Our build thread, renovation and extension

[Muncher]

It's a replica but looks identical, originals seem to be £600+. I'm far too tight to spend that on a lampshade

[VX Foxy]

Far too sensible more like!

Any more movement from Wren?

[Muncher]

VX Foxy said:

Far too sensible more like!

Any more movement from Wren?

Nope, they decided to stop communicating with Tesco without authority from me, so I have just given them that. A new person is dealing with it at Tesco and it feels like it's back to square one. I had a long drawn out call with Tesco where they said "can't they just give you new handles?" I said no, the handles are an integral part of the door, the handle IS the door. They then said "yeah but if they give you new handles it will be ok". It's like banging my head against a brick wall.

[VX Foxy]

Have you considered going to one of those replacement door companies getting all your fronts replaced then taking Wren to small claims court?

A couple of months ago the MD of Wren came out to see me with his 'Customer Service Director'. Said all the right things and claimed they'd have it sorted in a couple of weeks. Not heard anything since...it's been a year now. I'm relieved I haven't paid for it.

[Church of Noise]

Muncher said:

Our danish pendant lamp finally arrived (12 week lead time!)

Difficult to photograph but it looks really good.

Is that a Louis Poulsen lamp?
If so, could you please indicate where you got it, we're in the market for one of these lamps. Cheers

[Muncher]

http://www.bluesuntree.co.uk/site/products/electri...

[Muncher]

More progress this weekend, I have scraped back the driveway all the way down to the garage at the right level and didn't end up with too much spare soil to scatter around the garden thankfully. The front flower beds are now all filled and leveled and have pretty much plant we had in a pot planted, it still looks quite sparse but will only get better with time. If anyone has any suggestions for good plants to pop in there and even better any way to get them without spending money that would be even better! The area gets quite a lot of sunlight and I would like evergreens with a bit of height.

I'm now also looking to build a storage container to hide the wheelie bins as they are quite visible and there for 4 of them.

something along the lines of this:



But in this kind of finish:



What wood would you recommend? Cedar perhaps?

[Muncher]

The first 20 tonne load of crushed brick has been delivered out the front, I just need to connect up the water pipes for the garage then I can lay the next and hopefully final 20 tonne load down there.

It's now time to start with the gates.

I am planning on a basic 50mm box section steel frame, with middle rail and a diagonal brace on each leaf, which is then galvanised. I will have holes drilled approx every 150mm along the rails and bolt either oak or cedar facing on to it. The gates will them be operated by an electric ram on each leaf. Any recommendations for that gratefully recommended.

I am looking to hang it from 3 of these on either leaf, which I guess should be plenty?

[skilly1]

Have a look here for fencing, they also have cedar panels

http://www.silvatimber.co.uk/fencing.html

[Muncher]

A mate came round and chopped the tree down, impressive to watch, all down in 44 mins.

http://youtu.be/3XP2DLYuo_o

[5potTurbo]

^^^ Disappointing. I want, no, DEMAND, a ""Timbeeeeerrrrrrrrrrr!" moment!

[Muncher]

The last 7m or so came down in one lump cut from the ground. It's really fun watching him work, cutting big branches one handed with a chainsaw and then catching them as they fall mid air is nuts.

[Minemapper]

I've got an arborist mate like that. Handy chaps to know, aren't they?

[5potTurbo]

Muncher said:

The last 7m or so came down in one lump cut from the ground. It's really fun watching him work, cutting big branches one handed with a chainsaw and then catching them as they fall mid air is nuts.

Unless the link's missing though, I skipped through to the end of the 7m30 or so and there was still ahuge trunk standing on the R/H tree. Any more to see on YouTube?

[Muncher]

For some reason the timelapse video stopped before he got to the end, I do have some more photos though.

[Muncher]

I think I need an axe to help sever some of the roots, it's a big old bugger!

[Minemapper]

Either use the mini digger in the background to dig it out, or does said friend not have a stump grinder in his arsenal?

[minivanman]

I've found a reciprocating saw the best for getting through roots - put tension on it with the digger and cut the roots as they appear.

[Muncher]

Minemapper said:

Either use the mini digger in the background to dig it out, or does said friend not have a stump grinder in his arsenal?

I've been giving it a good battering with the digger already, access around one side of it is difficult however. They have a stump grinder but it's only a small one, and from experience this will need a bigger one. To hire in a bigger one is about £400 (I've done it before!)

It moves very slightly now with the digger, once I free up some more roots I should be able to get some more movement out of it.

[Muncher]

minivanman said:

I've found a reciprocating saw the best for getting through roots - put tension on it with the digger and cut the roots as they appear.

Did that, but a combination of my 18v Makita batteries getting tired, and I suspect, that power tool being very power hungry means I wasn't getting anywhere fast with that method.