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:

• 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.

By Saturday, the skip had arrived, and we began wrecking. Craig stripped out what was left of the kitchen, and I ripped out the fireplace and some dodgy brick built TV unit. Very satisfying.

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!!