My wee Isle of Skye renovation

[Catz]

Been busy sorted out various “grown up” stuff so my house has been a little on the back burner but there have been some updates.

Oil tank installed but the hot water wouldn’t work! After a lot of debate between myself, the plumber and the electrician the problem was eventually solved. Why is nothing easy? Shower room plumbed in and I have to say it’s one of the best showers ever. I went for Showerwall panels over tiles for ease of install and future cleaning. Not something I’d usually consider but really pleased with it, the photos make it look quite grey but there’s actually a lot of blue shades too.





I fitted the flooring downstairs on my own! Pretty proud of myself.
It’s Quickstep LVT in Chestnut, a bit darker than I wanted but supply issues meant limited choice.





I had a few roofing companies look at the roof and they all mentioned the poor workmanship on the flat roof. An expensive lesson learned never to trust a “Jack of all trades”!! Anyway I decided to bite the bullet and replace the entire roof. This wasn’t in the budget but it would have needed doing in a few years so I reckoned it was best to get the upheaval out of the way. Really pleased with the slating and all the lead work. The top of one of the gable walls was a little damp and my joiner refused to plasterboard until this was fixed, happily the new roof has sorted out this problem and I have plasterboard there now. In hindsight I should have sorted the roof first and worked my way down but hey ho I did it backwards.






The scaffold proved useful for whitewashing the tops of the gables but is in the way a bit for the rest of the house so it’s two tone at the mo till access is easier.



Inside my joiner’s been busy fitting doors, facings and skirtings … and creating more mess.
I’ve started painting some of it but I’m just getting in the way really.



So finally the finish line is in sight!

[Catz]

So my last post was a damp squid with no replies.
Not disheartened I thought I’d post a wee vid of the local beach from the other night. Click on the pic to view.

[Catz]

Thanks for all the kind words. It has been a little tricky with supplies and I’ve had to compromise on a few things because what I wanted wasn’t available. I’m just glad I’m not starting renovating now, I reckon prices etc in 2021 would have seriously affected the budget.

stevemcs said:

It’s coming along nicely, have you got a completion date in sight ?

Hopefully all trades will be done by the end of August, just having to work around their holidays. However the decorating is down to me and unfortunately I can’t be here for September and the start of October. Mind you I probably can’t get the sofas I want till after then anyway! Covid/Brexit/Suez Canal/ foam shortage.

Welshbeef said:

If you don’t mind me asking what was the cost of the roof replacement (did you have all new batons felt and slates or just salted pulled and new ones replaced

The roof was around the 20k mark and was a company from Inverness (couple of hours drive away) so involved paying for accommodation etc. It was actually cheaper than local roofers, madness! Still more money than I thought but I had various quotes and that was the best I could find.
A breathable membrane was put over the original sarking and then just slated directly onto that. Although the sarking at the front needed replaced along with some timbers. Plus they claimed the old tiles were asbestos so needed double bagged (oooer!) and specialist disposal … I think they were concrete tiles but hey ho.

jet_noise said:

Just throw the bloody ball!

Drawweight said:

I’ve got what looks like the same bathroom except mine is one single unit.

Points for the sink 9/10 for looks 1/10 for practicality.

You get about an inch and a half of water before it reaches the overflow which is barely enough to Washington. If you’re shaving, hairs gather in the corners and are a nightmare to get out. Unlike a ‘normal’ sink where you can simply open the taps and swish round with your hand.

My first and last rectangular sink.

It wasn’t my first choice but the basin is over 5 inches deep and the sides are sloping so not totally rectangular.
At least the toilet isn’t rectangular … I’ve made that mistake in the past.

[Catz]

Well I got there in the end!
The cottage is called Torgorm and can be found on a popular hosting site if you put the location as Breakish.
I'm not sure if it's allowed to put links on here or in my profile so if anyone can advise that would be appreciated.

Here's the end result.

[Catz]

Thanks all. I’ll add a link in my profile.

jet_noise said:

A mite close to the Misty Bottle for temptation?

A 10 min walk!

[Catz]

As a dog owner myself I swithered about being dog friendly. Sheep do roam freely in the area and the garden isn’t fully enclosed at the moment so it could end in disaster! I may have to remedy this in the future though.

[Catz]

Thanks for the kind words folks.
The dog friendly “stuff” does seem a minefield with those who want to take their dogs and those who are allergic. For now I think I’ll keep it pet free, sorry to anyone with lovely pups! Last year I watched a visitor’s dog chase a flock of sheep, manage to separate one and proceed to scare the animal so much it just collapsed. I’d hate to be responsible for allowing a dog like that to roam the area. Plus livestock owners in Scotland have the right to shoot a dog distressing livestock, not the stuff for a great holiday!

Patch1875 said:

We are looking for somewhere just now. Looks like 7 days minimum? Possibly date not available either. Does look very nice though.

The next few weeks are blocked out because my niece is having her 18th Birthday party in the grounds of the cottage. If you’re happy to have a bunch of teenagers roaming about then send me a message.

GetCarter said:

BTW, I know Breakish well... as the crow flies only about 30 miles from where I live

You may well know Ronan Martin, who also lives in Breakish, and has recorded his fiddle here. (A very fine player)

http://www.ronanmartin.net

I do know the Martins. A very musical family!
I don’t think I’ve met Ronan but have met his brother Brendan, and I have fiddle books compiled by Christine.

[Catz]

Patch1875 said:

Sent you a pm with the dates were after just in case!

Hi, I tried to email you back on the email address that came through with your message but it’s saying “undeliverable” and pinging back to me. I’ll try sending a message through Pistonheads.

[Catz]

Shaw Tarse said:

I drove past the horse yesterday & thought about your cottage.

Ah yes, the horse!

I’m within walking distance of it but more off the beaten track.

[Catz]

s2kjock said:

Not sure how I missed this thread, as I know the area reasonably well. Managed to work out roughly where it was before you broke cover
I have had many happy days sailing up and down the Sound of Raasay and Inner Sound as well as Lochalsh and Sleat.

Property looks great, and very impressed you managed to get so much done despite lockdown and somewhere so difficult to get reliable trades in!

If you know any decent local painters I'd be interested to know - I know someone who has been trying to get some external woodwork done not too far from you and usual painter he has used does not seem interested, I suspect due to much more lucrative other work he is booked out on.

Thankyou.
I did all the external and internal painting myself (well with the help of my brother on the exterior) so unfortunately don’t know any painters.
It really is hard to find reliable trades as they’re so busy and not very interested in smaller jobs.