Renovating an old farmhouse and living on the Pennines
Discussion
Massive improvement, and good to see you’re repointing properly with lime mortar. We’ve got awful strap pointing on our cottage in sand/cement and we’re gradually replacing it with proper bagged (slightly recessed) lime mortar. Ball-ache of a job but will be worth it.
(ps though you're probably familiar with it already, Historic England have a really good advice note on traditional repointing)
(ps though you're probably familiar with it already, Historic England have a really good advice note on traditional repointing)
Condi said:
Evoluzione said:
The water supply to the house is now from a borehole in the garage, here I need your advice. It has no filter and the water has a lot of iron in it, you can taste it and it stains everything brown. I'm now living with a ginner 
At the moment we've just sent off a sample for analysis, but we're looking at a £1k+ bill to put a filter in and it'll need annual maintenance. Any experiences or advice on that are welcome.
Not much, other than when in Aus the groundwater was a bit funny and we drank rainwater, collected in 2 big tanks. It then went through 2 filters and a UV filter before being deemed safe to drink. At the moment we've just sent off a sample for analysis, but we're looking at a £1k+ bill to put a filter in and it'll need annual maintenance. Any experiences or advice on that are welcome.
Over in NZ we drank bore-water which was better than any mineral water you'll ever buy. You could drink that straight out the ground, no filtering, no nothing, although it was filtered to be sure.
Because the water was stored in large quantities, and for longer periods of time, in Aus it was tested every 12 or 24 months to ensure there was nothing nasty in the tank.
In Montenegro, friends' place out there has a big (20,000 litre) tank under the house and collects rainwater too. Similar filtering, 2 mesh and 1 UV. So rainwater is always an alternative which works well elsewhere in the world if you don't like the bore water.
Common here and works fine. Neighbour has a bore, but mostly used for the garden. Slightly acidic in its nature. Another pumps from the river which is fine but can't pump in times of flood. We have cattle nearby but not much agriculture. But rivers can be an unknown quantity.
You may wonder why I said earlier the house has spread. I've always noticed an extra wide band of pointing running vertically down the front, now it's even more pronounced, This kind of house design doesn't lend itself to high strength and there is a huge Sycamore right next to it. It's on our neighbours land and I think in dry spells years ago it's dried out the ground and part of the house has been pulled towards it an inch. It hasn't moved in recent years. I'm pretty sure the end bit hasn't dropped, it's actually all moved sideways.
The remedial work is easy and as we're repointing the whole thing you won't know it's been done.
So we either monitor it in the future and leave the tree, just lop the lower branches off to tidy it up a bit.
Chop it down. It's only a sycamore, but then again I don't really like chopping trees down and the birds enjoy it.
An outsider would be to give it a water supply from a spring so it never dries out, but can't see that happening.
I think we'll go for Plan A for now and hope we don't have any more long dry summers, dunno, will speak with neighbour.
When you're moaning about putting the bins out always remember it could be worse.
It's about 1/4 of a mile to the road and I usually put them in the van to get them up there. That day however i'd come home late and the van was full so it was shanks' pony that got it there.
I said there was a lot to talk about with water management and there is. Because we've halfway down a slope it wants to go under, over and around us so needs diverting accordingly. The track will need attention as when it's heavy enough it just washes the gravel away and makes a right old mess of it.
The neighbour can be hard work, but two gems of his info have been useful: When dealing with water here think big and the water pools around our gate.
I set to work on the latter by killing off all the undergrowth around it, which consisted mainly of nettles and thistles and a bit of grass. A few weeks later I found this:
So dug it clear and now it works.
Then on the other side this:
Again, dug it out and found a rubber ball wedged in the outlet
Now the water runs in, out and under the track to get away.
Well that was an easy cure, for just that bit of an issue. Like a lot of things here it's been done properly by previous generations, just forgotten about, left unmaintained, misunderstood and bodged.
I'm just reading on the local FB page the Townies that moved to the village are moaning that the mains water was off for a while whilst repairs were made and the water a bit cloudy. Head Nimby Karen is urging people to write to the water authority to try and stop it happening again.
They have no idea
The remedial work is easy and as we're repointing the whole thing you won't know it's been done.
So we either monitor it in the future and leave the tree, just lop the lower branches off to tidy it up a bit.
Chop it down. It's only a sycamore, but then again I don't really like chopping trees down and the birds enjoy it.
An outsider would be to give it a water supply from a spring so it never dries out, but can't see that happening.
I think we'll go for Plan A for now and hope we don't have any more long dry summers, dunno, will speak with neighbour.
When you're moaning about putting the bins out always remember it could be worse.
It's about 1/4 of a mile to the road and I usually put them in the van to get them up there. That day however i'd come home late and the van was full so it was shanks' pony that got it there.
I said there was a lot to talk about with water management and there is. Because we've halfway down a slope it wants to go under, over and around us so needs diverting accordingly. The track will need attention as when it's heavy enough it just washes the gravel away and makes a right old mess of it.
The neighbour can be hard work, but two gems of his info have been useful: When dealing with water here think big and the water pools around our gate.
I set to work on the latter by killing off all the undergrowth around it, which consisted mainly of nettles and thistles and a bit of grass. A few weeks later I found this:
So dug it clear and now it works.
Then on the other side this:
Again, dug it out and found a rubber ball wedged in the outlet
Now the water runs in, out and under the track to get away.
Well that was an easy cure, for just that bit of an issue. Like a lot of things here it's been done properly by previous generations, just forgotten about, left unmaintained, misunderstood and bodged.
I'm just reading on the local FB page the Townies that moved to the village are moaning that the mains water was off for a while whilst repairs were made and the water a bit cloudy. Head Nimby Karen is urging people to write to the water authority to try and stop it happening again.
They have no idea
Evoluzione said:
I'm pondering over making or getting a ram pump (look it up, they're very interesting) to get the water higher up the bank to gain more 'head' of pressure for free, but we'll see.
I did and this being Pistonheads I feel obliged to point out that the first one ever was installed at Oulton (as in Park). I expect to see the installation pictures by page 7 please.A
Escort3500 said:
Massive improvement, and good to see you’re repointing properly with lime mortar. We’ve got awful strap pointing on our cottage in sand/cement and we’re gradually replacing it with proper bagged (slightly recessed) lime mortar. Ball-ache of a job but will be worth it.
(ps though you're probably familiar with it already, Historic England have a really good advice note on traditional repointing)
I haven't looked at that one, but will. There are lots of resources to go to since we realised maybe 30 yrs ago that using OPC wasn't a good idea on many old walls. It's been 20yrs since the first and last time I used lime to repoint and save a house from further destruction so it's time for some re-education, this arrived this morning, £6 delivered:(ps though you're probably familiar with it already, Historic England have a really good advice note on traditional repointing)
I've got so much to do I want to buy a gun to put it on, the screw & hopper type, but opinion is divided on those.
I have one of the rarer 2.5T Vivaros, my philosophy when it comes to things which are going to work long and hard for you is 'Go big'. If it's over spec it won't struggle, it won't let you down and take everything you throw at it. It copes well with dragging tons and tons of stuff over, but when it gets in the farmyard it struggles to manoeuvre a fully loaded trailer because it 2wd and fwd. I got it and a trailer stuck when I tried to turn around in the entrance to a field and lost a full day.
'Stuff', er yes lots of stuff had to be brought over. Going back to when we first found this place in Spring 2020 I realised we were going to need a lot of logs to keep us warm in Winter. I already had a stove, but it wasn't essential for most of the year. Here now we have a through fireplace so a log burner will heat two rooms at once. You have to think in advance too, it's one to two yrs to dry logs for burning.
I saw an ad on FB MP for someone giving away free logs and it was close to where I worked. I answered it and picked up. Then they asked if I wanted more and more and more. It was a part time tree feller and once he'd found someone reliable (me) I got all the jobs. A hydraulic log splitter soon followed and over the next 14 months which it took to buy this place I collected tons and tons of the stuff. I'm from Yorkshire, I don't say no to free wood
Anyhow long story short, we needed a 4x4 and quick. I needed to get around the land, to be able drag a trailer and other things around. Maybe get us out and about on the worst Winter days too. I set a budget of £1k.
After a bit of research on here and elsewhere Terry appeared on FBMP. I'm still suspicious about the 'Selling on behalf of a deceased friend' in a Wakefield council estate and the 'Full years' MOT which must have been done over the phone. But with FSH, a torquey 2.7 TD engine and SWB it fitted the criteria quite well. Some moody posy Terry shots:
We live at the top there. Charging through the swampy bits with rushes up to the bonnet is great fun!
I can hook it up to a trailer with umpteen tons on, engage 'L4WD' and it just pulls on tickover. Did a bit of 'On Safari' and found Christmas dinner:
But had no firearms so couldn't bag it.
Terry was £750, but then a set of nearly new BF Goodrich All Terrain already mounted on some alloys came up for sale for £200 so I bagged those too. For now he'll get to see out his latter years roaming free on the fields. A bit like a re-homed battery chicken.
'Stuff', er yes lots of stuff had to be brought over. Going back to when we first found this place in Spring 2020 I realised we were going to need a lot of logs to keep us warm in Winter. I already had a stove, but it wasn't essential for most of the year. Here now we have a through fireplace so a log burner will heat two rooms at once. You have to think in advance too, it's one to two yrs to dry logs for burning.
I saw an ad on FB MP for someone giving away free logs and it was close to where I worked. I answered it and picked up. Then they asked if I wanted more and more and more. It was a part time tree feller and once he'd found someone reliable (me) I got all the jobs. A hydraulic log splitter soon followed and over the next 14 months which it took to buy this place I collected tons and tons of the stuff. I'm from Yorkshire, I don't say no to free wood
Anyhow long story short, we needed a 4x4 and quick. I needed to get around the land, to be able drag a trailer and other things around. Maybe get us out and about on the worst Winter days too. I set a budget of £1k.
After a bit of research on here and elsewhere Terry appeared on FBMP. I'm still suspicious about the 'Selling on behalf of a deceased friend' in a Wakefield council estate and the 'Full years' MOT which must have been done over the phone. But with FSH, a torquey 2.7 TD engine and SWB it fitted the criteria quite well. Some moody posy Terry shots:
We live at the top there. Charging through the swampy bits with rushes up to the bonnet is great fun!
I can hook it up to a trailer with umpteen tons on, engage 'L4WD' and it just pulls on tickover. Did a bit of 'On Safari' and found Christmas dinner:
But had no firearms so couldn't bag it.
Terry was £750, but then a set of nearly new BF Goodrich All Terrain already mounted on some alloys came up for sale for £200 so I bagged those too. For now he'll get to see out his latter years roaming free on the fields. A bit like a re-homed battery chicken.
Evoluzione said:
Escort3500 said:
Massive improvement, and good to see you’re repointing properly with lime mortar. We’ve got awful strap pointing on our cottage in sand/cement and we’re gradually replacing it with proper bagged (slightly recessed) lime mortar. Ball-ache of a job but will be worth it.
(ps though you're probably familiar with it already, Historic England have a really good advice note on traditional repointing)
I haven't looked at that one, but will. There are lots of resources to go to since we realised maybe 30 yrs ago that using OPC wasn't a good idea on many old walls. It's been 20yrs since the first and last time I used lime to repoint and save a house from further destruction so it's time for some re-education, this arrived this morning, £6 delivered:(ps though you're probably familiar with it already, Historic England have a really good advice note on traditional repointing)
I've got so much to do I want to buy a gun to put it on, the screw & hopper type, but opinion is divided on those.
). I don’t remember pointing guns in those days, and as you say, they don’t seem to be favoured by some professionals nowadays. AKT said:
Evoluzione said:
I'm pondering over making or getting a ram pump (look them up, they're very interesting) to get the water higher up the bank to gain more 'head' of pressure for free, but we'll see.
I did and this being Pistonheads I feel obliged to point out that the first one ever was installed at Oulton (as in Park). I expect to see the installation pictures by page 7 please.A
The deal is that loosely my domain is the outside which includes buildings, fields, vegetables,
Sorry you'll have to make do with a bit of a s
tty picture today.As mentioned we're still moving stuff across, I regularly pass by a sign saying 'Free horse manure'. The owners of some stables clear the fields manually every day and bag it up. Of course this works very well, clean fields and people will always take bagged poo, It doesn't stay there for long at all. The only mild annoyance is they won't take the bags back for some reason.
A quick rudimentary pallet compost heap was formed and it's dropped in then covered over by an old horse blanket. It needs to be of a certain consistency, not too wet, not too dry to be successful.
It takes time of course which is why i'm doing it now - for future gardening. It also creates a lot of heat, which has me ponder over using it to heat a greenhouse...
v15ben said:
Really enjoying this thread so far.
You have found a fantastic location (and it is a world away from Batley!)
Thanks, yeah Batley You have found a fantastic location (and it is a world away from Batley!)
I was born in the old hospital there, had to work there for the last 15yrs or so, but never lived there, although my OH was when we met.
Because I couldn't find a unit nor space where I lived up the road I was forced to rent a unit in Batley. Along with some good people, but also the scum of the earth too.
I've still got to empty the workshop and bring it over here, I won't be sorry to leave that place (the yard, not Batley).
I have this dream of pushing a car out of the workshop here in the sun and working on it outside, tools scattered everywhere and no-one to steal them. Spray some paint or underseal on? No problem. Gritblast a chassis outside? No worries. No-one to moan, pilfer or interfere. Utter bliss.
Regarding lime pointing: if you look up the restoration couple on YouTube he has just repointed his house down in Somerset with lime mortar and takes you through all the steps etc.
Very well made videos on all aspects of DIY and I highly recommend.
Keep up the good work, love these threads
Andy
Very well made videos on all aspects of DIY and I highly recommend.
Keep up the good work, love these threads
Andy
Evoluzione said:
.
When you're moaning about putting the bins out always remember it could be worse.
It's about 1/4 of a mile to the road and I usually put them in the van to get them up there. That day however i'd come home late and the van was full so it was shanks' pony that got it there.
You can tow them successfully by hooking the handle onto your tow bar. Just don’t go too fast if it’s bumpy!When you're moaning about putting the bins out always remember it could be worse.
It's about 1/4 of a mile to the road and I usually put them in the van to get them up there. That day however i'd come home late and the van was full so it was shanks' pony that got it there.
A
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Oh Jesus. It's not going to be full of that northern chippiness/God's county ste is it?
Just a bit now and again te is it? 
Well mi new Winter coyte arrived this morning courtesy of Handsome Dan:
https://handsomedans.co.uk/products/h-d-forrester-...
Haven't treated myself to one in many years so it was about time. I've also been perusing the Wellie thread on here too, not had time to visit a store to check my sizes yet though.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
It's like firewood and many other things, if you give it away, it'll go. If you want money or it's difficult then it'll hang around for a bit, if not forever.I actually managed to give away an old leather 3 piece suite last week as we had no room for it, I had to deliver it about 4 miles away and she gave me £20 for my trouble. It was easier than engaging with the Council and it'll get some further use which is no bad thing.
Evoluzione said:
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Oh Jesus. It's not going to be full of that northern chippiness/God's county ste is it?
Just a bit now and again te is it? Well mi new Winter coyte arrived this morning courtesy of Handsome Dan:
https://handsomedans.co.uk/products/h-d-forrester-...
Haven't treated myself to one in many years so it was about time. I've also been perusing the Wellie thread on here too, not had time to visit a store to check my sizes yet though.
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