House renovation and garage build
Discussion
After some advice on my other thread I've applied some Ronseal Damp/Stain proof paint and cracked on with painting the rest of the room. We're going to wait a bit before getting the carpet fitted, so if the damp does show through it won't be too much trouble to get the chimney breast replastered. There are also a few jobs we can continue between walls being painted and carpet fitting, new radiator, curtains etc.
The damp proof paint hasn't worked
Damp starting to show through again by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
It looks like we're back to the drawing board on the damp, probably also at the limit of my skills too. We're going to finish painting the rest of the room, but get a professional (not sure what/who I need to look for though) to sort the damp.
The garage is also getting a bit damp, more of the roofing felt has blown off. I'll try to sort that as best as I can - it only needs to last a matter of weeks.
Damp starting to show through again by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
It looks like we're back to the drawing board on the damp, probably also at the limit of my skills too. We're going to finish painting the rest of the room, but get a professional (not sure what/who I need to look for though) to sort the damp.
The garage is also getting a bit damp, more of the roofing felt has blown off. I'll try to sort that as best as I can - it only needs to last a matter of weeks.
The guys that fitted the stove (and tidied up the chimney) came to have a look at the damp, they claim it isn't anything to do with what they have done. So the next stage is to get a damp specialist round. Hopefully it will be next week, but both of us a really busy with work at the moment. I also spoke to our neighbour about the damp (as our chimneys are back to back), it sounds like she has had lots of damp problems over the years, mainly around the bay windows (luckily ours are fine) and in the fitted wardrobe in the front bedroom - this second one worries me a bit, as this backs onto the fitted wardrobes in what will be our master bedroom.
Other than that it has been nice to have a weekend off working on the house, although there has been a bit of shopping, more paint so we can finish off the front room, speaker stands for the home cinema set up and we looked at carpets.
The other jobs of the weekend are to get the missing door ordered - we've found some the right style, but in either solid pine or oak veneer, bearing mind we're going to paint them would the solid pine be best? We also need to order the latches and a lot of knobs
Other than that it has been nice to have a weekend off working on the house, although there has been a bit of shopping, more paint so we can finish off the front room, speaker stands for the home cinema set up and we looked at carpets.
The other jobs of the weekend are to get the missing door ordered - we've found some the right style, but in either solid pine or oak veneer, bearing mind we're going to paint them would the solid pine be best? We also need to order the latches and a lot of knobs
The Char said:
You can't really paint a veneered one, info from our builder. What size are you after?
Thanks for that, we hadn't really thought about that. We're after a 77"x30". What are you doing for doors?
Actually, is your builder any good? We're going to need someone to build our garage in the near future.
The damp proofing has started:
Damp proofing on the chimney breast by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Damp proofing on the chimney breast by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
It is getting skimmed tomorrow, now that we've got over this small hurdle it feels like we're a lot nearer to getting the room finished.
Damp proofing on the chimney breast by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Damp proofing on the chimney breast by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
It is getting skimmed tomorrow, now that we've got over this small hurdle it feels like we're a lot nearer to getting the room finished.
The patched up wall has been skimmed and is starting to dry:
Damp patches plastered up by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The plaster seems to match the paint perfectly, not are how that happened!
We're not doing any more painting until the chimney breast is totally dry - up to 2 weeks apparently, so have been looking at the next steps. Curtains, carpet and furniture to go in the alcoves. Unfortunately, starting from a blank room means there is way too much choice, so it isn't a quick process. We got a quote on some curtains we liked, but at £650 I didn't like them that much! Quotes for carpet have come in around the £500 mark, so surely curtains shouldn't be more expensive.
Before we actually get some curtains I need to fit the curtain poles, which I think may be tricky given that it is a bay window. There isn't room for the brackets to fit above the window frame, so I am either going to have to mount them to the window frame, or into the wall behind the window frame (i.e. drill through the frame and plug the wall). Is there a best way to tackle this?
Window frame by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Damp patches plastered up by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The plaster seems to match the paint perfectly, not are how that happened!
We're not doing any more painting until the chimney breast is totally dry - up to 2 weeks apparently, so have been looking at the next steps. Curtains, carpet and furniture to go in the alcoves. Unfortunately, starting from a blank room means there is way too much choice, so it isn't a quick process. We got a quote on some curtains we liked, but at £650 I didn't like them that much! Quotes for carpet have come in around the £500 mark, so surely curtains shouldn't be more expensive.
Before we actually get some curtains I need to fit the curtain poles, which I think may be tricky given that it is a bay window. There isn't room for the brackets to fit above the window frame, so I am either going to have to mount them to the window frame, or into the wall behind the window frame (i.e. drill through the frame and plug the wall). Is there a best way to tackle this?
Window frame by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
There hasn't been much visible progress recently, other than waiting for the replastered chimney breast to dry. We've got the next 2 weekends set aside to finish the front room, then a couple of days booked off work at the end of the month to get the carpet fitted and furniture delivered.
The plan had been to get fitted furniture in both the alcoves, but that looked like it was going to be quite expensive, so we have decided on some Ikea bookshelves that will fit nicely and leave more money in the garage fund.
Talking of the garage, I have been using my time to get a lot of the planning done, I'm pretty sure it will be 4x7m, with a flat roof, I would need planning permission for a pitched roof, so going to avoid that. I've been put off wood garages, because of the need to keep treating them and concrete/metal garage look a bit too industrial. So it will either be brick or block and rendered, not sure which yet.
I've drawn some plans in sketch up to get a better idea of how it will look.
Now:
Current Garden Layout by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Photo from the back bedroom:
Lawn Recovering by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Photo looking back towards the house:
Treated Lawn by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The plans I've drawn have been from the verandah supports forwards, the verandah and patio is a job for next year!
A few options for how the garden could look with the new garage:
Options for how the garden will look once the garage has been built by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
For now I've got the garage in the same position, but that may get tweaked later, it is 1.2m wider and 1.5m longer than the existing garage. It has to stay on the right of the garden, as that is where the access is. This means that the gate will have to be on the left, which is unfortunate as the path needs to stay on the right, due to the door/outside loo etc, so I've tried to look at how the lawn can be shaped a bit, to cut the corner off. With a small patio in front of the garage.
I'm planning on building the raise bed near the verandah out of Woodblocx - another good recommendation from PH, they look like they'll be a lot easier to use than normal garden sleepers, but not actually that much more expensive. The idea behind the raised bed is so that we won't need to get rid of all the really good topsoil from the veg plot at the top of the garden. It should look nice, and will be great for growing herbs etc. The bed on the right is also going to be a veg plot, but for the bigger veg, potatoes & pumpkins etc.
Drawing these plans threw up a few questions, hopefully PH can help:
- Is it better to run the armoured cable for the garage electrics under the path, along the back of the veg plot?
- While all the work is being done in the garden, we want to get the fences replaced, can the wall of the garage be the boundary wall?
- If not, it it better to put the new fence up before or after the garage?
The plan had been to get fitted furniture in both the alcoves, but that looked like it was going to be quite expensive, so we have decided on some Ikea bookshelves that will fit nicely and leave more money in the garage fund.
Talking of the garage, I have been using my time to get a lot of the planning done, I'm pretty sure it will be 4x7m, with a flat roof, I would need planning permission for a pitched roof, so going to avoid that. I've been put off wood garages, because of the need to keep treating them and concrete/metal garage look a bit too industrial. So it will either be brick or block and rendered, not sure which yet.
I've drawn some plans in sketch up to get a better idea of how it will look.
Now:
Current Garden Layout by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Photo from the back bedroom:
Lawn Recovering by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Photo looking back towards the house:
Treated Lawn by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The plans I've drawn have been from the verandah supports forwards, the verandah and patio is a job for next year!
A few options for how the garden could look with the new garage:
Options for how the garden will look once the garage has been built by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
For now I've got the garage in the same position, but that may get tweaked later, it is 1.2m wider and 1.5m longer than the existing garage. It has to stay on the right of the garden, as that is where the access is. This means that the gate will have to be on the left, which is unfortunate as the path needs to stay on the right, due to the door/outside loo etc, so I've tried to look at how the lawn can be shaped a bit, to cut the corner off. With a small patio in front of the garage.
I'm planning on building the raise bed near the verandah out of Woodblocx - another good recommendation from PH, they look like they'll be a lot easier to use than normal garden sleepers, but not actually that much more expensive. The idea behind the raised bed is so that we won't need to get rid of all the really good topsoil from the veg plot at the top of the garden. It should look nice, and will be great for growing herbs etc. The bed on the right is also going to be a veg plot, but for the bigger veg, potatoes & pumpkins etc.
Drawing these plans threw up a few questions, hopefully PH can help:
- Is it better to run the armoured cable for the garage electrics under the path, along the back of the veg plot?
- While all the work is being done in the garden, we want to get the fences replaced, can the wall of the garage be the boundary wall?
- If not, it it better to put the new fence up before or after the garage?
Edited by Craikeybaby on Thursday 27th February 13:44
spats said:
Just read the whole thread, and I have to say well done on your work so far.
Our house is slightly smaller version of yours, and we went through a similar renovation. Even had the same internal doors hidden under plain wood like yours!
We've pretty much done the same work as you, replastered everywhere, all the ceilings were replaced and all skirting done (and yes crowbar action was much fun!)
Youve done what i would like to do and put a wood burner into the one remaining fireplace which is in the dining room/ kitchen area. Have you noticed anything negative so far having fitted?
Thanks! How long did your renovation take?Our house is slightly smaller version of yours, and we went through a similar renovation. Even had the same internal doors hidden under plain wood like yours!
We've pretty much done the same work as you, replastered everywhere, all the ceilings were replaced and all skirting done (and yes crowbar action was much fun!)
Youve done what i would like to do and put a wood burner into the one remaining fireplace which is in the dining room/ kitchen area. Have you noticed anything negative so far having fitted?
The woodburner is great, the only problem is that we haven't used it during this recent cold snap, due to it being covered up for the damp proofing work.
felixgogo said:
No problem mate.
I think bins are better a bit nearer the house for day to day use, and a double garage adds more to the value of the house rather than a single - just saying!!
;-)
My girlfriend really likes the sketch you did, so we have some more planning to do. I'd love a double garage, but not too sure that I'd want the only access to the garden to be through the house or garage. I should have added that it is only the garden bin that is stored out the back - the black and recycling bins are stored out at the front of the house.I think bins are better a bit nearer the house for day to day use, and a double garage adds more to the value of the house rather than a single - just saying!!
;-)
campionissimo said:
you definately want bins and wood stores closer to the house. You don't want to be traipsing to the other garden every day to get logs. And get rid of the straight lines. Curves, shrubs and flowers is where it's at.
That is a good point about the woodstore, maybe I will be best keeping it under the verandah where it is now - it should be drier there too.I showed Ian's sketch to Jen and she does like it, although I was accused of trying to get a double garage snuck into the plans 
She came to pretty much the same conclusion as me, it looks really nice, but probably isn't what we want to live with, we still want to keep a decent grass area and the idea is that the bed on the right would be a second veg plot, along with the raised bed.
I'm going to try and do more sketches/plans, taking some more inspiration from Ian, a curved path and some taller plants, in front of the garage/path to nowhere. I'll try to post the sketches later.
I'm also going to see if I can make a double garage work, I want to have a "shed" area within the garage, as we won't have room for an external shed and I don't want all the shed crap cluttering up my garage.
While I'm planning paths and beds etc, how is it best to run the electricity to the garage, it needs to come from the box at the bottom right, is it best to go under the veg plot, or under the path?
She came to pretty much the same conclusion as me, it looks really nice, but probably isn't what we want to live with, we still want to keep a decent grass area and the idea is that the bed on the right would be a second veg plot, along with the raised bed.I'm going to try and do more sketches/plans, taking some more inspiration from Ian, a curved path and some taller plants, in front of the garage/path to nowhere. I'll try to post the sketches later.
I'm also going to see if I can make a double garage work, I want to have a "shed" area within the garage, as we won't have room for an external shed and I don't want all the shed crap cluttering up my garage.
While I'm planning paths and beds etc, how is it best to run the electricity to the garage, it needs to come from the box at the bottom right, is it best to go under the veg plot, or under the path?
Spice_Weasel said:
If you're going to build a double width garage and need a shed/storage area in it, consider putting another access door on, which opens to the storage. This way you'd effectively have an outside cupboard which is part of the garage structure but which is easy to get to and it keeps the shed stuff separated from the garage stuff. I've got one on the side of my house by the back door (it contains the electricity meter too) and it's handy for keeping shed-type stuff in. I keep a broom there plus a few gardening tools for when I need to do a quick job.
I'd run the electricity cable under the path. That way you'll know you're never going to stick a fork/spade through it, even though the cable should be armoured, obviously.
That's what I was thinking, it would be easier for manoeuvring a lawnmower in & out etc. The only thing is there would be two doors, into the double garage if the stud wall was removed (unlikely). I'd run the electricity cable under the path. That way you'll know you're never going to stick a fork/spade through it, even though the cable should be armoured, obviously.
spats said:
We were lucky to take a bit of time. It took nigh on 2 years to get it habitable. the inlaws live walking distance from it so we lived there while doing it up. There was no time scale to begin with but after we found out we had a baby due we had to kick it up a gear and got it ready to live in about a month after he made his appearance.
I think a wood burner will be appearing in ours at some point. Ive already ear marked the spot to build a log store
That's handy, the first year we were a 30 minute drive away, which wasn't ideal, now we live there we always seem to have other stuff on. I think a wood burner will be appearing in ours at some point. Ive already ear marked the spot to build a log store
Just found out I'm meant to be in Japan while the garage is being built, which isn't ideal.
I think it will end up delaying the project for a bit, as the garage is the majority of our rear boundary, we don't want to have the garden open for too long.I've been sketching up some more plans for the garden, but haven't quite got it nailed yet. I thought I'd see how the space inside the garage would work with a full width, but shorter garage - to keep under the 30m2 to avoid building regs.
Garage Options by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
I can see the benefits of both, I also can't see the cost being much different, as the wider garage would mean there is less path to lay.
The benefits of the narrower garage are: path/storage area to the side, so no need to take the bins out through the garage and bin area can be hidden.
The benefits of the full width garage are: it will take up less garden (5m vs 7m) and be more secure.
I was kind of hoping there would be room to stash a second small car in the double garage, but I'd have to lose the shed bit as a lot of the garage floorspace would need to be kept as a clear walkway. I'm going to take a walk down a few of the local back alleys and have a look at what everyone else has done at the weekend.
Jen isn't too convinced about the wider garage, her main issue with it is needing to take things through the garage or the house to get them into the back garden - especially as we will be having the verandah replaced next year. She also made the mistake of showing Ian's sketch to the MIL - who seems to think that everything should be left exactly as her father had it, just replacing the garage for an identical wooden one (which wouldn't be allowed with current regs :roll eyes: ).
What's the PH opinion? Wide or narrow?
Thanks. I'm already going to be pushing the budget keeping it under 30m2, so can't really go bigger.
The option of having the walkway and storage separate to the garage is a possibility, worth looking at.
I hadn't thought about piers for a steel for engine hoist, although I'm not too sure I'll be doing engine swaps. Certainly worth bearing in mind though.
The option of having the walkway and storage separate to the garage is a possibility, worth looking at.
I hadn't thought about piers for a steel for engine hoist, although I'm not too sure I'll be doing engine swaps. Certainly worth bearing in mind though.
Robert Lees said:
interesting topic especially the garage opinions, just started a topic with a query regarding extending my garage carport.
the bigger the better !!
what software did you use for your garage design ?
thanks
I'm going as big as I can without needing planning permission or building regs. the bigger the better !!
what software did you use for your garage design ?
thanks
I used Sketchup for the software - it's free!
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