My wee Isle of Skye renovation
Discussion
Skyedriver said:
Was trying to work out the location, initially I thought Harrapool/Broadford but you said an older persons place. The one I was thinking of the guy had an old red Landy with a V6.
We were on the road down to Armadale.
No red Landy but you’re close with the location! I don’t want to name it in the public domain as the house is sitting empty, even if it is Skye. We were on the road down to Armadale.
A bit further East along the coast from Broadford. thepawbroon said:
Hi,
Good luck with the project.
I was wondering if you had met any resistance or ill-feeling from anyone in the community about a “residential” house becoming a “holiday” house, therefore reducing the available housing stock for locals?
I’ve heard of it elsewhere. Just wondering, not being judgemental or anything!
Cheers.
Thanks!Good luck with the project.
I was wondering if you had met any resistance or ill-feeling from anyone in the community about a “residential” house becoming a “holiday” house, therefore reducing the available housing stock for locals?
I’ve heard of it elsewhere. Just wondering, not being judgemental or anything!
Cheers.
I’m practically a local. I’ve visited this village since before I was born as it was where my Mum grew up. These days my Mum has moved back, my brother built his house there, an Uncle has moved back and six cousins have all moved to the area although none of them grew up there. My stock response is that it’ll be a holiday house until I can afford to retire, which is pretty close to the truth!
Luckily the local community see it as belonging to a local rather than an “incomer”.
The house sits on a large plot which runs to the shoreline so there’s every chance if it had gone on the market it might have been bought by a developer, demolished and 2 new houses built.
I’d say the community in South Skye are fairly tolerant towards this type of thing, many use tourism as a second income themselves. The tourist market has always been part of Skye, although it has gone a bit bonkers over the past few years and I know many locals enjoyed the peace during lockdown.
I do see what you’re saying though about reducing housing stock. I’m not sure many folk would have taken on this house though, half the trades I use think I’m bonkers.
OK agree about giving the location away.
Know a few folk down where that is although some have probably moved away now.
Have some happy and some not so happy memories of Skye, We bought our place in 2004 after we married, went into semi retirement, had a son, then in 2009 I decided I needed a proper job rather than Midgie feeder and Weatherman (it's raining again) and relocated. Hung onto the place until three year ago as a holiday home but sold eventually and now in Oban.
Wife's family live near Sunderland, we lived in North Yorkshire from 2009 to 2018 and know the travel times well. Folk don't realise how BIG Scotland is and once past Glasgow it's single carriageway.
Know a few folk down where that is although some have probably moved away now.
Have some happy and some not so happy memories of Skye, We bought our place in 2004 after we married, went into semi retirement, had a son, then in 2009 I decided I needed a proper job rather than Midgie feeder and Weatherman (it's raining again) and relocated. Hung onto the place until three year ago as a holiday home but sold eventually and now in Oban.
Wife's family live near Sunderland, we lived in North Yorkshire from 2009 to 2018 and know the travel times well. Folk don't realise how BIG Scotland is and once past Glasgow it's single carriageway.
Skyedriver said:
OK agree about giving the location away.
Know a few folk down where that is although some have probably moved away now.
Have some happy and some not so happy memories of Skye, We bought our place in 2004 after we married, went into semi retirement, had a son, then in 2009 I decided I needed a proper job rather than Midgie feeder and Weatherman (it's raining again) and relocated. Hung onto the place until three year ago as a holiday home but sold eventually and now in Oban.
Wife's family live near Sunderland, we lived in North Yorkshire from 2009 to 2018 and know the travel times well. Folk don't realise how BIG Scotland is and once past Glasgow it's single carriageway.
Sleat is a lovely part of Skye, and usually has the best weather so you picked a good place to live even if it didn’t suit in the long term.Know a few folk down where that is although some have probably moved away now.
Have some happy and some not so happy memories of Skye, We bought our place in 2004 after we married, went into semi retirement, had a son, then in 2009 I decided I needed a proper job rather than Midgie feeder and Weatherman (it's raining again) and relocated. Hung onto the place until three year ago as a holiday home but sold eventually and now in Oban.
Wife's family live near Sunderland, we lived in North Yorkshire from 2009 to 2018 and know the travel times well. Folk don't realise how BIG Scotland is and once past Glasgow it's single carriageway.
Travel to Skye from where I stay is only 200 odd miles. Folk don’t always understand why it takes me 5 hours!
That does include a stop for the dog and being stuck behind many caravans and campers.J6542 said:
Look forward to reading this. Seeing how you get on finding tradesmen and materials.
Tradesmen! Where to start?I initially approached a builder who lives 3 houses away and has completed a few renovations to a good standard. His “rough estimate” gave me heart palpitations as it was the same price that the house had cost, and there was still the unknown factor once they started ripping the house to shreds.
I decided that I could do this myself. Employ separate trades and cut out the “fee” for a project manager. I mean how hard could it be to organise a few trades?
I struck gold with my joiner. I’m not even sure how I found him. He had built a luxury cabin which his wife let as holiday accommodation and when I saw the standard of work knew he would be good. Luckily we seemed to have a good rapport and he seemed on side.
Plumbers, I managed to get 3 quotes and went with the one from the guy 4 houses along. Good, steady Welshman who has lived on Skye for about 25 years. He did keep shaking his head and asking me why I was putting myself through this torment.
He lives in an old croft house so knows the problems they throw at you, his used to flood when there was a high tide!Electricians, called 3, they turned up but only 1 gave any price. Why turn up but never give a price?
Anyway the one who did price was pretty reasonable.Roofers. I knew the flat roof needed attention although most of the tile area was ok. I don’t really want to talk about roofers, they are a law to themselves. Had 3 turn up, 2 kept telling me they were busy but would give me a price ... despite chasing they never did. The other just disappeared. I then got a company from the Central Belt who were doing work on Skye to give me a price. They seemed eager to do the work but the weather was against them in Winter and by the time it got better they were locked down in the Central Belt! The roof is the bane of my life! Luckily it’s not exactly leaking, just not right and needs fixed. A story for another day!
Anyway the result of various trades visiting was that the inside of the house pretty much needed destroyed. The plasterboard was either spongy with damp or had condensation running down it, there was no insulation, everyone seemed keen to see the state the stone walls were in. So this happened!
Demolishing seems fun to begin with ...
After taking off the living room plasterboard I discovered the walls had some sort of render over the stone. Some was rock solid, other bits crumbling so I got myself a powertool! A hammer drill.
The kitchen held less surprises but the rubbish was piling up.
Time for a big skip!
And a few bonfires.
After taking off the living room plasterboard I discovered the walls had some sort of render over the stone. Some was rock solid, other bits crumbling so I got myself a powertool! A hammer drill.
The kitchen held less surprises but the rubbish was piling up.
Time for a big skip!
And a few bonfires.
moorx said:
What a stunning setting. Congrats!
Thanks! Thought I’d post more boring pictures of demolition. No-one wants to see these because they’re dismal.
With the help of a few others my wee house was getting back to it’s bones. Another surprise upstairs when the plasterboard was taken off was that it had been attached to the original tongue and groove boards that so many of these cottages had back in the 30s/40s.
Time for another powertool! A reticulating saw.
I’d have liked to have kept some of the tongue and groove but it was riddled with woodworm ... which adds another story to this renovation!
Chucked out the window.
More bonfires!
ChocolateFrog said:
Great project and location.
Those dormers do ruin the look and profile of the building, IMO ofcourse.
They’re not very pretty. However I have several relations, my Mum being one, who have the usual dormer thing going on and actually applaud the box dormer. Those dormers do ruin the look and profile of the building, IMO ofcourse.
My Mum’s house, very similar, has coombed ceilings and you need to duck if over 6’ on her landing. On my landing you can walk about happily at 6’.
It’s not my preferred taste but it is what it is.
Strange coincidence but I uncovered this signature from the year the house was elevated and the dormer added, turned out it’s the Uncle of the joiner who’ll be working on the house over 50 years on.
At the beginning of 2020 the house was back to the wooden, internal frame. Some which was saved, some needed replaced. I visited mid January and, knowing the Scottish weather might stop travel plans, I left bits of paper stuck where I wanted radiators and electrician plans for each room.
The plumber and electrician came and did first fix. No photos of this, it was only wires but exciting to know the house was on the way to getting central heating and updated wiring.
No photos because this was the last time I saw my wee house until travel restrictions were lifted after lockdown.
However a couple of pics of the house cleared and ready to get rebuilt again.
At the beginning of 2020 the house was back to the wooden, internal frame. Some which was saved, some needed replaced. I visited mid January and, knowing the Scottish weather might stop travel plans, I left bits of paper stuck where I wanted radiators and electrician plans for each room.
The plumber and electrician came and did first fix. No photos of this, it was only wires but exciting to know the house was on the way to getting central heating and updated wiring.
No photos because this was the last time I saw my wee house until travel restrictions were lifted after lockdown.
However a couple of pics of the house cleared and ready to get rebuilt again.
Catz said:
cat220 said:
Great project in a lovely part of the world!
Random question, were you on Type r owners Scotland a long time ago? Username is familiar, enjoyed a good few runs with that forum.
Yes I was! Some great runs and a few overnighters in Durness. Random question, were you on Type r owners Scotland a long time ago? Username is familiar, enjoyed a good few runs with that forum.
Good times!
cat220 said:
Small world! Good to see things going well for you. Take care!
Thanks! Car forums are often small worlds! You take care too.As of today I’m in Tier 3 in Scotland so once again not meant to visit the Highlands.
Remember Monday the 23rd of March and a speech from Boris Johnson? That was the day my windows were being installed. After BJ’s speech I got a text from the window fitter saying “ We started doing your windows but the boss says we have to stop right now and head back to Inverness.”
WTAF!!!
It was followed by another text saying “We’re staying in a local hotel and have had too many beers to drive anywhere. Can finish the job in the morning if you’re ok with that?”
YES!
Never so happy to have inebriated workmen.So the windows went in. And yes they are upvc. I know ...
On Skye weather is a huge concern. My Mum and brother have wooden windows and they’re just high maintenance so I went with the easier, and cheaper option.
Photo from my helpful window fitter because I couldn’t be there.
Thought about changing the door but it’s kind of cute so refurb in order, sometime.
We started a sunroom for a woman on the 23rd off March. Had an idea that some kind off lockdown was happening so put in a long shift and decided to work the 24th as well to make it water tight and put in a temporary floor, so the woman could get some use out of it. And that’s how it sat in front till we eventually started back on the 8th of June.
Any plans to hack the render off the outside back to the original stone? I read of so many houses like these which are permanently damp due to being cased in a cement render skin, getting shot and having the stone sandblasted and pointed with lime mortar seems to cure it for most people?
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