First-time house renovation

TomsMom

jimbugalee wrote: »

Here's my blog http://seatonroad.blogspot.com/ I put a small update on there for this week too.

Thanks Jimby. The tiling looks great!

But I did remind my BF that the reason we got the house and no problem with mortgage etc was because we are both really good with our money and I wouldn't like suddenly not be.

If you're already good with money it's very unlikely you'll suddenly not be. Just go for what you know you can comfortably afford.

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

So please keep yer fingers crossed this one goes through!

Fingers and toes crossed, I'm sure it will be fine this time.

Oh yes, just one other bit of news - the house we withdrew our offer on has been taken off the market. I wonder if vendor has given up for now or if they've decided to try a different agent.

Well I hope any future buyer is careful, would hate to think of anyone being fleeced, especially about the drains.

We're both feeling very nervous that someone will offer above us

Shouldn't happen now that it's SSTC. If viewings have stopped then there shouldn't be any problems. If you're worried, ring the agent and ask him to confirm in writing that the house has been sold to you STC and that no further offers will be accepted. We did that with ours but like Jimby's no-one else wanted ours :rotfl: .

lisal0u

Hi Everyone,

TomsMom - Im so glad TD is doing well! Im still crossing everything! Made it difficult to do DIY this weekend

It must be the week for it this week, Stuarts Dad had a major op and is in hospital but is doing well, my gran is in after having a minor stroke (she is much better today though as she's asking for M&S cake ha ha!) and my grandad is in with an infection in his pancreas! Im hoping thats it for this year!

wallbash - love your photos! Especially the cars parked outside! You certainly took on quite a project there. How long did it take you? Mine has taken 15 months so far but we are nearly finished!

jimbugalee - Hope you manage to get your heating sorted out! Sorry but I cant help with the stove, we had a gas fire put in and electric under floor heating as we didnt have space for radiators.

jamtart6 - I have had a look what colour we did the kitchen in and its Crowns crimson kiss in the indulgence range.

Maggie - How exciting! Ill PM you so I can have a nose! Looks like youll be joining us bloggers after all :-). I dont think you need to worry either if it is sold subject to contract, it would be extremely bad form for them to accept other offers now!

Ive had a good weekend as it was my friends hen do. We spent the morning doing an assault course and sumo wrestling (hilarious) and the afternoon in a spa then went out for a lovely meal and lots of wine. Luckily it wasnt too far from home so I got back early on Sunday to help Stuart out at the house.

He's been very busy and got all the skirting cut to length, just got to stick it down now. Does anyone know of anything that makes it easier to keep the skirting pressed to the wall while it sticks other then my feet?!

The carpets are coming a week on Tuesday so weve got a busy week ahead. Need to get all the skirting stuck down, filled and glossed and also the rest of the decorating if we get time. I wish I didnt have to work!

Heres my list of blogs for the new people that have joined the thread recently:

http://bungalow-diy.blogspot.com/ (andrew-b)
http://housetart.blogspot.com
http://libertycottage.blogspot.com/ (jamtart6)
http://olwaysmoanin.blogspot.com/
http://diybungalow.blogspot.com
http://rizzo-renovations.blogspot.com/ (littlerose12345)
http://seatonroad.blogspot.com (jimbugalee)
http://spice-villa.blogspot.com/ (Spicey)
http://the2yearproject.blogspot.com/ (latecomer)
http://thehouserenovationinsurrey.blogspot.com/ (Helping_Hubby)
http://westbroke.blogspot.com/ (TomsMom)
http://stuartandlisashouse.blogspot.com/ (Me)

I think thats them all, sorry if I have missed any. Also Im not exactly sure who's is who's, Ive put a few names against some of them but if you can fill in the blanks that would be great or correct them if Ive got them mixed up. It would take me the rest of the year to go back through all the posts to find out!

Hope you all had good weekends!
x

littlerose12345

lisal0u wrote: »

http://bungalow-diy.blogspot.com/ (andrew-b)
http://housetart.blogspot.com
http://libertycottage.blogspot.com/ (jamtart6)
http://olwaysmoanin.blogspot.com/
http://diybungalow.blogspot.com
http://rizzo-renovations.blogspot.com/
http://seatonroad.blogspot.com (jimbugalee)
http://spice-villa.blogspot.com/ (Spicey)
http://the2yearproject.blogspot.com/ (latecomer)
http://thehouserenovationinsurrey.blogspot.com/
http://westbroke.blogspot.com/ (TomsMom)
http://stuartandlisashouse.blogspot.com/ (Me)

:embarasse Rizzo Renovations is me.. bit of a lurker here I'm afraid.. Haven't updated the blog in a while, we've done quite a bit since that last update!

lisal0u

littlerose12345 wrote: »

:embarasse Rizzo Renovations is me.. bit of a lurker here I'm afraid.. Haven't updated the blog in a while, we've done quite a bit since that last update!

Ta very much! I hope you dont mind me posting the link (say if you do and Ill take it off!)

I keep and eye on all the blogs cos I love watching the progress! Ill look forward to an update soon

TomsMom

lisal0u wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

TomsMom - Im so glad TD is doing well! Im still crossing everything! Made it difficult to do DIY this weekend

:rotfl:

It must be the week for it this week, Stuarts Dad had a major op and is in hospital but is doing well, my gran is in after having a minor stroke (she is much better today though as she's asking for M&S cake ha ha!) and my grandad is in with an infection in his pancreas! Im hoping thats it for this year!

Hope everyone makes a good recovery.

He's been very busy and got all the skirting cut to length, just got to stick it down now. Does anyone know of anything that makes it easier to keep the skirting pressed to the wall while it sticks other then my feet?!

Builders used long pieces of other skirting board wedged against opposite wall. When OH did a small piece he used boxes full of tiles, so anything heavy pushed against the skirting board at intervals should hold it in place. I've seen on DIY shows that when skirting is glued on they nail gun a few nails every so often to hold it in place until glue dries, but they you'd have to fill in the little nail holes.

Heres my list of blogs for the new people that have joined the thread recently:

http://bungalow-diy.blogspot.com/ (andrew-b)
http://housetart.blogspot.com
http://libertycottage.blogspot.com/ (jamtart6)
http://olwaysmoanin.blogspot.com/ Jo and Radi
http://diybungalow.blogspot.com
http://rizzo-renovations.blogspot.com/
http://seatonroad.blogspot.com (jimbugalee)
http://spice-villa.blogspot.com/ (Spicey)
http://the2yearproject.blogspot.com/ (latecomer)
http://thehouserenovationinsurrey.blogspot.com/ Sam (Helping Hubby I think)http://westbroke.blogspot.com/ (TomsMom)
http://stuartandlisashouse.blogspot.com/ (Me)

Great list. Filled in a couple, not always sure of forum name though .

Here's another one: http://thehouseofdoom.wordpress.com/ (Beth, who's since got married and looking at baby forums now :rotfl: , crikey, I'd better have remembered that right!)
http://web.me.com/shimmyhill/House/Bungalow_Project/Bungalow_Project.html (Shimmyhill)

latecomer

jimbugalee wrote: »

do we just get a multi fuel stove in the lounge instead? We wanted one anyway and this would heat the lounge and kitchen (connected) just not my new office for which we would have to install a radiator. I'm thinking the stove itself would be about £600? then another £400plus for the work to be carried out on the chimney (lining, new chimney pot etc). TomsMom did you do this? Any ideas on cost ...?

We had one installed a few months ago and we love it. We have had some teething trouble with fumes but it seems that we simply weren't running it hot enough for long enough. We had a 4.5kW Morso installed. The stove itself with all the extras required was around £700 from a local shop. The flu liner was around £500 for us (5m in length). The fitting was around £700 inc vat and the slate hearth was another £300 or so I think. I'm sure the total bill was around £2500 including getting the chimney swept and inspected.

Hope that helps but if you have any questions just let me know.

lisal0u

Ooo thanks very much! I was trying to find Beths blog! Ill add them to the list! Im going to save them all in word then I wont lose them again! My favourites tend to dissapear every now and again!

Thanks for the advice on the skirting too! Using the other bits of skirting is a good idea, Im sure Ive also got plenty of heavy things kicking around too!

jimbugalee

Thanks latecomer really useful. I think we've found a stove we like, coming in around £600 ... again it's 4.5kw.

The only bit which surprises me is the flu liner cost which is more than I thought. We have a fireplace company nr us so I think we'll get them out to have a look and quote. We'll leave the hearth until the room is decorated.

We may come back to you with more questions once we've investigated!! Do you have a radiator in that room at all or just the stove?

Shimmyhill

Howdy folks !

Run into a brick wall of late with this DIY lark, had a 4 week training course at work and while it has been fantastic it totally drained all my energies !!

Now that is all over and i have 2 weeks off from weds i need to kick start it all (and even update my blog )The problem is that all this time without DIY has given me too much thinking time, the water tank in 3rd bedroom still bothers me (yes the one we just built a cupboard around, also the one that gave me the injury) and in the meantime i have now the funds to actually pay for some trades to do the stuff i can not do - electrics and heating.

Going for a combi will remove the cupboard and give my daughter a bigger room, it will also create havoc in the kitchen (tiles that were just put up would have to come down etc) and its not very MSE replacing a boiler that works !

What to do, what to do - im off to work it all out !

jamtart6

http://libertycottage.blogspot.com/ my blog but it has a mixture of crafts, house, diy and waffle