Preparing for Winter V

[Deleted User]

Hi PARSNIPHEAD welcome back!!! sounds as though you've got things in hand already well done!

I've started this years preserves, I picked almost 3 lbs of strawberries from the garden and have made four jars of strawberry jam. Not strictly a necessity but home grown so cost us nothing and I already had the jars and sugar and so very nice to open a jar of really summery home made jam when it's the depths of cold November, it always reminds me of summer days and the day I picked the fruit. We always open a jar of blackberry jelly on Christmas morning for breakfast and it reminds us that summer will come again in the fullness of time, lovely!!!

charlies-aunt

I would really appreciate advice on this please! We live in an old stone cottage, the walls are 3-4 foot thick and as our bathroom is on the corner of the house that never sees any sun - its always cold even in summer and we get lots of problems with mould despite running a dehumidifier and an extractor fan 24/7


The bathroom walls are half tiled/ half painted and the floor is fully tiled so I was wondering if I could fit vinyl /cushion flooring directly on top to try and make it a bit more cosy and maybe just add a couple of rugs in for more warmth over winter. (we run a dehumidifier and an extractor fan 24/7 but still get condensation)
Just wondering if the vinyl flooring can be laid directly on top of the ceramic tiles or whether it needs lining with a thin underlay first? can anyone recommend a decent brand to look out for when we go shopping - preferably with a matt rather than shiny finish


Thanks Chris x

frugal-mum

Hello everyone!
I'm new here and this is my first post!!

I had a baby last August so things were a bit slack regarding keeping a check on the amount of gas we were using to heat the house over winter. Hence, the highest bill we've ever had!
This year I've started to save money in advance for coal and wood - we've got an open fireplace which we know isn't the most efficient but it sure does work!
We're keeping a eye out for free bricks so my OH can build a coal bunker in the yard.
I like to crochet so we've got lots of blankets and I'm in the process of making another.
I have an allotment with my mum and I've got lots of winter veg growing as well as summer veg that can be preserved for eating in the winter.
Um, I'm sure there's more that can be done. I'd like to make a curtain to block out the draughts that come from upstairs and the front door. The curtain would have to cover a gap in the wall that is about 8x6ft wide though. I daren't look at the cost of that amount of thick fabric!! Any advice on where I could look or what I should use please?

THIRZAH

I don't know if you could get a fleece that big but you might be able to sew two together to make a curtain. I've made linings for a couple of curtains using IKEA fleeces and they do keep out the drafts.

It might be worth trying charity shops for a thick curtain or you could get a thinner curtain and line it. Have you looked in Dunelm ? Their thermal curtain linings are quite reasonably priced.

babyblooz

Don't know if it would suit your style of house but I saw a lovely door curtain that had been made like a patchwork quilt with largish squares of different fabrics and it had been lined and given extra weight with fleece blankets hung behind it like a lining.

Using that style it would be easy to make it to the size you need and could even be free if you can get some free fabrics from family and friends

frugal-mum

Thank you both! Excellent ideas!
I will definitely try charity shops and yes the patchwork look would suit my home perfectly

Alisonpennypincher

Hi,

I'm not sure abbout the flooring sorry. But if you are already running a dehumidifier and fan it might be that your only other option is to add extra heating. What heating source do you have in the room already? Could you add in another radiator or even a towel rail? I speak from experience as although we live in a Victorian terrace our bathroom has 2 external walls and we too suffer with damp from condensation in the winter. In the summer it is not a problem as we can open the window more often to let the steam escape.

Hoping someone else can help you with your flooring question.

charlies-aunt wrote: »

I would really appreciate advice on this please! We live in an old stone cottage, the walls are 3-4 foot thick and as our bathroom is on the corner of the house that never sees any sun - its always cold even in summer and we get lots of problems with mould despite running a dehumidifier and an extractor fan 24/7


The bathroom walls are half tiled/ half painted and the floor is fully tiled so I was wondering if I could fit vinyl /cushion flooring directly on top to try and make it a bit more cosy and maybe just add a couple of rugs in for more warmth over winter. (we run a dehumidifier and an extractor fan 24/7 but still get condensation)
Just wondering if the vinyl flooring can be laid directly on top of the ceramic tiles or whether it needs lining with a thin underlay first? can anyone recommend a decent brand to look out for when we go shopping - preferably with a matt rather than shiny finish


Thanks Chris x

babyblooz

http://littlekidsgrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/patchworkcurtains1.jpg

This is the kind of thing I meant, although the one I saw originally had bigger patchwork pieces.

Good luck!

charlies-aunt

Alisonpennypincher wrote: »

Hi,

I'm not sure abbout the flooring sorry. But if you are already running a dehumidifier and fan it might be that your only other option is to add extra heating. What heating source do you have in the room already? Could you add in another radiator or even a towel rail? I speak from experience as although we live in a Victorian terrace our bathroom has 2 external walls and we too suffer with damp from condensation in the winter. In the summer it is not a problem as we can open the window more often to let the steam escape.
Hoping someone else can help you with your flooring question.

Thank you! There is a big radiator in there and the dehumidifier kicks out a constant low level warmth but the stone walls are so thick, its like trying to heat a subterranean cave! We leave the window open on vent when the dehumidifier isn't on and dry any damp towels either outside or in the kitchen so its very frustrating to fight a constant battle against mould & condensation.
I think that we have made a big mistake by tiling the floor and half tiling the walls with ceramic tiles and due to finances, we aren't in a position to start ripping them out anytime soon.

[Deleted User]

I'm cold!!! it's the 29th of June and it feels like November here today, I don't know about just preparing for winter it makes sense today to prepare for the whole 12 months of the year! I'm sure that years ago we didn't have these movements of the Jet Stream as often, I'm sure I remember sunny summers and being able to spend most of them outside, of course memory may be playing me false but I'd give quite a lot for a whole week of dry and warmer weather wouldn't you?