Our build thread, renovation and extension
Discussion
Quite a busy weekend this week.
I got my office furniture assembled which I got free from work. (I still have 3 desks spare and other bits!
On sunday I then moved all of the remaining bits out of my room at my parent's house which has been left there for a while including my PC.
On the friday the dressing room carpet was laid, so that room is now completely finished.
On saturday I dodged torrential rain (but still got soaked anyway) to polish the worktops.
This photo shows pretty much the worst section in terms of holes, in the middle of the island section which was difficult to vibrate.
Here you can see the colour difference the first polish makes, the whole section is wet, the darker area is where I have been over it with an 800 grade pad.
That's what the "finished" surfact looks like.
After polishing we applied a cement/pigment slurry to fill the holes, which was difficult as it was drying very fast. It appears to have filled the majority of them but we will have to do it a couple more times to get them all.
Here it is after covering it with slurry, we haven't wiped all the excess off yet.
In between all of that we put the first layer on the edging above the kitchen island using a pad of "easi fill" It seems to be doing the top but I think it will take several coats to get a square edge.
Oh and after inviting 10 people round for a dinner party at the beginning of August, my fiance pointed out we don't actually have any tables and chairs so I bought a set of 10 oak chairs and a big oak table from eBay which my parents are going to buy us as a housewarming/engagement present. If anyone happens to be driving south from Chester to Ipswich in a massive van soon, I have a favour to ask
I got my office furniture assembled which I got free from work. (I still have 3 desks spare and other bits!
On sunday I then moved all of the remaining bits out of my room at my parent's house which has been left there for a while including my PC.
On the friday the dressing room carpet was laid, so that room is now completely finished.
On saturday I dodged torrential rain (but still got soaked anyway) to polish the worktops.
This photo shows pretty much the worst section in terms of holes, in the middle of the island section which was difficult to vibrate.
Here you can see the colour difference the first polish makes, the whole section is wet, the darker area is where I have been over it with an 800 grade pad.
That's what the "finished" surfact looks like.
After polishing we applied a cement/pigment slurry to fill the holes, which was difficult as it was drying very fast. It appears to have filled the majority of them but we will have to do it a couple more times to get them all.
Here it is after covering it with slurry, we haven't wiped all the excess off yet.
In between all of that we put the first layer on the edging above the kitchen island using a pad of "easi fill" It seems to be doing the top but I think it will take several coats to get a square edge.
Oh and after inviting 10 people round for a dinner party at the beginning of August, my fiance pointed out we don't actually have any tables and chairs so I bought a set of 10 oak chairs and a big oak table from eBay which my parents are going to buy us as a housewarming/engagement present. If anyone happens to be driving south from Chester to Ipswich in a massive van soon, I have a favour to ask
Edited by Muncher on Monday 9th June 10:40
The tops are something I had visions of a driveway when you first mooted them - you learn something every day.
Not going past Chester with a van but you could try http://www.shiply.com/
Not going past Chester with a van but you could try http://www.shiply.com/
Despite it being concrete, even with a mild grind/polish the the finish feels very similar to something like quartz or granite. Even when it was fresh out of the mould it is silky smooth which is something you con't expect from concrete.
I've had a quote from Shiply, which was reasonable, then changed to more expensive, then the same chap messaged me and asked me what was my budget! I think I may well do it myself just so I can make sure they are back with no damage.
I think we paid good money for them, £1,180 for the whole lot with 10 chairs but the equivalent set in John Lewis at the moment is £2,900 so not a bad deal.
I've had a quote from Shiply, which was reasonable, then changed to more expensive, then the same chap messaged me and asked me what was my budget! I think I may well do it myself just so I can make sure they are back with no damage.
I think we paid good money for them, £1,180 for the whole lot with 10 chairs but the equivalent set in John Lewis at the moment is £2,900 so not a bad deal.
Muncher said:
Despite it being concrete, even with a mild grind/polish the the finish feels very similar to something like quartz or granite. Even when it was fresh out of the mould it is silky smooth which is something you con't expect from concrete.
I've had a quote from Shiply, which was reasonable, then changed to more expensive, then the same chap messaged me and asked me what was my budget! I think I may well do it myself just so I can make sure they are back with no damage.
I think we paid good money for them, £1,180 for the whole lot with 10 chairs but the equivalent set in John Lewis at the moment is £2,900 so not a bad deal.
The last images are eBay links and not working. I've had a quote from Shiply, which was reasonable, then changed to more expensive, then the same chap messaged me and asked me what was my budget! I think I may well do it myself just so I can make sure they are back with no damage.
I think we paid good money for them, £1,180 for the whole lot with 10 chairs but the equivalent set in John Lewis at the moment is £2,900 so not a bad deal.
Muncher said:
It's all built from scratch by my Dad, about 2 days work, I didn't do any of the work on it other than all of the design, planning and getting the materials. It is essentially a softwood frame made from 250mm wide timber on the base which has several cross sections much like a stud wall. This is then clad with 18mm solid oak, but to be honest is rarely seen.
On top of that is a larger frame which is around 150mm wide, similar construction but with mitred corners and beveled edges. The overhang is around 300mm all round. It's is then just topped off with MDF and oak faced and edged MDF for the bedside tables which are supported by the bed so do not need to be fixed to the wall.
It probably cost around £350 in materials which is not bad for a super king size floating bed and two bedside cabinets.
Ive now stopped my mrs from going onto this topic because she is just stealing all your ideas.On top of that is a larger frame which is around 150mm wide, similar construction but with mitred corners and beveled edges. The overhang is around 300mm all round. It's is then just topped off with MDF and oak faced and edged MDF for the bedside tables which are supported by the bed so do not need to be fixed to the wall.
It probably cost around £350 in materials which is not bad for a super king size floating bed and two bedside cabinets.
Love the bed and your dad did a great job - did he also so the floating bed side tables? And if so, might sound stupid but how is it screwed to the wall....has he got a 2x1 on the inside screw to the top?
ILOVEWATCHES said:
Ive now stopped my mrs from going onto this topic because she is just stealing all your ideas.
Love the bed and your dad did a great job - did he also so the floating bed side tables? And if so, might sound stupid but how is it screwed to the wall....has he got a 2x1 on the inside screw to the top?
Haha, I will pass on the message! It is quite a neat solution, the headboard is being mounted today and looks pretty good too. Love the bed and your dad did a great job - did he also so the floating bed side tables? And if so, might sound stupid but how is it screwed to the wall....has he got a 2x1 on the inside screw to the top?
To answer your question, the floating tables are part of the structure of the bed, the underside of them is the same piece of 25mm oak faced MDF that runs across the bed from one table to the other, so it already has quite a lot of strength. There is a very small bead which is screwed to the wall on the underside of the top which just gives it a bit of support, but generally it is all self supporting. It weighs an absolute ton, there is no chance of moving it.
We will be holding off installing the worktops until we are happy with the surface treatment. My concerns are durability in terms of scratching, spills and filling the remaining bubble holes. The Thompsons block paving sealer which we have used I don't think is going to cut it so I am waiting for a callback from a more specialist company.
Headboard is in and finished.
We had our first night in the master bedroom last night as everything is finally in and working. Well pleased with it, it's light and airy, but also cool and very quiet. The Hypnos mattress is also really comfortable.
Wren delivered the missing drawer fronts on friday (well left them in the garden) but the paint finish on the handles is poor, noticeably worse than on all the others, so they will be rejected.
The worktops were coated with Thompsons driveway sealer but I'm really not happy with the finsih and durability, it needs to be stripped back off somehow and we will try a more specialist product.
We had our first night in the master bedroom last night as everything is finally in and working. Well pleased with it, it's light and airy, but also cool and very quiet. The Hypnos mattress is also really comfortable.
Wren delivered the missing drawer fronts on friday (well left them in the garden) but the paint finish on the handles is poor, noticeably worse than on all the others, so they will be rejected.
The worktops were coated with Thompsons driveway sealer but I'm really not happy with the finsih and durability, it needs to be stripped back off somehow and we will try a more specialist product.
Haha, fiance was up 36 after after a night shift and wedding so no chance!
My Dad went to pick up the dining room table and chairs today from Chester, they're in mint condition, barely ever used and very good quality leather chairs.
They're in the lounge at the moment because the dining room still needs some plastering on the tiered ceiling and a final paint.
My Dad went to pick up the dining room table and chairs today from Chester, they're in mint condition, barely ever used and very good quality leather chairs.
They're in the lounge at the moment because the dining room still needs some plastering on the tiered ceiling and a final paint.
Item Materials Labour
Groundworks £3,034 £620
Drainage £2,007 £200
Walls £6,479 £8,245
Plastering £2,616 £3,090
Windows and Doors £20,650 £80
First Floor £3,500 £0
Steels £2,494 £0
Roof £8,911 £7,857
Electrical £11,565
Flooring £7,795 £1,000
Kitchens £15,353
Bathrooms £9,026
Plumbing £8,801 £1,095
Exterior £5,220
Garage £13,203 £2,010
Plant £2,540
Staircase £2,096 £195
Insulation £2,103
Decoration £1,743
Internal Carpentry (visible) £7,527 £130
£136,663 £24,522
Grand Total = £161,185
Updated figures.
Only £1,300 left to spend inside now, so those figures are accurate apart from the garden and garage.
Groundworks £3,034 £620
Drainage £2,007 £200
Walls £6,479 £8,245
Plastering £2,616 £3,090
Windows and Doors £20,650 £80
First Floor £3,500 £0
Steels £2,494 £0
Roof £8,911 £7,857
Electrical £11,565
Flooring £7,795 £1,000
Kitchens £15,353
Bathrooms £9,026
Plumbing £8,801 £1,095
Exterior £5,220
Garage £13,203 £2,010
Plant £2,540
Staircase £2,096 £195
Insulation £2,103
Decoration £1,743
Internal Carpentry (visible) £7,527 £130
£136,663 £24,522
Grand Total = £161,185
Updated figures.
Only £1,300 left to spend inside now, so those figures are accurate apart from the garden and garage.
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