New restoration project - what have I done!
Discussion
Muncher said:
Budget must be £350k plus I would have thought?
What plans do you have for the exterior, it looks a little "scary" at the moment!
Budget is still being worked on, multiple spreadsheets are ongoing! What plans do you have for the exterior, it looks a little "scary" at the moment!
The outside isn't as bad as it looks in the picture, we have had a lot of snow and rain recently, and the water marking is exaggerated in the pictures.
Exterior plans are to reglaze and refurbish all exterior windows, replace and redesign all down pipes and soil pipes, refurb or replace gutters (not sure until I can get up there and have a look) new external doors, the stone work needs cleaning and some repointing where the gutters have failed, also some repair work on outbuildings. Generally they building inside is dry, structurally very sound and apart from looking a mess in very good condition. Full of false office style suspended ceilings which will all come down!
Grounds wise the Tarmac parking will stay for a while, ready for deliveries, skips and easy access for ladders & cherry pickets. Eventually it will go and the gardens will extend towards the house. There's a lovely lowered and completely private walled patio are which will become the BBQ area, but that's not top of the list unfortunately.
I'll keep the parking area to the right of the house, it'll park 10 cars easy, and that's also where the garage is planned to go. Behind the property will probably stay Tarmac at this stage, no firm plans yet.
The first job is to gut the place, when the school moved out it looks like they simple finished work on day and locked the door! Still covered in paintings, kettles by the sink, toys on the floor, even coats n the kids hooks! It's a bit weird really, like something out of Dr Who!
Griff Boy said:
The first job is to gut the place, when the school moved out it looks like they simple finished work on day and locked the door! Still covered in paintings, kettles by the sink, toys on the floor, even coats n the kids hooks! It's a bit weird really, like something out of Dr Who!
Assuming it closed recently, it might be worth trying to re-unite the owners with the coats and paintings via the school that replaced it. If it was years ago, burn the lot. 
louiebaby said:
Assuming it closed recently, it might be worth trying to re-unite the owners with the coats and paintings via the school that replaced it. If it was years ago, burn the lot.
Unfortunately it closed about 4 years ago..... So I don't think the coats will still fit them! Du1point8 said:
jdw1234 said:
jdw1234 said:
I doff my hat to your ambition in taking this on though!
My house is under half the size of this (4,000sqft) and ceilings not as high.
My gas bill is c.£350 a month alone!! Redoing my place (slowly) is costing a king's ransom.
Apologies, just had gas bill in - we used £582.85 of gas in March!!!!!!My house is under half the size of this (4,000sqft) and ceilings not as high.
My gas bill is c.£350 a month alone!! Redoing my place (slowly) is costing a king's ransom.
f
k me thats a bit steep.Therefore, the £582.85 number should not be representative!
Hi all,
Just thought I'd update this thread. It's been a long process but starting to get to the end of the paperwork and a start to the hardworking!
We have just got confirmation of the listed building consent and planning permission including change of use have all been agreed by the council! So all going ahead again now, hoping to complete in about 6-8weeks!
Still working on designs for the layout, some good progress has been made. Just looking forward to getting my hands dirty! Bad news is that kids have broken into the place, and had a great time wrecking the interior even more. They found boxes of fluorescent tubes and smashed them everywhere, you wouldn't believe the amount of mess that made! Biggest pain is that they stole the keys to the outbuildings, so they have had to be secured, and all outside locks now need changing.. Not impossible, and something we would have done anyway, but a PITA anyway.
So hoping to start showing some more pics in 6-8weeks if all goes well and the solicitors start earning their not inconsiderable wages!
Just thought I'd update this thread. It's been a long process but starting to get to the end of the paperwork and a start to the hardworking!
We have just got confirmation of the listed building consent and planning permission including change of use have all been agreed by the council! So all going ahead again now, hoping to complete in about 6-8weeks!
Still working on designs for the layout, some good progress has been made. Just looking forward to getting my hands dirty! Bad news is that kids have broken into the place, and had a great time wrecking the interior even more. They found boxes of fluorescent tubes and smashed them everywhere, you wouldn't believe the amount of mess that made! Biggest pain is that they stole the keys to the outbuildings, so they have had to be secured, and all outside locks now need changing.. Not impossible, and something we would have done anyway, but a PITA anyway.
So hoping to start showing some more pics in 6-8weeks if all goes well and the solicitors start earning their not inconsiderable wages!
I wish you luck with this huge project. But I must admit I couldn't live there; it's creepy. You can only do so much with a place like that but the reality is the council sound like they are going to be quite invasive and that is when they are trying to sell it to you! Also consider the huge potential delay costs associated with such potential difficulties.
You are a brave man and I hope you have very deep pockets!
You are a brave man and I hope you have very deep pockets!
Griff Boy said:
jdw1234 said:
Quick update - my thermostat is broken!!
Therefore, the £582.85 number should not be representative!
Thank god for that, my wallet clenched when I read that post! Therefore, the £582.85 number should not be representative!
I would not unclench your wallet looking at the size of the place! Good luck!
dasherdiablo1 said:
but the reality is the council sound like they are going to be quite invasive and that is when they are trying to sell it to you
Sound exactly like every council I've ever dealt with to be honest.Fantastic project though - if it was me I'd definitely have some form of "proper" dining area that's separated from the kitchen / lounge.
Are you going to have the stone blasted or chemical cleaned?
dasherdiablo1 said:
I wish you luck with this huge project. But I must admit I couldn't live there; it's creepy. You can only do so much with a place like that but the reality is the council sound like they are going to be quite invasive and that is when they are trying to sell it to you! Also consider the huge potential delay costs associated with such potential difficulties.
You are a brave man and I hope you have very deep pockets!
Ha ha, creepy? Maybe a little bit at the moment, but once the boards are removed from the windows and the light gets in, should be fine! You are a brave man and I hope you have very deep pockets!
I've had a couple of meetings with the listed building guys, and they actually seem fine, we are trying to keep the internal modifications down to a minimum, and only really removing the recent additions, not the original features. The planning and change of use etc are all now in, and the only condition we have been given is to move part of the hedge at the front of the driveway to increase the splay of the opening for line of sight reasons. No other conditions listed at all, which is a bonus! I guess they felt they had to add something.
Costs are within reasonable amounts just now, and as we don't need to apply for a building warrant for any of the work we are free to get started now (once the sale has gone through of course)
Initial groundworks are mainly to fence off the whole plot, something in the region if 180m of timber fencing to go up, depending on whether we can connect on and re use some of the existing fence areas. Glaziers quotes are all in for replacing the missing and broken glass in the 40 odd windows, and surfing underway for a secondhand cherry picker to buy, as it may be cheaper than hiring one for a month!
Just caught up with this thread , looks a great project. Top marks for taking something like this on , watching with interest.
Looking at the size of the house have you thought about a separate fire alarm ? You could cover with mains powered but with 4 large floors to deal with search time to find which one has gone off could be longer than you'd want if there is a problem. Just a thought.
Looking at the size of the house have you thought about a separate fire alarm ? You could cover with mains powered but with 4 large floors to deal with search time to find which one has gone off could be longer than you'd want if there is a problem. Just a thought.
dav123a said:
Just caught up with this thread , looks a great project. Top marks for taking something like this on , watching with interest.
Looking at the size of the house have you thought about a separate fire alarm ? You could cover with mains powered but with 4 large floors to deal with search time to find which one has gone off could be longer than you'd want if there is a problem. Just a thought.
Pfft, who needs a fire alarm when I've got one of these!Looking at the size of the house have you thought about a separate fire alarm ? You could cover with mains powered but with 4 large floors to deal with search time to find which one has gone off could be longer than you'd want if there is a problem. Just a thought.
On a serious note, good idea, will look into this!
Firstly, sorry for the delays in updating! It's been a loooooooong journey dealing with the council and planning, but just about there now.
All good to go to complete with the purchase next Friday, so hopefully, if all goes to plan I'll be the proud owner of a bloody great big lump of expensive stonework by end of next week!
So far I've had to battle planners to get an approved change of use to residential, planners for the listed building consent to do the interior work, and then wait 2 months for a planning meeting to happen to get some answers to every application! Complete some changes and then wait another two months for them to deign to have another look at the plans! Finally got them to agree with everything I wanted, except the fact that I have to cut the hedge down as it's too high.... Apparently I won't be able to see over a hedge at the end of the driveway if it's more than 1.1m tall..... Did tell them I have a 4x4 so height isn't an issue, but it didn't make a difference... :-)
Unfortunately it's now going through at pretty much the worst time of the year, as it'll be Baltic to work on it over the next few months, it was -3 here yesterday morning!
So, if anyone's keen to watch the probable snail like level of progress over the next few months then I should be able to start showing some pictures of the work shortly! If I don't, it's because I'll be in the mental institution for rehab! The projects starting to take over my brain, I even woke up the other night at 04.00 dreaming about down pipes and guttering layouts! Bloody saddo!
All good to go to complete with the purchase next Friday, so hopefully, if all goes to plan I'll be the proud owner of a bloody great big lump of expensive stonework by end of next week!
So far I've had to battle planners to get an approved change of use to residential, planners for the listed building consent to do the interior work, and then wait 2 months for a planning meeting to happen to get some answers to every application! Complete some changes and then wait another two months for them to deign to have another look at the plans! Finally got them to agree with everything I wanted, except the fact that I have to cut the hedge down as it's too high.... Apparently I won't be able to see over a hedge at the end of the driveway if it's more than 1.1m tall..... Did tell them I have a 4x4 so height isn't an issue, but it didn't make a difference... :-)
Unfortunately it's now going through at pretty much the worst time of the year, as it'll be Baltic to work on it over the next few months, it was -3 here yesterday morning!
So, if anyone's keen to watch the probable snail like level of progress over the next few months then I should be able to start showing some pictures of the work shortly! If I don't, it's because I'll be in the mental institution for rehab! The projects starting to take over my brain, I even woke up the other night at 04.00 dreaming about down pipes and guttering layouts! Bloody saddo!
Well, Ive done it!
Sales gone through today, and its now mine!got the keys, and loaded my van with gear ready to go!
Getting started on the rip out tomorrow, the calls gone out to my mates and the curry and beer are ordered!
Should be good to start posting pictures soon, as long as you guys are interested in seeing the progress of this mammoth project??
Sales gone through today, and its now mine!got the keys, and loaded my van with gear ready to go!
Getting started on the rip out tomorrow, the calls gone out to my mates and the curry and beer are ordered!
Should be good to start posting pictures soon, as long as you guys are interested in seeing the progress of this mammoth project??
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