16th century cottage revamp
Discussion
Bathroom floor has now been tiled, just waiting for the grouting to be completed then the plumber can start installing everything. The tiles have a nice contrast in colour from wall/floor but you can't really see on my images.
For the downstairs loo/cloakroom I've decided to go with the Victoria Plumb corner sink and a Crosswater tap which matches the new bathroom tap. Bit more expensive but it does feel quality. Leftover mosaic tiling from the bathroom will be installed around said new sink. Hopefully really smarten up that area!
View looking along landing towards the bathroom at the end. You can see why the carpet needs to come up
Once the new lights have been fitted I can finish decorating the walls...and a lot of gloss work to do. Half tempted to swap the doors for nice solid oak for lower maintenance but we'll have to speak to planning on that.
For the downstairs loo/cloakroom I've decided to go with the Victoria Plumb corner sink and a Crosswater tap which matches the new bathroom tap. Bit more expensive but it does feel quality. Leftover mosaic tiling from the bathroom will be installed around said new sink. Hopefully really smarten up that area!
View looking along landing towards the bathroom at the end. You can see why the carpet needs to come up
Once the new lights have been fitted I can finish decorating the walls...and a lot of gloss work to do. Half tempted to swap the doors for nice solid oak for lower maintenance but we'll have to speak to planning on that.The bathroom is entering the final stages. The downlights have been fitted offering so much more light. Jobs to do: fit extractor fan, fit LED mirror & shaver socket, box in waste pipe from toilet, paint ceiling and clean tiles up.
The new sink/tap/tiles (leftover mosaic from shower enclosure) are due to be fitted to the downstairs cloakroom shortly. The plasterer is due back in a few weeks to skim the main bathroom ceiling and repair a damaged section in the landing, and some odds/sods downstairs. I can then paint the landing area and think about carpets and the staircase banister etc. We're still undecided on either sanding it back or just replacing the whole lot.
The new sink/tap/tiles (leftover mosaic from shower enclosure) are due to be fitted to the downstairs cloakroom shortly. The plasterer is due back in a few weeks to skim the main bathroom ceiling and repair a damaged section in the landing, and some odds/sods downstairs. I can then paint the landing area and think about carpets and the staircase banister etc. We're still undecided on either sanding it back or just replacing the whole lot.
Bathroom is now finished minus ceiling painting - got a painter I know coming in to do it properly, I know I'll make a serious mess of it!
The downstairs loo/cloakroom has had the new tap/sink and left over mosaic fitted. Just need to repaint now. The wall was badly out so unfortunately the tiler couldn't get the mosaic laid brilliantly - annoying but it doesn't hugely bother me and I didn't want the expense of properly sorting it after the bathroom has run quite a bit over budget. The sink/tap looks loads better anyway.
Need to finish off the downstairs loo painting, and then wait for the plasterer to repair part of the landing and skim the main bathroom ceiling ready for downlights. The plan is to completely redo that bathroom but not until next year now. The next major work will be to decorate the landing after downlights have been fitted, replace carpet and sort the staircase out.
The downstairs loo/cloakroom has had the new tap/sink and left over mosaic fitted. Just need to repaint now. The wall was badly out so unfortunately the tiler couldn't get the mosaic laid brilliantly - annoying but it doesn't hugely bother me and I didn't want the expense of properly sorting it after the bathroom has run quite a bit over budget. The sink/tap looks loads better anyway.
Need to finish off the downstairs loo painting, and then wait for the plasterer to repair part of the landing and skim the main bathroom ceiling ready for downlights. The plan is to completely redo that bathroom but not until next year now. The next major work will be to decorate the landing after downlights have been fitted, replace carpet and sort the staircase out.
Not a huge amount to report. Bathroom/landing ceilings painted and looks good. Fitted a new blind to the landing window.
Jobs to do in the coming months: new carpet on staircase/landing, finish gloss work in landing/doors upstairs (a lot of work). Strip and paint stair case spindle/hand rails in gloss white and light grey hand rails.
The next big job is to sort the driveway out, and I would appreciate some advice please. At present there is an old garage (sorting that is stage two and some way off) and a driveway for only one vehicle. We would like to excavate the current banks, and build new retaining walls further in to provide space for two vehicles. This will involve going the other side of the current hedges slightly and relocating the steps further back. At the moment soil is a foot high or so against one side of the garage so damp is an ongoing issue which needs sorting too.
See images below - obviously this is all subject to planning but we're looking into various options before approaching them. We like the look of gabion walls filled with possibly flint to emulate the walls on the property. There's easily enough space to dig out 4-5ft all round which *should* give us enough space. Also hoping to add a decent electric gate too for privacy. Is this something I can do with a friend and a mini digger or is there far more to think about? Don't want the garden collapsing etc!
Jobs to do in the coming months: new carpet on staircase/landing, finish gloss work in landing/doors upstairs (a lot of work). Strip and paint stair case spindle/hand rails in gloss white and light grey hand rails.
The next big job is to sort the driveway out, and I would appreciate some advice please. At present there is an old garage (sorting that is stage two and some way off) and a driveway for only one vehicle. We would like to excavate the current banks, and build new retaining walls further in to provide space for two vehicles. This will involve going the other side of the current hedges slightly and relocating the steps further back. At the moment soil is a foot high or so against one side of the garage so damp is an ongoing issue which needs sorting too.
See images below - obviously this is all subject to planning but we're looking into various options before approaching them. We like the look of gabion walls filled with possibly flint to emulate the walls on the property. There's easily enough space to dig out 4-5ft all round which *should* give us enough space. Also hoping to add a decent electric gate too for privacy. Is this something I can do with a friend and a mini digger or is there far more to think about? Don't want the garden collapsing etc!
Update, and they'll be more regular from now on as I am in the process of purchasing the house from dad. In preparation of moving everything, I have began repairing the sheds - pics to follow. We are also having one of the windows repaired where the bottom section has rotted out.
We have a few exciting plans for the house (they'll be a lot of repairing/renovating to come), and having spoken to the local conservation officer last week seems as though we won't have any issues gaining permission. We're awaiting a structural engineer's report so we can submit a formal planning application. I'll update in more detail soon.
We have a few exciting plans for the house (they'll be a lot of repairing/renovating to come), and having spoken to the local conservation officer last week seems as though we won't have any issues gaining permission. We're awaiting a structural engineer's report so we can submit a formal planning application. I'll update in more detail soon.
Sheds and window(S) nearly finished - in the end three windows were rotten in places so sections have been cut out and replaced. Most of the windows are still original from when the house had a lot of alterations in the mid 1930s so they've done pretty well.
On a different note, does anyone have any experience of beam stripping? We want to return them to their original finish, having spoken to the listed planning officer they don't like sand blasting (me neither) and suggested sugar soap and a lot of scrubbing with a stiff brush. I should think that would take me months and still probably scratch them?! I have found some firms offering a 'micro stripping' option which is chemical free. Having just received a quote I was a bit taken back with the cost! Be eager to hear some thoughts/experiences if anyone has gone down this road before.
On a different note, does anyone have any experience of beam stripping? We want to return them to their original finish, having spoken to the listed planning officer they don't like sand blasting (me neither) and suggested sugar soap and a lot of scrubbing with a stiff brush. I should think that would take me months and still probably scratch them?! I have found some firms offering a 'micro stripping' option which is chemical free. Having just received a quote I was a bit taken back with the cost! Be eager to hear some thoughts/experiences if anyone has gone down this road before.
Nick_MSM said:
any experience of beam stripping? We want to return them to their original finish, having spoken to the listed planning officer they don't like sand blasting (me neither) and suggested sugar soap and a lot of scrubbing with a stiff brush. I should think that would take me months and still probably scratch them?! I have found some firms offering a 'micro stripping' option which is chemical free. Having just received a quote I was a bit taken back with the cost! Be eager to hear some thoughts/experiences if anyone has gone down this road before.
Not tried one myself, but looked into it and there are paint shaver tools available. They might leave you with a planed like finish though. If you're worried about scratching with a stiff brush then any mechanical method would surely be too intrusive? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz0lG3uWB4o
Nick_MSM said:
On a different note, does anyone have any experience of beam stripping?
Have you looked on the Period Property forums? I am sure I have seen threads there on this topic (and they have huge collective experience of listed buildings) - just no time to do the searching for you this evening.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff