tomturd Posted September 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2011 Dude you have done more in that house than I have done in this one in 6 years, keep the momentum going or you'll end up in a building site like us. haha, cheers. thats what I'm trying to avoid. Quite a few times I've 'had enough', but when I start up again it becomes apparent that there's actually very little left to do - suprising how quick the last bits are (wallpaper, painting). I'm also making a conscious effort not to start more than 1 thing at a time (didn't help when mum came over and started ripping wallpaper off the walls downstairs!) Im doing pretty much exactly the same stuff as you at the min, only difference being the result of mine will be a rental property. Ill put some pics up if you dont mind? Yeah man, would be very interested to see them Looks like hard work! I'd love to be house proud. Ha, not going to lie (is that a welshism?), it is. Getting home after work at 6, working til 9ish, doesn't give you much time to get stuff done. Managed to fit a door handle last night, but it still doesn't work properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzo Posted September 23, 2011 Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 Nice work! Especially with the Worcester Bosch boiler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted May 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 epic bumps coming up.... that door bathroom now it looks a little bit like this but with teal painted walls dont have a 'before' picture of this room unfortunately, but imagine the worst of the 70's and you're close. Opened up the fireplace but unfortunately nothing salvagable behind, whole room replastered thanks to roman the polish plasterer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted May 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 downstairs, this is the one i was looking forward to but also dreading - at this point upstairs was pretty much sorted so I moved the TV and sofa upstairs. This is a huge room that had previously been knocked through. suspended roof with polystyrene tiles and curtains that disappear into the ceiling. as it was when I moved in (minus the crap I've filled it with) my gf's christmas present on the wall, I don't think she likes it as much as I do... (you'll be right in thinking thats a lion, a tiger and a leopard striding together - pretty sweet) seriously - who does this? what were they thinking? glass stair thing removed with some free labour glass door thing coming out ceiling coming down this is the frame that the suspended ceiling was attached to back to the original ceiling re: the lintel above the fireplace, the plumbers words were "that doesn't look too clever" - never a truer word spoken. As you'll see in a bit, it is now safely covered up for the next unlucky soul to uncover in 25 years time. took the bricks off the front of the fireplace. this was a proper 'wtf have i done' moment. ceiling stripped back to joists - about 30 trips in total to the tip. luckily its only 5 mins drive from my house. I'll get a skip next time.. 2x2 battens on the ceiling. Pretty annoying, the floor joists are 6" but where they'd put the stairs in they'd used 8" joists, so i had to bring the whole ceiling down 2" to get it all level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukasMcNeal Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 Them curtains in the roof made me laugh so much! Theyre hideous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted May 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 plasterboard on the ceiling. tip: if you ever have to do this, rent one of these devices. wired in spotlights - these are perfectly geometrically aligned. added about another 5 hours onto the job as i had to put the board up, mark out, take boards down, drill holes, put back up and fish the wires through. totally worth it thought about putting a log burner in here, but the chimney is f**ked and it'd cost me about a grand to sort it out. home cinema wiring, ethernet, power, surround speakers etc.. extended the mains ring meself, pretty chuffed and I'm 90% sure I haven't broken the law in doing so. boarded this is a cat I've made friends with plastering commences painting Thats pretty much it. My life for the past 9/10 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted May 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 Them curtains in the roof made me laugh so much! Theyre hideous! Ha, tell me about it. I was thinking I'd get away with not taking the ceiling down, but once I spotted that the decision was made Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukasMcNeal Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 You remind me of homes under the hammer where they go back in a few months time haha! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROYston Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 Thats pretty good work! Question though. Im planning on stripping all my walls of this woodchip wallpaper stuff (inc bathroom), would it have to be replastered, or will it be okeee to strip it and then paint. I have no idea when it comes to house renovation(?). Also another quick one: What my boiler turns on it sounds like its vibration its tits off, any ideas? its not the casing it sounds like its coming from in or behind the boiler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted May 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 Im planning on stripping all my walls of this woodchip wallpaper stuff (inc bathroom), would it have to be replastered, or will it be okeee to strip it and then paint. You'll probably be fine to strip it, fill it if needed (easi fill is good - get it from b&q next to the plaster) and paint on top. You basically 'plaster' easi fill onto the walls, but scrape the trowel against the wall so the filler only fills the holes and give it a sanding once its dry. If the walls are still a bit crappy then you can always wall paper over it with lining paper then paint ontop of that. Try painting it first though, wallpapering is a pain in the arse. Also another quick one: What my boiler turns on it sounds like its vibration its tits off, any ideas? its not the casing it sounds like its coming from in or behind the boiler. Pass. My limits to heating systems are removing and putting radiators back on Maybe try bleeding the radiators and checking the pressue - apart from that I haven't got a clue. Suspect there must be a plumber on here who could help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROYston Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 Sound, ive been meaning to do it for the last month or so, but never got around it it just in-case of needing a plasterer. So ill have to get around to doing it this week! I hope so, its such a pain in the neck every time it starts up, my housemates room is basically on the wall the boiler is mounted so it wakes him up. Might take it apart tomorrow or something. My plumbing knowledge is as good as yours then . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted May 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 The boiler in my old rental house used to vibrate. It was in the room under my room, turned out it was the cover vibrating against the unit - jammed a bit of paper in it. The pipes also used to bang as they heated up and cooled down, drove me insane, ended up doing this some old grips came in handy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROYston Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 Ahh, ill give it a try tomorrow then and let you know my finidings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinJI Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 (edited) Tom, your house looks like a massive improvement! It seems like it's already starting to be a really nice place to live. It must be a great feeling looking back at it all. My Dad's pretty much finished extending their house now, and unfortunately I don't have any pictures to hand. I'll try and get some off him next time I go down there. It's gone from an old fashioned and really cramped 2 bedroom farmhouse with a shared driveway, and a garden filled with old cattlesheds, to 4 big bedrooms, one with an On-suite, a pretty open-plan downstairs with underfloor heating in the kitchen/dining room (can't beat warm tiles under your feet!), and a really big garden with a double garage and a listed old barn left of the buildings, and a fresh water well, as well as the drive not being shared anymore. Doesn't mean a lot without pictures, but it's taken a hell of a lot of time and work! He's done pretty much everything he legally could himself, from the foundations up, over the last 9 years or so, but the last couple of years have just been tidying up and slowly doing finishing touches. On a more personal note, but less 'house' related I'm currently looking at setting up a business, and I've been offered a premises in need of completion in exchange for 18 months or so free rent. I'm seriously tempted by it, but it's a hell of a lot of work, seems like a good land-lord though, and it would be nice to be able to make the premises exactly how I want it. It won't be cosy, but it may have some cool features if all goes to plan, it'll be a fabrication business after all, so it'd be silly not to throw in a few trick bits along the way! Edited May 30, 2012 by RobinJI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 Thats some good work I have to say ! Im loving the boarding over a half taken down brick chimney breast. Teehee. My house has come on a lot slower than intended due to a number of things. Number one of which was a lack of motivation. Lots of red tape which really kills the fun of it. But, just getting on a bit of a roll this year, about to finish bedroom three and then it really is heart of the house time - Kitchen/breakfast and Plumbing. a gutting job too - right back to the joists, involving asbestos and everything... (Ive got a certificate and everything.) I also just salvaged some awesome stone for a patio or the pathways in my garden, its a bit odd shaped but its lovely stone paving slabs from an 1840s mahoosive semi on my round. the builders were just chucking it out ! needs a bit of cleaning up and cutting to uniform shapes but hey - free is a win. Ill post pictures of the inside in the next few weeks.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted May 31, 2012 Report Share Posted May 31, 2012 Mega progress dude(s)! Serious props all round - can't bloody wait to have a bit of cash and sort my own place out, but it'll be a fair while yet I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted June 1, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2012 On a more personal note, but less 'house' related I'm currently looking at setting up a business, and I've been offered a premises in need of completion in exchange for 18 months or so free rent. I'm seriously tempted by it, but it's a hell of a lot of work, seems like a good land-lord though, and it would be nice to be able to make the premises exactly how I want it. It won't be cosy, but it may have some cool features if all goes to plan, it'll be a fabrication business after all, so it'd be silly not to throw in a few trick bits along the way! Sounds like you know what you're doing. If the guy is paying for materials and any specialist labour then seems like a decent offer, just be careful he doesn't expect you to work on it 24/7 for his free rent! Your parents house sounds pretty sweet, get some pics up Thats some good work I have to say ! Im loving the boarding over a half taken down brick chimney breast. Teehee. My house has come on a lot slower than intended due to a number of things. Number one of which was a lack of motivation. Lots of red tape which really kills the fun of it. Ha, someone is going to have a surprise when they open that back out. It was already screwed (You can tell that the fireplace had been removed totally at one point, then that crappy one you can see in the photos was put back in, then I came along and added another layer on top). What red tape have you come across? Was it your house that had the crack in it? Keeping motivated is probably the hardest thing, especially while working a full time job. I think I might have had about 6 weekends 'off' since I started, usually down to having to go to weddings or something. Not much advice you can give on staying motivated, it was a case of never stopping for me. If I stopped, I found it harder to start back up. Those slabs look awesome, good luck cutting them! How about just laying them a bit like they are, but with gravel between them? Might save a bit of time and look pretty smart too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinJI Posted June 1, 2012 Report Share Posted June 1, 2012 (edited) Sounds like you know what you're doing. If the guy is paying for materials and any specialist labour then seems like a decent offer, just be careful he doesn't expect you to work on it 24/7 for his free rent! Your parents house sounds pretty sweet, get some pics up Cheers, I'm not so sure I know what I'm doing! haha, I know how to make things, and I know enough people who do know what they're doing luckily, so I think it'd be doable. If I go for it it'll have to be flat out to get it done, as I've got no real income until I've got somewhere to work. This is the building at the moment! When I said a lot of work I meant it! But it's over 1000 square foot, and includes about 1800 square feet of land around it, I expect 18 months worth of rent would easily be the best part of £9000, so it just depends if it comes in under that. It'd be an ideal place besides needing the work, the location, size and shape are all ideal, and if things go well with the business the land lord said he'd be very open to selling it, which could be very good in the long run. The land lord seems pretty flexible, and sounded like he'd sort the water and electric, so I'd basically have to buy and fit/pay to fit the roof and door, as well as any work surfaces inside. Pretty daunting, but obviously for a start-up business to have it's overheads cut by £500 a month is a pretty big deal, and would make the odd slow month a lot less of an issue. I'd be aiming to do it using mostly salvaged steel, and then a fiberglass flat roof I think. My friends in the know seem to think it's doable for sensible money. It's competition as a premises is £480 per month, the same internal size, but a less convenient shape, less secure (the building behind this place is open 24/7, which is a big bonus for security!) Plus it's all steel, and with no natural lighting will cost more in electric in the summer, and more in heating in the winter, and it'd still need fitting out with additional lighting and benches, so this place would be ideal if I can sort the money to finish it off! I'll grab some photos of my Dad's house next time I visit, I do like it now it's complete, but it was a hell of a project, he did virtually all the work him self, including working full time on it and living off the money they were going to pay a builder for over a year. He works for the national trust maintaining and renovating leased cottages, so he's used to doing that sort of stuff, which obviously helps massively. The extension's over doubled the size of the house I think, and it was literally planning permission and some foundations when they moved in. Edit, shot taken off Google street view, it's only the right half that's theirs. (Everything right of the drain-pipe) It was way too small a house to split in two to make a semi! The extension was kind of a necessity. You can just about see the extension at the back, the barn on the right still needs to come down: Edited June 1, 2012 by RobinJI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted June 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 Cheers, I'm not so sure I know what I'm doing! haha, I know how to make things, and I know enough people who do know what they're doing luckily, so I think it'd be doable. If I go for it it'll have to be flat out to get it done, as I've got no real income until I've got somewhere to work. This is the building at the moment! When I said a lot of work I meant it! But it's over 1000 square foot, and includes about 1800 square feet of land around it, I expect 18 months worth of rent would easily be the best part of £9000, so it just depends if it comes in under that. It'd be an ideal place besides needing the work, the location, size and shape are all ideal, and if things go well with the business the land lord said he'd be very open to selling it, which could be very good in the long run. The land lord seems pretty flexible, and sounded like he'd sort the water and electric, so I'd basically have to buy and fit/pay to fit the roof and door, as well as any work surfaces inside. Pretty daunting, but obviously for a start-up business to have it's overheads cut by £500 a month is a pretty big deal, and would make the odd slow month a lot less of an issue. I'd be aiming to do it using mostly salvaged steel, and then a fiberglass flat roof I think. My friends in the know seem to think it's doable for sensible money. It's competition as a premises is £480 per month, the same internal size, but a less convenient shape, less secure (the building behind this place is open 24/7, which is a big bonus for security!) Plus it's all steel, and with no natural lighting will cost more in electric in the summer, and more in heating in the winter, and it'd still need fitting out with additional lighting and benches, so this place would be ideal if I can sort the money to finish it off! (apologies for the negativity, I think its the way I've been Cripes, that is a lot of work even with mates helping... Getting the services installed will be a major hassle for a start, rendering (if you're doing that?) £2000, doors/windows: £1000, electrician: £2000, does it have drainage? roof £1000 inc mates help? Soon adds up... To me it sounds like you'll spend longer doing it up than you will doing stuff that could be making you money. if you do end up sorting it out then I'd make sure you sign a long lease for it (guarenteed for at least 10 years @ a max of £X per month or something) - you don't want to do it up and have the landlord rent it out to someone else. It does look like an interesting project though so if you do go for it make sure you post pics You Dads house looks awesome. I'd be pretty chuffed living somewhere like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 anyone had any experience with floor tiling ? Ive got a slate floor to lay, and Im finding it hard to work out what adhesive to go for. onto concrete which has been there a loooong time, and was layed A) on a slope, and wibbly wobbly. Im hoping to lay up to 12mm adhesive to take out the wibbly wobbly and use my slightly varying tile thickness to help too. Also, mega picture update going up after floor is done... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 I can't help with that Rowan, but thanks for bumping this. Just started work on sprucing up the girlfriends flat so she can rent it out and we'll find a house to rent together. Only had a few hours on it so far, so we tried to sort out the state of the outside windows a little bit first: Here's one of them after a little bit of scraping of the ledge: Ladyfriend hard at work: Only managed to get them in primer before we had to get ready to go out, but they already look loads better: I've got some filling/sealing on them to do to tidy them up, but this is definitely not a 'make perfect' project. Definitely more 'make do'. Plenty to do, including ripping out old heating systems and finishing off the radiator system, and general decorating and whatnot. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomturd Posted September 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 anyone had any experience with floor tiling ? Ive got a slate floor to lay, and Im finding it hard to work out what adhesive to go for. onto concrete which has been there a loooong time, and was layed A) on a slope, and wibbly wobbly. Im hoping to lay up to 12mm adhesive to take out the wibbly wobbly and use my slightly varying tile thickness to help too. Also, mega picture update going up after floor is done... I did my bathroom floor, and I've done patios in the past, and tiled my bathroom. My advice would be not to try and even things using adhesive! And more generally, not to start with an uneven surface for any sort of tiling - i wish i got my bathroom skimmed before i started tiling it, it only takes one tile to sit proud of the others before you get into a whole world of pain trying to get the others (on all sides) to match up. Google for 'floor levelling compound' or something like that. It's a very runny cement which you pour onto the floor and with a bit of help it should find its own level. You can get it in wickes. Theres some saying about preparation being the key to doing stuff, certainly applies to tiling.As for adhesive, any should do really. I used wickes flexible fast set adhesive but that's because I was laying tiles onto a wooden floor (with tile backing board screwed onto it), but it costs a bit more and shouldn't be needed for a solid floor. Mix it yourself stuff is generally considered to be better and cheaper, 'bal' seemed to be the brand that the professionals used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Yup floor levelling compound is the way forward, can be messy though as it is literally like pouring water on the floor. Also handy on newly concreted floors as it seals them and stops dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Unfortunately the whole floor is on a slope (part of the reason it's wobbly I guess) so I'm not sure I can use a leveller? I'm certainly not hacking up and relaying the slab! And levelling it up on top would create a biig step into the kitchen, and it also already has a fairly low ceiling... Thanks for advice on the adhesive - I think that's what I was going to go for - standard quickset probably wickes 25kg bag jobs... I just wasn't sure about using it for slate, as they have a specialist flexy natural stone one for twice the price... I think I'm just gonna have to do the best I can... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted September 23, 2012 Report Share Posted September 23, 2012 Hazaaaaaaaar, I have central heating and hot running water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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