Kenny's Grand Design
Discussion
So, is there any interest in another construction thread or has this been done to death here? We are doing something slightly different in that it doesn't involve altering our own house, or building a house to live in, but we are converting an old granary into a guest house/holiday accommodation. It is also being done professionally i.e. not by Mr Damage It Myself in my spare time, so hopefully the process will be relatively painless!
If there are a few "yay,bring it on!"s, I will start posting up pics of progress.
If there are a few "yay,bring it on!"s, I will start posting up pics of progress.
Righty ho, this is what we are starting off with which is an old disused granary round at the back of our place. Most of my photographs are on another computer that I am away from for a couple of days so I will post a load more showing progress at the weekend.
When we first got hold of it, there was a full height steel grain silo sitting slap bang in the middle of it, so that was a few days of amusement involving manly power tools and brute force on the demolition front to get rid of it.
The intention is to turn it into holiday accommodation with 3 double bedrooms with ensuite facilities, underfloor heating, wood burning stove, insulated for cosiness to the nth degree, and an open plan kitchen/dining/sitting area, opening out into a rear conservatory. There will be 2 bedrooms upstairs and one downstairs with a full height void in the middle and a full height window in the rear elevation. Might be difficult to envisage from this description, but it will be clearer when I can get more photos up.
Biggest problem to date has been the local planners; despite this a)being derelict b)unused for 15 years, c)not listed, d)not in an area of outstanding natural beauty or special scientific interest or in a national park e)no objections from any neighbors, nearly 2 years to get consent in an area where the creation of tourism generating business is a planning priority. Madness!
When we first got hold of it, there was a full height steel grain silo sitting slap bang in the middle of it, so that was a few days of amusement involving manly power tools and brute force on the demolition front to get rid of it.
The intention is to turn it into holiday accommodation with 3 double bedrooms with ensuite facilities, underfloor heating, wood burning stove, insulated for cosiness to the nth degree, and an open plan kitchen/dining/sitting area, opening out into a rear conservatory. There will be 2 bedrooms upstairs and one downstairs with a full height void in the middle and a full height window in the rear elevation. Might be difficult to envisage from this description, but it will be clearer when I can get more photos up.
Biggest problem to date has been the local planners; despite this a)being derelict b)unused for 15 years, c)not listed, d)not in an area of outstanding natural beauty or special scientific interest or in a national park e)no objections from any neighbors, nearly 2 years to get consent in an area where the creation of tourism generating business is a planning priority. Madness!
matc said:
That's a lovely looking building, would love something like that sat out the back of my place doing nothing!
It was only doing nothing by virtue of the previous owners who apparently, despite living slap bang in the middle of lovely countryside, rarely left the house and made no use of the building other than for dumping junk in. I took one look at it when we first saw the place and thought, petrolhead mode on, 5 bay garage, put in a first floor and outfit with gym, bar, cinema and big boy's playroom etc. Unfortunately, the cold winds of economic reality soon set in, and as the Lotto balls machine seems to be in a permanent state of denial in regard to my numbers, the building will have to earn it's keep, hence the project.
Roof slates and purlins stripped off for insulation etc. An unpleasant surprise awaits our hero as work progesses though!
And now, an even bigger hole
At this point, the building looks like a derelict ruin, with just 4 walls held together by some timbers. Good thing we are not in windy season!
That entire hole will be filled in with full height glazing which will give loads of natural light and views down the valley behind.
And now, an even bigger hole
At this point, the building looks like a derelict ruin, with just 4 walls held together by some timbers. Good thing we are not in windy season!That entire hole will be filled in with full height glazing which will give loads of natural light and views down the valley behind.
NIce crack! Oooh matron etc
Caused by many a year's rainwater discharging from a downpipe straight into the ground; nothing a spot of underpinning and stitching won't cure.
And now, a telephone conversation;
Ring ring:
Our hero, for it is he: "Hello"
Caller: "Hello, it is Mr Architect, you know your roof?"
OH: "Yeeesssss?"
MA: "Well, all the rafters need to be replaced, they are undersized, so won't take the loadings of the new roof covering"
OH: "fffffffffffffffffccccccccccccccccuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuukkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Contingency mice at work already!
Still, new rafters already going in, which is pretty much where we got to at the end of this week. More to follow as developments, well, develop
Caused by many a year's rainwater discharging from a downpipe straight into the ground; nothing a spot of underpinning and stitching won't cure.
And now, a telephone conversation;
Ring ring:
Our hero, for it is he: "Hello"
Caller: "Hello, it is Mr Architect, you know your roof?"
OH: "Yeeesssss?"
MA: "Well, all the rafters need to be replaced, they are undersized, so won't take the loadings of the new roof covering"
OH: "fffffffffffffffffccccccccccccccccuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuukkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Contingency mice at work already!
Still, new rafters already going in, which is pretty much where we got to at the end of this week. More to follow as developments, well, develop
roofer said:
Why was every second rafter not just doubled up?
We looked at ways and means of getting around this, and at the end of the day there was only a £1500 difference between a bodge job and replacing all the rafters so that they were the right size for the job so the decision was let's do it properly. I don't know when this building was put up, but it was originally an agricultural building so I suspect the specification was put together with a bit of string and a half chewed pencil.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff