Our build thread, renovation and extension
Discussion
I used to love tearing things apart, much progress in little time.
Had our final meeting with the architect before the planning application goes in. He is going to get a preliminary opinion from the planners then apply for full permission next monday.
Not many changes to these ones apart from windows, the stairs and an airing cupboard/storage cupboard has been added. There's probably going to be 3 major steels installed in 3 different planes to hold it all up.
Rear elevation
Not many changes to these ones apart from windows, the stairs and an airing cupboard/storage cupboard has been added. There's probably going to be 3 major steels installed in 3 different planes to hold it all up.
Rear elevation
Muncher said:
£3,300 minimum, plus no doubt further money for access.
this really is a fantastic thread...ive got similarly discoloured red bricks that have fairly heavy deposits... i tested some relatively mild brick cleaner with <10% hydrochloric acid on a very heavily soiled patio and after letting it stew for 20 mins and then mild agitation with stiff brush followed by wash with low pressure cold pressure washer the stuff came off relatively easily
im inspired now to tackle the three walls but potentially using a stronger acid diluted down(widely available on ebay etc for say 30% concentration 25 litres for about £40)
problem is i have now way of knowing whether long term such a method is bad ie the pressure from the water plus then the porous nature of the bricks absorbing the acid!
If the "experts" use an acid it must be relatively safe. If I were you I would go for a steam cleaner as I suspect it is considerably less damaging to the bricks as there is a lot less force behind it.
I've had a chat with what sounds like our ideal bricklayer and have got a meeting with him on Saturday to discuss the project. He works almost exclusively with our architect and I know him, he used to be my football coach for several years when I was younger.
I've had a chat with what sounds like our ideal bricklayer and have got a meeting with him on Saturday to discuss the project. He works almost exclusively with our architect and I know him, he used to be my football coach for several years when I was younger.
RC944 said:
how are the new neighbours dealing with the renovations?
On one side is the bowls club who are pretty happy about it, it gives them more security do there are no negatives. On the other side they have come round and said they can't see a problem with it (at least at this stage). It won't overlook them, they won't have any less light and they are only there for 1 day every fortnight as they live in Spain. RC944 said:
From what can be seen here i reckon the whole road should be chipping in... cant do the other houses any harm to have you turn the wreck into something more presentable!
was it purchased through an auction?
You would have thought so, it is the only "poor" house left on the road. There is a lot of money in the rest of it.was it purchased through an auction?
I bought it on the open market, slightly complicated sealed bids as I put in a counter offer once someone had already "won".
Well, I now have a working toilet for the builders, it's a lovely shade of "aqua" 
I also uncovered the area between our house and next door. I think the cracking has been caused by defective rainwater drains causing that corner of the house to sink slightly and you can tell see that from where the concrete has cracked down the middle. I think it has only gone down by about 10mm perhaps.
Further I uncovered the bend from the downpipe at that corner of the house and found that the pipe has cracked and separated slightly, maybe 10mm laterally and 5mm on the vertical. Despite the gap the soil seems relatively solid on the underside of it.
I think it has probably happened over a very long period of time and hopefully it's not going any further once the drainage is sorted. Might get the engineer back to confirm.
Also had a meeting with a builder I like the look of who said he could get the whole lot up in 6-8 weeks which is quicker than I had thought.
I also uncovered the area between our house and next door. I think the cracking has been caused by defective rainwater drains causing that corner of the house to sink slightly and you can tell see that from where the concrete has cracked down the middle. I think it has only gone down by about 10mm perhaps.
Further I uncovered the bend from the downpipe at that corner of the house and found that the pipe has cracked and separated slightly, maybe 10mm laterally and 5mm on the vertical. Despite the gap the soil seems relatively solid on the underside of it.
I think it has probably happened over a very long period of time and hopefully it's not going any further once the drainage is sorted. Might get the engineer back to confirm.
Also had a meeting with a builder I like the look of who said he could get the whole lot up in 6-8 weeks which is quicker than I had thought.
Does anyone have any advice on running underfloor heating throughout the whole house?
We had planned on running it just for the downstairs extension over a beam and block floor, but chatting to a few suppliers they have suggested it is effective under engineered wood floors and can just as easily be installed over an existing floor with joists.
Are we just looking to create further headaches with that or are there real benefits in going that way instead of conventional radiators?
We had planned on running it just for the downstairs extension over a beam and block floor, but chatting to a few suppliers they have suggested it is effective under engineered wood floors and can just as easily be installed over an existing floor with joists.
Are we just looking to create further headaches with that or are there real benefits in going that way instead of conventional radiators?
Muncher said:
I think it has probably happened over a very long period of time and hopefully it's not going any further once the drainage is sorted. Might get the engineer back to confirm.
did anything come up in the structural (building) survey?
It's almost certainly historic, parts of the cracks at the front had been repointed before and opened up since. It was all picked up in the engineer's report but he didn't think it was serious and down to the rainwater goods and drains being in poor condition.
Those drains will be ripped out in a matter of weeks anyway hopefully.
Those drains will be ripped out in a matter of weeks anyway hopefully.
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