First-time house renovation

latecomer

We got a cheap and cheerful one from Argos last year which is fine apart from the fact it doesn't leave much behind but then I cant really blame it for the lack of grass to leave

All our scaffodling is now gone but the porta-loo remains as they couldn't get access due to the skip...... which probably true. The person who collected also didn't pick up their ladders but they have figured that out. Shame as fancied the heavy set

they had yet again said they will complete the boiler work for free if we grant them access - they must be really concerned about Gas Safe finding out. Another builder coming out tonight after he kept me on the phone for nearly an hour last night while I was trying to leave work. Got to say he's seriously annoying and continually went on about the fact that the job couldn't be done for less than he quoted with a decent squad on it etc. I'm going to make it clear that if he wants to be considered for the job he needs to only talk about what needs to be done to get it finished. Final lot are coming tomorrow. so we should hopefully be in a position to choose at the weekend.

We also had a roofer out who was recommended by the architect who lives across the road and he's got some serious concerns about the flat roof. he's going to come back on saturday to go over it with us and hopefully quote for the work too.

Also finally decided to buy new fridge freezer as we seem to be continually at the shops to buy stuff for tea so we've just ordered the fridge thats to go into the new kitchen and will just relocate it when the kitchen is ready. Its to be delivered on saturday so I'm planning spending at least half of sunday cooking to get some food back into the freezer

latecomer

Stolt - quick question about your artificial turf

Is it like astroturf which is very abrasive? I'm presuming not as that wouldn't be great for kids. Maybe I should read the link you posted a while back.......

jimbugalee

Sounds like you are getting somewhere latecomer

I freeze a lot of our food because I find it goes off so quickly and we make a big trip to Costco every so often to stock up on meat etc.

I had some good news in that I can claim back £3 a week since I started working at home in 2008 - it should amount to about £150 a year. They will also adjust my tax code from now on. Might pay towards some doggy stuff!

latecomer

We really like having good home cooked food in the freezer which just gets taken out in the morning. Also would normally have some meat, chicken & fish for cooking once defrosted. Freezer has been playing up for a while and as OH is pregnant we didn't think it was worth risking anything thats in there in case its been partially defrosted.

biggest problem with the building work is choosing someone and then finding money to pay for it.
But as OH keeps saying - we've been lucky in other ways this year and money isn't everything

stolt

jimbugalee wrote: »

Might pay towards some doggy stuff!

i read that as '' might pay towards some dodgy stuff, i thought this thread has it all- doggies, babies, gardens, houses and now drugs... perhaps combine the two, gardens + drugs!

stolt

latecomer wrote: »

Stolt - quick question about your artificial turf

Is it like astroturf which is very abrasive? I'm presuming not as that wouldn't be great for kids. Maybe I should read the link you posted a while back.......

Its like astroturf and i would imagine the shorter pile grasses are very abrusive when you fall over, its definatley softer than the one we had in the previous house although i think if it was a decent fall it would hurt.

jimbugalee

stolt wrote: »

i read that as '' might pay towards some dodgy stuff, i thought this thread has it all- doggies, babies, gardens, houses and now drugs... perhaps combine the two, gardens + drugs!

oh dear .... I'm a wally! My spelling is usually so good as well, must've been in a rush!!

stolt

jimbugalee wrote: »

oh dear .... I'm a wally! My spelling is usually so good as well, must've been in a rush!!

no no you didnt put it, its my poor eyesight, its just the way i read it lol:rotfl:

andrew-b

Well i've finally ordered shed though we'll have to wait a few weeks for it. £539 for 9x9 shed with 16mm cladding plus £25 delivery and £90 install - as opposed to £609 + £160 installation if had ordered online.

Last couple of days i've been busy breaking up more concrete (another 20sq. ft) which will be a flowerbed alongside the shed. Also sieved all the rubble piles to backfill the removed concrete which took all of yesterday afternoon. Still undecided what to do with the new flowerbed..whether to have pea gravel, other aggregates or bark or just soil. Considering taking advantage of homebase offers this weekend and ordering online with delivery though.

Few pictures..

Flowerbed creation in progress..


The "manual adjustment" tools..


Completed flowerbed creation..and painted fences in corner

latecomer

Looking great Andy. what are you using to break up the concrete? Are you doing it by hand? I'm starting to think about creating a path round the side of the house with a retaining wall at the side and breaking up some of the reinforced concrete slabs (they are in pretty poor condition) to use as a base. Not sure my back would be up to swinging a sledge hammer long enough to do the job. I'm starting to wish I'd kept some of the bricks out the skip which one of the builders suggested I could use as a base for a path.