Do you want another rebuild diary?
Do you want another rebuild diary?
Author
Discussion

tom_loughlin

Original Poster:

371 posts

224 months

Friday 21st January 2011
quotequote all
I've noticed a few rebuild threads recently, a few years ago I bought my first house - an 1860's chapel in the countryside.
I've taken loads of photos, if anyone would like me to post them along with a brief diary, I'd be glad to.
Just don't complain if I bore you to tears!
I won't be offended if not.

Tom

mgtony

4,166 posts

214 months

Friday 21st January 2011
quotequote all
yes Always like looking at pictures, especially when the building is a little different.

Laurel Green

31,023 posts

256 months

Friday 21st January 2011
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Oh, go on then. biggrin

I think it's safe to say rebuild threads are a favorite on PH. Gives others ideas and, an idea into just what can be involved with some of these projects.

Alfachick

1,639 posts

221 months

Friday 21st January 2011
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Yes please. Its always interesting to see others projects and stuff smile

tom_loughlin

Original Poster:

371 posts

224 months

Friday 21st January 2011
quotequote all
Now those were speedy replies if ever I've seen them!

Well after a year in my first graduate job, I decided it was time to move out of my folks' nest (for the second time)... so at 24 I decided I wanted to get on the housing ladder.
I wanted a Chapel - I'm one of those people who knows exactly what I want, research loads, and know exactly how I want things done, So in Jan '08 I was the proud owner of my first house, bursting with enthusiasm and knowing nothing!

As I bought the place, it was like this...[It is on the Shropshire/Welsh border, about 5 mins from Town, although an hours commute to work. But having lived in the city for 4 years at uni, wanted to live somewhere nice, rather than convenient.




tom_loughlin

Original Poster:

371 posts

224 months

Friday 21st January 2011
quotequote all


Well the first job was to take ths sloping timber floor up, strip the internal plaster and external render and rip down the ceiling, before the roofer could re-roof it.



tom_loughlin

Original Poster:

371 posts

224 months

Friday 21st January 2011
quotequote all
The roofer did the roadside half, followed by the rear/vestry roof. This is my favourite picture of the entire build - kind of gives a bit of sense of scale. This is looking at the wall that has the muirel painted on.



Inside the vestry, soon to be kitchen. The existing doorway was to be blocked up, and a new back door to be kocked through opposite it to access the rear garden. This is knocking through the wall between the vestry and the main building you can just about see under my tempory lintel.



New roof going on - lovely jubbly.
The worst job was removing the render which was put on to resist driving rain, and they didn't do jobs by halves back in the day - it was so tough to get off. 6 weekends solid of chipping with an SDS drill removed 50p sized chunks one at a time!


tom_loughlin

Original Poster:

371 posts

224 months

Friday 21st January 2011
quotequote all
New Kitchen opening - looking from the kitchen into the main building.



New roof on, damp proof/radon barrier down, and new slab floor.



That will take some filling up living on my own! My mate is >6foot too! This went in the farmers field opposite, along with the ground source heating pipes.



That's your lot for tonight folks, more to follow over the weekend smile

GG89

3,691 posts

210 months

Friday 21st January 2011
quotequote all
Fantastic stuff OP look forward to the updates on this one!

Laurel Green

31,023 posts

256 months

Friday 21st January 2011
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GG89 said:
Fantastic stuff OP look forward to the updates on this one!
Plus another! smile A nice building with plenty of character. Look forward to the updates.

_dobbo_

14,619 posts

272 months

Saturday 22nd January 2011
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tom_loughlin said:
Well after a year in my first graduate job
Jeebers Cripes, what are you earning in your first graduate job?!

Seriously though, excellent stuff keep it coming - it's like pistonheads grand designs!

smile

tokyo_mb

436 posts

241 months

Saturday 22nd January 2011
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Looking forward to the next installment...

Just in the process of doing our own build (a barn conversion) - on the Shropshire side of the Welsh border - so interested in picking up ideas from anyone else's grand design!

Z4monster

1,442 posts

284 months

Saturday 22nd January 2011
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Looks fantastic so far. Can't wait to see more.

I live in a converted Primitive Methodist chapel near skelmersdale, lancs. It's nothing like as pretty as your chapel because they built with brick not stone.

I bought this one ready converted so haven't had all the hard work to do. There are still some things which need work such as the windows which are still single glazed. They can't easily be double glazed without losing lots of character as they are unusual frames.


mattdaniels

7,362 posts

306 months

Saturday 22nd January 2011
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Great thread, looking forward to the updates.

andy43

12,612 posts

278 months

Saturday 22nd January 2011
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Loving the views! Can you clear-glaze the windows or are there planning/conservation restrictions? Knocking the porch down and sticking on a 'contemporary fully glazed space'/connie would really take advantage of the site.

Morningside

24,147 posts

253 months

Saturday 22nd January 2011
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Bookmarked for progress.

Alfachick

1,639 posts

221 months

Saturday 22nd January 2011
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Thanks for putting this up! Bookmarked biggrin

Penny-lope

13,645 posts

217 months

Saturday 22nd January 2011
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tom_loughlin said:
cloud9

5potTurbo

13,513 posts

192 months

Saturday 22nd January 2011
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cloud9

Book.marked.

tom_loughlin

Original Poster:

371 posts

224 months

Sunday 30th January 2011
quotequote all
Well, for those that are interested, here are a few more pics of my conversion... and to answer a few questions:

_dobbo_ - not as much as you might think... started off 4 years ago in my first graduate job as a design engineer, my mortgage is based on a salary of 23k!

Tokyo_mb - where abouts is your place? Mine is just outside Oswestry, can't be too far from you!

andy43 - There were very loose restrictions, in that everything had to be in keeping with the character - that's about it. I wanted it to look like a chapel from the outside, but not on the inside. You're right about the views - it's such a nice area, stunning views every direction you look smile

And for all the other comments, thank you very much - i've been working hard on it for three years now and sometimes forget just how lucky I am.

Anyway, on with the pictures!


A happy weekend sanding all the (soon to be exposed) timberwork... very, very dusty work! and very hot when you're 25feet in the air!



The first work actually adding something to the property - this was such a nice time, after 9months od total destruction, at last constructive jobs could be started!
Insulation going up, 75mm on walls, 175 on ceiling, and although I was miffed at the time not being able to see the roof timbers, it makes a difference now! Downstairs studwork starting, and mezzanine foor/support.



The new windows and doors, hardwood frames with double glazed panes. I like to think they're 'in-keeping' with the place. Thats's a driveway on the right, not a lovely hairpin by the way.