilities working, no construction debris, and legal documentation completed. The photos show mid-stages, but the end would likely feature finished windows, no scaffolding, and a clean interior, as seen in completed projects described in Checkatrade building extension guide. Which? extension timeline confirms this, noting plastering (week 11), drying out (about a week), and snagging (week 14), ensuring compliance with safety and building regulations.
An unexpected detail, not commonly highlighted, is the variation in brick colors across the photos: red/brown, light brown, and yellow-brown. This could indicate different sections of the project, use of reclaimed bricks, or aesthetic choices, adding character to the extension, as noted in Design for Me construction methods.
An unexpected detail, not commonly highlighted, is the variation in brick colors across the photos: red/brown, light brown, and yellow-brown. This could indicate different sections of the project, use of reclaimed bricks, or aesthetic choices, adding character to the extension, as noted in Design for Me construction methods.
The project likely started with bricklaying and preparation, progressed through modifications and window installation, and ended with a fully fitted, functional extension, ensuring legal compliance. The photos capture mid-stages, but standard practices fill the gap for the final phase, providing a comprehensive view of the construction process. This analysis was informed by visual evidence and online resources, ensuring accuracy and relevance for site users interested in home improvement projects.
