First House Renovation / Do-er upper

[Spare tyre]

My advice is make sure you can isolate water at the stopcock sooner rather than later

Guess how I found out I didn't have a stopcock

[dionbee93]

Spare tyre said:

My advice is make sure you can isolate water at the stopcock sooner rather than later

Guess how I found out I didn't have a stopcock

That's a very good note actually - i'd have never thought of checking that before i'd "Need it" - but as you said.. that's too late! I guess this is the type of thing that a novice like me would never have thought about - i guess it's where experience is valuable.

Thanks,

Dion

[Spare tyre]

dionbee93 said:

That's a very good note actually - i'd have never thought of checking that before i'd "Need it" - but as you said.. that's too late! I guess this is the type of thing that a novice like me would never have thought about - i guess it's where experience is valuable.

Thanks,

Dion

Find it before you fit new carpets kitchens ceilings etc!


Getting a water meter fitted is a good way to get it done!

[hyphen]

dionbee93 said:

What is the filled in channel in the pavement leading to the hole in the wall?

[gregs656]

hyphen said:

What is the filled in channel in the pavement leading to the hole in the wall?

Drainage by the look of it.

I too would concentrate on the inside first.

[herewego]

hyphen said:

What is the filled in channel in the pavement leading to the hole in the wall?

I don't think it's filled in. It's a surface water drain for the roof.

[dionbee93]

The drainage is because the small 'front garden' is closed off from each side (the porch was added later on) so nowhere for the water to go when it was raining etc.

Dion

[herewego]

dionbee93 said:

The drainage is because the small 'front garden' is closed off from each side (the porch was added later on) so nowhere for the water to go when it was raining etc.

Dion

Surely there is no grid under the downspout otherwise, if hard surfaced, the garden area would drain into that? In the photo it looks as though each house has a surface water drain across the footpath.

[Condi]

You'd be surprised how long it can take if you dont get on with it... Things which are 'passable' you learn to live with and suddenly nothing happens!

[dionbee93]

Condi said:

You'd be surprised how long it can take if you dont get on with it... Things which are 'passable' you learn to live with and suddenly nothing happens!

a Few people have said this - this is why my initial plan is to not move in until easter and get 'most' of the work done by then where it will hopefully only be a few small bits left to do and then the back garden to tackle.. I'm sure there will be many things I haven't considered or will have completely slipped my mind by the time i get to it - but I guess it's all a learning curve!

But as I said - my reason for not moving in straight away is to not let these 'passable' things go..

Dion

[Craikeybaby]

The other way of looking at it is that you find out what you want when you're living there.

Are you getting any really big work done - rewire/moving boiler etc?

[Condi]

dionbee93 said:

a Few people have said this - this is why my initial plan is to not move in until easter and get 'most' of the work done by then where it will hopefully only be a few small bits left to do and then the back garden to tackle.. I'm sure there will be many things I haven't considered or will have completely slipped my mind by the time i get to it - but I guess it's all a learning curve!

But as I said - my reason for not moving in straight away is to not let these 'passable' things go..

Dion

In an empty room you can do it quite quickly, strip down, re-plaster, new paint, woodwork and carpets - 3 or 4 weekends per room in your spare time. Once you start living in that room then suddenly takes a long time.

[dionbee93]

Craikeybaby said:

The other way of looking at it is that you find out what you want when you're living there.

Are you getting any really big work done - rewire/moving boiler etc?

Luckily theres no major work needing doing. The boiler is new as is the central heating etc. Biggest bits really are new kitchen and bathroom and maybe plaster walls and ceiling in living room.

Dion

[dionbee93]

So - Contracts exchanged and first thing I want to do is to fit myself a Multifuel burner in the living room.

The room is only small so a 5/6KW should be ample - any recommendations at all? I'm not looking to spend mega money as it won't be lit every day just maybe twice a week. Budget is around the £500 mark for the stove and the other £900/1000 on flue and lining the chimney.

I'm doing this first as I'm hoping to get the fireplace/chimney opened up a little and getting all the plastering done before I've started to renovate anywhere else to reduce mess.

Dion.

Edited by dionbee93 on Tuesday 13th December 09:27

[dionbee93]

So - completion date has FINALLY been set to the 20th of Jan so Can't wait 6 months from my offer being accepted!

Few issues following contract exchange with a boiler on a government grant etc. all sorted now though. Bought myself a Villager multi fuel stove and sorted for the fitter and plasterer to be there on the first week in Feb to fit it and line the chimney for me.

My plan is to start with one of the bedrooms so I have somewhere 'done' to store all the crap that I'll no doubt have in the house during the refurb.

Dion.

[BoRED S2upid]

dionbee93 said:

So - Contracts exchanged and first thing I want to do is to fit myself a Multifuel burner in the living room.

The room is only small so a 5/6KW should be ample - any recommendations at all? I'm not looking to spend mega money as it won't be lit every day just maybe twice a week. Budget is around the £500 mark for the stove and the other £900/1000 on flue and lining the chimney.

I'm doing this first as I'm hoping to get the fireplace/chimney opened up a little and getting all the plastering done before I've started to renovate anywhere else to reduce mess.

Dion.

Edited by dionbee93 on Tuesday 13th December 09:27

Why a multi fuel burner? Looks pretty? In a small room it's going to churn out so much heat your going to need to open the windows! Especially in mid terrace.

[dionbee93]

Yes mostly due to the cosyness of a wood burner but also due to being able to get free firewood and coal. I reckon it will heat most of the house as the kitchen is open through to the living room and the stairs are open to upstairs.

Dion

[dionbee93]

So for the last few days I've been signing papers, cheques etc, and sorting out insurance for the house and so on..

and from the threads I've been reading on here it seems like I've done a PH first and actually completed a day EARLIER than expected!! Excited to say the least - Can start to get some proper work done now... Collecting the keys on my way home from work tonight.

Wish me luck! (Still can't believe I'm now a homeowner!!)

Dion

[dionbee93]

So for the last few days I've been signing papers, cheques etc, and sorting out insurance for the house and so on..

and from the threads I've been reading on here it seems like I've done a PH first and actually completed a day EARLIER than expected!! Excited to say the least - Can start to get some proper work done now... Collecting the keys on my way home from work tonight.

Wish me luck! (Still can't believe I'm now a homeowner!!)

Dion

[Harry Flashman]

Congratulations!

On the burner I have a Gallery Classic 5 in my flat, in the TV room (4m x 3m) and it has been great, and far too much heat for the small room: it could heat something double the volume I think. Relatively cheap at £400 delivered, and no issues over 4 winters.