Thatched cottage project (Cambs)

[mattnovak]

Should be fun! Total basket case. Had the keys for a couple of weeks and it’s a much larger project than we anticipated. Plus, I work in finance and Mrs Novak is a Doctor, so we’re not exactly old hands at renovation. God loves a trier though, right? I have a whole load of progress so far pics which I’ll post over a bottle of Barolo tonight if anyone is interested?

[illmonkey]

I'm in, crack that bottle and get posting!

[Mexman]

Bring it on!!!
Love these threads, particularly older properties, the stuff you can find stuffed into crevices and other spaces is fascinating.
We live in a 200 year old cottage, and when renovating found all sorts of fascinating stuff, newspapers from long forgotten times etc, old oil lamps hidden in the loft space, etc..

[mattnovak]

The rear of the property has a ‘later’ extension. Given that the house is 1750’s, the surveyors best guess is that the extension is Georgian.

[magooagain]

Great! I love a thatch with a sparrow board.

[monkfish1]

Nice.

Make sure you treat it right though. This place is useful: https://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewforum.p...

[anonymous-user]

More pictures please. How's the thatch? Dodson Brothers are the boys for that!

[mattnovak]

Check out how dirty the dining room carpet is! The former owner had 2 dogs and a cat... and I’m not sure she ever cleaned! Carpets are all out now.

[mattnovak]

....just paint around the furniture

[Alucidnation]

That room has fallen over!

[Jobbo]

Looking forward to this

The extension is fascinating- better than a 1950s lean-to with corrugated asbestos roof though!

[j80jpw]

This looks very familiar but I cant quite put my finger on the location.

So much character, will be cracking when done but i'm sure you will be a few pounds lighter, in both senses!

(not related to a Laura and James with the same surname are you?)

[Last Visit]

As a thatched house owner myself I'm going to love this thread, looking forward to seeing how this develops OP.

[sagarich]

Love a renovation thread, my sister has just taken on a thatched project and will be watching with interest.

[Herbs]

Nice!

Just pulled out of purchasing a thatched cottage so looking forward to following this.

Good luck.

[mattnovak]

Thanks for the responses all. Couple of quick answers:

Emma - thatch is watertight but will need doing shortly, this will form part of a larger project as we open up a bedroom into the eaves and generally fix the upstairs walls. Plus it looks a mess!

J80jpw - it’s a CB24 postcode

In the short term, Christmas is looming so we’re focusing on getting it habitable for us and guests. We originally thought we could salvage the original carpets and replace them in the new year, but it was obvious in the first few days of cleaning that they’d all have to go.

Pretty sweet inglenook:

[mattnovak]

When I said the previous owner wasn’t particularly fastidious about cleaning.... this is from behind a radiator in the kitchen! This theme continued throughout the house.

[crankedup]

monkfish1 said:

Nice.

Make sure you treat it right though. This place is useful: https://www.periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewforum.p...

Pleased to see the website being recommended, it is full of useful and interesting info’.

[mattnovak]

Both sides of the chimney - first pic is the landing side, second is the master bedroom. De-carpeted and gripper rods now also gone. Lovely floor to cover up!

[mattnovak]

Missing first picture from previous post!