An in-between phase

EssexHebridean

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82100946#Comment_82100946

Hello - we make newspaper bricks which replace some of the logs/solid fuel we use on the fire in the winter. For kindling we use a combination of scrunched paper/card (anything from newspaper to the cardboard sleeves that surround yogurt pots. Old shopping receipts also make brilliant firelighting paper!) with very dry sticks - usually scavenged from the local area. In terms of "normal" firelighters though we always like the wood-wool ones which are impregnated with wax, those do a lovely job and are relatively eco-friendly. Around £2.99 as a bag usually, although to be honest we rarly use them.

PennysIntoPounds

Cheers @EssexHebridean

Well that was exhausting

Faced with the prospect of builders being in my house for days I suddenly decided that all the cracks and bad paintwork were absolutely fine 😂

However, lots not fine!

Window cleaners turned up and did a great job

Plumber/builder turned up very late morning, which turned out to be good as he's only just left still with things outstanding and it was knackering enough having him here for approx five hours!
To he fair he did work really hard

Fit in usuals, small bit of build admin, few competitions, bit of a garden sweep, survey cashout Aim £500 Got £56

The builders are back tomorrow, along with beer delivery for housewarming, and plants and planters delivery

KajiKita

Glad plumber/builder turned up and got stuck in 😊👏

What did you decide for the planters in the end?

KK

PennysIntoPounds

Er @KajiKita after careful planning and research I got tired and overwhelmed and just sent them a list of things I like and said to send it if they have it in stock and I will see what survives 😂

foxgloves

I used to be very naive about new builds. I've never lived in one but always assumed that they would be in 100% tip-top order with no issues on moving in. I learned otherwise when I met Mr F who had recently bought a new-build with his ex which had already developed some quite long cracks in the plaster. He complained to the developer about them but was told it's completely normal for things to 'settle'. I didn't check Roget's but I couldn't see how 'settle' was synonymous with 'crack'. Ah well, silly me!

PennysIntoPounds

New builds are so very, very rubbish @foxgloves, I wouldn't move into one that had been done by a big company. Lived in one with an ex and the quality of work was shoddy and to make things worse it was a 'buy part, rent part'. Nice idea but unfortunately big property developer companies absolutely cannot be trusted to do a decent job or to then not eye-wateringly fleece tenants, who also have to pay mortgage and hope they can ever sell.

We at least have a contract and warranty with our builders even if they can be very annoying in many respects. The personal relationship means things get done eventually and to a half decent standard, as they know it'll be them coming again if something is sh*te!

I don't really mind cracks, houses do have to 'settle', and it's only aesthetic, but its good to be able to ask if its aesthetic or an issue! I'm used to living in old gaffs anyway so it feels more homely to me 😂

beanielou

My inside conservatory roof has a slight hairline in it. Has not moved in 6 years. My house was a new build by a small company nearly 40 years ago. Not sure I would have a new build again. I think the quality of build has decreased a lot over the years.

EssexHebridean

I think there is a huge difference between "new build specifically for me" and general "new build on an estate which we've just decided to buy" - the former I could se us doing at some stage, the latter definitely not! I'd agree with Beanie - the quality now doesn't seem to be as high from what I've seen when friends have bought new builds.

foxgloves

I suspect Beanie is right about quality in recent years. I think with some of these big powerful housebuilding companies, profit is everything.

KajiKita

I don’t think it helps that so many of these new, new builds are timber frame and that mooooves over time. Plus, if there is no effective oversight of the job and how it’s being done, critical details like making sure the staircase is properly tied into the wall in a three storey town house gets missed …! 😳 (A remedial that Mr KK had to deal with once).

KK