First-time house renovation

ginvzt

Got the EPC - the value of 1! I think it is the worst EPC I have seen (not in the value, but in the report itself). For example, it doesn't suggest to improve the heating system (it only 2 fireplaces that heat the house). Says no loft insulation assumed, but doesn't suggest to add it to reduce the heat loss. But does suggest to add the wall insulation externally (no way, not on that house) or internally to 50mm.

Anyway, my OH found a builder who offered to come with us to next viewing to tell us what he thinks. He is working as a builder for commercial places, so wouldn't be doing the work on this house if we went for it, but is willing to give us his time and opinion. At least he will be able to tell us which walls we can knock down and which ones we can't! Will be trying to arrange a viewing for sometime next week.

andrew-b

So the EPC is pretty meaningless like i said . No loft insulation assumed..which means they didn't even bother to put their head up through the loft hatch! So how can we trust anything else they say! To even suggest to put insulation on that place externally just shows what muppets are doing these reports - who in their right mind would do that to that house as would totally ruin the facade of it - nothing short of sacrilege! To add it internally would take many years for you to recoup the costs in reduced fuel bill..it's not just boarding out as you'd have to have all the architraves, skirtings etc replaced and fittings all moved. All this just so the government feel a bit better in reducing Co2 emissions! Then again i suppose if you've got to gut the place, rewire, and plumb for heating all the cables/pipes could be easily tucked into the internal cladding for a neater job so no channelling out of solid stone walls involved so you'd make savings elsewhere. And you can argue now is the time to do it rather than later on when you'd be all settled.

Well shed install day is here for me so looking forward to finally getting a usable shed! First job once it's in will be to put a rimlock and knob on the door and window locks on, then the socket and lighting needs to go in and needs to be hooked upto the supply. Intending to get a fluorescent strip light in there so need to figure out how to attach it to the roof structure - suspect it's going to involve additional timbers though. Once that's done then i can plan building my workbench and get some shelves and start cluttering it up.. want to start out as i mean to go on as organised chaos!

John_Pierpoint

http://manual.knaufdrywall.co.uk/knauf-systems/page_667/page_697/page_698.html

I would bet that un-insulated solid walls will become a mill-stone for their owners within 10 years.

There are solutions, external being more expensive than internal, - but both are very difficult to justify financially unless part of a total refurbishment. Internal is obviously something of a challenge to organise when a home is in use with sockets & radiators on the external walls.

Beware rendered solid walls - the local authority has the power to force you to upgrade them thermally; if you want/need to re-render.

littlerose12345

Hope everyone's DIY is going well.

We've had a few issues with the kitchen supplier, namely not supplying what we agreed. Very frustrating. We had our worktop templated and it gets fitted next week, can't wait!

Kitchen is being painted this weekend, and skirting boards fitted. Also haveing house measured for carpets, and picking colours, very excited the end is in sight!!

latecomer

Hope everyone had a productive weekend.

I've done nothing at all - back was feeling better and then on tbursday after mopping the floors after the plastering was done my back slowly got worse and its not recovered yet. Builders are getting on ok but the roofer they were going to use has fallen off a roof and although he's not seriously hurt he's unable to work so they have been trying to get someone else to take on the job asap.

We had the big slapout done but had to change plans slightly as it ends just inside a cupboard rather than just before it so there was more work in building a blockwork support pier for the lintels than was expected. Also the pipework for upstairs runs up on that side of the cupboard so the lintels cant go in until they have been moved to the other side. Also means we are going to lose our cupboard which is a shame as the house is lacking in storage as it is as I was hoping to keep that one.

We spent the weekend looking at nursery furniture and prams - had no idea how much these things cost. :eek:
Going to have a look on freecycle etc to see whats available.

latecomer

littlerose12345 wrote: »

We've had a few issues with the kitchen supplier, namely not supplying what we agreed. Very frustrating. We had our worktop templated and it gets fitted next week, can't wait!

Who did you order the kitchen from?
Are you having a granite/composite worktop?

littlerose12345

latecomer wrote: »

Who did you order the kitchen from?
Are you having a granite/composite worktop?

Hi Latecomer

We went with a local company in the end. More hassle than they're worth I tell you.

We've gone for Silestone which is a quartz type worktop. It's being fitted on Thursday, can't wait!!!

latecomer

We need to check up on granite again as its been about 6 months since we decided what we wanted and who we were going to go with. Have to check current availablility and prices of course!

jimbugalee

Hey all,
Hope you're all getting on ok. We finally have our little puppy called Chester. He is taking up a lot of our time but we're slowly progressing with the office. Can't wait to get in there!

latecomer

Where are the pics?