Preparing for winter III

rosieben

snowbrow wrote: »

Hi all,
I have not yet managed to read all posts up to date as this thread is very long!
Anyway I just wanted to ask for some advice please, I'm relocating to a cottage in a semi rural location 3 weeks and I wanted to know what prep I must do for Winter or what should I prioritise? thanks xx

have a look at post # 4610 - Rainy days has put a very comprehensive list together which I'm sure you'll find useful

cutestkids

I have bought flannelette flat sheets for the boys beds today and next week will buy the fitted ones as well.

I hope to get blinds for their rooms also before winter as the curtains are quite thin so an extra layer between them and the window would be good.

sketchingkari

I have been reading through this thread with interest and fascination (all the threads really, i'm a little addicted)

I've not prepared much for winter in the past, but really want to this year, I hope this doesnt make me sound like a bad mum, but we have no central heating :eek: we have a small electric heater at the bottom of the stairs and then a couple of small fan heaters which we can move around if we need to. Our heating broke 2 winters ago, and last year we were broke, so couldnt fix it, but we found we got through it ok, only using the small heaters when we really had too, its cut our fuel costs down to almost nothing, so we havent been in too much of a hurry to get it fixed.

I'm going to get on with lining the curtains and sewing up some draft excluders to help a bit this year.

I have a project i'd like to do and thats to make over our conservatory, in the summer its a makeshift greenhouse, but in the winter becomes a dumping ground for toys, which is a shame as its a lovely big space.

I've decided I want to make it usable, it wont be easy without heating out there, but I thought if I put some insulation on the inside of the roof and then hang lined curtains all the way around the glass it might work, what do you think? It will be a very OS style makeover, cheap lino on the floor but i'm going to make a wool rug to make it cosy, pop a reclaimed two seater sofa out there with a knitted throw on it, a stand lamp and maybe the dining table to make a cosy little room?

My biggest issue is what to put on the inside of the roof to insulate it, any suggestions? Could I use a couple of layers of bubble wrap do you think?

Rainy-Days

sketchingkari wrote: »

I have a project i'd like to do and thats to make over our conservatory, in the summer its a makeshift greenhouse, but in the winter becomes a dumping ground for toys, which is a shame as its a lovely big space.

I've decided I want to make it usable, it wont be easy without heating out there, but I thought if I put some insulation on the inside of the roof and then hang lined curtains all the way around the glass it might work, what do you think? It will be a very OS style makeover, cheap lino on the floor but i'm going to make a wool rug to make it cosy, pop a reclaimed two seater sofa out there with a knitted throw on it, a stand lamp and maybe the dining table to make a cosy little room?

My biggest issue is what to put on the inside of the roof to insulate it, any suggestions? Could I use a couple of layers of bubble wrap do you think?

Your biggest problem is that glass is the main source of heat loss. During the winter months especially when it is very cold we do not use our conservatory at all. I have a small greenhouse heater out there which takes the extreme chill off and keeps the condensation down and prevents mould. Cannot remember how much an hour it costs but it's about 2 pence or thereabouts. We do have a radiator out there as well but that only kicks in when the heating is on timed but to be honest the heat loss is simply not enough for making use of the conservatory 365 days of the year.

Themajority of the time though it is more than adequate and even today I have been able to have the doors open into the house to bring the heat through but once the end of October looms into view - unless it is a really good sunny day - we don't really use it. March this year was an exception with those two wonderful weeks we had.

For what it's worth I would plan to not use the conservatory for around 12 to 14 weeks of the year and then when things are better make the most of it then. Use your money wisely in other areas of the house which will give you the greater benefit during the harsher months.

darkrev

link to long sleeved base layer on hduk inc code for free delivery £11.99 sports direct

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/helly-hansen-hh-long-sleeve-dry-base-layer-top-men-s-s-m-l-11-99-delivered-sports-1277066

Rainy-Days

snowbrow wrote: »

Hi all,
I have not yet managed to read all posts up to date as this thread is very long!
Anyway I just wanted to ask for some advice please, I'm relocating to a cottage in a semi rural location in 3 weeks and I wanted to know what prep I must do for Winter or what should I prioritise? thanks xx

Only you will know what your situation will be, but for the first two weeks you will occupied in getting moved in, after that concentrate - if the weather is good - on getting jobs done on the outside. Check your ridge tiles on the roof and also the roof itself, get the gutters cleaned out and make any necessary repairs.

If it has stand alone oil heating and solid fuel then look to get your oil in now or at least before October. If you have open fires/log burners find out when the last time the chimney was swept and if it is over a year ago get the chimney sweep in. Get your logs and coal ordered. Find a place where it is dry - for now - to store them over the winter. You will need to have oil boilers serviced every single year! Find out when the last service was done. Have your boiler serviced in September!

Beyond that a freezer will be the biggest boon for you and if you have room a chest freezer, then start adding things extra to your shopping list each week to sink into the freezer. Your food stash cupboard is something that is easy to do - it's the bigger stuff that you are going to have to think about.

The way I look at it is this, while it is fine and dry outside make the most of doing those jobs such as washing, cleaning and repairs done on the outside. When the weather turns and it's raining - such as today - then bring your efforts inside and deal with things that need attending to in the house. It's about good time management. When winter finally kicks in you will be able to sit back and relax and not have to worry too much. Last year I sat in bed with a wonderful cup of coffee looking out over the snow covered garden feeling very happy that everything was alright and protected.

^!£$&

Thanks all, very helpful xx

Uniscots97

snowbrow wrote: »

Hi all,
I have not yet managed to read all posts up to date as this thread is very long!
Anyway I just wanted to ask for some advice please, I'm relocating to a cottage in a semi rural location in 3 weeks and I wanted to know what prep I must do for Winter or what should I prioritise? thanks xx

Snowbrow, I'm jealous. My parents have lived in a rural location since I was about 10 at the time I thought it was the end of the world but I loved it out there. They always make sure they have enough to heat, eat, drink and light for a week minimum in case of getting snowed in. My Mum always kept dried ingredients (lentils, dried veg) so she could make soup if we were snowed in.

nicki_2

Approved Foods have had the small disposable dehumidifiers on offer for 99p so I've bought 30 (which were delivered today) and just put in another order for another 30 I would rather use this style than refillable so I'm well on my way to having that sorted this year. I seem to run out of refills every year so I'm stock piling this time around :rotfl:

nikki2804

Got to giggle. EON's sent me a bill stating my electricity meter was read by a meter reader (dunno when, there has not been one in the house since December 2011) So I gave appropriate readings etc, now I get a letter saying 'If we do not hear from you in 14 days there WILL be a large increase in your direct debit'. Tad threatening I feel, if they increase it by a lot I will be going elsewhere!

Was having a little look around Aldi (mainly to get the easel for LO's Christmas) but could not find any of the little back to school jackets that they had advertised. Would have been good as an extra jacket. I did pick up some ibruprofen and flu pills too.

Started to have a look around B&M but the LO decided he needed to pee lol. I did manage to get through the till with cough syrup and some canned goods tho

Found a dead bug in my dishes cupboard last night so the entire kitchen has been scrubbed down - bleurgh!