The impossible dream

Tahlullah.H

Cheers TG.  Sometimes you have to count your blessings, utilise and build on what you have, rather than start from scratch.  It isn't going to be cheap, but hopefully not as much as all the costs, taxes and fees associated with a move.

savingholmes

Good luck on the camping and other ideas. Have you got an outside loo or shower facilities?

in_my_wellies

Hi, I just came across your thread. 
Just a thought for you. I had a leaking chimney. It leaked into the loft and the bedroom and so needed urgent attention. I was told the same as you, a patch up for £400 or proper repair for £5000 which involved cutting into it every 4' from bottom to top and relining the inside. This sounded very messy and involved much redecoration. In the end I opted for a wood burning stove which just meant a liner. Not an expensive one, just a basic one, job done and finished for £2200. I prefer the open fire but the log burner does the job.

Tahlullah.H

Hello everyone and thank you for your comments.  Really appreciate them. 
To try to answer questions -  no, I do not have an outside toilet or shower.  I will provide a camping toilet in a camping tent, which is what a camper not on a 'formal camping site' would use.  As they will only be camping for 3 nights maximum by law, they will have to cope without the shower!  I would be trying to offer a cheaper opportunity to camp in the area than the formal sites which will cost, but will obviously have better amenities, and more people camped next to them!

Unfortunately, I cannot go with the wood burner, because they provide the same issue - fitting a chimney liner.  If I can put a liner down the chimney for the wood burner, I may as well put the liner down for my firebox, and I would prefer the firebox to the wood burner.  As you said, the open fire is preferable, so I will have to make compromises and pay the money to keep the open fire.  I know that the chimney repair man didn't understand what I was talking about when I said I wanted to retain my firebox, as he kept talking about fitting a wood burner, but once I sent him the link and he spoke to the manufacturer, he understood - https://www.flamewavefires.co.uk/product/built-in-open-fires/

I received some tile samples this afternoon, which would replicate the parquet flooring, but I don't like them!  From one problem to the other.  So, I have decide that I will definitely tile, but I think I will go for the modular slate tiles, which give a contrast to the floor and which will semi match the expose stone walls.  I was thinking of something like this - 
https://www.stonetilecompany.co.uk/natural-sheera-multicolour-slate-tiles-modular-set?gclid=CjwKCAiAuoqABhAsEiwAdSkVVC-lXN19bj2HgdF6uY2XMFzD8Kcx_ZmEZtSDYK0oNdktxtbm7b4JdhoCcaIQAvD_BwE

I think it would be easier to lay than the herringbone/parquet tiles and offer a bit more interest and contrast to the floor.  Anyway, a long way off.  Everything is on hold as I cannot get the builder to start for a few more months - a bit more time to save and perhaps opportunity to get the back garden on Airbnb and perhaps bring in some money when we can start to move around for holidays again.

in_my_wellies

I hadn't heard of a firebox before. It does look good. Is it open at the front like a real open fire? Sorry I can't tell from the picture. So the box sends the heat into the room? 
The tiles you might choose look lovely and practical too.  I have old oak strip flooring throughout but all covered in carpet for warmth. It was on the landing too and when polished it looked beautiful but was so dangerous we took it up and it's stored in the loft. It could be used for repairs to downstairs one day. 

savingholmes

Love the slate you're think of - will you be warm enough? Did you consider underfloor heating or was it prohibitively expensive? I'm just conscious you are taking some of the floor up anyway...  The Firebox looks lovely and I love an open fire... However, there have been some articles about air pollutants and wood burners - is that something you've checked out?

Tahlullah.H

Hi IMW, the firebox is the equivalent of an open fire, with an open front just like an open fire.  The only difference is the ability to use convection to circulate hot air that passes around the inner part of the box into the room.  It is really efficient and love it.  It really is the equivalent of a wood burner but functions as an open fire.  And because the box itself gets hot, the fire and heat from it is great.  Only, you have the beauty of an open fire.  I have some of the original blocks for the parquet as well, but I will probably end up burning it, if no-one wants to buy it.

Hi SH, yes, I am considering underfloor heating.  If I have to spend all this money, I may as well just do it right.  Not sure how much more it will add to the cost, but needs must.  There have been articles regarding air pollution, but they have never - so far - talked about bringing control in for coastal or county areas, so not too worried.  Even if they banned coal, there are lots of other types of coal style bricks that the coal man sells that will replace the original stuff.  Any smoke from the fire is blown away by the sea wind so there is no air pollution here.  Or if there is, I would be really surprised.  Most houses here have either an open fire or a wood burner, because the cost of oil and Calor gas is expensive, so we need an alternative heat source.

It' all good.  I just need to get the builder to show up and give me a price!

savingholmes

HI Tahlullah - I think there's a concern about the amount of particulates left in the air inside the house. BHF have an article on it if you are interested. I was really shocked. I only read about it in the last couple of weeks. I absolutely adore fire though....

Tahlullah.H

Yes, this has always been a worry with open fires.  But to be honest, if I were to worry about everything that could cause me harm, I would not be able to live my life due to fear.  Just about everything in life can affect our health in one way or another.  I enjoy my open fire and will continue to use it, even with the knowledge of how it affects the air quality.  If I were in a town or city, I would think differently, but for now, I will continue enjoying this pleasure for as long as it is legal to do so.  I think the issue has come to the fore because of the poor air quality caused by people in towns fitting wood burners and burning unseasoned wood to lower the cost.  In my mind, this is a difficult one, because they are doing this because of the rising cost of gas and electricity, so they have to find other means of staying warm, and free or cheap wood allows them to do this.

There is always a backlash.  It started with cars, when they decided that petrol was bad and encouraged everyone to change to diesel, and now diesel is bad, so go back to petrol, and now petrol and diesel are bad so go to electric.  But no clear vision as to what we will do with all the failed batteries on the cars and no infrastructure to charge all the batteries on the new cars being sold.  We are moving towards only the rich with their own drive and access to overnight charging will be able to go this way, the rest of the population will be left with the internal combustion engine with rising fuel costs.

The next big scandal, in my opinion, will be the removal of gas boilers from homes - new houses are being built without gas central heating - and pushing the population towards air source heating.  Air source heating isn't good enough to warm a house to a good temperature in winter, plus they are noisy and can't handle really cold temperatures, but people are being encouraged to fit them.  Just another problem brewing.

OK, political rant over.  Moneysaving, I have decided to put my savings in one place, with NS&I, until they are needed for this major house overhaul.  I may as well try to win something on the Premium Bonds whilst I wait to spend it.  I could have chosen to pay down the mortgage, but as I know I will be pushing it back up soon, it seems to make more sense to try and get the best out of the little I have, rather than reduce the amount owed for 3 months.  So, I will continue to make my monthly mortgage payments as and when I can.  The less I owe before starting to borrow, the easier it will be to repay the debt, but any large sums of savings will go into Premium Bonds in the hope of getting even a small pay-out.  After all, there are no high interest savings accounts and I don't want to risk the money on shares as I can't invest long term.

savingholmes

HI Tahlullah - your rant makes a lot of sense. I too would just save the money for now - you can put it towards jobs on the house.