First-time house renovation

jamtart6

PurpleK8 wrote: »

that sound like a nicer number! I think we'll probably paint the spindles so as long as the handrail is nice oak (to leave unpainted) the pine would be fine.... I think I'm going into shock - I may have just made a snap decision, I normally have to think things over for at least 6 months before deciding!:D

you sound like me! all snap descisions I make always end up disasterous so it is always best to spend the 6months deciding! We are getting new spindles too, I've picked them in my head but was hoping to paint them white with an eggshell finish hope it doesn't look naff im not very good at this designing malarkey!

latecomer

@TomsMum - its looking great, what a difference to what you started with. Hope you are not going to disappear once its finished?

I've got to be one of the worst when it comes to decision making, I'm useless. OH isn't a huge amount better so it does sometimes take us a long time to decide - e.g. our bathroom tiles!

We've had a bit of a result - dont think I mentioned it but the architect has been given an untimatum and has promised plans by monday. OH told told him that if we dont then we will be using someone else which he wasn't happy about but then its been almost exactly 6 months since we last saw him.

I think we may also have resolved the skirting boards. I've spoken to the manager this morning and he says he wasn't making progress with any alternative suppliers and hence has resolved the standoff with the original supplier. He has recieved the 4 replacement boards and is delivering all 14 to us on saturday. He's asked us to figure out what we can use and then let him know how many more lengths we need and they will be supplied free of charge. So between the replacement boards and the additional ones we should be able to get enough to do all the skirting. We hope!

I've also ordered some plasterboard, plywood and a length joist material to be delivered at the same time as the skirting boards. plan for the weekend is to try and get the ceiling up and taped. If that goes well then I might take the bath out and try and get the joist replaced. Trouble is that this will require taking up at least some of the floor and I might be better to do the floor at the same time.

TomsMom

latecomer wrote: »

@TomsMum - its looking great, what a difference to what you started with. Hope you are not going to disappear once its finished?

No chance! Just try and keep me away. Anyway, as you all know, I'm "interested" .

:T re the skirting boards. About time they sorted it out. And your architect should be ashamed - 6 months since you last saw him is dreadful.

latecomer

Glad to hear it, wouldn't be the same without you!

Yup I'm hoping the 4 replacement boards will be good quality and then we can get another 2-3 boards which should give us enough to get everything done.

Re: the architect - he was meant to be doing it in his own time and hence we didn't want to push him too much but it had got to the point where he needed come up with some plans.

Shimmyhill

I have been on hols this week, not done much that shows but have unblocked the bathroom sink waste pipework (after replacing the trap and waste that didnt solve it but at least they are clean) All i can say is YUK, i borrowed some weird tool my dad has that you feed up the pipe and spin around - i can see why the vinegar and bicarb didnt work as it would not have stood a chance against what was in there !!!!

I also ordered 2 new radiators, one that we are moving as it is in the wrong place and totally underpowered for the room size and the other to match in the front room (Wickes first order 15% off so a decent saving and worth getting both !) Have also ordered the pipe, joints, cutter tool and dad got another blow torch - wish us luck !!!! Dad has done plumbing before but i have not (like all the tasks i have taken on really ) so a learning curve for me - hopefully not a wet one !!!!

Next job is to clear the loft out in prep for the radiator moving, will also be ready to put the insulation down - not looking forward to the loft clearout as there is alsorts of rubbish and wildlife in there !!!

jamtart6

Good luck shimmy - are you going to be putting all of the heating in?

latecomer - your post reminded me to e-mail our architect and ask him if he has submitted our plans, thank you! He submitted them last week..no word off the council just yet.

We got a quote from the plumber, with us taking all the system out and him to replace the pipes and the boiler (no rads) is £2300 which I think is quite reasonable? based on other quotes for other things.

latecomer

I quite enjoy plumbing but only use compression joints. I keep thinking about trying speedfit and soldered joints but for the amount I do its not worth it. I'm planning on replacing all the microbore pipe in our house with 15mm at some point in the near future to increase the flow of water to the radiators.

When we finally do our upstairs I might try plastic....

Shimmyhill

We are just moving 2 or 3 rads and replacing one other.

I am not so keen on compression, i guess it is fine when you use a new olive but we have a leaky stopcock that is a PITA to replace - have done so on the original olives and the compression joints seep !! Will try some PTFE tape if not i guess an olive removing tool is in order !

Soldering is straightforward it would seem, dad uses the pre-soldered bits so thats what i ordered. I don't trust the push fittings or plastic pipes - don't know why as i have no experience of them !!!!!!!

jamtart6

latecomer wrote: »

I quite enjoy plumbing but only use compression joints. I keep thinking about trying speedfit and soldered joints but for the amount I do its not worth it. I'm planning on replacing all the microbore pipe in our house with 15mm at some point in the near future to increase the flow of water to the radiators.

When we finally do our upstairs I might try plastic....

Do you want another job latecomer? :rotfl: Thats what we are going to do, replace the microbore. I'm not convinced on plastic piping as it hasn't been around long enough to be roadworthy IMHO ETA: says the woman who has never plumbed in her life!

latecomer

jamtart6 wrote: »

Do you want another job latecomer? :rotfl: Thats what we are going to do, replace the microbore. I'm not convinced on plastic piping as it hasn't been around long enough to be roadworthy IMHO ETA: says the woman who has never plumbed in her life!

Absolutely - I'll be round as soon as I've finished our house.........you're not in a hurry are you?

I got a job lot of copper pipe from B&Q which was on offer when I needed just one length so I ended up with 10 (30m in total!) and thats partly responsible for me deciding to do it. I'm actually just about to order the compression fittings for doing it although I'll probably not do it for a few months.