First-time house renovation

jimbugalee

My boyfriend won't mind not having a shower at all - I'm less happy about it lol I am away some of the week so I could get my shower in then and I will seriously have one at the gym after training because it makes sense.

FINALLY .... almost decided on my travertine tiles. I have never done so much research on anything in my life!! Found a company in London (nr to BF work) which is selling them at £17.99 m2 (incl VAT!) which is a good price. The guy actually explained to me about the grading and colour and gave me an excellent rate for their premium travertine but it was still too much for our budget. Just waiting on final sample but I am happy I can order online but then actually go and pick up ourselves. They said they will fork lift them into the van for us Saves £50!

Boiler install on Sat! YEY I'm not sure this actually means anything other than floorboards can go back down upstairs. What a difference new rads make.

jamtart6

you are doing well jimbugalee!!

a few people have mentioned airbricks, are they the ones with slats in them? I have been considering one for the bathroom as we want less condensation in there when we have baths etc. will they make the room a lot colder?

jimbugalee

They look like that. I thought they were only used at the bottom of walls to aid air flow under the wooden floor? I could possibly be wrong!

I think in the bathroom you would be better to get an air vent? I think we might get a fan in the bathroom even though it has a window. They do these shower fans too.

TomsMom

Josepina wrote: »

Another option is primulas they are pretty and flower every year

Oh yes, silly me! JT - primulas, how could I forget those, we bought some when we sent for our potato bags/seed potatoes. We had double primulas and they are so pretty - I think these are what we had. They were very strong and healthy plug plants and are coming along really well.

I got my lift to the hospital today, got there around 12.30 and left around 6.30 tonight so had a nice long visit. Got home about 8pm. OH's stem cell harvest started today, more tomorrow then he can come home on Saturday :T .

He'd arranged a surprise for me too. There is a complementary therapies nurse in the unit for patients and their partners. OH had booked me in for a session of reflexology this afternoon - it was absolute bliss. Confessed to him that I had eaten his chocolate stash but I've promised to replace it before he comes home. I'll add it to the shopping tomorrow and pay with his credit card .

andrew-b

Good to hear that your OH will be home again Saturday and glad to hear they are looking after you as well! Hope all goes ok for him.

Yesterday we had the door people back and i finally got the paperwork. They replaced the latch in the locking mechanism. When they tested it before putting into the door by turning the key it still stuck ...but then when they put it in the door it didn't. So it was concluded that i should see how it goes. However at closer investigation i've found the latch still sticks. If you turn the key just enough to release the door the latch springs back to position ok - if you turn the key as far as it goes the latch goes in a bit further than i think it should and doesn't return. When the latch is released using the handle inside it's fine ...it's only when you use the key to release it.

Anyway i'm awaiting for someone from the manufacturer of the locking mechanism to call me to discuss it so i can check it is actually a fault or whether it's me being paranoid! I don't want to be fobbed off by the installer saying it's normal when it's actually a fault or persuade the installer to replace it when it's supposed to do it! If it a fault then i'll have to get the installer back to replace...but i guess that will take another week or so to wait for them to order the replacement. Still i'm a bit happier for having got all the paperwork and hopefully this continuining saga won't go on too much longer!

Andy

jamtart6

Ooh the primulas are pretty TomsMom - I am glad you are feeling a bit better, and your OH is OK, isn't he thoughtful, reflexology is a lovely treat!

Jimbugalee - I think you are right, I did mean an air vent, thought they were the same thing! - Anyone know if they are easy to fit?

Andy - sorry to hear about your door. Our was sticking a bit, I rang the guy he came out at 8pm within 5mins of me ringing and had sorted the problem, super customer service! We finally got our brass letterbox too so the front looks lovely now! hope you get it sorted soon, better to be paranoid than annoyed every time you open the door!

andrew-b

jamtart6 wrote: »

Andy - sorry to hear about your door. Our was sticking a bit, I rang the guy he came out at 8pm within 5mins of me ringing and had sorted the problem, super customer service! We finally got our brass letterbox too so the front looks lovely now! hope you get it sorted soon, better to be paranoid than annoyed every time you open the door!

Wish our installer had that level of customer service! With mine before 10am the boss isn't there yet so i have to call back later and after 4 they've locked up shop and all gone home! They don't seem to hold any spare parts whatsoever so everytime something goes wrong i have to wait a week or two! You see now why i really wanted my insurance backed-guarantee as i'm not convinced of how long they will remain in business! Still trying to get to speak to someone at the manufacturer but not managed to get to anyone in the technical department yet despite leaving two messages for people not at their desks ..two hours wasted so far :wall:

Andy

jimbugalee

Talking about poor customer service. Waited at new house for windows since 8 this morning. I have work today so have been working here for 3 hours to be told they're gonna be another hour grrrr. It's really cold if you're just sitting here. I spose if you lived at the property it wouldn't matter but I've come round here especially. Sorry, little rant!

Hoep you get your door/lock sorted Andy. Sounds like a pain so far!

andrew-b

So annoying waiting isn't it ...and even worse if you have to have time off work or mucked up your work schedule especially! Our door installation took a couple of hours...but the "after sales service" is wasting days of my time - i'd probably have been sacked by now if i was working and took that amount of time off work. I'm going to be much more stringent in future on choosing tradesmen/companies i deal with. Customer service always seems better when you actually owe money to them . I think i'll start to be slower in paying up in future!

Andy

jamtart6

i gave the window fitter, plumber and plasterer the key to our house - much easier, but we don't live there and know all of them really quite well and theres nothing in there anyway!