Watty's Awakening

Watty1

A butler would be rather wonderful

At the weekend I noticed how poor the brickwork was at the front of the house.  I hadn't really looked properly at this over the last few years. It has clearly been slowly crumbling away at the ground level and I think the incessant rain might have made things worse.  I'm not sure a bit of repointing is going to fix this as some of the bricks are loose and there is moss and similar growing from other gaps.  I've sent the builder some pictures and asked him to look next time he is here but also have contacted a local restoration builder.   

The restoration firm specialises in local old buildings, is just down the road, and is probably not going to be phased by the lack of foundations and that part of the house now sits into the hill.   The very nice builder working here usually works on modern properties and has already been appalled at the lack of foundations on the old part.

If I had realised how bad this was i might have started with the outside work although it is the internal stuff that is really helping me change how I feel here.

Debsnewbudget

Every time I read a post from you I smile because of how far you have come 
well done x

PennysIntoPounds

Doing the inside first will give you more energy and calm to tackle the outside, so don't go duvet-doubting!

greenbee

Doing the work you have has clearly allowed you to see the house properly. And given you the motivation to fix it properly as it's now your home. When it feels like everything needs doing it is hard to see where to start. Now you have started it will gradually become clearer.

savingholmes

So pleased you had the joy or a ride out again and that your horse has recovered. 

Good the house stuff is moving on. With you on the pointing - as with my house being so exposed - it too needs repointing.

Watty1

Have interviewed google about the front of the house and the pointing and the bricks.  I know understand that being very old years of the bricks absorbing water and freezing has cracked them and in some cases blown over half the brick away.  Also the pointing needs replacing but first the really broken bricks need chipping out.  In theory this sounds fine but the more I looked the more I realised how many are damaged :😒   I am  hoping there will be a better solution when the professionals get here.

A heating engineer is coming on Friday to hopefully sort the heating out.

The decorator is painting the stair railings. I had plans for an embedded glass staircase but I think that money would be better used on the brickwork so that is on hold and I am paying her to paint the staircase and railings instead.  (Also WattyDog and Feral Cat would probably make a right mess with nose art on the glass so this might be a good call).

Watty1

In MSE news the link to get people to pay for calls to me to ask advice in the area I work in has not generated any income - but - I have sent the link to 3 people. Not one has booked.  Interesting because every one booked on the free link. So that is an hour of my time saved which I think is a win.

greenbee

Google will always tell you that you're going to die/the house will fall down/the world will end. Wait for the professionals. Or if you're feeling brave, go to the DIY board

Saving an hour of your time helping people unpaid is nearly as good as earning money from it - in that you can use it to earn money anyway!

Watty1

A good point about google there @greenbee  I did read on the DIY board and that was even worse so I think I'll wait for the professionals to get back to me. It is book club tonight so I will ask if anyone knows any bricklayers they would recommend and that can be my third quote. 

Watty1

Goodness it is cold today. Very cold wind and the house freezing.  An oil filled plug in radiator has been moved to the office as I can't light the wood burner as the decorator now working in kitchen and living area and, well just about everywhere!

She is going to start the entrance lobby before leaving apparently and all should be finished by early next week then just the front door to go and then I can focus on putting everything back together and getting the carpets cleaned.  A neighbour this morning recommended a carpet cleaner she uses so I will get him booked in.  I'm also going to have someone clean the ovens as they are really bad after all of the years of neglect although to be fair I cannot blame that all on the ex as they were not that clean when I left all those years ago and I've been using them for months and looking at them and thinking "they really need a clean"