First-time house renovation

TomsMom

Here you go guys, wallpaper is up and a piccy of the curtains. Have to say, the lounge is starting to feel quite homely now. Just need a couple of lamps and will have to sort through all the pictures we had in the last house to see if any look right in this room.

aliasojo

Looks lovely TM...I like the curtains too.

Would you believe I'm in a hotel right now with my OH and no kids......and all I can do is examine the tiles/shower/architrave mitres etc etc. :rolleyes:

I need to get my life back, this is not healthy. :rotfl:

helping_hubby

@Tomsmom - love the wallpaper - the fireplace looks lovely. Makes me want one now. Will see how the winter goes this year now we have carpet and maybe we'll get a fireplace next year. We blocked ours up as it was easier and cheaper at the time.

@JT - sorry to hear about your problems regarding the lintel. Also we've had to get most of our work done by picking them from Yellow Pages, leaflets through the door, or the slated Checkatrade (but actually found a great electrician through this website who I will use again). We've made some mistakes, and been ripped off once - I think we over paid for some plastering, but sometimes you get desperate when one job is holding up everything and the plasterer you try and book doesn't answer the phone or call you back. It's so frustrating at times.

@jimbugalee - what's a Travetine tile? I'm sure mine are ceramic, I got square ones on the floor which are identical to the wall tiles.

jamtart6

Great pics TomsMom

helpinghubby - thanks for the reassurance. I just hate being ripped off so I end up worrying about it!!

Concrete is in people!!! Got to order bricks this week - very excited now that there is some progress being made!!!!!!

Re: the concrete lintel - we checked the plans and the council have approved the concrete lintel - surely they should pay if they want it replacing? If they weren't happy with it, then they should have stated that before they approved the plans?

TomsMom

jamtart6 wrote: »

Re: the concrete lintel - we checked the plans and the council have approved the concrete lintel - surely they should pay if they want it replacing? If they weren't happy with it, then they should have stated that before they approved the plans?

Well JT, you would think so wouldn't you but what's the betting that is not the case????

Now me, being me, I would be asking them why, if they had approved the lintel in the first place, is it unsatisfactory now and who is going to pay for THEM changing their mind. Why should you be out of pocket when they'd told you everything was in order? Take it to it's nth degree, they could pass plans for an extension then when it's finished turn round and say "No, we're not happy with that, take it all down and start again" or "We're not happy with the depth of the footings, take it down and dig deeper footings" - where does it end .

I don't think you should have to pay. I do hope you get this sorted without any further expense to yourselves.

jamtart6

Thanks TomsMom - the problem is I'm really scared incase they just start nit picking at everything we do. Builder said that even if we point it out to them on the plans, he'll probably just say "oh well, it needs a bigger concrete lintel then" just to prove his point. The cost won't be too bad for us, but it is our builder I feel bad for as he is doing it all for free (exclusding materials) and now he will have to take more time out to do it again! I just feel like it is the principal. They have approved the concrete lintel and had we paid to have it done, we would now be having to fork out all over again.

Spicey

http://spice-villa.blogspot.com/2009/08/foundation-trench.html

Cant believe its been so long since Ive updated my blog or been on the forum!
Dont think I have time to read all I have missed:rotfl:

Hope everything going ok for everyone, we been having lots of fun with new toys (DH calls them) we have started the extension and I have been promised a kitchen before xmas!

Unfortunetly we have had family stuff to deal with, a funeral and FIL is very ill and going in and out of hospital which means laying down tools and rushing to the hospital 2 hours away to see him. So the building is a great distraction.

Jill

jimbugalee

Omg I might faint at the fact I just paid £1,000 for our bathroom tiles AAARGH!! Includes adhesive, grout, sealant etc but oooooh it hurts lol

helping_hubby wrote: »

@jimbugalee - what's a Travetine tile? I'm sure mine are ceramic, I got square ones on the floor which are identical to the wall tiles.

Travertine is a natural stone tile. They're quite 'in' at the moment but causing us problems!! The main feature is that you can have the same tiles on wall and floor creating a seamless room which looks especially good with the wetroom in the corner.

Hope everyone had a good weekend? We FINALLY moved the junk from the back garden and sold the copper. Got £80 for it

wb Spice. Just had a look at your blog. The extension is coming along. Bet you're excited!! oh wow I want a new kitchen before Xmas lol

jamtart6

Spice- that is me who commented on your blog! Our concrete went in too this weekend Race ya to get it built ?? Sorry to hear about FIL, funerals etc. Never easy, had my fair share of all that this year too, sometimes its nice to do things on the house as it takes you away from it all.

Wow jim do you have a big bathroom???

jimbugalee

jamtart6 wrote: »

Wow jim do you have a big bathroom???

I wish!! It worked out 30 metres squared for the floor and walls including wastage etc. We paid £22 per square metre for the tiles. This is good for travertine as it's about £28-£35 per sqm usually.

Adhesive, grout and sealant came to another few hundred .... gulp!