Preparedness for when

mardatha

LOL Polly Yes it's the avatar coalbox, we got a new smaller metal one that's only 4ft high.
Yes I know Dobbies, I've been there often but the RV rolls his eyes and gets bored instantly you say the words "garden centre". I would go up meself as they have terrific cakes but it's not on our bus route..
I swapped Peter for a tin of Quality Street last xmas.
Ta for that climber, I have noted the name

GreyQueen

Evening all. Been lovely here and I have been gardening. More spuds in but when I went to plant some on already relatively-recently dug ground, I discovered the burgering horsetails had grown their roots again.

So I spent some time forking them all out and will plant the rest of the spuds in that patch tomorrow. Back not wanting to play any more tonight.

ivyleaf, I've often thought owning property on a straightened income can be the worst of all possible worlds. Have you ever thought of approaching your local council for help with a grant to fund the window replacement? These, CH systems, roofs etc can be funded and the money repaid from the sale of your house after you've died.

I still don't get it about the allotment sheds. People who are able-bodied and, in some cases known to be in professional jobs, yet let their sheds rot for the want of £30's worth of roofing felt or a £10 can of preservative. Madness.

jk0

I think wood treatment products aren't what they used to be GQ. I believe it's due to environmental regulations.

I used some Ronseal 5 year woodstain on my hardwood window frames 3 years ago. I belt sanded them down to bare wood, and gave it three coats according to the instructions. My house now looks like it's not been done for about ten years.

I resent having to do this every year, so it can look bad as far as I'm concerned.

Shed stuff also... most timber treatment seems to be just watery stain nowadays that sits on the surface. One of my neighbours paints his with old engine oil. I'm thinking of asking him for some to do mine with.

GreyQueen

You can still get creosote, I've got some within the last couple of years, Wilko I think.

Yup, I agree about the wood treatments, I have to do my shed twice a year where it catches the full brunt of the weather. Re your hardwood window frames, might you want to investigate marine varnish in the future? I know someone who did a floor with it, great stuff (does take a fair while to dry, tho).

.

pollyanna_26

JKO I do not have wooden doors or window frames but for years I used garden shades on the shed , arbour and bench - it was never really durable . I am about to sand them and use Johnstones Trade Stormshield which I used last year on planters and containers .They look as though they are newly painted . I got the flexible satin but they do a gloss version I also used the corresponding flexible undercoat in white . It wont impress you but they mixed me the palest blue I wanted actually phoning dulux for the code as it wasn't in their machine . Just waiting for a few dry sunny days to get the job done . Sadly they don't do sample pots but maybe someone you know has used it .
polly

ivyleaf

Thanks GQ - I hadn't thought of a Council grant/loan, but looking at their scoring table I don't think we'd score enough points to qualify. Thanks anyway. We'll sort something out eventually, I'm sure.

GreyQueen

ivyleaf wrote: »

Thanks GQ - I hadn't thought of a Council grant/loan, but looking at their scoring table I don't think we'd score enough points to qualify. Thanks anyway. We'll sort something out eventually, I'm sure.

Ask! Ya don't ask, ya don't get. And there is a brand new financial year starting any day now. Go for it.

NewShadow

ivyleaf wrote: »

Thanks GQ - I hadn't thought of a Council grant/loan, but looking at their scoring table I don't think we'd score enough points to qualify. Thanks anyway. We'll sort something out eventually, I'm sure.

If you've a credit union nearby, they do very low cost loans - when I unexpectedly needed to move house they loaned me £1200 over 6 months and it would have cost me £58.50 in interest.

It actually only cost me less than £20 as I paid it over 3 months without penalty - I would have spent more than that if I'd borrowed the cash from my mum (obligatory meal out to say thank you )

ETA - Registering with the nearest CU might be a sensible prep for most people - even if you think you're financially secure. Mine loan upto £15k at short notice with easy terms - might be something useful to access if/when you have a personal SHTF

pollyanna_26

GQ I think once you reach retirement age a lot of doors are no longer open to you . I did look at various things myself as my warhouse 25 year old baxi regular boiler has been on its last legs for the last few years . Everyone I know who has taken advantage of the free boiler schemes has had either hidden costs added or lack of support after the installation . Same with free cavity wall installation over the past few years people here are paying to have it removed and serious damp issues rectified .
Due to the fact that my youngest will always struggle both with serious health problems and severe anxiety I can't put any charge on the home . It's the only home she has lived in and her safe place . I never borrowed against the property and the 25 years paying the mortgage were hard on my own with 4 children . Add on the shortfall at the end of the term thanks to the famous 70s endowments and November 2000 was the best month ever . Free at last .
I find it interesting how many forms of shtf there are . Although the structure of the property is well maintained there are a huge number of jobs needed sorting indoors , I mentioned on another thread I have a new kitchen , sink and worktops included in the garage from when mfi went into liquidation . I will need a number of trades , plumbing , wiring and plastering and eventually a heating engineer if I can ever afford a new boiler . Through my last job I had a lot of friends who were good and trusted tradesmen sadly they are retired or no longer with us . I am lucky that despite health issues which mean I have to pace myself I do still have a fair amount of energy and a fair amount of diy experience . Like Ivyleaf my problem now is how to afford the trades , I don't even buy a lottery ticket anymore so that faint hope has gone .
Re the allotment sheds there are a lot of people who seem to have no concept of the fact that stuff needs maintaining .
Ivyleaf I agree about the surf but daz powder is top of the list .
Sorry for the epistle - got carried away !
polly

jk0

Polly, I think there's a lot to be said for old boilers. (Old anything really as nothing is built to last nowadays.)

Those MFI kitchens are quite easy to self assemble. I did one myself about ten years ago. I put wood glue all round the back panels, and it made them nice & strong.