10 days since our last posting, and thankfully we have moved on!
The bedrooms are all complete, blinds, lampshades & all. The bathroom needs finishing off with sealant around the bath, a shower screen fitted, and the blind put up. The lounge needs a baton fixing above the window to fit the blinds to, and to cover the gap between the windows and the plaster work! Then the blinds can go up!
The fireplace looks lovely, but the fire isn't yet connected. Apparently our gas man has the flu and has asked a mate to call us to fit it....funnily enough we've not heard from him yet either!!! Never mind, looks nice, so we can have it fitted later if necessary.
The kitchen floor needs a second grout which I'll probably do later today, then we can clean up and 'dress' the place!
Craig has been lucky with the weather and begun on the decking, which is taxing his brain a bit, working out how to best construct it. He's really tired this week too, which isn't helping!
We have instructed a solicitor to act on our behalf so we can sell privately. We thought the HIP's were coming in next week, so we had to declare our house 'on the market' to evade putting one together. Yesterday's announcement of the delay is great!
We are aiming for getting valuations in next Tuesday......please let them be favourable!!
Wednesday, 23 May 2007
Sunday, 13 May 2007
Weather!!
The very poor weather conditions today meant Craig wasn't able to finish fitting the doors upstairs......honestly, there was a good reason! He has to take them into the back garden to plane them so as not to get sawdust everywhere inside, and equally, there isn't the room!
Instead, he got on with other niggling jobs like fitting handles and mortice's to the lounge and kitchen doors, properly fitting a couple of the light fittings, and then set about making a new loft hatch which took a while, but now looks so much better than the old one. Bet no-one who views will even notice it, but there you go!
I did as I'd said and sanded all the woodwork in lounge and hallway, before Craig and and I tidied up the lounge area and brought a few more things home with us. You'll notice from the photo that the loo is still in lounge, in fact sitting on the hearth, as it is holding the hearth down while it sets....which it probably has by now! The fireplace looks great and with our expert filling and sanding, you can't even see where it is attached to the wall!!
I then got on with glossing again, and all the skirts in the hall and lounge are now complete. The doors need a bit of touching up downstairs, but that won't take long.
Be nice if the weather could improve so Craig can start the decking (once the loo has been fitted!). Least the ground will have softened up I suppose!!!
Instead, he got on with other niggling jobs like fitting handles and mortice's to the lounge and kitchen doors, properly fitting a couple of the light fittings, and then set about making a new loft hatch which took a while, but now looks so much better than the old one. Bet no-one who views will even notice it, but there you go!
I did as I'd said and sanded all the woodwork in lounge and hallway, before Craig and and I tidied up the lounge area and brought a few more things home with us. You'll notice from the photo that the loo is still in lounge, in fact sitting on the hearth, as it is holding the hearth down while it sets....which it probably has by now! The fireplace looks great and with our expert filling and sanding, you can't even see where it is attached to the wall!!
I then got on with glossing again, and all the skirts in the hall and lounge are now complete. The doors need a bit of touching up downstairs, but that won't take long.
Be nice if the weather could improve so Craig can start the decking (once the loo has been fitted!). Least the ground will have softened up I suppose!!!
Saturday, 12 May 2007
What do normal people do at weekends??
Well, it's Saturday, so it must be project house day for us both. It's ironic that Craig has been quite busy with some good orders for his pictures in the last couple of weeks, so this has meant him needing to take time out from the house to fulfill them. Good for the business though, so can't complain.
The Electrician returned yesterday and sorted out the consumer unit, which was just wiggling the fuses, as they obviously have some crap in them...technical stuff!!! Need to give them a good vacuum to stop it happening again, but good to know it was an easy problem to fix. Also good to know that our house is going to be used as an inspection site for his work by his professional body, so this will make sure he is satisfied he's done the best work he can!! E'on also came and certified the work to the external supply, so all good there too.
Anyway, last night we treated ourselves to a night out..................Ikea!!! Wanted shelves for the lounge, blinds for the windows and lampshades. Realised on route we hadn't measure the archway in the lounge where Craig wanted the shelves for, or the living room window which we wanted to get blinds for, so not a good start!! We did manage to buy some lampshades, and a blind for the kitchen and bathroom. Didn't have any we liked for the lounge or bedrooms, and are now contemplating curtains. Not sure.
So, today Craig finished fitting the skirting in the lounge which meant me following him round with a tub of filler to fill the screw holes. Tomorrow I will sand them all down, then we can hoover the floor and generally clean up......I'll take some pics then!
We fitted the lampshades upstairs, but the smaller ones we'd bought for the hallway are for table lamps and so will have to go back.....another great buy by us!!!
Thankfully, we've still got interest in the house. A lady returned the other day having visited previously, looking for a house for her son and daughter. She likes the colours and style, and has even talked about paying cash as her husband thinks the interest rates don't make mortgages an option at present......sure we all feel the same!!!!! She's given Craig her number to call her once the decking is down and the inside finished, and she'll come back (possibly with Son!!)
The Electrician returned yesterday and sorted out the consumer unit, which was just wiggling the fuses, as they obviously have some crap in them...technical stuff!!! Need to give them a good vacuum to stop it happening again, but good to know it was an easy problem to fix. Also good to know that our house is going to be used as an inspection site for his work by his professional body, so this will make sure he is satisfied he's done the best work he can!! E'on also came and certified the work to the external supply, so all good there too.
Anyway, last night we treated ourselves to a night out..................Ikea!!! Wanted shelves for the lounge, blinds for the windows and lampshades. Realised on route we hadn't measure the archway in the lounge where Craig wanted the shelves for, or the living room window which we wanted to get blinds for, so not a good start!! We did manage to buy some lampshades, and a blind for the kitchen and bathroom. Didn't have any we liked for the lounge or bedrooms, and are now contemplating curtains. Not sure.
So, today Craig finished fitting the skirting in the lounge which meant me following him round with a tub of filler to fill the screw holes. Tomorrow I will sand them all down, then we can hoover the floor and generally clean up......I'll take some pics then!
We fitted the lampshades upstairs, but the smaller ones we'd bought for the hallway are for table lamps and so will have to go back.....another great buy by us!!!
Thankfully, we've still got interest in the house. A lady returned the other day having visited previously, looking for a house for her son and daughter. She likes the colours and style, and has even talked about paying cash as her husband thinks the interest rates don't make mortgages an option at present......sure we all feel the same!!!!! She's given Craig her number to call her once the decking is down and the inside finished, and she'll come back (possibly with Son!!)
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Carpets!!!
Hooray!!!! The carpets went down today, so the whole place looks much better and a lot less dusty! Progress indeed!
Craig did lay the wood floor in the lounge and hallway over the weekend, but that took longer than hoped. Looks great now, as does the fireplace which has been fitted, bar the major ingredient...the fire itself.. Blooming Gas Man has gone to Magalouf (??) for a few days, so won't be done till next week.
I busied myself with little niggly jobs like odd bits of filling and painting. Also decided to fit the rest of the sockets and light switches upstairs which all look great and work! Unfortunately, turning off various fuses in the fuse box seems to have messed the system and now the downstairs lights and boiler have no power.......oh dear!! Thankfully the electric man is due to visit this week and check all the wiring systems so hopefully he can solve whatever it is I've managed to kill!!
The bathroom is our most unfinished room, but is getting there. Craig has not had an easy time of it, but he should finish fitting the basin tomorrow and the loo maybe. This weekend we will definitely start on the decking....please let the nice weather return!!!!
Craig did lay the wood floor in the lounge and hallway over the weekend, but that took longer than hoped. Looks great now, as does the fireplace which has been fitted, bar the major ingredient...the fire itself.. Blooming Gas Man has gone to Magalouf (??) for a few days, so won't be done till next week.
I busied myself with little niggly jobs like odd bits of filling and painting. Also decided to fit the rest of the sockets and light switches upstairs which all look great and work! Unfortunately, turning off various fuses in the fuse box seems to have messed the system and now the downstairs lights and boiler have no power.......oh dear!! Thankfully the electric man is due to visit this week and check all the wiring systems so hopefully he can solve whatever it is I've managed to kill!!
The bathroom is our most unfinished room, but is getting there. Craig has not had an easy time of it, but he should finish fitting the basin tomorrow and the loo maybe. This weekend we will definitely start on the decking....please let the nice weather return!!!!
Thursday, 3 May 2007
So near!
With a long bank holiday weekend, and having Friday off normal work too, we should break the back of the beast! The kitchen is done, bar sealant around the worktops and re-grouting the tiled floor. The lounge has been re-painted and the skirts just need final gloss coats, but they won't be fitted till the wooden floor is down. Craig is collecting that today so fingers crossed we'll get it down tomorrow??
Craig has been wrestling with the bathroom all week, as he's had to cut new waste holes in the wall, fitted the bath, and is tiling the floor this morning. Once that has set (48hours) he can fit the basin and loo.....so by Monday????
I'll be painting. The hallway needs a final coat of emulsion and the bedroom walls need touching up. The doors upstairs need a final glossing, but with the superb technique of using a small roller, it is so much quicker and a lovely finish too!!! I'm learning so much, I can now be really, really dull about gloss techniques!!
Craig will need to shave a bit off some of the upstairs doors as they have expanded since they were fitted and no longer close.
We really want the inside to be done by Monday night, so we can concentrate on the garden the next weekened.......will the weather still be nice??
Had a visit from another interested party this week, who knocked on the door and came for a look round. Another property up the road has now sold too, in about 2 weeks, so there is movement in the street...all keeps us going!!
Craig has been wrestling with the bathroom all week, as he's had to cut new waste holes in the wall, fitted the bath, and is tiling the floor this morning. Once that has set (48hours) he can fit the basin and loo.....so by Monday????
I'll be painting. The hallway needs a final coat of emulsion and the bedroom walls need touching up. The doors upstairs need a final glossing, but with the superb technique of using a small roller, it is so much quicker and a lovely finish too!!! I'm learning so much, I can now be really, really dull about gloss techniques!!
Craig will need to shave a bit off some of the upstairs doors as they have expanded since they were fitted and no longer close.
We really want the inside to be done by Monday night, so we can concentrate on the garden the next weekened.......will the weather still be nice??
Had a visit from another interested party this week, who knocked on the door and came for a look round. Another property up the road has now sold too, in about 2 weeks, so there is movement in the street...all keeps us going!!
Friday, 20 April 2007
The deadline.........
Yep, well, Sarah would be castigating (??) us by now, as we are about to over-run on our 12 week turn around.
But on the positive side, the end is not too far off (2-3wks??!). The kitchen is almost there (waste pipe for sink needs fitting, the skirts and under stairs cupboard door needs painting, the electrical units need switching to chrome, and some wall paint needs touching up here and there).
Craig is in a dilemma whether to fit the bathroom next or do the decking...think he's worried about someone nicking his decking from the back garden before we've had chance to nail it down, but equally, we want to finish the inside before the gardens.
So, how do you like the Front door? We have a public vote you can participate in. Do you think the doorstep should:
But on the positive side, the end is not too far off (2-3wks??!). The kitchen is almost there (waste pipe for sink needs fitting, the skirts and under stairs cupboard door needs painting, the electrical units need switching to chrome, and some wall paint needs touching up here and there).
Craig is in a dilemma whether to fit the bathroom next or do the decking...think he's worried about someone nicking his decking from the back garden before we've had chance to nail it down, but equally, we want to finish the inside before the gardens.
So, how do you like the Front door? We have a public vote you can participate in. Do you think the doorstep should:
- a) be cleaned and left (it will look OK when not dirty and dusty)
- b) Be painted it's original red colour
- c) Be painted black to match door and bricks below damp course outside
Need to think about the fact that the stone door step goes under the door and is visible in the hallway inside when the door is shut. The hallway is cream with white woodwork and the door is black (inside & out). Thoughts??
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
Ikea King!
We had a lovely Easter weekend at the house. It started by grouting the kitchen floor, and then getting on with other stuff while we tried not to walk on it!
For me that meant more glossing, for Craig it was fitting the reclaimed door which even with fitting a new lock etc looks so much better than the old one...although exactly the same style, so most people won't even notice!!
Only had a couple of hours on Saturday so we began the kitchen units. This was quite easy when we got into it, and we were knocking them together in about 15 mins each. Sunday we really got stuck in and began attaching them to the walls....then ran out of raw plugs.....no DIY shops open, so continued with some of the smaller niggly jobs again, glossing etc.
Monday.....we had a day off!!! This did mean a small trip to B&Q to get more raw plugs so Craig could continue first thing on Tuesday morning though!
Since then, he's been getting on OK, although we've had a to do a slight re-design again! Can't believe it after all the time we spent! Anyway, decided to buy another wall corner unit to match the other side, but it will mean the door won't completely open, as the cooker hood will stop it, but should mean the cupboard is accessible enough.
Starting to really take shape. I've been round again tonight and done some filling in the new door, and sanding it down ready for painting, and sanded some other woodwork ready for more glossing!
Craig is very proud of his new number too.....some little chrome digits.......i didn't put them on straight, but luckily, Craig spotted this and was able to save the day.....God forbid the slightly squiffy numbers may have put off potential buyers!! Sometimes, I just don't think I take development seriously enough :-)
For me that meant more glossing, for Craig it was fitting the reclaimed door which even with fitting a new lock etc looks so much better than the old one...although exactly the same style, so most people won't even notice!!
Only had a couple of hours on Saturday so we began the kitchen units. This was quite easy when we got into it, and we were knocking them together in about 15 mins each. Sunday we really got stuck in and began attaching them to the walls....then ran out of raw plugs.....no DIY shops open, so continued with some of the smaller niggly jobs again, glossing etc.
Monday.....we had a day off!!! This did mean a small trip to B&Q to get more raw plugs so Craig could continue first thing on Tuesday morning though!
Since then, he's been getting on OK, although we've had a to do a slight re-design again! Can't believe it after all the time we spent! Anyway, decided to buy another wall corner unit to match the other side, but it will mean the door won't completely open, as the cooker hood will stop it, but should mean the cupboard is accessible enough.
Starting to really take shape. I've been round again tonight and done some filling in the new door, and sanding it down ready for painting, and sanded some other woodwork ready for more glossing!
Craig is very proud of his new number too.....some little chrome digits.......i didn't put them on straight, but luckily, Craig spotted this and was able to save the day.....God forbid the slightly squiffy numbers may have put off potential buyers!! Sometimes, I just don't think I take development seriously enough :-)
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