Do you want another rebuild diary?
Discussion
I've noticed a few rebuild threads recently, a few years ago I bought my first house - an 1860's chapel in the countryside.
I've taken loads of photos, if anyone would like me to post them along with a brief diary, I'd be glad to.
Just don't complain if I bore you to tears!
I won't be offended if not.
Tom
I've taken loads of photos, if anyone would like me to post them along with a brief diary, I'd be glad to.
Just don't complain if I bore you to tears!
I won't be offended if not.
Tom
Now those were speedy replies if ever I've seen them!
Well after a year in my first graduate job, I decided it was time to move out of my folks' nest (for the second time)... so at 24 I decided I wanted to get on the housing ladder.
I wanted a Chapel - I'm one of those people who knows exactly what I want, research loads, and know exactly how I want things done, So in Jan '08 I was the proud owner of my first house, bursting with enthusiasm and knowing nothing!
As I bought the place, it was like this...[It is on the Shropshire/Welsh border, about 5 mins from Town, although an hours commute to work. But having lived in the city for 4 years at uni, wanted to live somewhere nice, rather than convenient.



Well after a year in my first graduate job, I decided it was time to move out of my folks' nest (for the second time)... so at 24 I decided I wanted to get on the housing ladder.
I wanted a Chapel - I'm one of those people who knows exactly what I want, research loads, and know exactly how I want things done, So in Jan '08 I was the proud owner of my first house, bursting with enthusiasm and knowing nothing!
As I bought the place, it was like this...[It is on the Shropshire/Welsh border, about 5 mins from Town, although an hours commute to work. But having lived in the city for 4 years at uni, wanted to live somewhere nice, rather than convenient.
The roofer did the roadside half, followed by the rear/vestry roof. This is my favourite picture of the entire build - kind of gives a bit of sense of scale. This is looking at the wall that has the muirel painted on.

Inside the vestry, soon to be kitchen. The existing doorway was to be blocked up, and a new back door to be kocked through opposite it to access the rear garden. This is knocking through the wall between the vestry and the main building you can just about see under my tempory lintel.

New roof going on - lovely jubbly.
The worst job was removing the render which was put on to resist driving rain, and they didn't do jobs by halves back in the day - it was so tough to get off. 6 weekends solid of chipping with an SDS drill removed 50p sized chunks one at a time!

Inside the vestry, soon to be kitchen. The existing doorway was to be blocked up, and a new back door to be kocked through opposite it to access the rear garden. This is knocking through the wall between the vestry and the main building you can just about see under my tempory lintel.
New roof going on - lovely jubbly.
The worst job was removing the render which was put on to resist driving rain, and they didn't do jobs by halves back in the day - it was so tough to get off. 6 weekends solid of chipping with an SDS drill removed 50p sized chunks one at a time!
New Kitchen opening - looking from the kitchen into the main building.

New roof on, damp proof/radon barrier down, and new slab floor.

That will take some filling up living on my own! My mate is >6foot too! This went in the farmers field opposite, along with the ground source heating pipes.

That's your lot for tonight folks, more to follow over the weekend
New roof on, damp proof/radon barrier down, and new slab floor.
That will take some filling up living on my own! My mate is >6foot too! This went in the farmers field opposite, along with the ground source heating pipes.
That's your lot for tonight folks, more to follow over the weekend

Looks fantastic so far. Can't wait to see more.
I live in a converted Primitive Methodist chapel near skelmersdale, lancs. It's nothing like as pretty as your chapel because they built with brick not stone.
I bought this one ready converted so haven't had all the hard work to do. There are still some things which need work such as the windows which are still single glazed. They can't easily be double glazed without losing lots of character as they are unusual frames.
I live in a converted Primitive Methodist chapel near skelmersdale, lancs. It's nothing like as pretty as your chapel because they built with brick not stone.
I bought this one ready converted so haven't had all the hard work to do. There are still some things which need work such as the windows which are still single glazed. They can't easily be double glazed without losing lots of character as they are unusual frames.
Well, for those that are interested, here are a few more pics of my conversion... and to answer a few questions:
_dobbo_ - not as much as you might think... started off 4 years ago in my first graduate job as a design engineer, my mortgage is based on a salary of 23k!
Tokyo_mb - where abouts is your place? Mine is just outside Oswestry, can't be too far from you!
andy43 - There were very loose restrictions, in that everything had to be in keeping with the character - that's about it. I wanted it to look like a chapel from the outside, but not on the inside. You're right about the views - it's such a nice area, stunning views every direction you look
And for all the other comments, thank you very much - i've been working hard on it for three years now and sometimes forget just how lucky I am.
Anyway, on with the pictures!

A happy weekend sanding all the (soon to be exposed) timberwork... very, very dusty work! and very hot when you're 25feet in the air!

The first work actually adding something to the property - this was such a nice time, after 9months od total destruction, at last constructive jobs could be started!
Insulation going up, 75mm on walls, 175 on ceiling, and although I was miffed at the time not being able to see the roof timbers, it makes a difference now! Downstairs studwork starting, and mezzanine foor/support.

The new windows and doors, hardwood frames with double glazed panes. I like to think they're 'in-keeping' with the place. Thats's a driveway on the right, not a lovely hairpin by the way.
_dobbo_ - not as much as you might think... started off 4 years ago in my first graduate job as a design engineer, my mortgage is based on a salary of 23k!
Tokyo_mb - where abouts is your place? Mine is just outside Oswestry, can't be too far from you!
andy43 - There were very loose restrictions, in that everything had to be in keeping with the character - that's about it. I wanted it to look like a chapel from the outside, but not on the inside. You're right about the views - it's such a nice area, stunning views every direction you look

And for all the other comments, thank you very much - i've been working hard on it for three years now and sometimes forget just how lucky I am.
Anyway, on with the pictures!
A happy weekend sanding all the (soon to be exposed) timberwork... very, very dusty work! and very hot when you're 25feet in the air!
The first work actually adding something to the property - this was such a nice time, after 9months od total destruction, at last constructive jobs could be started!
Insulation going up, 75mm on walls, 175 on ceiling, and although I was miffed at the time not being able to see the roof timbers, it makes a difference now! Downstairs studwork starting, and mezzanine foor/support.
The new windows and doors, hardwood frames with double glazed panes. I like to think they're 'in-keeping' with the place. Thats's a driveway on the right, not a lovely hairpin by the way.
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Always like looking at pictures, especially when the building is a little different.
