First-time house renovation

TomsMom

Midori wrote: »

We have actually set up a blog but I can't add links as a new user because of spamming rules or something but it is www. diybungalow. blogspot .com without the gaps! Hope that works.

That's fine Midori. I'm looking through your blog as I type!

Wow! What a garden! Perfect for today's trend for growing your own veg (which is what I'm attempting in my miniscule garden, my potatoes are in bags and leeks and carrots in planters).

You've certainly made a good start with the removal of the fireplaces and the floors. We need our kitchen floor levelled as we have sheet vinyl waiting to go down but our son is shying away from the job. I'll have to show him your blog, perhaps that will give him some confidence. Is that a normal paint roller you've used?

I saw a programme on TV recently where an old Anderson shelter had been turned into a bar with BBQ area outside. Or you could keep pigs . If I had your garden I'd be tempted to rescue a couple of battery hens and use the shelter for their home if it was suitable.

I'm now a follower of your blog and look forward to seeing more.

lisal0u

Hi Everyone!

You really are all going to have to slow down, I can't keep up!

BB1984 - The bedroom looks lovely! Its such a pretty colour! I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished house!

Shimmyhill - I'm glad the window fitting is going well, it made such a big difference to the look of our house when we had it done! Will check out your blog later for the piccys!

Spicey - You've got loads done! I wish mine had moved that fast.

Latecomer - Hurrah the skirting boards are finally ok! Enjoy your gardening leave, I'm sure you will find something soon enough. My Sister was made redundant twice recently and she's managed to find another job (turned out its better paid too!).

Jamtart - Wow you've been busy too! I'd go for option b, then you have a definate dining area. We're going to do something similar but split the room with an island. You could design it on the ikea planner tool which will give you a better idea of what each option would look like! Then you could post the piccys for us all to have a look (Nose) at!

Andrew-b - That is such a bargain for a toilet! You've also reminded me that I need to take some bits back to Wickes! I also agree that everything takes MUCH longer than expected! We wanted to be in our house for Christmas just gone hahahah and now its nearly May and still not finished!

TomsMom - I've got those pop up bags for my spuds too! Have you grown them in them before? I haven't so I hope it works!

Midori - Hi there! Just had a look at your blog! Your bungalow is very pretty, it will look lovely when you have finished! Those fireplaces look exactly like the ones we had in our house!
I agree that the best way is to get building control to come and have a look and talk through your ideas! We did this and they were very helpful and would come out at very short notice. We have had to get them involved in checking the structural calcs, advice on supporting the chimney breast we removed, electrics and windows! It cost us £212.68 for them to do all the check for the building work and £176.25 to sign off the electrics for us! One thing to remember is they do like to have about 2 weeks notice before any structural works begin so they have time to come and check it out!

I have some exciting news! We finally have a working loo :T. We also have a cold feed into the pantry and an outside tap! The main job this weekend is to put back all the radiators so that the boiler can be serviced! Hopefully will get lots done this weekend with it been a bank holiday I think we are nearly ready to fit the underfloor heating and wood flooring which will make such a big difference! Still not got a moving in date but its definately getting closer!

Bye for now
Lisa x

Midori_2

Hi
TomsMom, yep it is just a normal roller we used to level the floors with, 1 bag of floor leveller from Wickes does about 8m sqr so we used 2 bags per room. Each bag was about £17 so a bit costly but if your floors need doing then it is a good idea. My hubby and his dad found it easy enough once the mix was made, bit hectic making the mix, you need more water than it says otherwise it dries too quick and you cant speard it quick enough! And it is definitely more self smoothing than self levelling!

Lisa- thanks for checking out the blog, we will get building regs to come out before we start anything! Best to have them onside!

The garden is lovely and now all the flowers and plants are coming out in bloom. The tree out the front is a rhodadendron (spelling?!) and we can'twait to see it in bloom.

Shimmyhill- with the new windows did you need building regs approval or does it depend on who fits them? Hope it goes smoothly, we need to change all of our windows, most are single glazed and only the little windows at the top open. The previous owner (Uncle Lionel) used to store panes of glass around the garden so he could replace broken windows if he needed to!!

Midori

lisal0u

Midori wrote: »

Hi

Shimmyhill- with the new windows did you need building regs approval or does it depend on who fits them? Hope it goes smoothly, we need to change all of our windows, most are single glazed and only the little windows at the top open. The previous owner (Uncle Lionel) used to store panes of glass around the garden so he could replace broken windows if he needed to!!

Midori

Hiya,

Hope you don't mind if I butt in!

You will only need building regs approval if the company you use is not FENSA registered. It cost £70 from our building control for the certificate!

Lisa

Midori_2

Hi Lisa

so if we fitted them ourselves (family member has had experience in this in the past but is not 'trained' as such) we would need to apply for them to approve and certify and this would cost £70 (or whatever the local council charges in my area) ?

just had a quote come back from a company who make windows and doors, lovely timber ones in all colours and for 2 bay windows and 2 french door sets it is £14,000! eeeek I think not! maybe I need to re think the big plan!! (it was an expensive company but I was curious of what we could pay).

Thanks for the info
Midori

lisal0u

Blimey that is a lot of money!!

We had 2 5-window bays, a front and back door, french doors and a small window for £4000 but they were upvc. I'd suggest you get quotes from smaller firms which is what we did.

He wasn't FENSA registered because it is quite expensive to do this and for him its cheaper to pay the £70 to get them certified by building control. Also this way you know that they have done a good job. Only a few FENSA installations are checked as they can self certify!

You can do it yourself but if you are dealing with load bearing bay windows you have to be a bit careful!

Midori_2

ooh £4000 sounds much better! The trouble is these days is trying to find a company people will recommend. Do we go with the big names and their big compalints list or local but expensive? Actually I haven't really looked into it properly yet so better get onto that one!
Midori

latecomer

Welcome Midori

Looks like you've got a project on your hands there so you're definintely in the right place!

I've just had Anglian at the door and the salesman managed to look like the sight of our house and drive offended him as he went through a list of what they can offer. I refrained from telling to where to go and managed to just about politely decline. Maybe I should have asked if there were any jobs going

I've done nothing today apart from sit around trying to get the final legal stuff sorted out and lying in bed/sleeping as i drank far too much last night and feel very unwell. No headache though which is odd. Only now starting to feel relatively normal. Once tomorrow is over I intend to make a list of things to do and then get cracking. Furniture and wood will be coming early next week.

olias

Haven't read all this thread(!) but I'd look at small local firms for DG, they are actually usually cheaper, with better service I had six windows and a set of french doors done for £3900! Everest (who I had a quote from for the comedy value, wanted £12000 AFTER their 40% off in a sale!!!!!! So a usual price of £20000!!!!!!!!!!
The ones I got fitted were conservation grade sliding sash UPVC with true divided lights, so not just some cheap and nasty ones!

Olias

Midori_2

Thanks latecomer, I seem to spend hours sifting through info on building regs deciding what I want to do and thinking I should get round to putting in a building notice or something!

luckily I guess we are avoiding people like Anglia calling as we are not there during the week, mind you I could do with a few quotes. Good job they haven't seen the bungalow though as not much been touched since it was built in the 50's and everything needs replacing!

Lisa- I love the video of the fire on the blog, very cool! (or hot shoulld I say, very inviting)

as for making lists of things to do, I really need to do something ON the list!

Midori