Where and when to begin !

FreeBear

boxer234 said:  I have recently purchased a 200 year old cottage

Whilst I’m saving I do want to do some things to make it more homely. I could paint but it needs plastering so is that a waste of time?

With a 200 year old property, you need to use traditional materials that are sympathetic towards the construction. Avoid at all costs stuff like cement, gypsum plasters (e.g. Multifinish) and modern paints, even if they claim to be "breathable" - Stuff like Weathershield can do no end of damage to an old building.

Lime plasters, clay & silicate paints or limewash on the walls & ceilings will be in keeping and help preserve the building for future generations.

The Period Property forum is another valuable resource with several knowledgeable regulars willing to answer all sorts of questions. Advice ranging from tackling damp, restoring/repairing windows, and even eating pachyderms.

theoretica

How far have you got with information gathering about the property?  Planning, is where you need to start - so you can work out what the messiest jobs are, and what they will undo.  How are the electrics?  Heating and plumbing?  Walls?  Structural maintenance?  Doors and Windows?

Sure, the stairs may be ugly, but how much time do you spend looking at them?  Are there rooms which will be less affected by other works than others? 

Alderbank

Is your 1820 house listed?
Most houses built before 1850 are listed.

MovingForwards

My home is nearly half the age yours is and not a listed building.

All I've done so far is a paint makeover while saving up and deciding what I'll do.

The new kitchen idea has changed from staying with a galley, to doing a n shape. Floor to ceiling on the one side with fitted white goods n shape worktop / breakfast bar opposite. Upsidedown L shape with blank opposite wall. Combinations / elements of the different ideas.

I've considered bringing the kitchen into the lounge, having it hidden behind closing doors, move the shower room into the existing kitchen and knock the existing shower room through to turn the second bedroom into the main bedroom. 

Remove the chimney breast in the current main bedroom, fit supporting metal thingies (too early to think what they're called).

Or just do a full reconfiguration of the property. 

Maybe when I've got the money together I'll have a proper decision.

The point is, when I purchased the flat I thought update the kitchen and shower room, maybe turn it into a wet room for ease and obviously sympathetically do the rest of the it. Now, having lived here for a few years I'm beginning to see how I could make better use of it, while at the same time knowing I purchased this as it was the layout I wanted.

Don't rush into anything as it's expensive to undo!

Flugelhorn

would be tempted to brighten up one room and keep it as your sanctuary while all others being done - don't spend too much on that rooms as might need to do it again later if more work needed, so just paint etc 

boxer234

theoretica said:

How far have you got with information gathering about the property?  Planning, is where you need to start - so you can work out what the messiest jobs are, and what they will undo.  How are the electrics?  Heating and plumbing?  Walls?  Structural maintenance?  Doors and Windows?

Sure, the stairs may be ugly, but how much time do you spend looking at them?  Are there rooms which will be less affected by other works than others? 

Not very far at all because I really don’t know where to start.  Funds are low ATM so it seems to make sense to wait.  Luckily it’s not listed.  

J63320

Two suggestions: 1. Watch some of George Clarke’s ‘Old House, New Home’ programmes on Channel 4 (should be available on All 4, and some old ones are repeated in the early hours of the morning) for good ideas about how to adapt an old building for modern living while preserving its character, and 2. Try Which Trusted Traders for tradespeople - you don’t have to be a member of Which. I’ve found several good people through them, you can just look for people without having  to give any of your own details, and I know they do check up on reviews because I’ve left some. 

newsgroupmonkey_

lookstraightahead said:

I moved into a 200 year old cottage a year ago. Lots needs doing, but one piece of advice was wait a year, see the house through all seasons, get to know it, then decide.

I've gone from needing a brand new kitchen to realising I only need new fronts, I've fallen in love with the ugly bits and I'm now in no rush.

i did get a couple of pots of mineral based paint to make a bit of a difference and a new fence. 

I would completely agree with this. Live in it. Clearly, anything that leaks or is clearly broken, fix. Otherwise just enjoy it.

Saying that, paint is an easy fix. Get some cheap pictures too. It'll detract from an ugly floor or worn carpets.

We had much bigger challenges. A small 3 bed bungalow which had 4 labradors living in it (Labs can be very stinky dogs as their skin is oily). Few carpets, fortunately, but the one in the front room was absolutely minging and giving my wife a headache.

We're fairly nose-blind to most smells being dog owners ourselves, but this was just horrendous.

boxer234

J63320 said:

Two suggestions: 1. Watch some of George Clarke’s ‘Old House, New Home’ programmes on Channel 4 (should be available on All 4, and some old ones are repeated in the early hours of the morning) for good ideas about how to adapt an old building for modern living while preserving its character, and 2. Try Which Trusted Traders for tradespeople - you don’t have to be a member of Which. I’ve found several good people through them, you can just look for people without having  to give any of your own details, and I know they do check up on reviews because I’ve left some. 

Thank you I will give that a watch.  Good to know about Trusted Trader it’s so hard finding people.