First-time house renovation

PurpleK8

Ooh K8, what's the fabric shop in Oswestry then please, if I can get the post code too I can put it in the satnav.

just looked at the last bag i've had from there, no postcode on it sorry. its called textile express though, their numbers 01691 670277 and they have parking to the side. its really easy to find as oswestrys so small, 42 church street, next to the church/across from the wynnstay hotel - it looks really small from outside but is like a rabbit warren inside and you just never know what offers they're going to have (I just hope your not disappointed:o )

how much tiling have you done? I thought it sounds like you've done loads but I suppose with the kitchen etc it soon mounts up. I'm still traumatised after finishing my kitchen floor, I decided it would be a good idea to use reclaimed local tiles circa 1900 (about the same as the house). It took me months between cleaning them and laying them in a herringbone pattern :eek:. I love the fact it does look original but it was horrific to do and I've still got to do the utility room and downstairs shower room once we've dug the floors up:eek: :eek: :eek:

TomsMom

PurpleK8 wrote: »

just looked at the last bag i've had from there, no postcode on it sorry. its called textile express though, their numbers 01691 670277 and they have parking to the side. its really easy to find as oswestrys so small, 42 church street, next to the church/across from the wynnstay hotel - it looks really small from outside but is like a rabbit warren inside and you just never know what offers they're going to have (I just hope your not disappointed:o )

Thanks very much K8. We'll have no problem finding that as we've been to Oswestry before.

how much tiling have you done? I thought it sounds like you've done loads but I suppose with the kitchen etc it soon mounts up.

So far we've had the utility floor and the downstairs WC tiled. The tiles for the walls for both of those rooms are waiting until the builders have finished (our son is tiling those and we're waiting for him to fit us in).

The 34 sq metres from Wickes is for the main bathroom which again our son is tiling, hopefully around end of March.

The 16 sq metres that Wickes keeps c*cking up on are desperately needed as these are for the en-suite which the builders are waiting to fit out now, shower etc. arrived today. These are the only tiles the builders are fixing as they're needed so urgently.

Kitchen :eek: . I'd forgotten that. Kitchen and appliances are ordered but I've not thought about wall tiles for there yet. We're not having ceramic floor tiles in there so must look for an alternative. There's a flooring place on the way from Wrexham to Queensferry, on the way to the big Asda, might have a look tomorrow if we've got time.

I'm still traumatised after finishing my kitchen floor, I decided it would be a good idea to use reclaimed local tiles circa 1900 (about the same as the house). It took me months between cleaning them and laying them in a herringbone pattern :eek:. I love the fact it does look original but it was horrific to do

I bet that looks fantastic. I love to see features of a period retained or restored. Hope to see some pictures of that soon

PurpleK8

our son is tiling those and we're waiting for him to fit us in

I so wish I'd trained our children better!

I bet that looks fantastic. I love to see features of a period retained or restored. Hope to see some pictures of that soon

thats an area that the kids are well trained in, I'll ask one of them to sort them out for me (but don't hold your breath, it'll have to fit in around their social lives!:rolleyes: )

latecomer

Well I had some fun last night. I decided I was going to open up the fireplace to see exactly what size of opening we have. Was having a great time until I failed to find a lintel. I did find some bricks which appear should be an arch but are not supporting any weight. I found this out as the keystone of the arch just fell back in towards the chimney as soon as it was touched. :eek:

Now I know there must be something holding up the wall but as I cant find it I've decided I'm going to leave it for the people who will be putting in the stove to sort out. Its not worth risking structural damage (unlikely I know but...) just to save a few quid.

Besides the opening is high enough for us at the moment so a lintel could be installed and then its just a case of making good all the plaster around the front and top where I hacked it all out

We should be getting a visit from the people who installed the in-law's one this week for a quote.

Shimmyhill

latecomer wrote: »

Well I had some fun last night. I decided I was going to open up the fireplace to see exactly what size of opening we have. Was having a great time until I failed to find a lintel. I did find some bricks which appear should be an arch but are not supporting any weight. I found this out as the keystone of the arch just fell back in towards the chimney as soon as it was touched. :eek:

Now I know there must be something holding up the wall but as I cant find it I've decided I'm going to leave it for the people who will be putting in the stove to sort out. Its not worth risking structural damage (unlikely I know but...) just to save a few quid.

Besides the opening is high enough for us at the moment so a lintel could be installed and then its just a case of making good all the plaster around the front and top where I hacked it all out

We should be getting a visit from the people who installed the in-law's one this week for a quote.

Do you have an idea of how much the installation will cost ?

Thinking that a log burner should go were my gas fire is but dreading the cost !

latecomer

the last quote we had I think was around £1000 for the hardware (stove and associated bits) and around £700 for fitting plus £500-600 extra if we needed the chimney lined. I can check when I get home and let you know. We are having another quote hopefully this week and I can give details of that too if you want.

TomsMom

Oh Andy, poor you (I was going to put the group hug smiley but it looks a tad rude!). Sending you a hug and hope you feel better soon. Don't overdo it and make yourself ill.

By the way, Arnica is good for bruises - cream to rub on or the little tablets. Makes a big difference.

Wickedkitten

Shimmyhill wrote: »

Do you have an idea of how much the installation will cost ?

Thinking that a log burner should go were my gas fire is but dreading the cost !

Shimmy, Shimmy, Shimmy.

Check this thread out

http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=167358

Spicey

Andy- that must have really hurt. Take care.

Only 3 days to go and we will own the bungalow. I rushed out to b&q today to get loft insulation as they had a really good deal on. 2 car loads and thrown I mean stored in the garage. Going to start looking for bathrooms as from tomorrow as that is our first job. Got the photos ready so DD2 can do blog for me.:j

TomsMom

Spicey wrote: »

Only 3 days to go and we will own the bungalow.

Oooh, you must be so excited. Hope all goes smoothly on the day.

Got the photos ready so DD2 can do blog for me.

Looking forward to that. Come on DD2 .