Well, we're so close to the builder going, it is quite frustrating!! The plastering is getting there, with all 3 bedrooms finished including door frames and doors fitted! Craig went round this afternoon and found the plasterer had had personal issues again, and gone home without doing any work, so George had carried on fitting skirting boards, which Craig had wanted to fit himself. Finishing the plastering was more of a priority.
Difficult though, as George is effectively working for half price this week, saving us money, but then spending time doing jobs we can do ourselves!! We think he is a perfectionist and may be thinking we can 't do as good a job as him!!! he may be right, but he can't stay on the job beyond this weekend, so the plastering has to be finished by then.
The hallway and bathroom have to be skimmed, and there are still patches in the lounge and kitchen that need finishing. And we want to be painting next week!!
I'm sure it will all come together, just seems this week is going so slow!
Craig has bought the exterior paint, but the weather was shocking today. hopefully it maybe better tomorrow as the scaffolding is going either Friday or Saturday, so be nice if we could do the painting before that went, make it easier. Will make a big difference once the scaffolding is gone...make it look more like a proper house again!
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
Thursday, 22 February 2007
Openplan!
The upstairs yesterday took on an open plan appearance, as the bathroom walls came down......not entirely planned!!! But putting in stud walls is easy enough (and in fact they have been put up today!) and did mean we could move one wall slightly out, taking a couple of inches from the back bedroom, which should help vastly fitting the bath and pipes for the shower!! So, all very fortuitous in the end!
In the meantime, this was the view as you came up the stairs!!!
The builder had called in an additional plasterer today, as they had fallen behind as they'd not been there all week. On plasterer was having some personal problems, so George got another guy in, but kicked him off the job after a couple of hours as he wasn't happy with the quality of the work. George is very particular, especially when it's his reputation on the line, which is good for us mostly, just means things can take a bit more time!! Anyway, with 2 guys there, things have moved on quite quickly. May over-run from the estimate of finishing tomorrow, but only another day or so we reckon. Bathroom may be held up by gas man, and him needing to fit pipes before plastering!
The gas man has been a headache. Been promising to come since Monday, turned up this morning, fitted 2 pipes in the kitchen for the boiler and buggered off again!! Craig has been leaving him messages all day. Shame, as he is someone we've used here, and he's been very reliable. Not sure what is going on, but he's not telling us! Builder has someone he knows, so if Steve doesn't get his act together he'll be off the job!!
Monday, 19 February 2007
Seeing lady lucks pearly whites!
God bless our builder. After cogitating on the kitchen floor issue over the weekend, he'd come up with a better, quicker solution. Rather than rebuild the supporting wall, he'd put in some more joists, fixed into the external wall for the floor to sit on. By early afternoon the job was finished!!! We have a complete kitchen floor!!
So, the electrician can now return to fix the extra 2 downlights for the kitchen (in the 'new' bit), and Steve the gas man is returning tomorrow afternoon to start fitting the central heating!
What a difference a few days make!!! :-)
So, the electrician can now return to fix the extra 2 downlights for the kitchen (in the 'new' bit), and Steve the gas man is returning tomorrow afternoon to start fitting the central heating!
What a difference a few days make!!! :-)
Sunday, 18 February 2007
Frustrations!!
Well, it has been a bugger of week......we just want a bit of luck to come our way!!!!
The builders have continued slowly with the plastering, and have now managed half a bedroom upstairs. They are doing a fantastic job, it looks great.
They were about to extend the floor boarding across where the old outside loo had been, when the supporting wall underneath gave way! Big hole. Unsafe to walk in one corner of kitchen. not good!!!! Now the rubble needs to come out to avoid drawing moisture apparently, so Craig is going to do that to save as much builders time as possible. They reckon it could take 4 days to repair the wall......this is too long, bearing in mind the money, so we have to save their time as much as we can.
Craig then yesterday managed to put his foot through the loft floor into the back bedroom ceiling...luckily it hadn't been plastered yet, so George will have to sort that for us too!!
This weekend, as good weather was forecast, we decided to replace the guttering. Yesterday (after a 5 mile run!!) we stripped off the old guttering, rubbed down and repainted the fascia boards and it was amazing how much better the place began to look. Today, we were back up the scaffolding again (heights,...yuk!!), to put the new stuff on...but the guttering was too deep for the clips!!
Not sure who to blame, the builder as he was the one who bought all the stuff, or Platform for selling clips that were too small for the guttering!! So, the guttering will have to go back and hopefully some less industrial looking stuff will replace it! Unfortunately this means Craig fitting it on his own when I'm back at work, but I'm not sure what help I'd be anyway!!!
So we spent today cleaning the grubby window frames, which didn't look like they'd been cleaned since they were fitted, so not a completely wasted day, just a bit of added frustration!
Next week.......some good news and luck please!!!
The builders have continued slowly with the plastering, and have now managed half a bedroom upstairs. They are doing a fantastic job, it looks great.
They were about to extend the floor boarding across where the old outside loo had been, when the supporting wall underneath gave way! Big hole. Unsafe to walk in one corner of kitchen. not good!!!! Now the rubble needs to come out to avoid drawing moisture apparently, so Craig is going to do that to save as much builders time as possible. They reckon it could take 4 days to repair the wall......this is too long, bearing in mind the money, so we have to save their time as much as we can.
Craig then yesterday managed to put his foot through the loft floor into the back bedroom ceiling...luckily it hadn't been plastered yet, so George will have to sort that for us too!!
This weekend, as good weather was forecast, we decided to replace the guttering. Yesterday (after a 5 mile run!!) we stripped off the old guttering, rubbed down and repainted the fascia boards and it was amazing how much better the place began to look. Today, we were back up the scaffolding again (heights,...yuk!!), to put the new stuff on...but the guttering was too deep for the clips!!
Not sure who to blame, the builder as he was the one who bought all the stuff, or Platform for selling clips that were too small for the guttering!! So, the guttering will have to go back and hopefully some less industrial looking stuff will replace it! Unfortunately this means Craig fitting it on his own when I'm back at work, but I'm not sure what help I'd be anyway!!!
So we spent today cleaning the grubby window frames, which didn't look like they'd been cleaned since they were fitted, so not a completely wasted day, just a bit of added frustration!
Next week.......some good news and luck please!!!
Wednesday, 14 February 2007
Love is in the air!
Today may be a day of romance, but before the lovely dinner and bottle of wine I've been promised, I did do a little bit of work at the house to earn my treats!
The weather has been great the past few days, so the pointing of the bricks is almost complete, and they look so much better. The roofer came today and re pointed the hip tiles (that sit along the roof edge) and replaced the flashing around the chimney.
The plaster has made good headway and the kitchen is almost fully boarded and has been skimmed on 3 of the 4 sides, so looking good. Craig has been stripping off the plaster round the windows of the bedrooms, which are the worst areas of plaster, so hopefully most of the other bedroom walls will just need a skim. They will start on them tomorrow probably, once the kitchen is complete. I helped tonight by stripping the remnants of wallpaper from the small bedroom and the bathroom, and tidying the walls as much as possible before skimming.
Steve, our gas man, is coming tomorrow, to fit the boiler, central heating and shower for us, so the progress continues!
Happy Valentines Everyone!!
The weather has been great the past few days, so the pointing of the bricks is almost complete, and they look so much better. The roofer came today and re pointed the hip tiles (that sit along the roof edge) and replaced the flashing around the chimney.
The plaster has made good headway and the kitchen is almost fully boarded and has been skimmed on 3 of the 4 sides, so looking good. Craig has been stripping off the plaster round the windows of the bedrooms, which are the worst areas of plaster, so hopefully most of the other bedroom walls will just need a skim. They will start on them tomorrow probably, once the kitchen is complete. I helped tonight by stripping the remnants of wallpaper from the small bedroom and the bathroom, and tidying the walls as much as possible before skimming.
Steve, our gas man, is coming tomorrow, to fit the boiler, central heating and shower for us, so the progress continues!
Happy Valentines Everyone!!
Sunday, 11 February 2007
2 weeks down!
Rather than Sunday being a day of rest, today we were back at the house.
The builders returned on Friday, after the snow sent them home Thursday, and they had cracked on bricking up the loo door and and knocking down the wall. . Craig helped on Friday morning putting in the lintel to support the stairs. The scaffolding arrived and was erected all round the house. This will be needed to help replace the guttering, paint the rendering on the front, re point the bricks and replace some flashing on the chimney. Craig came home for lunch but couldn't get back to the house as the snow came down again and the car wouldn't make it up the little hills (blooming rear wheel drive German cars!!). The builders stayed on till 4 then left too.
Yesterday we popped round to measure the terrace so we could price up some decking. The neighbour appeared, and was not too happy about the scaffolding as it was resting on his house, which didn't seem right. They had also put a pole right outside his back gate, so he couldn't open it! Luckily the scaffolder had been and sawn that one off, so he could now open his gate, but understandably was that it was resting on his property. Craig rang the builder and he's going to sort it Monday Morning, and make sure the scaffolding isn't' used until it is not resting against the other house. Hopefully that should be OK. Last thing we want is to upset the neighbours!
Today Sarah came to visit and helped us to strip wallpaper off the hall, stairs and landing, as well as the bedrooms. just one bedroom left to strip now, which is great. Are some very bad patches of plaster, which will need to be sorted, and is the biggest concern in terms of time and money really. The plaster is being very proficient, but we could do with a bit more 'efficiency' I guess!!
The house attached to ours in the terrace went up for sale the weekend we got the keys, and has already had an offer at asking price, which is fantastic. We think they have undersold in terms of price, although we don't know what it is like inside. This is good for us though, as it has sold so quick, we're probably right with our valuation. Clearly having a building site next door hasn't put off any buyers!!
The builders returned on Friday, after the snow sent them home Thursday, and they had cracked on bricking up the loo door and and knocking down the wall. . Craig helped on Friday morning putting in the lintel to support the stairs. The scaffolding arrived and was erected all round the house. This will be needed to help replace the guttering, paint the rendering on the front, re point the bricks and replace some flashing on the chimney. Craig came home for lunch but couldn't get back to the house as the snow came down again and the car wouldn't make it up the little hills (blooming rear wheel drive German cars!!). The builders stayed on till 4 then left too.
Yesterday we popped round to measure the terrace so we could price up some decking. The neighbour appeared, and was not too happy about the scaffolding as it was resting on his house, which didn't seem right. They had also put a pole right outside his back gate, so he couldn't open it! Luckily the scaffolder had been and sawn that one off, so he could now open his gate, but understandably was that it was resting on his property. Craig rang the builder and he's going to sort it Monday Morning, and make sure the scaffolding isn't' used until it is not resting against the other house. Hopefully that should be OK. Last thing we want is to upset the neighbours!
Today Sarah came to visit and helped us to strip wallpaper off the hall, stairs and landing, as well as the bedrooms. just one bedroom left to strip now, which is great. Are some very bad patches of plaster, which will need to be sorted, and is the biggest concern in terms of time and money really. The plaster is being very proficient, but we could do with a bit more 'efficiency' I guess!!
The house attached to ours in the terrace went up for sale the weekend we got the keys, and has already had an offer at asking price, which is fantastic. We think they have undersold in terms of price, although we don't know what it is like inside. This is good for us though, as it has sold so quick, we're probably right with our valuation. Clearly having a building site next door hasn't put off any buyers!!
Thursday, 8 February 2007
Snowcat!
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
Brrrrrrr!
The cold weather is not going to help this week, especially with snow forecast for tomorrow, but things are moving on.
Yesterday Craig had fun (while I am still nursing this damned flu thing!!), by going with Paula (builders wife) to the reclemation yard to get 150 bricks, needed to brick up the outside loo door (to the left of the back door if you look at the photos). He loved the place and came home speaking of lovely solid wood furniture made from sleepers etc. Just takes time to hunt out what you need amongst the stuff there.
In the meantime, the plasterer has almost completed the lounge, but the cold weather was impacting on it setting right. Craig says the walls are like glass, they are so smooth, so sounds like he's done a great job.
The builders are also repointing the gable end, and they've done about quarter so far. They need some scaffolding to do the rest, and while they have it they will replace the guttering too. Not sure when that's coming.
The snow tomorrow may impact though, as cement etc is hard to work with in freezing conditions (apparently!). If it falls heavily, it might be difficult to work outside anyway, so the inside will move on instead.
Craig is getting bored stripping woodchip wallpaper off the walls in the bedrooms. Did promise to help, but instead I'm getting bored watching daytime TV and seeing how many coughs I can acheive in an hour!! Great fun!
Yesterday Craig had fun (while I am still nursing this damned flu thing!!), by going with Paula (builders wife) to the reclemation yard to get 150 bricks, needed to brick up the outside loo door (to the left of the back door if you look at the photos). He loved the place and came home speaking of lovely solid wood furniture made from sleepers etc. Just takes time to hunt out what you need amongst the stuff there.
In the meantime, the plasterer has almost completed the lounge, but the cold weather was impacting on it setting right. Craig says the walls are like glass, they are so smooth, so sounds like he's done a great job.
The builders are also repointing the gable end, and they've done about quarter so far. They need some scaffolding to do the rest, and while they have it they will replace the guttering too. Not sure when that's coming.
The snow tomorrow may impact though, as cement etc is hard to work with in freezing conditions (apparently!). If it falls heavily, it might be difficult to work outside anyway, so the inside will move on instead.
Craig is getting bored stripping woodchip wallpaper off the walls in the bedrooms. Did promise to help, but instead I'm getting bored watching daytime TV and seeing how many coughs I can acheive in an hour!! Great fun!
Monday, 5 February 2007
The builders move in!
Day 10 - and it's time for the heavy mob!
Sunday was spent trying to neaten up the garden a bit, while the weather was nice, then Craig finished removing all the remnants of plaster from the kitchen. I stripped paint from the door frame into the lounge and front door frame with a handy 'hot air gun'. Much fun, but much fumes! Smoke alarms the electrician kindly fitted didn't take too well to their first use!
But today (while I lay in bed and on the sofa...which quite frankly is calling again...though I could escape these flu type things!!) the builders began on plaster boarding the lounge (which is almost finished), they've properly bricked up the outside door on one side (which was only half bricked before, with just plaster board over a 'window' protecting the kitchen from the elements! They've also started digging out the footings for the terrace at the back which we're extending about 80cm to make it a more usable space, to sit and look out over the garden.
Craig has started stripping the wallpaper off the front bedroom. Need to strip all the walls while the plaster is around so he can make good any dodgy bits!!
Sunday was spent trying to neaten up the garden a bit, while the weather was nice, then Craig finished removing all the remnants of plaster from the kitchen. I stripped paint from the door frame into the lounge and front door frame with a handy 'hot air gun'. Much fun, but much fumes! Smoke alarms the electrician kindly fitted didn't take too well to their first use!
But today (while I lay in bed and on the sofa...which quite frankly is calling again...though I could escape these flu type things!!) the builders began on plaster boarding the lounge (which is almost finished), they've properly bricked up the outside door on one side (which was only half bricked before, with just plaster board over a 'window' protecting the kitchen from the elements! They've also started digging out the footings for the terrace at the back which we're extending about 80cm to make it a more usable space, to sit and look out over the garden.
Craig has started stripping the wallpaper off the front bedroom. Need to strip all the walls while the plaster is around so he can make good any dodgy bits!!
Saturday, 3 February 2007
Week 1
Friday 26th Jan was a momentous day. After putting an offer in on a house 'in need of modernisation' back in October, we finally collected the keys or our little palace!
First job was to empty the loft. No mean task as about 50 bags of rags, clothes, books, shoes and other odd items (like a bag of mini dressmakers dolls!!!) were acting as insulation! They filled the back bedroom until we figured out how to dispose of so much stuff.
Later the builder and his wife came round for a cuppa (first use of new kettle, £5 from Woollies!!) and discussed plan of action. Going to a be a bit of guess work on how much time, materials and money is required to do the jobs needed, as not a standard build. Seem genuine couple, so fingers crossed our gut feelings are not proved wrong.
Main jobs for builders are:
Our visitors on that first fully day (Craig's brother and his wife, and my mates Karen & Paul) thought we were a little mad I think, but ultimately we know we can make this shell look lovely!
Paul knows of a Scout Group collecting rags & clothes to raise money, so he's going to sort out having some of the loft stuff collected, which will be brilliant. Be good for someone to make use of it all.
Sunday was a day of rest (Craig had hangover from Wendy's cocktail party so no loud banging our wrecking could be done!). Instead, we looked back at our kitchen plan on the Ikea planning site to make sure we got it just right. Looks fab on the 3D plan!
Monday, and work began in earnest, with the electricians beginning the re-wiring. By the end of Thursday, this was pretty much all done, bar one socket in the kitchen, 2 downlights in the kitchen (which have to wait until after the wall to the loo has been knocked through) and moving the switch in the bathroom, cause it is the wrong side of the door!
In their work to gauge out the plaster to fit sunken sockets, the leccy fitter rang the builder in a panic, who in turn rang Craig, who felt sick, so waited till I got home from work to tell me potentially bad news. A brick was loose in the party wall. Was this an indicator all the brickwork is bad? Builder started discussing need to prop up upstairs rooms, and rebuild downstairs walls. Now I felt sick too. Had we just wasted money on a house that needed too much work??!!
We hadn't gone into this lightly. Our original survey had picked up some 'movement' in the house, so we'd paid £470 for a structural survey, which picked up a few things, but nothing major. Movement may have occurred, but if it did, it was a long time ago, and wasn't continuing, and was of no concern. We were re-assured. His survey (he told us) would over ride any normal survey, and he'd stand by his assessment.
We were considering legal action and everything, until Craig met with builder on Wednesday who had thumped his leccy mate, as the brick work wasn't so bad, and after Craig had taken all the plaster off to give a good look, was decided that a bit of remedial shoring up below the plaster would be fine. They probably will do considerable re-pointing outside, which may add some time, but Craig can help them, to keep costs down. Panic over!
By Thursday, the skip was taken away, containing remnants of house, fireplace, kitchen, bathroom, shelving units, all sorts. House now dusty shell, with lovely new wiring, but no plaster on downstairs wall or bathroom, no floor coverings downstairs, and looking very bare.
Thursday evening, Pauls mate (& Paul & Karen) came to take the rags etc, and anything they didn't want, Craig bagged up for charity (collections on Monday).
The new cooker arrived on Thursday, but is still boxed to avoid it being covered in dust too, and we ordered the bathroom suite from Homebase. Debated long and hard about getting a shorter bath. Standard bath is 170cm. Bathroom is 166cm wide, and previous bath was fitted by digging 4cm out of the wall. Had options of 2 smaller baths, 168.5cm or 148.5cm. Ordered larger one, then Craig panicked, wanted to change his mind. Thought being we could build false wall to hide shower pipes, and this would fill the extra 18cm or so, but he changed his mind again, and stuck with the longer bath. Hope this works out OK. May mean playing with the shower pipes a bit to hide them!! We'll see. Should be delivered within 4 weeks.
Friday - 1 week gone, and Craig finished stripping plaster from kitchen, and removing architraves from around downstairs doors. Plaster comes on Monday to start lounge, so should make big improvement on dusty environment round there!!
First job was to empty the loft. No mean task as about 50 bags of rags, clothes, books, shoes and other odd items (like a bag of mini dressmakers dolls!!!) were acting as insulation! They filled the back bedroom until we figured out how to dispose of so much stuff.
Later the builder and his wife came round for a cuppa (first use of new kettle, £5 from Woollies!!) and discussed plan of action. Going to a be a bit of guess work on how much time, materials and money is required to do the jobs needed, as not a standard build. Seem genuine couple, so fingers crossed our gut feelings are not proved wrong.
Main jobs for builders are:
- Put a lintel in above the UPVC back door and window, and rebuild brick work above (so it doesn't move anymore!!);
- knock through from the kitchen into outside toilet, brick up old loo door and level the floor throughout kitchen;
- rebuild retaining wall for terrace outside back door (extending terrace out about another meter to allow it to be used as seating area overlooking the garden);
- board and skim the walls in lounge, kitchen and bathroom;
- rewire whole house.
Our visitors on that first fully day (Craig's brother and his wife, and my mates Karen & Paul) thought we were a little mad I think, but ultimately we know we can make this shell look lovely!
Paul knows of a Scout Group collecting rags & clothes to raise money, so he's going to sort out having some of the loft stuff collected, which will be brilliant. Be good for someone to make use of it all.
Sunday was a day of rest (Craig had hangover from Wendy's cocktail party so no loud banging our wrecking could be done!). Instead, we looked back at our kitchen plan on the Ikea planning site to make sure we got it just right. Looks fab on the 3D plan!
Monday, and work began in earnest, with the electricians beginning the re-wiring. By the end of Thursday, this was pretty much all done, bar one socket in the kitchen, 2 downlights in the kitchen (which have to wait until after the wall to the loo has been knocked through) and moving the switch in the bathroom, cause it is the wrong side of the door!
In their work to gauge out the plaster to fit sunken sockets, the leccy fitter rang the builder in a panic, who in turn rang Craig, who felt sick, so waited till I got home from work to tell me potentially bad news. A brick was loose in the party wall. Was this an indicator all the brickwork is bad? Builder started discussing need to prop up upstairs rooms, and rebuild downstairs walls. Now I felt sick too. Had we just wasted money on a house that needed too much work??!!
We hadn't gone into this lightly. Our original survey had picked up some 'movement' in the house, so we'd paid £470 for a structural survey, which picked up a few things, but nothing major. Movement may have occurred, but if it did, it was a long time ago, and wasn't continuing, and was of no concern. We were re-assured. His survey (he told us) would over ride any normal survey, and he'd stand by his assessment.
We were considering legal action and everything, until Craig met with builder on Wednesday who had thumped his leccy mate, as the brick work wasn't so bad, and after Craig had taken all the plaster off to give a good look, was decided that a bit of remedial shoring up below the plaster would be fine. They probably will do considerable re-pointing outside, which may add some time, but Craig can help them, to keep costs down. Panic over!
By Thursday, the skip was taken away, containing remnants of house, fireplace, kitchen, bathroom, shelving units, all sorts. House now dusty shell, with lovely new wiring, but no plaster on downstairs wall or bathroom, no floor coverings downstairs, and looking very bare.
Thursday evening, Pauls mate (& Paul & Karen) came to take the rags etc, and anything they didn't want, Craig bagged up for charity (collections on Monday).
The new cooker arrived on Thursday, but is still boxed to avoid it being covered in dust too, and we ordered the bathroom suite from Homebase. Debated long and hard about getting a shorter bath. Standard bath is 170cm. Bathroom is 166cm wide, and previous bath was fitted by digging 4cm out of the wall. Had options of 2 smaller baths, 168.5cm or 148.5cm. Ordered larger one, then Craig panicked, wanted to change his mind. Thought being we could build false wall to hide shower pipes, and this would fill the extra 18cm or so, but he changed his mind again, and stuck with the longer bath. Hope this works out OK. May mean playing with the shower pipes a bit to hide them!! We'll see. Should be delivered within 4 weeks.
Friday - 1 week gone, and Craig finished stripping plaster from kitchen, and removing architraves from around downstairs doors. Plaster comes on Monday to start lounge, so should make big improvement on dusty environment round there!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)