The 40 Year Old House

[57 Chevy]

Gretchen said:

As above, just read the entire thread after seeing it linked.

Just wow. Amazing creativity, and with a view to entertaining others. Love it. The biggest envy I have is actually of your tools, skill and patience.

Love the snow lit pictures.

How many parties do you have?

Thanks very much

We have a few during the year, about 80 people at a BBQ in the summer every year, still plenty of room though

[57 Chevy]

Time to dust this thread off again.

This year we are planning a kitchen extension and changes to the roof/landing to let more light into the centre of the house. Main objectives of the extension are to give us more kitchen space, a new kitchen and connect the house more with the awesome garden. Can't really do much with the existing kitchen space as it has two windows and three doors so doesn't give much flexibility to the layout. There will also be doors added to the playroom. The extension will have a vaulted ceiling with Velux on the south side.

Plans have been drawn up and we have applied for a building warrant. No planning needed as it falls under permitted development.

I intend (with the help of a mini-digger) dig out the existing patio and landscape required, then build the retaining wall needed before getting the builders to build the extension. They will have a nice level site to work on.

Here are the plans...

Plans 1 by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Plans 2 by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Plans 3 by Nick Grant, on Flickr

[57 Chevy]

While I'm waiting for it to get a little above freezing for the work in prep for the extension I've been giving my office a bit of a make-over. It was just a dumping ground before and I've started to work from home a lot so wanted to make it a nicer place to be. Got some shelving sorted for all my books. Finally have a place for my Derek Yaniger and Jacqueline Davies art work. Made a new desk from an iroko worktop I got in the sales. Throw in some lighting and it's a much nicer place to work now.

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

[57 Chevy]

So here's the starting point

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

[57 Chevy]

Started marking out and taking up the old patio today.

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

[ScottJB]

Will follow this years work with interest.

Some similarities to my place.

[57 Chevy]

ScottJB said:

Will follow this years work with interest.

Some similarities to my place.

Thanks Scott.

I think we've decided to paint the pebble-dashing too now to smarten the rest of it up. I hate heights though so won't be fun getting up to the apex.

[Skyedriver]

57 Chevy said:

Thanks Scott.

I think we've decided to paint the pebble-dashing too now to smarten the rest of it up. I hate heights though so won't be fun getting up to the apex.

Painting the render will brighten it up no end but beware once painted you have to keep painting it.
I cleaned off the moss then painted our bungalow that we had on Skye, two years later the moss growing back i had to repaint it. two years late I got someone else to do it.....

New place near Oban is also rendered......

[57 Chevy]

Skyedriver said:

Painting the render will brighten it up no end but beware once painted you have to keep painting it.
I cleaned off the moss then painted our bungalow that we had on Skye, two years later the moss growing back i had to repaint it. two years late I got someone else to do it.....

New place near Oban is also rendered......

Yes I realise that we will be unleashing the genie on the painting but I think it needs it. I think about a third of the houses in the street are painted now.

Anyone any recommendations on exterior paint?

[57 Chevy]

Not been much progress as there has been too much of this...

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

...until yesterday when I got a good days work in. Patio removed, access cleared for the digger and a ramp made. Those flagstones were bloody heavy. Digger should be here in a week or so. Digger will also be knocking the small wall down.

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

[Gibby88]

Great work, thanks for sharing. I bet you have many leather-bound books and your house smells of rich mahogany!

[57 Chevy]

Gibby88 said:

Great work, thanks for sharing. I bet you have many leather-bound books and your house smells of rich mahogany!

LOL, I don't think either of those things are true

Much excitement today as this is finally happening....

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

[57 Chevy]

He's been busy

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

[BrabusMog]

Best house thread I've seen on PH, absolutely love it!

[57 Chevy]

BrabusMog said:

Best house thread I've seen on PH, absolutely love it!

Thanks very much, appreciate it

Sadly there's not been much progress since the digger was here as we had the snow back again. We've had a metre of snow this year so far! I have taken delivery of some of the sleepers I need and tonnes of gravel though so need to crack on now.

[57 Chevy]

Well progress has been painfully snow, worst winter for at least 7 years up here snow wise.

I am now cracking on with the retaining wall...


Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Thanks to Harry Flashman for putting the link up to Trinity Marine, picked up these awesome doors from a 50s cruise ship that will go between the kitchen and dining room.

Needed a bit of a clean up must have got some salt water in them, before...

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Still need a bit more work but getting there...

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Been trying to get builders organised for the extension itself, a slow process. We've found a guy we really like but waiting on a quote.

[sc0tt]

Stunning house, just moved into mine and doing a minor renovation after thinking it didn’t need any work.

[57 Chevy]

sc0tt said:

Stunning house, just moved into mine and doing a minor renovation after thinking it didn’t need any work.

Cheers Scott. There is always work to be done

[57 Chevy]

Right, here's where we up to, I've build most of the wall seating area and steps. If the seat and steps look high, the deck will come to the top of the bottom layer of sleepers...

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

[57 Chevy]

Been neglecting this thread but work has been carrying on whenever I get a few hours.

Joining up to the other path...

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Sanded and routed the edge to round the tops. And 25 litres of wood preserver on as a base for the stain/varnish

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

And then first coat of teak on...

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Grant, on Flickr