Help! Decorating house with lots of irritating problems.

nicki_2

I'm hoping all you experienced DIYers out there can help me get my house sorted out on a very tight budget. I have experience of painting/wallpapering but its only what I've learnt from watching/helping my dad over the years. When I first moved into this house nearly 10 years ago it was only supposed to be temporary so a lick of paint and some lining paper was enough sort it out. However things have changed and after not bothering to do anything with the house for about 6 years its looking very tired, worn and its really starting to get me down.

So some info which I think may be relevent:

• Its a 1930s end of terrace 2 bed house with a small kitchen extension, gable wall is north facing and rarely sees the sun. This is also the external wall in my hall/stairs/bathroom.
• Wooden front/back doors, UPVC windows in all rooms
• Black mould is a problem throughout the house. I've managed to stop it growing in one area of the kitchen ceiling after having the flat roof recovered and using a polycell product which I'm hoping will work on the other area of mould which are less accessible. This has been an ongoing battle since I moved in despite ventilating & having central heating fitted.
• I have peeling paint/wallpaper in a number of rooms as well as the black mould.
• All the paintwork (gloss) seems to be original to the house, once you get past the layers of white. I'm assuming this means the likely hood of this paint containing lead is pretty high. I know this because in a number of places there are chunks taken out of the paintwork where things have knocked against it and from when the central heating was installed.
• I have lovely(!) exposed pipes running in various rooms where radiators have been fitted. I was looking at the plastic covering for it, but with the amount of pipes exposed it'd cost a fortune.
• Previous owner appears to have had a thing for textured plaster. Daughters bedroom and the hall/stairs ceiling is a swirly effect which is a nightmare to paint. Livingroom has a swirled/stippled effect from the picture rail up and right across the whole ceiling, an alcove which is completely stippled, and a wall which has a 'tree bark' effect for want of a better description. In some areas this has been damaged due to leaks and when I try to paint over it, it just comes away in the paint onto the brush and leaves plain plaster behind.
• Its a privately rented house, although I now plan on being here for another 5 years or so (until my daughter leaves school) I don't want to be spending a fortune on supplies.

I have some paint, but discovered today that I bought it back in 2010 (and other paint I have is older still) so I'm not sure whether it'll still be useable. I have a drill so I can put up shelves etc, and a jigsaw but I've never used either I do have a decent toolbox and a 'dads shed' type thing going on in my understairs cupboard though. I can probably get my hands on anything I don't have though between family/friends.

I'm making a list of all the jobs that need doing in each room (and outside) and I'm happy to post photos to show what problems I'm dealing with. I just don't know where to start. I'll be doing all the work single-handed unless it needs two people to do it.

Can anyone suggest the best way I should go about this? In a 2 bedroom, tiny bathroom, tiny kitchen, big multi-function livingroom (where my home business is also based), tiny hall/stairs area, where would you start when every room needs attention? Any help at all will be greatly appreciated. Ideally I'd like the whole house done by December 1st. I know I can do it, if I have someone to guide me.

osdset

You will need to sort the mould out as a priority, it could be caused by anything from condensation to water ingress.
If the house is circa 1930 check to see if you have cavity walls, they didn't start to come in until the early 30's, if you haven't got cavity walls then the mould problem might well be caused by penetrating damp. No amount of cosmetic work will remedy that.

nicki_2

The mould problem was caused by water ingress/condensation which is why its been an on going battle for so long. The only heat source when I moved into this house was a gas fire. Having the heating fitted in 2008ish has helped enormously, the landlord has had both roofs repaired and a disused chimney capped this year. I'm working on killing the mould off, but its in so many places, it seems that every time I turn around I spot another patch of it.

The other problem I've got is I don't know what jobs are the responsibility of the landlord and which are down to me (first time tenant). I realise big things like windows/door replacement, roof repairs etc are down to her, but what about resealing around windows? I only noticed the other day the windows downstairs don't appear to have a sealant seal around them where they meet the wall and there's big gaps which would explain the drafts! Should I just fill these myself or is this a job the landlord should be sorting? I'd have to borrow ladders from someone if I had to do the upstairs ones!

Q: Is it worth paying out the extra money to get kitchen/bathroom paint? Last time I just used normal silk emulsion and a few coats. I'm going to be trying to paint over a peach colour with a pale grey colour, and wondered whether I could get away with normal paint as I suspect it'll take a couple of coats. When I've had to wash the wall due to spillages etc the paint has sort of faded. Would buying the 'proper' paint prevent this?

Steffi747

nicki wrote: »

Its a privately rented house, although I now plan on being here for another 5 years or so (until my daughter leaves school) I don't want to be spending a fortune on supplies.

Just out of interest, if you are renting the property why are you doing so much work to it? Do you have your LL's permission?

Dan-Dan

you must be on a cheap rent to consider all this

flea72

All decoration and repair is the responsibility of the LL. if you are diy, then as already stated your rent must be way below market rate, or your LL saw you coming

nicki_2

Steffi747 wrote: »

Just out of interest, if you are renting the property why are you doing so much work to it? Do you have your LL's permission?

The agreement with the landlord is that I am responsible for internal decor as far as wallpaper/painting goes. As for shelves etc, I can either leave them, or return the house to how it was when I moved in. As far as I am aware this is the normal agreement.

LL has paid for all structural stuff, and the central heating was done through a grant as I'm a single parent and was on income support at the time. LL put new carpets down in the bedrooms and on the stairs after the heating was fitted.

Steffi747

nicki wrote: »

The agreement with the landlord is that I am responsible for internal decor as far as wallpaper/painting goes. As for shelves etc, I can either leave them, or return the house to how it was when I moved in. As far as I am aware this is the normal agreement.

LL has paid for all structural stuff, and the central heating was done through a grant as I'm a single parent and was on income support at the time. LL put new carpets down in the bedrooms and on the stairs after the heating was fitted.

Ah, ok I see. Thanks for clarifying.

Can you rally friends and family for a day of decorating to help ease the burden?

southcoastrgi

growing mould is the LL legal responsibility to sort out, spores in the air are a real health hazard

flea72

nicki wrote: »

The agreement with the landlord is that I am responsible for internal decor as far as wallpaper/painting goes. As for shelves etc, I can either leave them, or return the house to how it was when I moved in. As far as I am aware this is the normal agreement.

LL has paid for all structural stuff, and the central heating was done through a grant as I'm a single parent and was on income support at the time. LL put new carpets down in the bedrooms and on the stairs after the heating was fitted.

Then You are responsible for internal, cosmetic upkeep, nothing more. So the mould problem should be sorted by the LL

did you pay to have the roof done and the LL also got heating installed for free?

How long do you have remaining on your tenancy? Cause i can see the LL being able to rent for a higher price, as the property now has central heating and is going to be newly decorated

nicki_2

Steffi747 wrote: »

Ah, ok I see. Thanks for clarifying.

Can you rally friends and family for a day of decorating to help ease the burden?

I'll be smiling sweetly at my parents and raiding their shed for supplies/tools that's for sure! Not so much on the helping me out, they're busy enough as it is and are already responsible for sorting out my sisters place which they own. I have a friend who said they'd help me out, but they've been busy working all hours. They said get a list together and they'll help when they're free. That was a years ago and I've still not written the list as I've been busy.

Its not too much of a burden for me to do myself as I've always been the one doing the decorating, its just I don't know where to start or how best to tackle some of the jobs. I also don't know which ones the LL should be coughing up the money/workmen for. I don't want to be paying out to do stuff if its not my responsibility!