My wee Isle of Skye renovation
Discussion
Darkslider said:
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?
The original stone isn’t dressed stone so would look pretty awful. I’ve read about the problems with stone render but every croft house on Skye has it, they probably also have damp issues they don’t know about! A cottage along the road got renovated a few years ago and they chipped off all the render and took it back to the stone. It ended up being damper than it had been in the first place so they ended up having to render it again.
Mine has some issues with damp but only on the gable walls and, after many discussions with various trades, we reckon it may have to do with the chimneys. Hoping to get these done soon, just trying to find the right person for the job is proving tricky.
dmsims said:
If it's no too late you can get shower doors that will fit eaves:
Thanks for that and useful to know.Unfortunately the new pipework upstairs has to be boxed in to allow the right drop, or so my plumber tells me. This means the space in that room is even less, so squeezing in a shower really would be too much of a squeeze sadly.
Just before lockdown the flat roof threw a few problems as can be seen in the photo below. After lots of local roofers coming to look but few ever getting back to me I ended up getting a company from the Central Belt lined up to do the work. Even taking into account their accommodation expenses they came in price wise much the same as a local. Unfortunately lockdown happened and they couldn’t travel to do the work. 
This is where things went a bit pear-shaped!
Someone suggested a guy from the North end of Skye, he came across well in emails and phone calls so I decided to roll with it. A GRP (fibreglass) roofing system was suggested and he said he’d measure up and order the materials.
Turned out the trade supplier he used on Skye were still closed but due to open in a fortnight. They opened he ordered the supplies, this was around the end of May. Then it turned out the manufacturer of the materials were shut and when they did open they had a huge backlog.
Skipping to 8 weeks later when the materials did eventually turn up ...
By the end of June I, ever so slightly, broke lockdown rules and headed to Skye. The materials were there but he hadn’t ordered the correct amount, far too little. He blamed the trade supplier, they blamed him, I lost the rag with them both! A few days later the rest of the materials turned up. Then he had to wait for a break in the weather so 2 weeks later the roof eventually got completed.
Unfortunately it leaked!
He came back, redid the area that was leaking and it all seems to be ok to date. Except that in an area it doesn’t run into the gutter it cascades down the fascia ... still waiting to get that fixed. It has been a painful experience and I’d urge anyone thinking about getting “Finishing Touches” from someone in Portree to think again!
Tl;dr - Getting a new flat roof was a nightmare!
This is where things went a bit pear-shaped!
Someone suggested a guy from the North end of Skye, he came across well in emails and phone calls so I decided to roll with it. A GRP (fibreglass) roofing system was suggested and he said he’d measure up and order the materials.
Turned out the trade supplier he used on Skye were still closed but due to open in a fortnight. They opened he ordered the supplies, this was around the end of May. Then it turned out the manufacturer of the materials were shut and when they did open they had a huge backlog.
Skipping to 8 weeks later when the materials did eventually turn up ...
By the end of June I, ever so slightly, broke lockdown rules and headed to Skye. The materials were there but he hadn’t ordered the correct amount, far too little. He blamed the trade supplier, they blamed him, I lost the rag with them both! A few days later the rest of the materials turned up. Then he had to wait for a break in the weather so 2 weeks later the roof eventually got completed.
Unfortunately it leaked!
He came back, redid the area that was leaking and it all seems to be ok to date. Except that in an area it doesn’t run into the gutter it cascades down the fascia ... still waiting to get that fixed. It has been a painful experience and I’d urge anyone thinking about getting “Finishing Touches” from someone in Portree to think again!
Tl;dr - Getting a new flat roof was a nightmare!
Catz said:
Catalogue of disasters...
Typical Skye I'm afraid.Want anything fitting, installing, rebuilding etc, the nearest options are Inverness (100 mile away) unless Jewson stock it. (Is Martin & Avril still there?)
And when they arrive it's pissing down has been for weeks will continue for weeks....
We asked around for someone to install a gas fire, the recommended guy couldn't turn up for 6 months as he was fully booked.
We had a burst pipe in the loft while we were away (Fathers funeral) the damage was severe, There were local joiners I knew but the Insurance company picked a lad from Nairn, nearly three hours away, they travelled every day but only managed a few hours work due to the travel.
A lad I knew was due to carry out some work. He arrived on the agreed day, the customer said "what are you doing here, never expected you on the day you said"....
etc etc
Skye time
Skyedriver said:
Skye time
Yup, Skye time. A term even my tradesmen use!I used to think of the term fondly, until I decided to renovate a house!
Not sure about Martin but Avril’s still at Jewsons. Her ex changed some of my wooden lintels, which were rotting, to concrete lintels. Forgot about that bit of work and don’t think I took any photos anyway.
moles said:
So are handymen/ general builders in demand on Skye then?, I always thought there was enough trades up there for the population?.
There are trades, like the jack-of-all-trades I got to do my flat roof 
but if you want good trades then you often have to join a waiting list. There’s a lot of new build work and trades do seem to prefer that type of work to working on a wonky 150 year old house. There’s certainly no shortage of work for those that provide a high standard. When I, initially, contacted a few of the larger building firms I was told they couldn’t start work for at least a year. I’ve had to share my joiner with two new builds he was working on. Lockdown and my joiner stopped work and furloughed the lad who worked for him. However by the end of May he was getting cabin fever and thoroughly fed up of trying to home school his four boys.
As my property was empty it was the ideal place for him to hide from his family work. So some work started downstairs, he was reluctant to do any upstairs until the flat roof was sorted (bane of my life!) Some sorting with the rotten bits of framework, insulation and some plasterboard started being put on. I can’t imagine it’s easy plasterboarding a ceiling by yourself but the wee house was beginning to get put back together.
He also put his hand to a bit of roofing/ Velux installing!
The old “velux”.
The new Velux. The plumber also came and put the upstairs waste pipe through the wall. Not an easy feat when the walls are over half a metre thick! And yes, I know I have a bit of a patchwork roof but it doesn’t leak and there’s no money in the budget to change it. I am hoping to get it reroofed in a couple of years time.
Not too shabby a view from the Velux.
As my property was empty it was the ideal place for him to
He also put his hand to a bit of roofing/ Velux installing!
The old “velux”.
The new Velux. The plumber also came and put the upstairs waste pipe through the wall. Not an easy feat when the walls are over half a metre thick! And yes, I know I have a bit of a patchwork roof but it doesn’t leak and there’s no money in the budget to change it. I am hoping to get it reroofed in a couple of years time.
Not too shabby a view from the Velux.
On a roll with posts today.
Lockdown ended!
Being able to see family was amazing! My wee house had moved on a bit but there wasn’t much I could do except tidy up the garden a bit, and have more bonfires.
Unfortunately my joiner was pulled to finish working on the two new builds where progress had stopped so not a lot to report during July and August. I did get the roof finished, less said about that the better! Pre lockdown I’d had a woodworm survey which showed moderate woodworm in the rafters so Mr. Woodworm Sorter came and sprayed some chemicals and gave me a certificate.
No photos of this fascinating woodworm treatment so here are a couple of pics of a high Summer tide from the bottom of the garden.
Lockdown ended!
Being able to see family was amazing! My wee house had moved on a bit but there wasn’t much I could do except tidy up the garden a bit, and have more bonfires.
Unfortunately my joiner was pulled to finish working on the two new builds where progress had stopped so not a lot to report during July and August. I did get the roof finished, less said about that the better! Pre lockdown I’d had a woodworm survey which showed moderate woodworm in the rafters so Mr. Woodworm Sorter came and sprayed some chemicals and gave me a certificate.
No photos of this fascinating woodworm treatment so here are a couple of pics of a high Summer tide from the bottom of the garden.
Trades are just as difficult to come by on the mainland west coast (Lochcarron).
A bit nearer to 'ness but I've still to get a roofer to actually turn up to look!
I've had a good stove fitter (from Skye), oil boiler/Aga servicer & tree surgeon (Applecross). Stove & trees should be one offs.
Plumbers have just been bad luck. One excellent chap started but then had an operation and is now not returning calls/messages. Another's wife had a miscarriage, may come back next week.
Those serious life events are of course more important so am understanding of them.
A bit nearer to 'ness but I've still to get a roofer to actually turn up to look!
I've had a good stove fitter (from Skye), oil boiler/Aga servicer & tree surgeon (Applecross). Stove & trees should be one offs.
Plumbers have just been bad luck. One excellent chap started but then had an operation and is now not returning calls/messages. Another's wife had a miscarriage, may come back next week.
Those serious life events are of course more important so am understanding of them.
Catz said:
On a roll with posts today.
Lockdown ended!
Being able to see family was amazing! My wee house had moved on a bit but there wasn’t much I could do except tidy up the garden a bit, and have more bonfires.
Unfortunately my joiner was pulled to finish working on the two new builds where progress had stopped so not a lot to report during July and August. I did get the roof finished, less said about that the better! Pre lockdown I’d had a woodworm survey which showed moderate woodworm in the rafters so Mr. Woodworm Sorter came and sprayed some chemicals and gave me a certificate.
No photos of this fascinating woodworm treatment so here are a couple of pics of a high Summer tide from the bottom of the garden.
Is that a Newfoundland, if it is I’d get the ceilings artexed so you can’t see the slobber!Lockdown ended!
Being able to see family was amazing! My wee house had moved on a bit but there wasn’t much I could do except tidy up the garden a bit, and have more bonfires.
Unfortunately my joiner was pulled to finish working on the two new builds where progress had stopped so not a lot to report during July and August. I did get the roof finished, less said about that the better! Pre lockdown I’d had a woodworm survey which showed moderate woodworm in the rafters so Mr. Woodworm Sorter came and sprayed some chemicals and gave me a certificate.
No photos of this fascinating woodworm treatment so here are a couple of pics of a high Summer tide from the bottom of the garden.
Thanks for the replies, glad folk are enjoying the photos and updates.
She’s a Flatcoat Retriever so not too slobbery but always in water!
Work on the soil pipe isn’t finished but I’ll speak to my plumber about that.
jet_noise said:
Trades are just as difficult to come by on the mainland west coast (Lochcarron).
A bit nearer to 'ness but I've still to get a roofer to actually turn up to look!
It’s hard work isn’t it? I knew it would be but wasn’t prepared for the roof nonsense. It appears local roofers are only interested if it’s the full works.A bit nearer to 'ness but I've still to get a roofer to actually turn up to look!
gareth h said:
Is that a Newfoundland, if it is I’d get the ceilings artexed so you can’t see the slobber!
She’s a Flatcoat Retriever so not too slobbery but always in water! bobtail4x4 said:
the soil pipe needs moving or capping with an air admittance valve,
it will stink the house out when the velux is open,
Thanks for the info! Don’t want a stinky house.it will stink the house out when the velux is open,
Work on the soil pipe isn’t finished but I’ll speak to my plumber about that.
Bit of history ...
I’ve been a member of a few Isle of Skye FB groups for many years. Just after I bought the property I logged on to find someone had posted a photo of my wee house and was asking if anyone had any info as to who owned it now. Bit intrigued so I messaged back and it turned out I was replying to Penny, a lady in her mid 70s who lived in Wales.
It turned out this was Penny’s mother’s (Marianne) childhood home. Still with me?
Marianne had grown up there as a child with her siblings but after they left the parents sold the house and croft. As a child my Mum remembers the next family as owning lots of ducks and there being a well in the garden. (Yet to find that.)
Anyway back to Marianne who ended up in London with a successful career in medicine, when she retired she apparently spent half her time in London and half at her holiday house in France. However her heart was still on the Isle of Skye so when she saw her childhood home was up for sale she bought it. This was late 60s when it was extended upwards and she and her friend moved there permanently.
For whatever reason Marianne decided to sell the house in the early 80s to my Uncle. Her daughter, Penny, told me she was upset by this decision as she and her husband would have bought the property but weren’t told about the sale. Families huh!
Penny evidently has fond memories of the house so I’ve been keeping in touch and letting her see it move slowly into the 21st century. I did offer her a weekend away once the house was finished but sadly she’s now a widow and disabled so travel isn’t possible.
Tl;dr - Contacted by Penny whose mother lived in the house as a child.
Here is Marianne, with her siblings, outside my wee house.
And Marianne, when she retired, outside the front door.
Photo of the house from the 70s after it had been renovated by Marianne.
I’ve been a member of a few Isle of Skye FB groups for many years. Just after I bought the property I logged on to find someone had posted a photo of my wee house and was asking if anyone had any info as to who owned it now. Bit intrigued so I messaged back and it turned out I was replying to Penny, a lady in her mid 70s who lived in Wales.
It turned out this was Penny’s mother’s (Marianne) childhood home. Still with me?
Marianne had grown up there as a child with her siblings but after they left the parents sold the house and croft. As a child my Mum remembers the next family as owning lots of ducks and there being a well in the garden. (Yet to find that.)
Anyway back to Marianne who ended up in London with a successful career in medicine, when she retired she apparently spent half her time in London and half at her holiday house in France. However her heart was still on the Isle of Skye so when she saw her childhood home was up for sale she bought it. This was late 60s when it was extended upwards and she and her friend moved there permanently.
For whatever reason Marianne decided to sell the house in the early 80s to my Uncle. Her daughter, Penny, told me she was upset by this decision as she and her husband would have bought the property but weren’t told about the sale. Families huh!
Penny evidently has fond memories of the house so I’ve been keeping in touch and letting her see it move slowly into the 21st century. I did offer her a weekend away once the house was finished but sadly she’s now a widow and disabled so travel isn’t possible.
Tl;dr - Contacted by Penny whose mother lived in the house as a child.
Here is Marianne, with her siblings, outside my wee house.
And Marianne, when she retired, outside the front door.
Photo of the house from the 70s after it had been renovated by Marianne.
That's great - I find stuff like this fascinating.
I've spent far too much time looking at old maps and newspaper articles finding out about our cottage in Aberdeenshire.
https://maps.nls.uk/
This is pretty good and free - old OS maps have wells marked so you might be in luck. Ours is seemingly under the wood shed which is slightly unnerving!
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
The subscription to this isn't especially cheap but you get a few free articles and unlimited summaries. There's loads of results just for our cottage - even down to an advert for the sale of a nanny goat in 1872!
I've spent far too much time looking at old maps and newspaper articles finding out about our cottage in Aberdeenshire.
https://maps.nls.uk/
This is pretty good and free - old OS maps have wells marked so you might be in luck. Ours is seemingly under the wood shed which is slightly unnerving!
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
The subscription to this isn't especially cheap but you get a few free articles and unlimited summaries. There's loads of results just for our cottage - even down to an advert for the sale of a nanny goat in 1872!
snowandrocks said:
That's great - I find stuff like this fascinating.
I've spent far too much time looking at old maps and newspaper articles finding out about our cottage in Aberdeenshire.
https://maps.nls.uk/
This is pretty good and free - old OS maps have wells marked so you might be in luck. Ours is seemingly under the wood shed which is slightly unnerving!
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
The subscription to this isn't especially cheap but you get a few free articles and unlimited summaries. There's loads of results just for our cottage - even down to an advert for the sale of a nanny goat in 1872!
Amazing! Thanks so much for posting this.I've spent far too much time looking at old maps and newspaper articles finding out about our cottage in Aberdeenshire.
https://maps.nls.uk/
This is pretty good and free - old OS maps have wells marked so you might be in luck. Ours is seemingly under the wood shed which is slightly unnerving!
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/
The subscription to this isn't especially cheap but you get a few free articles and unlimited summaries. There's loads of results just for our cottage - even down to an advert for the sale of a nanny goat in 1872!
A quick look and in 1872 there appears to be two buildings, maybe a house and barn. The next map on, in 1892, shows one building in a slightly different location. I can see a well location but I think this will still need some work to figure out exactly where on the property it is. Gives me a bit more of a clue though!
Fantastic.
Camoradi said:
Thanks for posting details of your wonderful renovation Catz. We've long thought about a move to the Highlands or islands but it never came off. Be sure to post up details when it is available for bookings please as we're long overdue a return visit to Skye
Thanks! It’s a while away from bookings but I guess not many are travelling about just now anyway.
TheJimi said:
Cool update, and you're a good egg for offering.
Cheers.Thanks to “snowandrocks” I’ve got a better idea where the well in the garden is. Penny, the lady from Wales, described it as a honeycomb well but has no photos of it.
Here’s an old ordnance survey map of the well’s location. Bit blurry as I had to zoom in.
That means it’s under this lot! This was grass back in the 80s but proved too much for my late Uncle who fenced off an area of garden around the house but left the rest of the ground to go wild. Lots of horrid willow. Finding the well may be a project in itself!
My lovely brother did cut down lots of willow so the view opened up again. Unfortunately he’s not as good at clearing as he is cutting so I imagine it will all grow back.
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