Our build thread, renovation and extension
Discussion
Monday night (2 bags laid)
Tuesday morning (clean up)
Wednesday night (thought I would go for 3 bags, error, finished at 1:30am!)
Thursday morning (clean up)
Friday morning (2 more bags and clean up)
Friday night (2 more bags)
Saturday morning (4 bags, smashed it that day!)
Sunday 4 bags)
This morning, cleaned up, all done
610 tiles, 400kg of tile adhesive used. Pretty happy with the result all things considered! Absolutely shattered now, my knees, back and arms are shot but glad that job is out of the way, I had expected just to do it in weekends and take about 6 weeks but I couldn't face it so decided to bash it out in 9 days.
I just need to get a floor polisher now as the area is far too big to do the final clean by hand, not to mention cleaning up the grout residue. The grout is a mid grey, which will hide the joints (not that they aren't straight).
Tuesday morning (clean up)
Wednesday night (thought I would go for 3 bags, error, finished at 1:30am!)
Thursday morning (clean up)
Friday morning (2 more bags and clean up)
Friday night (2 more bags)
Saturday morning (4 bags, smashed it that day!)
Sunday 4 bags)
This morning, cleaned up, all done
610 tiles, 400kg of tile adhesive used. Pretty happy with the result all things considered! Absolutely shattered now, my knees, back and arms are shot but glad that job is out of the way, I had expected just to do it in weekends and take about 6 weeks but I couldn't face it so decided to bash it out in 9 days.
I just need to get a floor polisher now as the area is far too big to do the final clean by hand, not to mention cleaning up the grout residue. The grout is a mid grey, which will hide the joints (not that they aren't straight).
You've done a really good job on that! Can you show how you finished it off by the door - (under the door) ...
I'd be really precious about it now - marks etc - but you just can't be - oil will be spilt, tools dropped, marks made - it's got to be used at the end of the day.
Pat yourself on the back!
I'd be really precious about it now - marks etc - but you just can't be - oil will be spilt, tools dropped, marks made - it's got to be used at the end of the day.
Pat yourself on the back!
Great job on the garage tiling as per. Is the garage the last big job to finish the renovation completely?
Switching subjects slightly, how is your new driveway working out in practice? Very tempted to do a similar job at mine (currently old, sunken block paving) and like the aesthetics of a chipped drive. Concerned about spread and debris really, any comments?
Also, bit cheeky, but are you able to say where you sourced as per the deal below.
Switching subjects slightly, how is your new driveway working out in practice? Very tempted to do a similar job at mine (currently old, sunken block paving) and like the aesthetics of a chipped drive. Concerned about spread and debris really, any comments?
Also, bit cheeky, but are you able to say where you sourced as per the deal below.
Muncher said:
Last week I had 20 tonnes of 14mm cornish silver grey granite chippings delivered, I paid £60 per tonne, which is a bit pricey but rather less than the £165 per 850kg bag they charge if you only buy small quantities. As it is granite, it's very hard wearing and will not crush and leave any dust at all, its angular, rough texture also locks it together very well.
Edited by Muncher on Monday 27th November 14:07
Yes, pretty much the last big job, several smaller ones to do (make a couple of gates, garden lighting build a bin store, install 2 post lift, build workbench and plumb in sink and automate the garage staircase). They aren't minor jobs but they're ones I can largely do at my leisure. I've almost got to re-oil the floor in the house and do a few bits of redecorating.
The driveway is doing well actually. It compacts a bit where cars go over it regularly, but doesn't crush, it doesn't move about too much unless you wheelspin off the drive (looking at my mother there) in which case the hollows can just be filled in by moving it with your feet. I've not felt the need to get a rake out to re-level it and virtually no stone has migrated to the footpath, only a couple of bits i noticed this morning in fact which I just kicked back on. Overall very pleased with it, particularly how you can get away with it really quite deep in places with no problems.
I bought it from Silverton Aggregates in Ipswich, after a lot of phoning around. Their bag prices appear quite expensive but actually get fairly cheap when you want a whole 20 tonne load which they can do.
The driveway is doing well actually. It compacts a bit where cars go over it regularly, but doesn't crush, it doesn't move about too much unless you wheelspin off the drive (looking at my mother there) in which case the hollows can just be filled in by moving it with your feet. I've not felt the need to get a rake out to re-level it and virtually no stone has migrated to the footpath, only a couple of bits i noticed this morning in fact which I just kicked back on. Overall very pleased with it, particularly how you can get away with it really quite deep in places with no problems.
I bought it from Silverton Aggregates in Ipswich, after a lot of phoning around. Their bag prices appear quite expensive but actually get fairly cheap when you want a whole 20 tonne load which they can do.
Picked up a floor polisher for a song on eBay yesterday, seems to work wonders cleaning up and adhesive residue, the plan is to clean it up a bit tonight and then grout it at the weekend. The skirting has also arrived too, meaning I can probably get the VX in there over the next couple of weeks.
I could however do with a bit of advice as to how to how to make the staircase "safe".
The plan is for it to be lifted from the bottom, via a winch mounted on the ridge beam steel, in addition to that I am going to use either two seatbelts or fall arrestors, one on either side, so that should either a cable snap, or the winch fail, the belts will catch it.
I also want a third, physical stop, so that when the staircase is in the "up" position something like a scaffolding pole which spans the width of the gap moves into position. This could either be through a pivot at the far end, or probably better, using some kind of worm drive mechanism that moves it into position. I would like to automate it so that when the button is pressed to lower the stairs the roller blind type mechanism which covers the gap retracts, the safety bar retracts and the hoist then lowers the stairs. This is probably going to require the help of someone with a slightly different skillset to me however. Any volunteers?
I could however do with a bit of advice as to how to how to make the staircase "safe".
The plan is for it to be lifted from the bottom, via a winch mounted on the ridge beam steel, in addition to that I am going to use either two seatbelts or fall arrestors, one on either side, so that should either a cable snap, or the winch fail, the belts will catch it.
I also want a third, physical stop, so that when the staircase is in the "up" position something like a scaffolding pole which spans the width of the gap moves into position. This could either be through a pivot at the far end, or probably better, using some kind of worm drive mechanism that moves it into position. I would like to automate it so that when the button is pressed to lower the stairs the roller blind type mechanism which covers the gap retracts, the safety bar retracts and the hoist then lowers the stairs. This is probably going to require the help of someone with a slightly different skillset to me however. Any volunteers?
The floor is all done now, all the grout residue is up, which took plenty of cleaning, the polisher was incredibly useful, it would have been a nightmare without it quite frankly.
Today I fixed most of the skirting on, which should be finished later this week, in a few weeks I might actually have a car in there...
Oh and I had a little helper today...
Today I fixed most of the skirting on, which should be finished later this week, in a few weeks I might actually have a car in there...
Oh and I had a little helper today...
Edited by Muncher on Monday 5th March 09:57
souper said:
Going for a 2 post lift instead.Muncher said:
souper said:
Going for a 2 post lift instead.
I'll be thinking of you whilst I roll around under my car on with my best bit of cardboard for comfort. 
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