First-time house renovation

stolt

jimbugalee wrote: »

Decking looks fab! Ican't wait to get some in our garden in the summer.

thanks, no cant wait to get out there properly and start to do a few things its a a complete mudbath now the rain has started so will have to leave it awhile.

Shimmyhill

Morning all !

We are currently chasing out for new sockets and having a rewire/consumer unit when this is done. I bought a Makita SDS drill and it is amazing, i can not get over how much better it is than a normal hammer drill !! Any drilling into the walls here has been a nightmare, we have broken drill bits, worn down loads and even the extreme masonry bits do not last long !! The SDS goes into the wall like a hot knife through butter, i can not recommend one highly enough if you have brick internal walls !!!

The one thing the SDS does do bad is make more dust (i presume as we are drilling more before chopping out) to this end i am thinking of getting a wall chaser as you can attach a hoover to them to cut down on the dust - has anyone any experience of the cheaper (£100) chasers ?

jimbugalee

We have a DeWalt SDS drill - it comes out when we're drilling the heavy stuff!

Sorry can't help on the chaser as my boyfriend doesn't understand the concept of clearing up as he goes along and we always clear the dust up afterwards GRRRRRRRRR

Elvis_Fan

I sympathise. We have just bought our first house, after living in rented or tied accommodation for the last 22years and, although we don't have to do as much as you, we need a complete re-wire, new water/heating, bathroom and kitchen.

We are using D+K Diy manual but liked the Collins book as well.

My sister went through the same process as you and recommends opening a trade account with your local building suppliers. I have also heard of people who have set up their own business for the duration of their renovation (esp if likely to go on for a long period) to reduce the VAT burden!

Good luck I will follow your blog!

jamtart6

Looks amazing stolt! It looks very "The Home Show" style, very posh indeed! I love it!
Can I ask where you got this piece of awesomeness? Is it a book shelf? I love it!!!!!

suisidevw

Afternoon all!

Our tile grout arrived this morning, only ordered it yesterday afternoon, excellent service by Horncastle Tiles!

stolt

jamtart6 wrote: »

Looks amazing stolt! It looks very "The Home Show" style, very posh indeed! I love it!
Can I ask where you got this piece of awesomeness? Is it a book shelf? I love it!!!!!

thankyou, i'll let the missus know. She will be happy you said that. If i remember correctly it was from here;

http://pinkappledesigns.co.uk/ron-arad-/accessories/bookworm-short-shelf---7-bookends.158.htm

will check with the missus when i get home, but if i remember correctly it was one of the cheaper places online that i found (you can bend it into any shape you want!)

suisidevw

Very interesting design. This may show my nievity but what's the use/point of the decking? To sit on or just as a step down to the grass?

suisidevw

TM, I assume no snow came your way then? I did indeed leave work early about 3pm and snowboarded for an hour and a half, absolutely brilliant, foot deep powder on the local hills! I'll never take for granted again a chair lift!

stolt

suisidevw wrote: »

Very interesting design. This may show my nievity but what's the use/point of the decking? To sit on or just as a step down to the grass?

Hi, no use really other than to make it look a bit more pleasing to the eye than having nothing there, did think about having the grass level with the interior floor but gave up that idea. Its to make it look like its sitting on an island. There wil be alittle more decking coming out where the kitchen windows are but got to knock them out to fit some bi fold doors sometime in the future. Luckly the decking isn't wood so doesn't require any mantenience.