House renovation and garage build
Discussion
Progress has been slow and gradual, but we are getting the stairs painted, Jen managed to get her Mum to come over and do an afternoon painting, which was helpful. We're aiming to get the first coat of gloss done before the plasterers start on Monday morning. The lighter evenings are helping, I've been able to get a bit done most evenings.
We had Jen's Mum round to help us again today, my parents also offered their help, it seems like a grandchild on the way means more help!
Between the 3 of us we got the first layer of gloss done on the stairs, which was where we were hoping to be by the end of tomorrow - this means I can go to the Sunday Service at Santa Pod and take my MR2 on the strip. As it was such a nice afternoon we gave the patio under the veranda a good clean, as the carpenters have been doing all their sawing under there and the sawdust was taking over.
We've got a few small jobs to do tomorrow before the plasterers start, removing the radiator etc.
Between the 3 of us we got the first layer of gloss done on the stairs, which was where we were hoping to be by the end of tomorrow - this means I can go to the Sunday Service at Santa Pod and take my MR2 on the strip. As it was such a nice afternoon we gave the patio under the veranda a good clean, as the carpenters have been doing all their sawing under there and the sawdust was taking over.
We've got a few small jobs to do tomorrow before the plasterers start, removing the radiator etc.
Called in at the house to meet the electricians and see how the plasterers were getting on, the ceiling upstairs has been boarded and they made a bit of mess downstairs!
Hall ceiling down by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
With the ceiling down the electricians were able to first fix for a potential electric car charger under the porch.
Hall ceiling down by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
With the ceiling down the electricians were able to first fix for a potential electric car charger under the porch.
Fortunately the hallway didn't stay like the previous post for long - I've just been a bit lax with the updates...
The ceiling was boarded and the walls skimmed:
Hallway plastered by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
This has got us a decent finish around the stairs (now cleaned up):
Hallway plastered by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
However, I'm not too pleased about the finish above the door:
Hallway plastered by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The gap isn't the main problem, its the fact that the ceiling isn't level. Going to speak to the plasterer about it tomorrow. He seems to have subbed out most of the job, which is annoying, as we had use the guy before and he was really good. Am I correct in expecting there not to be a 10mm difference in ceiling height along the width of a door?
We took the opportunity to have a few days away whilst the plaster was drying, but have been prepping the woodwork for painting, which is a tedious job and frustrating because you don't feel like you are making progress. In order to sand the skirting boards in the hallway we had to remove the carpet. Previously we had peeked underneath, but didn't know what to expect when it was removed fully - would the tiles all be intact? Would they have been damaged by the carpet grippers?
Thankfully they were all intact:
Hall floor revealed by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
And look better after a quick clean:
Hall floor after a clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
We still get surprised by the tiles each time we go into the hallway, I will need to give them a more thorough clean and put some kind of sealant on them when the rest of the painting is done, for now we've got a sticky backed floor protector down.
The ceiling was boarded and the walls skimmed:
Hallway plastered by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
This has got us a decent finish around the stairs (now cleaned up):
Hallway plastered by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
However, I'm not too pleased about the finish above the door:
Hallway plastered by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
The gap isn't the main problem, its the fact that the ceiling isn't level. Going to speak to the plasterer about it tomorrow. He seems to have subbed out most of the job, which is annoying, as we had use the guy before and he was really good. Am I correct in expecting there not to be a 10mm difference in ceiling height along the width of a door?
We took the opportunity to have a few days away whilst the plaster was drying, but have been prepping the woodwork for painting, which is a tedious job and frustrating because you don't feel like you are making progress. In order to sand the skirting boards in the hallway we had to remove the carpet. Previously we had peeked underneath, but didn't know what to expect when it was removed fully - would the tiles all be intact? Would they have been damaged by the carpet grippers?
Thankfully they were all intact:
Hall floor revealed by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
And look better after a quick clean:
Hall floor after a clean by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
We still get surprised by the tiles each time we go into the hallway, I will need to give them a more thorough clean and put some kind of sealant on them when the rest of the painting is done, for now we've got a sticky backed floor protector down.
Edited by Craikeybaby on Wednesday 20th April 08:07
Updated.
As it is on the previous page, I'll leave this here to show what the carpet looked like before.
Hallway Before by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
As it is on the previous page, I'll leave this here to show what the carpet looked like before.
Hallway Before by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Well neither of the trades that were meant to come over the weekend :roll eyes:, the carpenter turned up this evening and did a bit this evening though - we are close to having our dining room back after 5 months.
Most of the work over the weekend was general tidying, which was well needed. We made a start on the mist coat, with a slightly ropey ladder, step ladder & plank contraption to do the cutting in above the stairs. Not looking forward to going back on that another 4 times for the rest of the painting.
Most of the work over the weekend was general tidying, which was well needed. We made a start on the mist coat, with a slightly ropey ladder, step ladder & plank contraption to do the cutting in above the stairs. Not looking forward to going back on that another 4 times for the rest of the painting.
We have finished paining the walls in the hall, stairs and landing, which felt like it was the big job that we needed to get out the way. I'm glad I won't have to stand on my rickety arrangement of ladders and planks for the cutting in.
Walking the plank by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Allegedly the carpenter is coming to finish the dinging room cupboards today, but I won't hold my breathe.
Jen had a bit of a melt down yesterday about just how much we have to do in the next few months before the baby arrives, but now that we've got it on a todo list, with target dates it seems a bit more manageable.
Walking the plank by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Allegedly the carpenter is coming to finish the dinging room cupboards today, but I won't hold my breathe.
Jen had a bit of a melt down yesterday about just how much we have to do in the next few months before the baby arrives, but now that we've got it on a todo list, with target dates it seems a bit more manageable.
Had a busy weekend, doing lots of niggling little jobs - but I guess that is a sign that we're nearing the end!
The job that I'd been dreading the most was the second stage of first fixing the cable between the porch and the fuse board for an electric car charger. When the hall ceiling was down the long run of cable was put it, but it was left to me to get it to the fuse board. It took most of the morning, including a trip out to buy a longer drill bit, but I did it. Impressed with my new found electrical skills, Jen decided that we should go out to buy new lights for the hall and landing, but I will leave those for another day.
We're hoping to get the last bits of woodwork glossed this week, including all the stair spindles and the carpet is being measured up tomorrow.
The job that I'd been dreading the most was the second stage of first fixing the cable between the porch and the fuse board for an electric car charger. When the hall ceiling was down the long run of cable was put it, but it was left to me to get it to the fuse board. It took most of the morning, including a trip out to buy a longer drill bit, but I did it. Impressed with my new found electrical skills, Jen decided that we should go out to buy new lights for the hall and landing, but I will leave those for another day.
We're hoping to get the last bits of woodwork glossed this week, including all the stair spindles and the carpet is being measured up tomorrow.
Things have slowed from a trickle to a complete halt. The reason for this is that a new foreman has joined the project:
Unfortunately he is still a bit small, so we have been in hospital with him all week. We have got most of what we wanted to do before he arrived, but are still waiting for carpets to be fitted and a radiator to be fitted. My plan for this weekend had been to clean & restore the tiles, but I'm getting the chemicals sent to my parents house, hopefully they will take the initiative!
Unfortunately he is still a bit small, so we have been in hospital with him all week. We have got most of what we wanted to do before he arrived, but are still waiting for carpets to be fitted and a radiator to be fitted. My plan for this weekend had been to clean & restore the tiles, but I'm getting the chemicals sent to my parents house, hopefully they will take the initiative!
Happy birthday for yesterday to mini Rockliffe!
Owen is still in hospital, so we're with him most of the time, although the jobs arranged for the start of Jen's maternity leave are kicking in - boiler service & new radiator this afternoon & new carpet tomorrow. The few hours we've spent at home have mostly been about clearing space in Owen's room, which was our bedroom until last September. I just took the approach that as I hadn't used most of my stuff in there since last September I could get rid of it. We also picked up an armchair & footstool from Ikea for his room. In my sleep deprived state the chair took a bit of assembling, but Jen is really pleased with it. The next job is to fit the blackout curtains we bought the day before Jen's waters broke.
The garden seems to have come on well whilst we've been in hospital, we've had a few crops of strawberries, and it looks like the garlic is ready to harvest too.
Owen is still in hospital, so we're with him most of the time, although the jobs arranged for the start of Jen's maternity leave are kicking in - boiler service & new radiator this afternoon & new carpet tomorrow. The few hours we've spent at home have mostly been about clearing space in Owen's room, which was our bedroom until last September. I just took the approach that as I hadn't used most of my stuff in there since last September I could get rid of it. We also picked up an armchair & footstool from Ikea for his room. In my sleep deprived state the chair took a bit of assembling, but Jen is really pleased with it. The next job is to fit the blackout curtains we bought the day before Jen's waters broke.
The garden seems to have come on well whilst we've been in hospital, we've had a few crops of strawberries, and it looks like the garlic is ready to harvest too.
Had a quick visit home today for a shower and to pick up some clean clothes. The carpet on the stairs & landing is lovely - especially after bare wood for most of the year. In fact the plushest we have had the landing is a few off cuts from the back bedroom carpet loosely laid over the floor - so a proper carpet, with underlay will be luxury when we're back home.
I took a quick walk up the garden and disturbed a rat, this was the second rat I'd seen this week, after one appeared in the garden when the midwife was checking that Owen would have somewhere safe to sleep etc - fortunately she didn't see it. I thought that the new fences we'd had installed would have stopped the rats, as the gravel boards are well dug in, but here appears to be a rat run down the side of the garage. I'll be re-laying the traps next time I'm home!
I took a quick walk up the garden and disturbed a rat, this was the second rat I'd seen this week, after one appeared in the garden when the midwife was checking that Owen would have somewhere safe to sleep etc - fortunately she didn't see it. I thought that the new fences we'd had installed would have stopped the rats, as the gravel boards are well dug in, but here appears to be a rat run down the side of the garage. I'll be re-laying the traps next time I'm home!
Edited by Craikeybaby on Sunday 19th June 08:38
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff