Property is a bit knackered.....what do I fix first

Pok3mon

RatInACage said:

I don't know if this is obvious or not, but if you're completely refitting the kitchen, I think you get a nicer finish if you plaster, paint and put the flooring down before putting the kitchen in, rather than painting/fitting flooring around the kitchen.

This 100%!!!

MaryNB

Spend time trying to figure out where you want sockets before getting the electrician in. My colleague did it first thing and he has loads of sockets but not all in the right places. I waited until I had lived in the house a few months before getting them in, I ended up with a lot more than I originally thought I would need. It gave me time to figure out the areas of the house that really needed extra sockets that weren't immediately obvious. Especially because I started installing smart technology and some hubs need to plug into both the mains and the modem so I needed a good few sockets next to the internet socket. 

Arfa__

Definitely plan on putting ethernet cabling/sockets in when doing electrics. Wifi is all fine and good, but you can't beat a bunch of handy Gigabit ethernet sockets in key locations for fast reliable connections. It'll also free up the Wifi a bit for more reliable/faster Wifi connections from your phones/laptops etc. Key places that benefit from ethernet: bedrooms (by desks), any home office space, lounge by TV/Hifi/entertainment stuff and of course where your broadband enters the house and router is located. And I'd always recommended running a couple of wires to each socket.

jimbog

RatInACage said:

AdrianC said:

Think how houses are built.

The structure, the roof, the windows - everything watertight.
THEN the first-fix - wall studwork, pipes, wires.
THEN the interior structure - plasterboard and plastering.
THEN the surface stuff - boiler, kitchen units, bathroom fittings.

I don't know if this is obvious or not, but if you're completely refitting the kitchen, I think you get a nicer finish if you plaster, paint and put the flooring down before putting the kitchen in, rather than painting/fitting flooring around the kitchen.

But be very careful if you are putting down the flooring first. So easy when fitting a kitchen to drop a hammer onto a newly tiled floor. Perhaps put hardboard down after?

davilown

jimbog said:

RatInACage said:

AdrianC said:

Think how houses are built.

The structure, the roof, the windows - everything watertight.
THEN the first-fix - wall studwork, pipes, wires.
THEN the interior structure - plasterboard and plastering.
THEN the surface stuff - boiler, kitchen units, bathroom fittings.

I don't know if this is obvious or not, but if you're completely refitting the kitchen, I think you get a nicer finish if you plaster, paint and put the flooring down before putting the kitchen in, rather than painting/fitting flooring around the kitchen.

But be very careful if you are putting down the flooring first. So easy when fitting a kitchen to drop a hammer onto a newly tiled floor. Perhaps put hardboard down after?

Yep - plastic sheeting at around £6 a sheet. Works really well.

I would recommend tiling the whole kitchen floor up to the wall (and bathrooms).

also, if you have wallpaper up, leave that until the walls have been skimmed as well.

MJM1972

RatInACage said:

AdrianC said:

Think how houses are built.

The structure, the roof, the windows - everything watertight.
THEN the first-fix - wall studwork, pipes, wires.
THEN the interior structure - plasterboard and plastering.
THEN the surface stuff - boiler, kitchen units, bathroom fittings.

That's pretty much what I'd do.

Gutters and maybe check the old leak so nothing falls on your head.

Then electrics, water and gas.

Then the stuff that makes it look pretty.

I don't know if this is obvious or not, but if you're completely refitting the kitchen, I think you get a nicer finish if you plaster, paint and put the flooring down before putting the kitchen in, rather than painting/fitting flooring around the kitchen.

Thanks for that. It wasn't obvious about what to do in the kitchen first, but is now that you have put it so simplistically, it is all starting to make sense..  

MJM1972

davilown said:

jimbog said:

RatInACage said:

AdrianC said:

Think how houses are built.

The structure, the roof, the windows - everything watertight.
THEN the first-fix - wall studwork, pipes, wires.
THEN the interior structure - plasterboard and plastering.
THEN the surface stuff - boiler, kitchen units, bathroom fittings.

I don't know if this is obvious or not, but if you're completely refitting the kitchen, I think you get a nicer finish if you plaster, paint and put the flooring down before putting the kitchen in, rather than painting/fitting flooring around the kitchen.

But be very careful if you are putting down the flooring first. So easy when fitting a kitchen to drop a hammer onto a newly tiled floor. Perhaps put hardboard down after?

Yep - plastic sheeting at around £6 a sheet. Works really well.

I would recommend tiling the whole kitchen floor up to the wall (and bathrooms).

also, if you have wallpaper up, leave that until the walls have been skimmed as well.

Yes, there is wallpaper in the kitchen. Why would I leave this up before having the walls skimmed? Surely I would be better gutting the whole kitchen so that it is a blank canvas....looks like we could be living on microwave meals for a while

davilown

MJM1972 said:

davilown said:

jimbog said:

RatInACage said:

AdrianC said:

Think how houses are built.

The structure, the roof, the windows - everything watertight.
THEN the first-fix - wall studwork, pipes, wires.
THEN the interior structure - plasterboard and plastering.
THEN the surface stuff - boiler, kitchen units, bathroom fittings.

I don't know if this is obvious or not, but if you're completely refitting the kitchen, I think you get a nicer finish if you plaster, paint and put the flooring down before putting the kitchen in, rather than painting/fitting flooring around the kitchen.

But be very careful if you are putting down the flooring first. So easy when fitting a kitchen to drop a hammer onto a newly tiled floor. Perhaps put hardboard down after?

Yep - plastic sheeting at around £6 a sheet. Works really well.

I would recommend tiling the whole kitchen floor up to the wall (and bathrooms).

also, if you have wallpaper up, leave that until the walls have been skimmed as well.

Yes, there is wallpaper in the kitchen. Why would I leave this up before having the walls skimmed? Surely I would be better gutting the whole kitchen so that it is a blank canvas....looks like we could be living on microwave meals for a while

Sorry meant to say the ceilings being skimmed

Ally_E.

Water pressure has to do with a boiler, if it's gravity fed it will be low water pressure. Upgrade to a combi, get rid of the tank and you're sorted. Make sure your pipes can take it though, as it will have main pressure now. 

Ally_E.

Don't tile the kitchen, there are many modern materials suited for kitchens now that are just as easy to clean, water resistant and resistant to wear and tear, but won't shatter if you drop a glass bottle/mug/oven dish. Luxury vinyl tile is one option.