First-time house renovation

jimbugalee

I did debate going home and coming back when they've finished but there is a fair bit of stuff here. Lots of tools! Also, it's such a mess we wouldn't be able to tell if someone had gone missing. Must tidy up this weekend! I get in trouble for moving OH's tools though!

andrew-b

After yet another call to the manufacturer (never did get a return call) I finally got to speak to a lady in technical department who seemed to be saying it was a fault but wasn't actually totally sure if it was and was going to ask sales. So go figure that one out but i'm not particularly impressed! She said she would get back to me until later this afternoon though to confirm - by which time my door installers will probably have gone home.

So rather than waste any more time i've phoned the installers. He seemed to be as fed up as i am with the whole saga though was cheerful enough about it and seemed happy enough to replace the locking mechanism again for me. It turns out that they don't deal with the manufacturer directly so will take it up with their supplier as a credit on return replacement. I should have just gone straight to the installer in the first place and saved a few hours! They said they will keep coming out until i'm happy so at least their customer support does have some good. Maybe i'm just being too paranoid and not putting enough faith in them - though it's the time that all this has taken that really bugs me!

Anyway it feels progress is being made. Hopefully it will get sorted next week. At least now i can get on with the tiling over the weekend.

Andy

andrew-b

jimbugalee wrote: »

it's such a mess we wouldn't be able to tell if someone had gone missing.

I really like that you've used the word "someone" and not "something" ......though i suspect that was a typo! Well i better go find the dog..i know i left him somewhere !!

Andy

Spicey

Andy - do hope the door gets sorted soon, very frustrating it must be.

TM - Glad you feeling better after your visit to OH. Reflexology is great (would say that as I am one) I had reflexology through my cancer treatment and now give treatments free to other cancer sufferers, I think it helps all the more as i know what they are going through.
My mother has a wireless thermostate and it works perfectly, we are also having a wireless one.

Been really busy at bungalow, as we move in in 4 weeks! I've been preping the walls and woodwork, ready for decorating. Also been clearing a path trough the jungle of bramble to the garage, so I can use it for storage. Unfortunately DD1 decided to help and cut her finger very badly (not sure what on) managed to stop the blood flow (first aid learnt as part of Reflexology exam) until we reached hospital where they checked out no tendon damage and put big bandage on it (picture on blog).
Going to be up to my elbows in paint this weekend and DH is starting the tiling in the bathroom.

latecomer

Had to go back to page 5 to find the thread - everyone must be slacking!

TomsMom wrote: »

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 .

@Andyb - fingers crossed you get the door lock sorted, I know how frustrating it can be when things start to drag out.

:rotfl:Absolutely cracking - OH arranges a very nice surprise for you. You have eaten the poor guys choccy stash AND then make him pay for it :rotfl::rotfl:
Glad to hear he's on the way home (hopefully there already)


We have been making good progress with the bathroom and now have the bath in which turned into a fairly major job as I wanted to change all the levels and only then fix the feet down. Got there in the end and connected up the tap and tested it. Very relieved to find that the shower function does work but it needs to have the back pressure from water in the hose to stay switched on. I also sealed round the bath which is the first time I've done anything like that but its come out well and hopefully is properly sealed too

There is a minor leak from the overflow so I'm going to take it off today and see if I can sort it either by just reseating it or failing that using some silicon. OH and MIL did the tiling round behind the toilet so it just needs grouting and then the new toilet can go in. They also got most of the way round under the window too.

I did all the re-plumbing for the new sink position which of course took rather a long time. Spend about 2 hours under the floors sorting out the pipework but for once it all went perfectly when the water was switched back on - will need another check later in the week.

Also got a new yale barrel for the front door and a mortice lock for the inside door as I couldn't get keys cut for the old ones as they were odd shapes. Got the yale fitted and working great but the mortice lock is a bit too large. I've also found another key for it which looks far more conventional and hence I'm hoping I can get copies made of it and then I can return the lock for a refund.

I also dropped into B&Q to return some stuff and there were having a power tool clearance which the nice young guy said was only on until 5pm (it was 4:20pm at this point) and if it wasn't sold it all had to be shifted back in to the warehouse. I had my eye on a Black and Decker SDS drill which was reduced to £40 and he pointed out there was one with assorted attachments for £10 more which he would do for the same price as it was his last one. I then noticed a jigsaw, which is something I've been after for a while but didn't want to spend a huge amount on, and asked whether he could do an even better deal if I took them both. His eyes literally lit up and he said "I've got clearance stickers and I'm not afraid to use them!" So he did both of them for £60 and they both have 2 year warranties so I really cant complain.

And I never did get round to updating the blog but I've taken some more pics and I'm going to do it now

latecomer

update posted on the blog too

jamtart6

wow well done on your bargains latecomer, I wish the "not afraid to use clearance stickers" man would come our way

we did nothing this weekend on the house as we were away. However, the plaster is virtually dried out completely upstairs - anyone know how long we should wait to paint it? Is there an "optimum" time? Plasterer seems to think we're good to go, as the walls are "light mushroom" in colour. We are going to paint in the order he plastered them. he quoted £800 for upstairs, and then I asked him to do the ceilings too (was just walls originally) and he didn't charge any more for them I love it when you have family in the business They are unbelievably brilliant !!

My next job is to clean up after him, pick the skirting boards and bathroom tiles. Mr Jamtart's next job is to get the foundations and drains sorted in the back garden, then hopefully after that the builder will start and we can get painting! yipeee!! although i am overwhelmed by the number of paints there are!

TomsMom

latecomer wrote: »

:rotfl:Absolutely cracking - OH arranges a very nice surprise for you. You have eaten the poor guys choccy stash AND then make him pay for it :rotfl::rotfl:

Well done on your bargains :T .

I'm off to read your updated blog now.

Oh, and we got the kitchen tiles yesterday. Not 100% sure about them, I think they'e a bit rustic/country and would have preferred something a bit more contemporary but we ran out of time as son is working for us this week and he needs them. He's trying to put the Bathstore cloakroom basin in the downstairs WC and there's a lot of swearing going on at the moment.

Spicey

This weekend got the bath fitted and the shower tray fitted and sealed. They fitted perfectly thanks to our carpenter friend (Alec) who built the walls, tiling didnt get started but will this weekend. Managed to get some painting done on saturday but had to clean garage yesterday as Alec decided he was going to fit all the internal new doors, so didnt want to get in his way. Will be doing more painting this P.m. and then I have 8 doors to varnish!

TomsMom

Oh Andy, poor you. I hope your back heals soon, give it time and don't go rushing into any more work until you feel it's right. I know all about backs as I suffer occasionally and I do sympathise.