My House Renovation!

lisal0u

Hello to all you lovely MSEers,

I'd like to thank BB1984 for such a fab idea of creating a blog about renovating a house and hope that they don't mind if I pinch their idea!

We bought our house on the 23rd July and it needed to be completely gutted. Its been a bit slow going but we are finally starting to make progress. I have used this board no end for useful hints and tips and I'd like to thank you all!

To give something back I would like to post my blog of where we have got to so far! If there is anything you would like to know about costs and how we did things please ask and I will be more than happy to help!

If you would like a look my blog is here: http://stuartandlisashouse.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for all the helpful advice!
Lisa

BB1984

Your blog looks great - I have signed up as a "follower"! Haven't read it all yet as it's huge, but have bookmarked it for later. I love being nosy at other peoples' houses!

BB

lisal0u

Hiya,

Thanks for having a look! Your house looks amazing and I can't wait for ours to get to the stage you are at! I love being nosy too, I love keeping up to date with what you have been doing! Its also good inspiration!

Got a busy week ahead of me this week because I have the plasterers booked in again for the weekend so I have to make sure everything is ready for them!

You should write to Ideal Home Magazine when you have finished and get a feature in there!

Lisa x

trogg

Have put a shortcut on my desktop,

The best bits I like is when things go wrong or not to plan, not because i'm sick or anything,but because i think this is where we/I learn the most, (about to do a large project myself) might even do a blog myself

Keep up the good work, and good luck.

lisal0u

Ha ha ha yeah I know what you mean! There have been a few things gone wrong but nothing too major! I think because we have completely stripped the house we uncovered most of the 'surprises' early on! The wiring was very surprising! Some of the sockets were somehow wired through the lighting circuit. Twice my Dad nearly got electrocuted! At least the trip switches worked! The previous electricians (Part P registered ones too!) had used the outside gas pipe to earth the house. I'm sure that this is not part of the regulations so we are having to bury a proper earthing rod!

We've had a few issues with the builders taking forever to do anything too. Probably my own fault for not getting a finish date in writing. I think they have been fitting our house in between bigger jobs and that's why they were quite cheap! Lesson learned there! They have done a good job though, I can't complain at that!

I'm hoping nothing else gets in the way because I'm desperate to get it finished! Virgin are coming at the end of Feb so that a bit of a deadline. I think it might be a bit hopeful though!

Writing a blog is such a good idea, it took me all weekend to catch up with mine but its useful to know how long its taken us so far! Trogg definitely do a blog then I can have a nose too!

Lisa

andrew-b

Nice blog..thanks for sharing with us.

I really ought to get my own one started though i've got to try and remember back to august 2006 (whilst i can't remember what i did yesterday lol!) as i'm not the quickest renovator!

Still you've proved it can always be started later and the longer i leave it the further
back i have to remember!!

Andy

lisal0u

Hi Andy,

I can highly recommend it! It puts it all in to perspective and when you feel a bit fed up about how things aren't moving on as quickly as you would like you can look back and see what you have achieved so far!

Did you take piccys with a digital camera? That's how I've remembered all the dates as it tags them with a date! I'm glad it does that otherwise I would never remember!

I look forward to seeing yours!

Lisa

andrew-b

Most of my pics have been taken via mobile phone with only vga resolution so not great quality but yep date extraction is fairly simple as i upload them to the pc ..though early on i didnt take that many. Should have taken more "before" photos too - though i did keep a copy of the estate agent's website listing.

I think my Mum has a few digital camera pictures she's hoarded somewhere so will try pestering her to email me them as they finally have broadband (rather than dialup).

Anyway plenty more to come to fill a blog with so i must start doing something about it!

Andy

trogg

Yes Andrew you must do a blog :T

here's a few i've been looking at...

http://bellevueextension.blogspot.com/
http://web.me.com/shimmyhill/House/Bungalow_Project/Bungalow_Project.html
http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:doiQFYGz03EJ:www.selfbuildit.co.uk/glenns_build.htm+scaffolding+renovation+self+build+diy&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=uk
http://stuartandlisashouse.blogspot.com/
http://www.builditthisway.co.uk/renovation3.htm
http://www.eddystoneselfbuild.co.uk/diary.htm
http://thehouseofdoom.wordpress.com/
http://thehouserenovationinsurrey.blogspot.com/
http://westbroke.blogspot.com/

TomsMom

lisal0u wrote: »

If you would like a look my blog is here: http://stuartandlisashouse.blogspot.com/

Lisa

Oooh Lisa - I'm off to have a [STRIKE]nosey [/STRIKE] look now :rotfl:
I'm following too (as Susan and Paul) so it should link to my blog too as I'm on blogspot - if not it's Westbroke in Trogg's list.

As for Andy - shame on you how long ago was it you said you'd do one? (You can always put pictures of your pooch on it :rotfl: )

ETA - had to come back after I read your blog. Everything's looking great. I love those round bay windows. I'm having red accents in my kitchen/diner too. Not sure if I'm having a red wall yet but I've already got the pendant light for over the dining table which has a white inner shade and a red glass outer shade - can't find a picture on the 'net at the moment. I like your kitchen layout - just make sure you have enough cabinets as it's amazing how much stuff you'll accumulate! Well done to Stuart, the tiling looks good.

lisal0u

Ooo thats a lot of blogs, I will have a look at them all! Its really useful for hints and tips. I wish I had starting reading them all before I started renovating! I'll join them all so I can keep up to date!

TomsMom - I am currently reading yours in my dinner hour! Its looks like you have had your hands full too! It is satisfying though when you start to see things coming back together! Your house is lovely! I would love to live by the sea one day!