My Extension and Garage Build Project
Discussion
Time for some more progress - and the brickwork is now essentially complete on the shell - all gables done, with just the top of the gable for the bedroom to finish once the timbers are in place. We also have felt and lats in place ready for tiles to start going on (which is the plan for today)
Hoping that it stays dry now, as the next job is to remove the slates from part of the house roof to put in the valley wall plate for the bedroom and then get the timbers in - the plan being to get the roof plate done late today, and then they'll get the timbers done tomorrow. Expecting that we will be watertight very soon!
Hoping that it stays dry now, as the next job is to remove the slates from part of the house roof to put in the valley wall plate for the bedroom and then get the timbers in - the plan being to get the roof plate done late today, and then they'll get the timbers done tomorrow. Expecting that we will be watertight very soon!
More updates - the first two veluxes are in, and the tiles are going on...
Decided to have explore the top level of the scaffold and see how things look from above too!
Garage roof and view beyond
Bedroom coming together
Slates removed in preparation for putting timbers on here tomorrow...
Amazing the difference all of these changes are making towards visualising the finished article!
Had to nip out tonight and get some more satellite coax ready for morning - as I need to move the dish for a second time, to make sure it is clear of where the flue for the log burner will go - and I need to take a pair of feeds down into the new room too, so will get those added while I am at it.
Decided to have explore the top level of the scaffold and see how things look from above too!
Garage roof and view beyond
Bedroom coming together
Slates removed in preparation for putting timbers on here tomorrow...
Amazing the difference all of these changes are making towards visualising the finished article!
Had to nip out tonight and get some more satellite coax ready for morning - as I need to move the dish for a second time, to make sure it is clear of where the flue for the log burner will go - and I need to take a pair of feeds down into the new room too, so will get those added while I am at it.
The stackpipe is going to be sorted out - that is the original location, and it will be suitably re-arranged once the roof is sorted (so it doesn't exit through the valley - probably going out through the window wall, something that the builders have noted needs sorting to allow it to vent, without impacting that critical bit of the roof.
It's time for an overdue update too - as much has been happening, but it's been busy times getting stuff sorted here, so I haven't managed to update the thread, so here goes!
Since the last update, the joiner has been here and has sorted out the bedroom roof timbers
Looking into the new bedroom
I moved the satellite dish (for the second time - it was originally below the roofline - then I moved it to the right of the window) so that it won't be in the way of the flue for the stove, and also took the opportunity to run a spare double feed for the TV in the new room
We have tiles on most of the garage (the bit closer to the camera needed a box gutter sorting, and has scaffold legs for the upper area going through, so has to wait!)
Had the waterboard out to replace the old stopcock which wouldn't turn off - which will be critical when it comes time to get the plumber in, as the internal stopcock has got to be moved!
The gable on the bedroom was built up and the roof as been tiled apart from the last row of the old roof down to the valley.
Then on Friday, we had windows installed (as the window fitter is away on holiday now for a week, so wanted to get these sorted before he went - doors and bifolds to be done as soon as he's back...)
Bedroom from inside
rear view from the garden
downstairs loo window
study window
Garage window
The plan is to finish the bedroom roof tomorrow, and then cut out the outer skin of bricks for the bedroom door before the upper scaffold comes down, then finish the roof and get the scaffold gone this week. Next will be prep for the sub-floors in the downstairs rooms, before doors go in, and then walls can start to come down!
It's time for an overdue update too - as much has been happening, but it's been busy times getting stuff sorted here, so I haven't managed to update the thread, so here goes!
Since the last update, the joiner has been here and has sorted out the bedroom roof timbers
Looking into the new bedroom
I moved the satellite dish (for the second time - it was originally below the roofline - then I moved it to the right of the window) so that it won't be in the way of the flue for the stove, and also took the opportunity to run a spare double feed for the TV in the new room
We have tiles on most of the garage (the bit closer to the camera needed a box gutter sorting, and has scaffold legs for the upper area going through, so has to wait!)
Had the waterboard out to replace the old stopcock which wouldn't turn off - which will be critical when it comes time to get the plumber in, as the internal stopcock has got to be moved!
The gable on the bedroom was built up and the roof as been tiled apart from the last row of the old roof down to the valley.
Then on Friday, we had windows installed (as the window fitter is away on holiday now for a week, so wanted to get these sorted before he went - doors and bifolds to be done as soon as he's back...)
Bedroom from inside
rear view from the garden
downstairs loo window
study window
Garage window
The plan is to finish the bedroom roof tomorrow, and then cut out the outer skin of bricks for the bedroom door before the upper scaffold comes down, then finish the roof and get the scaffold gone this week. Next will be prep for the sub-floors in the downstairs rooms, before doors go in, and then walls can start to come down!
Some more progress from today - the bedroom roof is now sorted (apart from a little bit of pointing), and the upper level of scaffold is down! Also got the third Velux in, and more tiles on the roof.
and from inside showing the full width before the end gets divided off (study wall will be blockwork, but is going to be built onto the sub-floor once that is down...) - not bad light to say the picture was taken about 9pm!
and from inside showing the full width before the end gets divided off (study wall will be blockwork, but is going to be built onto the sub-floor once that is down...) - not bad light to say the picture was taken about 9pm!
Time for another quick update - and this time the key update is about something removed rather than added... The scaffolding is all down!
and the membrane is down and ready inside, ready for the sub-floors to go in downstairs (in fact the concrete was arriving as I left for work this morning).
Garage door going in tomorrow - and remaining doors on Thursday. I think we will be knocking through soon (maybe next week!)
and the membrane is down and ready inside, ready for the sub-floors to go in downstairs (in fact the concrete was arriving as I left for work this morning).
Garage door going in tomorrow - and remaining doors on Thursday. I think we will be knocking through soon (maybe next week!)
More progress today - now that the sub-floors are in, it was time to start getting the internal walls sorted - so the blocks were laid out
and building began
and we have the beginnings of the study wall
we have also had the garage door (an SWS seceuroglide excel) installed today, which I think looks great and will tie in nicely with the navy back door (which is being fitted on Thursday) - it is currently powered by an extension lead, but the sparky and plumber are both on site tomorrow - so we have been running round with an aerosol marking where we want sockets etc to be put, along with the boiler.
in the meantime I am going to have a bit of a break from the project - and am off to Donington on Friday evening to get in my first trackday of the year - which should be a nice change!
and building began
and we have the beginnings of the study wall
we have also had the garage door (an SWS seceuroglide excel) installed today, which I think looks great and will tie in nicely with the navy back door (which is being fitted on Thursday) - it is currently powered by an extension lead, but the sparky and plumber are both on site tomorrow - so we have been running round with an aerosol marking where we want sockets etc to be put, along with the boiler.
in the meantime I am going to have a bit of a break from the project - and am off to Donington on Friday evening to get in my first trackday of the year - which should be a nice change!
Thanks - I am very happy with the door!
More progress to report today - and another milestone. Firstly, we have a new door (back door into the utility room)
and we have bifolds too!
Also moved the old back door onto the back of the garage
Study wall is complete, and wiring for lights and lots of insulation going into the roof space
Kitchen window blocked up, and door removed
So now we are water-tight - and looking to start knocking through shortly - likely the bedroom will be done tomorrow, and the family room next week (the boiler has to be moved before the wall can come down - which should be Wednesday. Time to clear out the kitchen and prepare for the disruption to come inside for a while!
More progress to report today - and another milestone. Firstly, we have a new door (back door into the utility room)
and we have bifolds too!
Also moved the old back door onto the back of the garage
Study wall is complete, and wiring for lights and lots of insulation going into the roof space
Kitchen window blocked up, and door removed
So now we are water-tight - and looking to start knocking through shortly - likely the bedroom will be done tomorrow, and the family room next week (the boiler has to be moved before the wall can come down - which should be Wednesday. Time to clear out the kitchen and prepare for the disruption to come inside for a while!
So - it's been a few days, so it must be time for another update!
First of all on Friday, the bedroom was knocked through, and floor laid...
Before:
After:
Then, over the weekend, we have cleared the kitchen - most things going into the garage, but with a temporary kitchen/dining area now in the playroom.
Then it was time for the outer skin of the wall to be attacked and the first steel inserted
which uncovered where a window had been in the wall prior to the conservatory being built
In order to remove the inner skin, the boiler needed to be moved - so yesterday we had plumber, sparky and builders all on site, and the boiler was moved - allowing them to literally smash my back doors in! It has properly opened up the space, which now looks huge with the vaulted ceiling and amazingly light, with the combination of the bifolds and rooflights, really flooding the space.
The builders have again been awesome, making sure that we still have a sink connected (we had no hot water last night, but that wasn't too much of an issue - it will be back on today), and that we could power up the oven - and have been very meticulous about leaving the place tidy overnight to make sure that there is nothing that the kids can get their hands on.
Today's job is lifting the kitchen floor, so that they can lay a new sub-floor tomorrow, to then insulate and lay the under-floor heating early next week! The pace of change is really cracking on now!
First of all on Friday, the bedroom was knocked through, and floor laid...
Before:
After:
Then, over the weekend, we have cleared the kitchen - most things going into the garage, but with a temporary kitchen/dining area now in the playroom.
Then it was time for the outer skin of the wall to be attacked and the first steel inserted
which uncovered where a window had been in the wall prior to the conservatory being built
In order to remove the inner skin, the boiler needed to be moved - so yesterday we had plumber, sparky and builders all on site, and the boiler was moved - allowing them to literally smash my back doors in! It has properly opened up the space, which now looks huge with the vaulted ceiling and amazingly light, with the combination of the bifolds and rooflights, really flooding the space.
The builders have again been awesome, making sure that we still have a sink connected (we had no hot water last night, but that wasn't too much of an issue - it will be back on today), and that we could power up the oven - and have been very meticulous about leaving the place tidy overnight to make sure that there is nothing that the kids can get their hands on.
Today's job is lifting the kitchen floor, so that they can lay a new sub-floor tomorrow, to then insulate and lay the under-floor heating early next week! The pace of change is really cracking on now!
Time for another update and we are getting closer to the end!
First of all, was to remove the old concrete kitchen floor - which was apparently a fair old job, being 7-8 inches thick in places! With a first skip full, we still had a fair old pile to sort out - and a little more digging.
So after a second skip-load was dug out, we had a clear area with temporary boarded floor!
Monday then started with the kitchen sub-floor being poured to give us a level
Today we have firstly had another visit from the building inspector, who was happy with everything so far. We have also had the electrician in starting to rearrange the wiring in the kitchen area
While the builders have boarded the vaulted ceiling in the family room area
While the joiner has been back to put together the studwork to form the wall between the toilet and utility ready for the plumber coming back as the manifold for the UFH is going to be hidden inside the bottom of the wall
So the rest of the week will have more electrics going in along with the insulation on the floor, and the UFH pipework so that it can then all be finished with the final screed. We have also ordered the kitchen, which is due to be delivered in a week or so, and the builders think that we should be all sorted in the next 3 weeks or so - which is exciting news, but I think they've got a busy time to go!
First of all, was to remove the old concrete kitchen floor - which was apparently a fair old job, being 7-8 inches thick in places! With a first skip full, we still had a fair old pile to sort out - and a little more digging.
So after a second skip-load was dug out, we had a clear area with temporary boarded floor!
Monday then started with the kitchen sub-floor being poured to give us a level
Today we have firstly had another visit from the building inspector, who was happy with everything so far. We have also had the electrician in starting to rearrange the wiring in the kitchen area
While the builders have boarded the vaulted ceiling in the family room area
While the joiner has been back to put together the studwork to form the wall between the toilet and utility ready for the plumber coming back as the manifold for the UFH is going to be hidden inside the bottom of the wall
So the rest of the week will have more electrics going in along with the insulation on the floor, and the UFH pipework so that it can then all be finished with the final screed. We have also ordered the kitchen, which is due to be delivered in a week or so, and the builders think that we should be all sorted in the next 3 weeks or so - which is exciting news, but I think they've got a busy time to go!
So, it's update time again!
so first off, the block wall between the study and cloakroom was put up (which then cuts off the short-cut route through that had been useful for shifting stuff!)
and the study ceiling was boarded
The cloakroom/utility wall was boarded
and the insulation laid onto the sub-floor
so that the manifold can be mounted and the UFH pipework was laid
and then swiftly covered again with screeding - which has been allowed to go off over the weekend
Today is another day of plumbing - finishing the reworking of the old pipework to the new position of the boiler and sorting water to outside taps and my garage sink, then it's more boarding and finishing for the rest of the week in preparation for the plasterers.
so first off, the block wall between the study and cloakroom was put up (which then cuts off the short-cut route through that had been useful for shifting stuff!)
and the study ceiling was boarded
The cloakroom/utility wall was boarded
and the insulation laid onto the sub-floor
so that the manifold can be mounted and the UFH pipework was laid
and then swiftly covered again with screeding - which has been allowed to go off over the weekend
Today is another day of plumbing - finishing the reworking of the old pipework to the new position of the boiler and sorting water to outside taps and my garage sink, then it's more boarding and finishing for the rest of the week in preparation for the plasterers.
Cheers for the comments! Thankfully for the builders, I am not quite hanging around for the critical pictures, but have been grabbing a few pics most nights, to capture the day's progress!
we have been continuing to progress anyway - the main jobs being to get the walls and ceilings boarded, door casings in and generally preparing for plastering.
We have also got insulation sorted in the bedroom roofspace and pipes boxed in, so that is ready for boarding tomorrow, while the plasterers start work on the downstairs.
My garage has also been filled temporarily, as the kitchen has arrived in a million boxes, ready to be assembled and fitted shortly!
The builders are essentially done until a round of snagging and tidying - so it's now a case of plaster for the next couple of days then a bit of painting, second fix electrics, final plumbing, kitchen fitting, floor tiling/wood laying and we'll be all done - sounds easy really!
we have been continuing to progress anyway - the main jobs being to get the walls and ceilings boarded, door casings in and generally preparing for plastering.
We have also got insulation sorted in the bedroom roofspace and pipes boxed in, so that is ready for boarding tomorrow, while the plasterers start work on the downstairs.
My garage has also been filled temporarily, as the kitchen has arrived in a million boxes, ready to be assembled and fitted shortly!
The builders are essentially done until a round of snagging and tidying - so it's now a case of plaster for the next couple of days then a bit of painting, second fix electrics, final plumbing, kitchen fitting, floor tiling/wood laying and we'll be all done - sounds easy really!
So, I've been a little slack with the updates again - as we've been busy (and I'm now in China on business to top it all off!), so it's probably time for a big picture-athon!
firstly since the last update, I got plastered...
Then (after the plaster had dried off), it was time to get a mist coat of paint on, leaving spaces where there will be tiles (the tiler prefers to stick to bare plaster)
Then it was time for the kitchen to start going in!
So it is all getting closer now - the electrics are now connected so that we have lights and power in the new rooms, and finally have running water to the sink also. Hopefully by the time I get back home, the log burner should be installed, and then it will be ready for tiles - and then furniture!
firstly since the last update, I got plastered...
Then (after the plaster had dried off), it was time to get a mist coat of paint on, leaving spaces where there will be tiles (the tiler prefers to stick to bare plaster)
Then it was time for the kitchen to start going in!
So it is all getting closer now - the electrics are now connected so that we have lights and power in the new rooms, and finally have running water to the sink also. Hopefully by the time I get back home, the log burner should be installed, and then it will be ready for tiles - and then furniture!
Cheers for the comments - glad that this thread is still of interest! I am still travelling so haven't seen the latest developments in the flesh, but it will be good to get home and do so!
For the timescale etc - the builders originally said they reckoned 12-16 weeks for the build - we are now on week 16, and the build is done (just some external tidying up to finish) and we have final finishing to do - tiling being the critical step is being done next week, and will be followed by doors/skirtings/kitchen plinths & trimming, then we can move stuff into the new areas and clear the garage so that the electrician can sort the electrics in there. I reckon another couple of weeks and we will be able to officially say that we're finished!
I think we would have been in a mess had it not been for the temporary kitchen and the pre-work that we did last summer rearranging the windows/bathroom layout - without that we would have had all but 2 rooms in the house impacted by the work! Being able to get the build done and then move stuff into the garage has proved useful, and has also saved the need to move stuff completely out and into storage - which would have been extra cost and hassle!
The latest pictures I have show the stove is now installed, with the twin-wall flue exiting up through the ceiling - which I am quite liking as it gives an industrial feel, and seems to accentuate the height of the room - will be interesting to see if that's true when I see it first-hand!
For the timescale etc - the builders originally said they reckoned 12-16 weeks for the build - we are now on week 16, and the build is done (just some external tidying up to finish) and we have final finishing to do - tiling being the critical step is being done next week, and will be followed by doors/skirtings/kitchen plinths & trimming, then we can move stuff into the new areas and clear the garage so that the electrician can sort the electrics in there. I reckon another couple of weeks and we will be able to officially say that we're finished!
I think we would have been in a mess had it not been for the temporary kitchen and the pre-work that we did last summer rearranging the windows/bathroom layout - without that we would have had all but 2 rooms in the house impacted by the work! Being able to get the build done and then move stuff into the garage has proved useful, and has also saved the need to move stuff completely out and into storage - which would have been extra cost and hassle!
The latest pictures I have show the stove is now installed, with the twin-wall flue exiting up through the ceiling - which I am quite liking as it gives an industrial feel, and seems to accentuate the height of the room - will be interesting to see if that's true when I see it first-hand!
So, it's been a while, and we have been very busy - and I haven't managed to sit down for 5 minutes to put together an update to the thread! The good news is that we have had significant progress! I guess the best way to show what we've got done it through pictures, so here goes...
First job when I was back from China was to clear the new space ready for the tiles to go down on the floor. We had debated long and hard about what to do on the floor - debating between wood and tiles, eventually thinking that we would go for a terracotta tile - but then talking to our tiler, were persuaded to go slightly different - finally selecting on large flagstone-looking tiles, which we hadn't considered, but once down really look fantastic!
in progress
We also got the wood flooring down in my wife's study/craftroom, and began to put furniture back in
then my wife was even more excited, as the range was delivered
We had a damp and (slightly) colder day, so decided to give the stove a whirl
and we have some furniture going in - starting to look like a real room now!
so then it was time to sort out my space - which was looking a little busy, with all the stuff from the kitchen being stored there while all was happening
although I did have my sink all installed and sorted - which I think will be a useful addition to the garage
and we have been busy putting things into the new cupboards, and getting clear, so that I now have all my lights and power sorted out, and started painting the walls - which was a long, laborious process. Using a big, soft brush and working it into the blockwork seemed to be the way forward, starting with a watered down coat and then neat paint - although to get a decent finish has taken 65litres of paint, which has been a bit of a challenge!
The walls are looking good through, and tonight I have sealed the floor ready for the first coat of paint to go on there tomorrow - so hopefully by the end of the week, I should be able to get my Mini back into its new home!
So we are now essentially all done for the build - the builders have done all of the snagging that we had spotted (and a couple of extra jobs that we had requested), the electrics are all done and certified, the plumbing is all done (no pics today, but the downstairs loo is now all fitted and sorted), and everything finished on the woodwork and kitchen. It really is down to us now to finish off organising the space, and just one final fitment which is to fit the cooker hood - which had a cracked motor when it came to be fitted - a replacement is coming on Friday.
I will add more updates as we get the final bits sorted and some more thoughts - but overall, I can't say enough good words about any of our trades, especially the builders who have coordinated the process seamlessly, with everything coming in on our expected time, and within our planned costs.
First job when I was back from China was to clear the new space ready for the tiles to go down on the floor. We had debated long and hard about what to do on the floor - debating between wood and tiles, eventually thinking that we would go for a terracotta tile - but then talking to our tiler, were persuaded to go slightly different - finally selecting on large flagstone-looking tiles, which we hadn't considered, but once down really look fantastic!
in progress
We also got the wood flooring down in my wife's study/craftroom, and began to put furniture back in
then my wife was even more excited, as the range was delivered
We had a damp and (slightly) colder day, so decided to give the stove a whirl
and we have some furniture going in - starting to look like a real room now!
so then it was time to sort out my space - which was looking a little busy, with all the stuff from the kitchen being stored there while all was happening
although I did have my sink all installed and sorted - which I think will be a useful addition to the garage
and we have been busy putting things into the new cupboards, and getting clear, so that I now have all my lights and power sorted out, and started painting the walls - which was a long, laborious process. Using a big, soft brush and working it into the blockwork seemed to be the way forward, starting with a watered down coat and then neat paint - although to get a decent finish has taken 65litres of paint, which has been a bit of a challenge!
The walls are looking good through, and tonight I have sealed the floor ready for the first coat of paint to go on there tomorrow - so hopefully by the end of the week, I should be able to get my Mini back into its new home!
So we are now essentially all done for the build - the builders have done all of the snagging that we had spotted (and a couple of extra jobs that we had requested), the electrics are all done and certified, the plumbing is all done (no pics today, but the downstairs loo is now all fitted and sorted), and everything finished on the woodwork and kitchen. It really is down to us now to finish off organising the space, and just one final fitment which is to fit the cooker hood - which had a cracked motor when it came to be fitted - a replacement is coming on Friday.
I will add more updates as we get the final bits sorted and some more thoughts - but overall, I can't say enough good words about any of our trades, especially the builders who have coordinated the process seamlessly, with everything coming in on our expected time, and within our planned costs.
Thanks all for the comments, it really is a transformation, and has made a huge difference to the feel of the house, and really makes it into what we want it to be!
A bit more progress on the final steps to report - so let's get on with the pictures!
One first job was to sort out the final piece of the kitchen - when the cooker hood was delivered, the housing for the motor was cracked and damaged, so we had to wait for a replacement. The joiner had put all the fixings in place though, so all I had to do was screw it in place and we were sorted - and had the kitchen looking finished.
and with a little more sorting out, the main room is looking good
then it was back onto sorting the garage out - first applying sealer to the floor, followed by getting some paint on.
after the first coat of paint (I ended up painting around the treadmill and then filling in the gap!)
Then after a second coat of paint, it was time to fetch my toolbox back from storage
and tonight was a big evening - as it was time to go up to a friend's house and attempt to wake my mini up from its slumber!
Having connected the battery up, it was the moment of truth - and thankfully after a bit of cranking to get some fuel through it fired right up, and drove itself out and onto the trailer (which is perhaps a little generously sized!)
and then at the other end it got itself off and into its new home, which is a bit more spacious and welcoming than the old garage!
and finally, we made sure that there was room for a friend to join it!
in other news, we have also had a final inspection by building control this week, and the inspector was very complimentary, and very happy with all of the work - so we should have it all signed off and sorted shortly.
Now is the time for the important bits to get sorted - I have a TV on order for the main room (and have a hand-me-down to fit in the garage too!), and now need to get the garage layout sorted out, and all my stuff put back in, and then it will be time to add the lift as soon as the cash reserves have recovered a bit!
A bit more progress on the final steps to report - so let's get on with the pictures!
One first job was to sort out the final piece of the kitchen - when the cooker hood was delivered, the housing for the motor was cracked and damaged, so we had to wait for a replacement. The joiner had put all the fixings in place though, so all I had to do was screw it in place and we were sorted - and had the kitchen looking finished.
and with a little more sorting out, the main room is looking good
then it was back onto sorting the garage out - first applying sealer to the floor, followed by getting some paint on.
after the first coat of paint (I ended up painting around the treadmill and then filling in the gap!)
Then after a second coat of paint, it was time to fetch my toolbox back from storage
and tonight was a big evening - as it was time to go up to a friend's house and attempt to wake my mini up from its slumber!
Having connected the battery up, it was the moment of truth - and thankfully after a bit of cranking to get some fuel through it fired right up, and drove itself out and onto the trailer (which is perhaps a little generously sized!)
and then at the other end it got itself off and into its new home, which is a bit more spacious and welcoming than the old garage!
and finally, we made sure that there was room for a friend to join it!
in other news, we have also had a final inspection by building control this week, and the inspector was very complimentary, and very happy with all of the work - so we should have it all signed off and sorted shortly.
Now is the time for the important bits to get sorted - I have a TV on order for the main room (and have a hand-me-down to fit in the garage too!), and now need to get the garage layout sorted out, and all my stuff put back in, and then it will be time to add the lift as soon as the cash reserves have recovered a bit!
Cheers for the replies all - and glad that this has been of interest, and I will continue to update as we add the last finishing touches!
In answer to the questions - I got the floor paint from Marl Coatings on eBay, it was about £60 for 20 litres each of sealer and paint (I used about 3/4 of the paint, but only about 1/4 of the sealer) - seemed to be a good price. I did make sure that I left it for almost a week without significant use before putting heavy stuff (car, toolboxes) onto it - so hopefully that has allowed it plenty of time to properly cure. I will see how it goes for durability as time goes on.
For the budget, the build cost (including all doors and windows, plastering and internal woodwork) was £70k, with electrics and plumbing coming in at another £10K and then kitchen, log burner and decorating on top. Overall, I think we are a bit under £90k all done (which should include bits of furniture, TV, decorating etc) - which had been my estimate for where we would be assuming that all went smoothly.
I have no idea where that would now leave us on value added to the house, but as this is our "forever house", this was never the plan - although I would expect us to get the majority of the spend back if we were to need to sell.
In answer to the questions - I got the floor paint from Marl Coatings on eBay, it was about £60 for 20 litres each of sealer and paint (I used about 3/4 of the paint, but only about 1/4 of the sealer) - seemed to be a good price. I did make sure that I left it for almost a week without significant use before putting heavy stuff (car, toolboxes) onto it - so hopefully that has allowed it plenty of time to properly cure. I will see how it goes for durability as time goes on.
For the budget, the build cost (including all doors and windows, plastering and internal woodwork) was £70k, with electrics and plumbing coming in at another £10K and then kitchen, log burner and decorating on top. Overall, I think we are a bit under £90k all done (which should include bits of furniture, TV, decorating etc) - which had been my estimate for where we would be assuming that all went smoothly.
I have no idea where that would now leave us on value added to the house, but as this is our "forever house", this was never the plan - although I would expect us to get the majority of the spend back if we were to need to sell.
Had a busy few days getting ready for winter - first job was to move one of my sheds, so that I had room on the sheltered side of it. Then once I had the space cleared, it was time to get creative with the big pile of pallets that I've been saving from the build, and do a bit of making it up as I went along to create a log store.
and then today had some wood delivered for winter - I hadn't been sure quite how much would fill the store, so played it safe, and only ordered a half load of barn stored hardwood - and it looks like that was the right choice - it has filled the store up two full layers deep, and about a third of a layer at the front of the store - which should keep me going for a bit! So now, we can bring on the bad weather - I'm all ready for it - just burning some scrap softwood last night got the new room up to 27C pretty quickly, so these should keep the cold off!
and then today had some wood delivered for winter - I hadn't been sure quite how much would fill the store, so played it safe, and only ordered a half load of barn stored hardwood - and it looks like that was the right choice - it has filled the store up two full layers deep, and about a third of a layer at the front of the store - which should keep me going for a bit! So now, we can bring on the bad weather - I'm all ready for it - just burning some scrap softwood last night got the new room up to 27C pretty quickly, so these should keep the cold off!
Cheers for the comments again guys - I am really happy with how the whole project has gone so far, as you can probably tell!
Today I have been having a slightly more exciting day - having finished off the build, I have been busy stashing away some cash, to buy myself the ultimate home workshop tool - which was delivered today. As I alluded to above, the plan was always to have a lift in the garage, and after looking at various options (I even wondered about building with enough height for a "full" lift - but that was a step too far!) and taking advice from my mate who owns a garage, I settled on the mid-rise scissor type. Having looked around, there seem to be several options out there that are similar - including Automotech, strongman and many generic Chinese options on ebay. I have gone for the BH Repairs option, as they appeared to have a good reputation, and they are being sold by a company that specialise in garage equipment (so as they service and repair lifts, they should be less likely to sell a dud). They are also quite local, so I thought that would help for future support.
The lift appeared this afternoon as promised, and I soon realised one difference between BH Repairs and the ebay options (and a benefit of being local) - the lift was delivered by BH Repairs directly, and had been removed from it's transport pallet, filled with oil and tested - and also had some slight mods to other options - including casters on the front-end of the lift for easier movement, which are easily removed one the lift is in place.
So we manoeuvred the trailer up to the garage, and simply rolled the lift off and into place, then the hydraulic hose was connected, along with the bowden cable for the safety lock (which the guy actually replaced in-situ as it had a slight kink in it - good attention to detail there). Then it was time to give it a go - so I backed the mini onto some timber to get it high enough (the lift is very low, but the mini is just a little too low to go over - some 10x2 timber does the trick), then selected the right pads, popped them under the jacking points, and up she went!
It is nice and easy to use, with the Mini it goes to a perfect height for working on brakes and suspension, and is just right to work underneath on your knees (or I can use my mechanic's stool) - it actually gives me much more height than I thought I would have, so I am a happy customer!
I had a little tinker tonight just checking over the brakes on the mini - the first real usage test will come over the weekend when I am planning to do a service along with discs and pads all round on my wife's clio 182!
Anyway - enough talk, on with the pictures!
Today I have been having a slightly more exciting day - having finished off the build, I have been busy stashing away some cash, to buy myself the ultimate home workshop tool - which was delivered today. As I alluded to above, the plan was always to have a lift in the garage, and after looking at various options (I even wondered about building with enough height for a "full" lift - but that was a step too far!) and taking advice from my mate who owns a garage, I settled on the mid-rise scissor type. Having looked around, there seem to be several options out there that are similar - including Automotech, strongman and many generic Chinese options on ebay. I have gone for the BH Repairs option, as they appeared to have a good reputation, and they are being sold by a company that specialise in garage equipment (so as they service and repair lifts, they should be less likely to sell a dud). They are also quite local, so I thought that would help for future support.
The lift appeared this afternoon as promised, and I soon realised one difference between BH Repairs and the ebay options (and a benefit of being local) - the lift was delivered by BH Repairs directly, and had been removed from it's transport pallet, filled with oil and tested - and also had some slight mods to other options - including casters on the front-end of the lift for easier movement, which are easily removed one the lift is in place.
So we manoeuvred the trailer up to the garage, and simply rolled the lift off and into place, then the hydraulic hose was connected, along with the bowden cable for the safety lock (which the guy actually replaced in-situ as it had a slight kink in it - good attention to detail there). Then it was time to give it a go - so I backed the mini onto some timber to get it high enough (the lift is very low, but the mini is just a little too low to go over - some 10x2 timber does the trick), then selected the right pads, popped them under the jacking points, and up she went!
It is nice and easy to use, with the Mini it goes to a perfect height for working on brakes and suspension, and is just right to work underneath on your knees (or I can use my mechanic's stool) - it actually gives me much more height than I thought I would have, so I am a happy customer!
I had a little tinker tonight just checking over the brakes on the mini - the first real usage test will come over the weekend when I am planning to do a service along with discs and pads all round on my wife's clio 182!
Anyway - enough talk, on with the pictures!
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