Edwardian Style terrace house renovation, London
Discussion
- I've opened this thread earlier last night, no idea why it was removed but here we go again.
..
Well my plan is to re-design the kitchen, bathroom, basement and finally the garden. I have no plan to do anything on bedrooms, and no extension plans so far. I've done a full structural survey during before the completion, suprisingly nothing too worrying, but loads of maintenance items in the near future! (Such as roof, basement, and the chimney).
It will be a quite light renovation, and loads of DIY to be involved as the piggy-bank is not so confident!
I've met some builders so far, and the kitchen design/drawings completed just waiting for builder to remove the existed units. I have a very strange partition wall just in the middle of the kitchen, which needs to be removed. (You can see from the plans, the wall that makes the utility space which is a bit weird.)
Here are some pics for now;
Edited by ooid on Saturday 29th June 22:54
Current state of the garden...
I've found a strange bag in the garden this morning while doing a pre-cleaning. There was a vibrator and silicone inside, 99% sure, it was not there when we visited the house before the purchase. One of the neighbours has strange hobbies I guess!
Anyway, it has been quite difficult to get a gardener here, somehow they are all too busy or the job is too tiny for them!
And the proposal plans so far;
I've found a strange bag in the garden this morning while doing a pre-cleaning. There was a vibrator and silicone inside, 99% sure, it was not there when we visited the house before the purchase. One of the neighbours has strange hobbies I guess!
Anyway, it has been quite difficult to get a gardener here, somehow they are all too busy or the job is too tiny for them!And the proposal plans so far;
Edited by ooid on Friday 14th June 11:41
Kitchen in progress...
We demolished the partition wall. New flooring, plastering the walls, loads of plumbings and new units came in. The new garden door also installed this week, but little W.C. in the corner still in progress.
New boiler was a suprise expense, not a cheap one! the chaps tried everything but the older one could not heat the water. We got a brand new one now, which took a few days to install though.
We demolished the partition wall. New flooring, plastering the walls, loads of plumbings and new units came in. The new garden door also installed this week, but little W.C. in the corner still in progress.
New boiler was a suprise expense, not a cheap one! the chaps tried everything but the older one could not heat the water. We got a brand new one now, which took a few days to install though.
Thanks Harry.
Yes, we do need some re-wiring in the kitchen,especially for the little toilet. I've done a few reflected ceiling plan options before we start the work, but then decided the keep the current lighting positions but only change the fixtures. (no spotlight anywhere though!, I hate them..absolutely dis-functional and over-complicated suspended ceilings)
Yes, we do need some re-wiring in the kitchen,especially for the little toilet. I've done a few reflected ceiling plan options before we start the work, but then decided the keep the current lighting positions but only change the fixtures. (no spotlight anywhere though!, I hate them..absolutely dis-functional and over-complicated suspended ceilings)
A quick search brought up these three.
Encore Reclamation
4.9
(30) · Building materials supplier
2 Fawe St · 020 7001 7605
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM Tue
Their website mentions reclaimed timber and east london
Sure Build Timber Ltd
3.7
(7) · Scrap Yard
181 Kirkwood Rd · 020 7639 8909
Closed ⋅ Opens 8AM Tue
City Wood Services
3.9
(7) · Furniture maker
Bromley Hall Rd · 020 7536 4971
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM Tue
Their website mentions east london's and reclaimed timber
Encore Reclamation
4.9
(30) · Building materials supplier
2 Fawe St · 020 7001 7605
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM Tue
Their website mentions reclaimed timber and east london
Sure Build Timber Ltd
3.7
(7) · Scrap Yard
181 Kirkwood Rd · 020 7639 8909
Closed ⋅ Opens 8AM Tue
City Wood Services
3.9
(7) · Furniture maker
Bromley Hall Rd · 020 7536 4971
Closed ⋅ Opens 9AM Tue
Their website mentions east london's and reclaimed timber
Update:
We were just hoping the kitchen all done, and waiting for the worktop (still, from J Roterham. Definitely avoid in the future!)
I have found these water patches on the newly painted and plastered kitchen ceilings...
The original builder legged it already, he does not even pick up the phone, typical. So had to get a plumber today and we found this on the upper floor.
One of the radiator pipes just got a hole and leaking through in the last few days.
I got it early, but we probably have to re-plaster and re-paint the kitchen ceiling again, so more delay.
We were just hoping the kitchen all done, and waiting for the worktop (still, from J Roterham. Definitely avoid in the future!)
I have found these water patches on the newly painted and plastered kitchen ceilings...
The original builder legged it already, he does not even pick up the phone, typical. So had to get a plumber today and we found this on the upper floor.
One of the radiator pipes just got a hole and leaking through in the last few days.
I got it early, but we probably have to re-plaster and re-paint the kitchen ceiling again, so more delay.
tty, you can get a sealer which you paint over those stains, then paint over that again with emulsion, if the plaster is ok it seems overkill to replaster 2Btoo said:
In fairness to the builder, that pipe leak was probably nothing to do with him. You have to hope that nothing that IS to do with him goes wrong though if he's not answering his 'phone!
You must be just up the road from me. I'm guessing that is Leyton/Leytonstone.
Not Leytonstone, but near East Ham! Almost got a property at Leytonstone actually, but we went ahead for this due to its location and size. For the builder, he left the job unfinished, loads of little things to pick-up. Still not responding and I had to get a different plumber twice so far to fix his mistakes actually. You must be just up the road from me. I'm guessing that is Leyton/Leytonstone.
Anyway, the worktops have arrived. They look good, but due to massive delays and pain-in-the-a$$ customer service, can't be happy really. Anyway, I've fixed the water stains with this (Polycell Stain Stop, spray) and another coat of white paint (Dulux). They are almost gone, really hard to spot, which is great but took my whole weekend.
The next job is Garden!..I know it would be expensive a bit, but I'm getting really strange quotes from several landscape/design firms. The quotes I've got so far between 5k to 17k (including supplying the materials). Since getting such different quotes, I think I will get on this DIY with a help of builder, but wanted to check here as well if anyone might have a rough suggestion in terms of the quote?
The work is: 50 sqm lawn & 25 sqm Tile (stone). The current ground(crappy pebble stones for now) for the stone/paving is uneven concrete surface so might need a bit drilling and additional layer.
Edited by ooid on Friday 14th June 11:32
I thought I would just get on with the garden, since I have a few good days availble for my annual leave. Well, got a few quotes for removing the current crap garden and laying a new turf. The quotes were around 2k - 5k. I really did not want to spend on this, as it's only 40 sq meter turf at the nd of the day.
So, first cleaning the existed turf and other crappy plants..
It was nearly 2 tons of green and bad-soil waste. Local waste management company nicely took it over, a bit better than hiring a skip over here.
Than ordering nearly 2 tons of top-soil (After airing the eixsted soil and preparation, levelling of course). Since I do not have a rear access, I had to order 20 liter of bags, which was actually much quicker to carry to the garden from the front door.
I arranged a grid, so divided all top-soils to distribute quickly, as I'm working alone on this.
After fertilizer and a bit of more rake-ing, the lawn arrived and layed finally.
Well, in between deliveries, I have also painted the fences (Grey) and built a small shed on the corner to keep all our tools safe.
Next Job is to build a wooden deck (On the left small concrete base), and also doing a stone-patio, nearly another 40sq meter which is currently a badly cracked concrete base.
So, first cleaning the existed turf and other crappy plants..
It was nearly 2 tons of green and bad-soil waste. Local waste management company nicely took it over, a bit better than hiring a skip over here.
Than ordering nearly 2 tons of top-soil (After airing the eixsted soil and preparation, levelling of course). Since I do not have a rear access, I had to order 20 liter of bags, which was actually much quicker to carry to the garden from the front door.
I arranged a grid, so divided all top-soils to distribute quickly, as I'm working alone on this.
After fertilizer and a bit of more rake-ing, the lawn arrived and layed finally.
Well, in between deliveries, I have also painted the fences (Grey) and built a small shed on the corner to keep all our tools safe.
Next Job is to build a wooden deck (On the left small concrete base), and also doing a stone-patio, nearly another 40sq meter which is currently a badly cracked concrete base.
Tiny update.
I've done the underfloor board, insulation finally. We have access from the cellar so did not need to remove the boards. It was about 35-40 sq meter area, so took about a day with 2 chaps. Hopefully I won't suffer this winter!
I've also used "Stop Gap" floorboard draught excluder.. Have not covered all area yet but it's quite simple so far.
I've done the underfloor board, insulation finally. We have access from the cellar so did not need to remove the boards. It was about 35-40 sq meter area, so took about a day with 2 chaps. Hopefully I won't suffer this winter!
I've also used "Stop Gap" floorboard draught excluder.. Have not covered all area yet but it's quite simple so far.
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