First-time house renovation

suisidevw

Posted as posted too! DId your partner fit it on sand/cemenet in the end JIm?

keith969

suisidevw wrote: »

Really happy with the granite we have got but maybe I'd have gone for the slate again, oh well, it was only £100!

The only thing that you have to watch about slate is that it does scratch, its not as hard as granite. In the last house we had a slate hearth and you had to be careful with the coal bucket and tongs etc. But it does look nice.

jimbugalee

suisidevw wrote: »

Posted as posted too! DId your partner fit it on sand/cemenet in the end JIm?

Yes, he put it on about an inch of sand/cement with some mortar setting stuff to make sure it was solid for this morning. We didn't have a lot of time to think about what we wanted to just went for the slate. It was fairly expensive but I think we wil also get a slate floor in the kitchen which is opposite which will all set it off.

No idea about lounge colours really. We're still finishing off the bathroom and have zero money now we've just had all windows and doors done and fireplace. I think to start we'll get a new wooden floor, something a mid/dark colour as it's a main walkway to come into house and get into kitchen. I think then something fairly pale on the walls. Maybe an eggshell/brown/creme scheme but I'm really undecided. I think it will be difficult as you want to get it right!

jimbugalee

keith969 wrote: »

The only thing that you have to watch about slate is that it does scratch, its not as hard as granite. In the last house we had a slate hearth and you had to be careful with the coal bucket and tongs etc. But it does look nice.

Very good point especially as ours is smooth (you might not notice the odd scratch in the riven effect). I think we'll get a couple of wood holder things to go either side which will look better than the plastic bags they're in now. I reckon I've put about 8 logs on already!

suisidevw

Great, yer, the plasticiser stuff so it sets quickly, well it looks great! I rave about eggshell all day long so encourage that! Did you buy wood from a supermarket/petrol station then? Need to find a supply quick, have to wait a week to fire it up now as did some final back filling last night

jimbugalee

We got the logs from a relative who had loads where he was working but not sure where we're going to get them from on a permenant basis. We can burn coal too if we can't find any logs

suisidevw

Yes, we have that option too! Hope your house is warming up now!

latecomer

We got some kindling from the garage and found the whole bag to be damp and mouldy. One and only time we've done it! I'm currently taking the axe to our old flooboards which make great kindling but once thats gone I'll be doing the same with the seasoned wood to get some of the right size.

Edit: Also just read about the new boiler scrappage scheme - on the same say ours is being decommisioned! Bleeding typical! Wonder if I can keep the old one and then get a rebate when the scheme comes into effect and split the proceeds with teh builder?

keith969

Yes, the stuff they sell at garages is rubbish and expensive too. See if there's a local joinery or timber merchant that might give you scrap wood. Another good source is old wood palletts, some places will give them to you if you take them away.

ukmaggie45

Hi there Ritani, welcome to the thread! :beer:

ritani wrote: »

Hi.
I have only just discovered this thread in my search for slate hearths and what a great thread it is!

I'm not quite officially a member yet as we complete on our doer upper on Friday.

Just wanted to say hello and welcome.

Maggie