My House Refurb (House Purchase 8/10/2013)

[Du1point8]

comms room is the first thing I will do if I ever move...

Im a little bit geeky like that.

[theaxe]

Too Late said:

Comms room still needs to be patched correctly. I have a multimeter to make sure i am patching the correct cat6 to the correct patch port

Testers like this one are a handy alternative as they test the connections, and with a few 'remote' units they can help you identify which port is which too.

I got one with two remote units for around £25 but I can't remember where...

[Pheo]

theaxe said:

Testers like this one are a handy alternative as they test the connections, and with a few 'remote' units they can help you identify which port is which too.

I got one with two remote units for around £25 but I can't remember where...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ETHERNET-NETWORK-CAT5E-CABLE-TESTER/dp/B007CJUEDA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427829486&sr=8-1&keywords=Cat5+tester

Or the cheapa$$ version I went for, which also works fine

• NB in process of installing comms room under the stairs!

[Too Late]

Pheo said:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ETHERNET-NETWORK-CAT5E-CAB...

Or the cheapa$$ version I went for, which also works fine

• NB in process of installing comms room under the stairs!

£3. That's so cheap... At the moment, the cat6 isn't terminated out of the wall as I am yet to find sockets I like

Thanks for the link though..

N

[mikeiow]

Wow! Looks great!
How die are the bifold doors please?
I think earlier on you suggested the big one was 6 panels at 4200, so around 700 each, but clearly they turned into 5 fold, so are they around 800?
Are the uPVC or some other ?

Thanks, looking good!

[Too Late]

mikeiow said:

Wow! Looks great!
How die are the bifold doors please?
I think earlier on you suggested the big one was 6 panels at 4200, so around 700 each, but clearly they turned into 5 fold, so are they around 800?
Are the uPVC or some other ?

Thanks, looking good!

Hi sorry for the late reply. They are Aluminuim doors

Hi,
I havent forgotten to post but its a long struggle to have the energy at the moment
The extractor fan arrived from Italy.




Pain in the bum to put up as the plug which was put in for the extractor was to low. So i had to move it up a few inches... Sigh

Bathroom RaspBerryPi2 now installed in the airing cupboard and wokring


Ensuite now tiled and finished




[URL='http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/nickwells2/media/IMG_20150430_200342_zpsuhyq7ksq.jpg.html']

[/URL]

Doors installed


But we are still waiting on the final door to arrive

Rain water drainage to soakaway has now been partially dug



Still a lot to do!

[snobetter]

Looks great, sounds like you need the final push to the end now (if all my watching Grand Designs is right).
I see you took over the build, I guess due to costs, do you think the QS quote was about right now and your original builder was being optimistic, or was it other factors?
Or tell me to mind my own business...

[BoostMonkey]

Who supplied your tiles in the bathroom (Topps or Walls and Floors?)

[Rabbington On]

House looks fabulous -is the monocouche just the standard white?

[Willeh85]

what is the pi in the bathroom going to do?

[Too Late]

Willeh85 said:

what is the pi in the bathroom going to do?

We have a TV in the bathroom, rather than running Coaxil and Ethernet to it i kept in simple and just ran a 10m HDMi to the Pi2. this has openelec on and i can access live TV/shows and films from there.

Thanks
N

[Too Late]

Rabbington On said:

House looks fabulous -is the monocouche just the standard white?

Thanks!

Its Blanco white
The guy who applied it did tell the builder who failed to inform me that Blanco White isnt forgiving when applied. He advised to use an off white or solid colour

Shame we weren't made aware...

[Too Late]

BoostMonkey said:

Who supplied your tiles in the bathroom (Topps or Walls and Floors?)

Topps tiles sell them but they are very expensive in there
We tend to use http://www.tilemountain.co.uk/catalogsearch/result...

Best prices we found

[Too Late]

snobetter said:

Looks great, sounds like you need the final push to the end now (if all my watching Grand Designs is right).
I see you took over the build, I guess due to costs, do you think the QS quote was about right now and your original builder was being optimistic, or was it other factors?
Or tell me to mind my own business...

Hi
The QS is going to be closer than what we were originally told to expect by the builder

I think it was a factor of a couple of things:
- The builder convinced us to go on a day rate, this royal fubard us up. Weeks would go by when we were dropping 6-9k every week and i cant tell you how worried we got when the money dried up.
- Although the work our build produced was to a very high standard, he was slow. being on this dayrate dried up most of the the funds.
- He also used his contacts for 3rd party works, screeding, roofing, plastering. I feel had he gone out and tendered for the jobs we would have saved some money. He was also the project manager for the site...
- We were very naive
- He also fractured his leg so for 8 weeks he was onsite in a cast working less while his partner worked.

Another factor in the build was the bank had agreed to lend on the house. everything was done and we updated the bank on the progress. Once the surveyor arrived after failed attempts to get the bank to schedule it, when the surveyor arrived the roof was off and the kitchen was in the skip. He valued our house at £0. Un-mortgageable.

We had a pot of 50k, we wanted another 50k out to give us 100k for the build.

The 50k went so quickly. i cant tell anyone how quick the pounds went and it was a scary place. We borrowed from family to limp us over to a mortgageable state. we didnt scrimp but we made some compromises. We are at about 105k spend on the house at the moment i think.

I dont regret anything. but if i could go back i would alter some bits.
I had a very close friend do alot of the brick work, we have now fallen out and dont speak.
I would work to the QS report and any saving would be cash in the pocket as a bonus.
The architect was slacking and i wish i had kicked up more.
I wish i had gone to tender and used a fixed rate contract.

This project was the first on this size we had done. The wife has vowed never to do this again. I would love to do it again.

Oh well i am still slogging away in evenings and weekends at the place, rain water drainage needs doing. Still. Its my birthday this week and the wife has a surprise holiday booked for me (shhhh its new york! and i have never been)... A break i definitely need at the moment!

[snobetter]

Cheers,useful info for when we finally do our extension. Glad it's worked out for you now!

[Too Late]

A quick update.
Progressing with skirting and architrave. Nothing to rave about really.

I had to install a concrete lintel in the fire place.
I also had to clear some old brick from the back of the fireplace before i start tiling it. God, it was hard work





The glass arrived for the stairs and Thursday i helped the carpenter fit it with the oak handrail. All i need to do now is stain the wood and clean the glass!









I also fitted the TV onto the wall this weekend
Looking for a sound bar at the moment







Then i had a small leak in the manifold upstairs. Looked like it had been leaking a while as the spare carpet i laid in there was damp, fixed now though





This weeks Jobs
Finish putting the skirting on in the 2 remaining bedrooms.
prep walls in study and games room for painting.
Paint games rooms and study.

I want to build something like this in the study

Thanks
N

[Too Late]

So a quick update.

Its probably easier to speak to Winston Churchill than it is my plasterer..
Gable is still outstanding. And last night around when it got really dark, i checked the weather forecast and saw rain so i have gaffer taped a sheet over it to protect it.


The Oak Window Sills arrived and now oiled and installed.


The Games rooms has a splash of colour



The wood burner was installed but with a bit BUT. it arrived with a big chip so i am now waiting for the end of October for them to replace it.







Bricks have arrived for the walls being build down each side of the drive. Jewsons were selling these at £1600ish per 2,000 bricks. We got them for £1000 so a good saving



Foundations and power laid

[img]http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s561/nickwells2/Audi%20Q3/IMG_20151003_180918_zpsamje8yaf.jpg

Before the carpet was laid, i had an issue of a small gap between the stairs and the floor, there was also a small heigh difference. I used 20 or so small lengths of wood and PVA'ed them down, then once they dried i set the sander on it!



I FINISHED all the guttering and rain water drainage.
Yepeee



Testing the run before dismantling and laying the pea shingle then laying the pipe again:

[Too Late]

Thread Revival....

I thought i would add some more updated notes to my build thread

Built a desk from a length of Oak for the study




A few pictures go up


Cracking on with the drive






5ton of stone arrived (wife was now in labour so had to work fast!!)


I still need to fill this void above all 3 bifold doors.. Any ideas with what? i was thinking of a bit of sharp sand and cement?


The Snug/Theatre room







There is a thread on my raised slate patio so here are a few shots






Also posted a question on PH about cutting 2 kitchen doors down to make a corner door, heres the result


Slate has now arrived, just need to work out quantities of sand and dust


Worktops go in Thursday. Still need to do a bit of painting and filling until its all finished

Edited by Too Late on Tuesday 28th June 08:39

[5potTurbo]

WOW! What a transformation!

From this:


To this:



Brilliant job, OP, really!!

[8-P]

Great job, totally unrecognisable