Novice Renovators- The Big Build Day by Day

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by parisdisneyfan

I just thought it looked nice😉
What purpose does it serve? What do they use now?

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Sorry, been cooking. Herring bone strutting was used between the joists to stop any lateral movement of the joists themselves. We used to put it in before they were bricked in tightly and the 1st floor brickwork went on.

There is a formula on how to cut the angles. You mark the joist width on the existing ones and just kneel down and cut your battens using that width as a guide. I used to cut and my Mate nailed them in.

Nowadays they use the same size joists instead cut between them. Waste of timber and costly.

[parisdisneyfan]

Day 11
Garage door wall cladding was installed and showed us how wonky the garage beam is😫 However our builder has assured us that it is secure and not a worry. We are looking into some way of masking it.

The kitchen floor has had most of its insulation blocks fitted and the new floor panels are going down. The plumbers did a lot more behind the scenes work, they will be back next week for at least 3 days to sort out the relocation of a lot of heating pipes.

The windows are hopefully going to be here end of next week so there shouldn’t be too much of a delay in the end!

Not sure of the plans for tomorrow, but still can’t believe it is only the end of the second week, they seem to have done so much😉

[parisdisneyfan]

Day 12 end of second week!
Kitchen floor finished today, also saw what the plumbers had been up to yesterday.

All the pipe work is in for the rads and island plinth heater and outside tap. The water main wasn’t too big a deal in the end!

Windows are confirmed for fitting next Friday. Monday to Wednesday will be plumbers moving all these CH pipes/valves etc into the former pantry. Hoping won’t too cold next week🥶

Hopefully steel will be here next week for wall to come down, and then floor sorted once windows are in followed by the stud walls and insulation. Builder tentatively saying kitchen install should start in 2-3 weeks, can’t wait!

[parisdisneyfan]

Day 16
Plumbers finished at lunchtime today. Central heating back on after a bit of a chilly day yesterday but they have certainly made all the pipe work a lot neater.

This is the pipe work in the conservatory going out to the boiler and will be hidden when the conservatory is boarded and plastered.

Empty wall ready to be knocked out and new home for all the control and valves in the old pantry.

Electrician is here for first fix tomorrow. Next job is the big wall coming out once the steel is ready. Apparently it is with the supplier for them to add some holes and prime it! Could be here anytime this week. Windows due on Friday, they will confirm once they arrive with the window company supposedly on Thursday. Floor screed is booked for a week on Thursday once celatex is laid, 2 courses of bricks around edges and stud work built. Looking forward to seeing this as been told it is the colour and consistency of custard but stinks😫 They set up some computer system and it just fills it all automatically and is then dry the next day!

On a different note, we are used to hearing the artillery practice on Salisbury Plain - surprised but quite enjoy it😉 However they have had the really big ones out last week and this week, real window rattlers😂. Would not like to be facing the British Army, Salisbury Plain is getting 7 bells knocked out of it😳

[parisdisneyfan]

Day 18 The builders were back today to take out the block work in the doorway ready for the doors being fitted.

Loving the view I will have when the log shed and flower beds are sorted.

The steels arrived and they started knocking through

By next Thursday they need to have the shell ready for the floor to be poured and then boarding and skimming over the weekend apparently.
Still a few weeks to go but can see light at the end of the tunnel!

[Gryff]

Coming along nicely

[parisdisneyfan]

Day 19 end of 3rd week!
Actually posting this on Saturday but too dark for photos when they finished last night!
Doors, windows and steels in today and most of wall out😳
Single door and window in with no problems, been assured that once plastered, although deep, the window won’t look as weird as it does at the moment! However bifolds were a problem! After all the reasons the company we chose to buy them from were giving for not buying them to a size and insisting we waited until the holes were cut, which we did - the boss put in the wrong measurements and the threshold is going to be about an inch and half higher than we had discussed😡. At first, we said we wanted new ones but we chatted with our builder - out of earshot of the fitters and decided if the price was right we would accept them. During a phone call although they accepted it was their fault and offered new ones but with possibly up to 2-3 week delay, we came to an agreement on a large discount, him saying he was losing money on them but as he had already said they would be scrapped if I insisted on new ones he didn’t really have a leg to stand on! Hoping I don’t regret it when the floor is down🥴
Anyway once the 3rd skip arrived most of the wall came out pretty quickly, and the small course of bricks for the structural stud work has gone in. They finally stopped work at about 6.30 last night, long day for them!
This is the space we now have! Really pleased with it, think it will only seem bigger and lighter as the job moves on😉

There will be a stud wall between the 2 doors with an oak door in to make the utility room. There also isn’t enough room for the dresser that I planned by the door into the conservatory but not a big issue!
Finishing demolition next week, damp proof and insulate floor and first fix electrics as well as stud work- all in 3 1/2 days as floor screed arrives on Thursday afternoon! Then nothing on Friday while it cures. Next weekend may well see the plasterer here! Nice present for Mother’s Day! Meanwhile back to washing up in a bucket🥴

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Coming along really well. Very neat work being done especially the Plumber. He has done great work.

Well done on haggling for the Bi Folds.

[Goldia]

It sounds like you dealt with the door situation calmly, I hope it all comes out alright in the end.

[dismamx2]

Coming along nicely now, not long until you'll have your lovely new kitchen