Fitting used home stuff - what is viable continued..

TruthLove

Hi

i posted about fitting used windows earlier and even though you see top notch stuff a lot being close to given away I’ve been advised there are regulations the window and the fitting must meet, matching size will be a nightmare etc so probably a no go.

so now I have the same question for doors, both internal and external composite or wood.  Is sizing more standardised, less tricky to match?  Are there less regulations to abide by?

and i would ALSO like to ask the same question about plumbing in if used (clean!) bathroom set, used boiler, used but decent radiators??  

Thanks very much!

Norman_Castle

A used boiler is only an option if you are legally allowed to instal it yourself otherwise the lack of warranty and potential cost of replacing it if it fails wipes out any saving.

FreeBear

TruthLove said: i posted about fitting used windows earlier and even though you see top notch stuff a lot being close to given away I’ve been advised there are regulations the window and the fitting must meet, matching size will be a nightmare etc so probably a no go.

so now I have the same question for doors, both internal and external composite or wood.  Is sizing more standardised, less tricky to match?  Are there less regulations to abide by?

and i would ALSO like to ask the same question about plumbing in if used (clean!) bathroom set, used boiler, used but decent radiators??

Same answer for any external doors - They need to comply with current building regulations. If anything, the risk of failure is even greater using old doors - The locking mechanism could be worn, and when it fails, opening the door could be difficult.

Boiler, again, it needs to comply with current regulations, and you will struggle to find a Gas Safe engineer willing to fit a second hand unit.

Bathroom suites do not have to meet any particular standard (except for toilet cisterns), so if you find something that you like, go for it. That said, modern cisterns contain a lot less water than they used to. So look for something that has a dual flush & reduced capacity.

user1977

Also, bathroom suites (assuming you don't mean anything fancy) are relatively cheap - any savings from using second hand fittings is going to be trivial compared with the labour costs involved in fitting them, tiling and other decor etc.

eddddy

TruthLove said:

so now I have the same question for doors, both internal and external composite or wood.  Is sizing more standardised, less tricky to match? 

Door sizings are standard in most properties - but secondhand doors might have been trimmed to take account of their previous 'wonky' door frames, or to allow for thick carpets etc.  So you might have gaps.

Also, they'll have been cut/drilled to fit handles, locks and hinges - which might not match where you want them (especially if you are fitting them into frames with existing lock and hinge positions). So there might be some carpentry involved in sorting out the doors before they can be refitted.

If they are 'character' doors, it might be worthwhile - there are architectural salvage and reclamation companies that supply that sort of stuff.


 

Ramouth

I reused doors, timber, floorboards etc in our last place.  It adds significantly to the time it takes to do anything.  It definitely cost us money rather than saving us money.  The time it takes to remove fixings, fill holes, sand off years and years of paint or varnish.

The upside is that you end up with a far more authentic restoration if that is what you are aiming for.  Our house looked lovely when it was finished and by reusing original trims it felt original even though we had significantly changed the layout.  The downside - it took over 10 years!

Ramouth

Ramouth said:

I reused doors, timber, floorboards etc in our last place.  It adds significantly to the time it takes to do anything.  It definitely cost us money rather than saving us money.  The time it takes to remove fixings, fill holes, sand off years and years of paint or varnish.

The upside is that you end up with a far more authentic restoration if that is what you are aiming for.  Our house looked lovely when it was finished and by reusing original trims it felt original even though we had significantly changed the layout.  The downside - it took over 10 years!

Forgot to say, I used a second hand toilet and bath I had got from my parents.  The toilet definitely wasn’t a saving - the valve failed while we were on holiday meaning that it was constantly running for a week! That was a big water bill.  The bath got scratched while we were storing it waiting for the right time for fitting.  We still used it - it was just irritating every time I noticed it while cleaning.  A major advantage of buying new materials is that you can get them just before you need them rather than when they become available.

TruthLove

All these answers are so incredibly helpful.  

I feel a lot more clued up now.  Doors are so out-dated anyway lol!
ive found a national business that sells used doors and windows that are professionally removed and list all faults, so may try a upvc  door and frame from there if I can find the right size.  Will find out a bit more.
Thanks again

Soot2006

I used a lot of second hand stuff in our first, not for an authentic finish, but for pure money saving.  Off the top of my head, we got back door, French patio doors, garage double glazed window + pretty much everything inside the house. Saved a fortune. Had everything fitted by proper builder. Admittedly I didn't know anything about building regulations as it was pre- easy Internet, but we agreed to pay for (useless) indemnity policies for that when we sold. By then, the doors and windows hadn't fallen out, so for us it all worked out and saved a lot of cash as they were lovely fittings people were getting rid of.

FreeBear

eddddy said: If they are 'character' doors, it might be worthwhile - there are architectural salvage and reclamation companies that supply that sort of stuff.

Watch out for these period doors - They will be imperial sizes (99% of the time), and if you are fitting out a modern build, the holes may well be constructed with metric doors in mind.

TruthLove

Soot2006 said:

I used a lot of second hand stuff in our first, not for an authentic finish, but for pure money saving.  Off the top of my head, we got back door, French patio doors, garage double glazed window + pretty much everything inside the house. Saved a fortune. Had everything fitted by proper builder. Admittedly I didn't know anything about building regulations as it was pre- easy Internet, but we agreed to pay for (useless) indemnity policies for that when we sold. By then, the doors and windows hadn't fallen out, so for us it all worked out and saved a lot of cash as they were lovely fittings people were getting rid of.

Ah thank you for that.  Yes for me it’s pure money saving too people are practically giving away some really lovely stuff and I don’t mind the wait or leg work for the right size etc - I’ve found a company that do high quality used upvc stuff too.  I wonder did I would’ve able to find someone happy to do it like you did?  Don’t kind an indemnity if I sell.  I’m planning on living there a while.