Ugly House Herts Project

Doozergirl

vansboy wrote: »

Didnt like the shower, but the floor did look ok...just now.
And using a cheaper product and then paying over the top labour costs for it to be fitted, seems not too much moneysaving.


VB

That is exactly what I'd noticed about "The £100k house". They suggest cheap materials but then it has to cost a fortune to fit. There was a couple that used railway sleepers for stairs. The work involved in getting it to building regs standards looked immense and the simplicity was lost. Yes, it looked individual but it definitely didn't look like it cost as much as it would have done.

Or making built in cupboards from plywood. Again, different, but looked impermanent and it would have been cheaper to go to Ikea. I couldn't fathom what was more important - the cost or the look - and then I couldn't fathom if they had entirely succeeded.

Some of the houses they visit for inspiration are incredibly inspiring. I like the attention to detail.

hathor

:T
Well, folks..

Against all expectations (they must be inundated!) I got a reply from the contractors who did the job. It really was plywood! (Personally, I think it looks like walnut panelling.)

"The timber paneling was made from 12mm high grade wbp plywood, stained with a medium oak stain then spray lacquered in our workshop with a 40% sheen lacquer.
We also selected more of a red/brown ply for it not the yellow that it sometimes comes."

Mystery solved. I agree with many of your comments above re labour costs, by the way.

Eenymeeny

Hi OP, we actually did this with Marine ply about 10 years ago. (Never thought that I'd be a trendsetter! )
It wasn't as easy as they made out. (Is it ever?) For a start, it's really heavy material and difficult to manoeuvre up stairs in big sheets. OH framed the whole recess above the bath then attached the sheets, making sure that it was VERY well sealed. We stained it with Indian Oak then a few coats of yacht varnish but stopped when it started to look shiny as that wasn't the look we wanted! (I think that we got a satin or matt finish?, sorry, it was 10 years ago.)
It served us very well and always looked great with the white, chrome and aqua accessories. In fact, I think that it helped to sell the property when we moved 3 years later. I didn't get water marks but was careful to wipe it down after every use. I can't vouch for it long-term as we don't live there now but I know it was very well constructed so I didn't foresee any problems. HTH

Just remembered that it was Indian Rosewood we used to stain the wood. Indian oak? ! There can't be much of that about...

hathor

Thanks so much Eenymeeny for the encouragement. I agree, it's all about the sealing. I think you have to take care in both the surface of the boards and especially the edges when it's installed.
I foresee a starring role for clear silicone when the different pieces are assembled, too.
Fortunately, the area we have in mind is on the ground floor, so the weight should not be the same problem.

lstar337

Are there any pictures?

I'm intrigued by what you are all talking about.