First-time house renovation

latecomer

We are in Edinburgh so I doubt he would be itnerested

As it happens I've just had an email from the architect saying she's really busy for the next couple of weeks but has put me in touch with her husband who is also an architect. The company website suggests they specialise in rural and agricultural work but maybe its not a busy time for them at the moment.

About the plasterboard, if you are having a plasterer in I would phone them and ask what they want to do. They may want to do everything themselves or if not will be able to advise on what to do. We used joint filler and tape between the boards and just the filler round the edges. Hopefully the final filler will go up tonight but we'll need to see how it looks. If I make a bad job then its getting skimmed, otherwise we are just going to paint it.

KT1985

I plastered nearly a whole room yesterday! Will post a pic when I have taken one, lol, but pleased with it. the secret (or a secret) is getting the plaster the right consistency, then it goes on a treat.

Didn't get the job but I was in the top 2, and they interviewed 15 people. Hopefully, this means that if I keep applying for similar posts, I might eventually get somewhere because all of the people better than me will get jobs

Really not feeling well, feel foggy today hubbys cold must have caught up with me...

latecomer

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job beingin the top 2 is very promising. Although you could alwaysd consider a change of career to a plasterer

I've managed to avoid both my OHs cold and the MILs bug too. Makes a nice change

Shimmyhill

Bad luck on the job KT1985 my sis had an interview today and i only changed jobs in Jan so i understand what a stressful time it is, madness that we all are doing houses up too ehh !!!

Today the radiators were plumbed into the loop, going round checking for leeks every 25 secs Now the big bonus is the main bedroom, always knew the rad was in the wrong place but have been stunned at what a difference it has made being in the bay - the room is warm for the first time since we moved in (north facing) No sleep tonight while i worry about the compression joints - for some reason i dont like them, totally irrational i know and after the first 300 checks that are all dry as a bone !!!

helping_hubby

Hi everyone,

I'm bored of DIY so been planning my front garden. I want to have the bin and recycle bins out the front, but want them screened.

The space where I want them is 105cm wide, but the more affordable willow screening are larger. Or too small to fit all the bins.

eg:
http://www.selections.com/GF1985/willow-wheelie-bin-screen-double/?utm_source=shopzilla

I wonder if I could make my own screen, but it's on concrete, so can't put posts up or anything. Anyone got any ideas?

Near future plans are hiring a skip next week for Easter weekend to do the front garden - I forgot how expensive they are and hopefully laying the back garden lawn before the end of this month.

@KT - sorry about your job interview.

@jamtart - I don't know if it's sound advice, but a plasterer we spoke to said that you put scrim (like a mesh tape) over the joints before skimming. This is supposed to stop the joints from showing through.

jamtart6

Could you fix some long poles to the wall and then attach the willow stuff to it somehow ? like by tying it on with some other natural material, then making a gate for the front to get the bins in and out?

thanks for the info on the plastering all! Will speak to the plasterer, he was throwing the bathroom plastering in for free anyway so he won't mind sorting it out

Just seen another post about needing planning permission for putting flags down? does anyone know about this?? we intend to lay less than 16sq. meters of flags in the front garden this weekend! (although OH has decided he may now want to relay the whole front garden and level it as it is very lumpy !!!)

andrew-b

grrr...now i'm gutted....just noticed an email in my inbox from Homebase saying they have 15% off everything today and tomorrow. Could have saved about £20 if we'd delayed buying the tiles! Still got to get some large scale mosaic tiles for the vanity unit so getting them today. Shame we haven't decided on the paint colour yet as we could have got that too.

Andy

helping_hubby

Thanks Jamtart - I don't know why but I had it in my head that the opening bit should be at the side, not the front. In that case, I reckon I could get the one that's too big and chop it down a bit. I'll think about it some more. Also need to think about some fencing for the veggie patch - wanted picket fencing, but it's too much money so, now I'm think chicken wire and wooden stakes. It's to keep the rabbits out cos they are a pain in the bum - They keep digging the soil to get in my compost bin, not to mention eating all the leaves off my veggies. To be fair, I grow most of the veggies for them, but it'd make sense to let them grow bigger, then they'd get to eat more!

TomsMom

KT - sorry you didn't get the job, but fantastic that you got to the final two.

We've got six days to go before we have to move and it's manic at the moment.

Decorator is getting on at a pace, he's not a lot of fun (nor is his helper) but it means they're getting on with the job. Seems strange that the house is so quiet, the builders were always buzzing, lots of great energy from them and the radio always on.

OH has put all the kitchen unit doors on now, just one drawer is being a bit stubborn so that needs sorting. He's busy using Nitromors on the skirtings down the stairs, they're a right mess with layers of old paint so he's trying to get all that off before the decorator starts on the staircase.

I'm busy cleaning up UPVC frames and windows and trying to de-sand the windows so they open easily without the scraping sound from years of clogged up dirt and snad.

True to form, the carpet we so carefully chose for the hall/stairs/landing has been discontinued :rolleyes: so we need to find a substitute.

The vinyl fitters came back a couple of days ago to look at the lumps underneath. First thing they said was "That's screws". Well, that's funny because the floor wasn't screwed, it was pressure nailed. They said they vacuumed before they laid it. It seems as though it's probably bits of plaster debris that didn't scrape up. They said they can't lift the lino now as it was fitted before the wall tiles went up and sealed at floor level with silicone, plus they used spray adhesive, and what did we want to do. OH said ideally sanitary ware lifted and vinyl relaid. No can do as it would ruin the vinyl. OH said he would settle for not having to pay anything for it. They're going to put it to the boss when he comes back next week. I think that's the best compromise as it's a room that wont get constant use like the main bathroom, so fingers crossed the boss will agree.

I'll come back and catch up when I can, don't think I've abandoned you all. We're working day and night at the moment at the house so not much time for the computer, crickey my back is complaining and muscles that don't normally get this much use are too :rotfl: .

Canucklehead

lisal0u wrote: »

Hi Everyone!



Canucklehead - We bought a towel radiator that said the output was 1500 BTU's for our bathroom that is 1.8 x 1.8m. When the plumber installed it he said it would definately not output 1500. He explained that towel radiators are not regulated like radiators so they can put whatever ratings they like.

Good afternoon: As I said here this hasn't been a problem for the OH.

Canucklehead