London 1930s semi renovation
Discussion
It's not even made it to my spam folder. Maybe try me on https://www.facebook.com/darren.franks and we can swap details?
Have some more rubbish iPhone photos courtesy of Lady F. Hobs about to go in.
But problems due to moron electrician, who seems to have placed switch and double socket backboxes right above/next to the hotzone, where the splashback should be. And who has failed to turn up to work for a week, holding everything back. Common sense is utterly lacking - which is not what you want in the person wiring your house. I think he sent his apprentice in to do this bit, and the guy is completely brainless.
Honestly, the only problems I have had have been with my English plumber and electrician. The Polish dudes turn up at 8am every day and work hard. Our home-grown talent? Not so much.
hobs by baconrashers, on Flickr
Andrej templating for hob fitment, looking grumpy as usual. His work is genuinely excellent - OCD eye for detail and finish. Doesn't smile much, though. Is very cross with the electrician.
andrew hobb by baconrashers, on Flickr
But problems due to moron electrician, who seems to have placed switch and double socket backboxes right above/next to the hotzone, where the splashback should be. And who has failed to turn up to work for a week, holding everything back. Common sense is utterly lacking - which is not what you want in the person wiring your house. I think he sent his apprentice in to do this bit, and the guy is completely brainless.
Honestly, the only problems I have had have been with my English plumber and electrician. The Polish dudes turn up at 8am every day and work hard. Our home-grown talent? Not so much.
hobs by baconrashers, on FlickrAndrej templating for hob fitment, looking grumpy as usual. His work is genuinely excellent - OCD eye for detail and finish. Doesn't smile much, though. Is very cross with the electrician.
andrew hobb by baconrashers, on FlickrEdited by Harry Flashman on Monday 3rd October 13:37
Harry Flashman said:
Honestly, the only problems I have had have been with my English plumber and electrician. The Polish dudes turn up at 8am every day and work hard. Our home-grown talent? Not so much.
I've had a number of big jobs done by Brits. The first one was breathtakingly incompetent. The other two were con men/criminals specialising in running off with my money or other people's money. Or just not turning up. Or running away. Or all of the above.The last two renovations have been done by Polish builders and it's night and day. On time, on budget, to spec and very easy to deal with.
The short list for the next job is now down to a Polish team and a Lithuanian one.....
EDIT; you house is looking great.
Harry Flashman said:
Honestly, the only problems I have had have been with my English plumber and electrician. The Polish dudes turn up at 8am every day and work hard. Our home-grown talent? Not so much.
Yeah, but they've come over and taken our jobs, innit! 
House is looking awesome HF!
Another vanity starts to go in. Main work is on finishing the kitchen and laying patio, as well as plastering reception rooms and preparing fireplaces for stoves. We think we're still about a month away, though. Once he guys are done inside, external rendering starts, and we start turning the white box into something decorated - the fun bit...
Harry Flashman said:
Another vanity starts to go in. Main work is on finishing the kitchen and laying patio, as well as plastering reception rooms and preparing fireplaces for stoves. We think we're still about a month away, though. Once he guys are done inside, external rendering starts, and we start turning the white box into something decorated - the fun bit...
Someone's got some great ideas.Wondering if it's you or the Mrs.
In my case it's the Mrs. She hoovers up ideas from Elle Deco and comes up with all sorts of things which sound odd nut look great.
It's me, mainly. I'm obsessed with interior design and spend far too much time on it. Lady F will be responsible for colour schemes and soft furnishings etc - all the stuff that will be required to make this place a well designed home after the hardware goes in. But I doubt I'll be able to resist interfering...
Builders very happy after I brought them 400 Marlboro Lights back from a trip in the US last week. Many smiles this morning.
They smoke incessantly - though a little present would help motivate them. I let them smoke in the house as there are no soft furnishings, and it encourages them to work fag-in-hand rather than stand outside taking a break!
Internal smoking ban commences when carpets are fitted upstairs...
Builders very happy after I brought them 400 Marlboro Lights back from a trip in the US last week. Many smiles this morning.
They smoke incessantly - though a little present would help motivate them. I let them smoke in the house as there are no soft furnishings, and it encourages them to work fag-in-hand rather than stand outside taking a break!
Internal smoking ban commences when carpets are fitted upstairs...
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 17th October 22:04
I realise that updates are not very cohesive - once the place starts to look like a home I will do some before and after stuff. In the meantime, here is the slab of marble chosen for the kitchen island. It is a 3m x 1.8m piece, and the cool hoist thing in the warehouse gave me geeky thrills. The island will be 2.9m x 1.5m, and offcuts will be used to make up stands, and tops for the cisterns of the wall hung loos...
They had some seriously nice pieces of stone in this place (I have a real thing for natural materials like wood and stone - not such a fan of stone effect porcelain, engineered quartz, Corian etc). But the cost of some of the slabs I saw was pretty eyewatering. This particular marble was not awful - cheaper than engineered quartz or Corian, for example. Will need more care though.
They had some seriously nice pieces of stone in this place (I have a real thing for natural materials like wood and stone - not such a fan of stone effect porcelain, engineered quartz, Corian etc). But the cost of some of the slabs I saw was pretty eyewatering. This particular marble was not awful - cheaper than engineered quartz or Corian, for example. Will need more care though.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 17th October 22:07
Harry Flashman said:
I realise that updates are not very cohesive - once the place starts to look like a home I will do some before and after stuff. In the meantime, here is the slab of marble chosen for the kitchen island. It is a 3m x 1.8m piece, and the cool hoist thing in the warehouse gave me geeky thrills. The island will be 2.9m x 1.5m, and offcuts will be used to make up stands, and tops for the cisterns of the wall hung loos...
They had some seriously nice pieces of stone in this place (I have a real thing for natural materials like wood and stone - not such a fan of stone effect porcelain, engineered quartz, Corian etc). But the cost of some of the slabs I saw was pretty eyewatering. This particular marble was not awful - cheaper than engineered quartz or Corian, for example. Will need more care though.
Thats stunning Harry. Can't wait to see a picture of it installed.They had some seriously nice pieces of stone in this place (I have a real thing for natural materials like wood and stone - not such a fan of stone effect porcelain, engineered quartz, Corian etc). But the cost of some of the slabs I saw was pretty eyewatering. This particular marble was not awful - cheaper than engineered quartz or Corian, for example. Will need more care though.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 17th October 22:07
The whole house is coming along really well. When is the opening party again? :-)
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