The goodlife -1930 full renovation
Discussion
I've realized it's been almost a whole year of no updates on the house but there has been plenty of other life events getting in the way of things including holiday road trip to the states, changing jobs, being on shutdown at work for over 3 months of the year working 12 hour days and a few other bigger lift events...
But lets head back to where i had left off with the kitchen and unity room getting fitted and work tops measured to size. The local company that we went through ended up be great, no scrape that, they were fantastic! The quality of work was spot on, they worked very well with the rest of my my builders and even put in some extras for free which is always a bonus (work top used for window seals. We has been so happy with what work they have done that we ended up chatting with a neighbour on the road that was thinking of using the company that we were able to convince the cost difference between them and other options were worth it.
With the kitchen in the plumbers came back to install the underfloor heading system and rest of the boiler system for the house in the utility room. Even though there will only be me and the misses for 90% of the time we made sure to order one of the large hot water cylinders for when we have guests staying with us - there wasn't much of a price difference and the footprint is still the same (they just get taller). One of the issues we had with the utility room was that we want to run in order the hot water cylinder, then boiler above the washing machine, sink in front of the window and the toilet at the end as this would be the most effective use of space and easy on the eyes due to the stepping back of items against the wall. The plumber had intended to have the boiler and cylinder the other way round due to the exhaust vent being too close to the open side of the window to meet regs (has to be further away than 30cm). In the end we got a new window installed with the opening window on the right had side of the two pane frame.
The underfloor tracking board, piping and top cement board was laid over the joist (with insolation installed between the joist) with the wood effect ceramic tiles on top. The misses had always liked herein bone laid tiles and while we did look for smaller wood effect tiles there was nothing on the market that suited – we could of gone for real wood but it does not work as well with the underflooring with heat transfer. The tiles themselves are quiet large so did a lay out a pack in varies places to see how they looked, in the end we though they would look too large and V shaped in the hall way/tighter areas so decided on just offset planks. The tiler did suggest going random in the offsets which did look even better and less clinical. Again really happy with how they turned out, my parents have a similar style of tile but they purchased them over 10 years back when they were just starting to be produced but they are more flatter and feel less rear wood effect.
Other progress continuous with general painting of the rooms with base coats and top coats to seal the new plaster. Doors were getting fitted in the rooms as well and carpets being added to the loft bedroom in preparation for us moving in (still loads to do in the rest of the first floor to do before carpets go in but trying to juggle funds and priorates need for us to be able to move in). Then day finally come for the small big ticket item to be fitted – the new front door! We had sort out the new door ages ago and the shop had had it in storage for us. Again we are so happy with how it tuned out, very classy looking without looking out of place. We have had so many comments on it from friends, neighbours and delivery drivers.
The last thing that needed to be done for us to start to look to move in was the commissioning of the hot water heating/supply system. With this set up we planned to move in over a two weekend period while I’m on outage at work – trust the misses to want to do this then. So for a week we ended up camping between the house and the flat sleeping on futons. The first nights sleeping in the house made all the hard work and effect so worth while. The best moment of that first night stay was speaking with a random neighbour about how much they loved the front door and seeing all the progress going on.
We have now had our first Christmas in the house hosting with 8 of us and a dog. Even though the house wasn’t fully finished by a long way it was so much fun and it was nice to use the kitchen in a way that we had planned and designed it. It was nice to have the parents over and take the stress of Christmas cooking away from them and give back to them for all the ones they have hosted for us. We had started to make friends with other neighbours in the street (by one) and can see we have made the right decision in buying the properly for its location for short walks into town. Talking about walks and neighbours, we have even been able to get a dog time share with on of the neighbours that is of ill health. One of the things that we had said to the builders when all the work started was that we wanted to have them all back once we had moved in, one of the guys had replied that he’s heard that enough times over the years but had never materialized to anything. Well we made sure of that as well with a couple of the builders and partners coming over for home cooked TexMex (with a little help from one of our American friends).
This all leads to the stressful bit, trying to sell the flat that we were staying in while all the work was being carried out…
We had put the flat up for sale when the ground floor extension had become water tight on the bases that we knew it would take time to sell but we also knew it would be a juggling game of timing and not losing a sale if the house was not ready for us to move into. Unfortunately we ended up putting it up for sale shorty after the mortgage interest rates rises would really wasn’t the idea time. Estate agents like always over egged what they though the flat should sell for to get you to sign up to them but we spent a bit of time looking at what else was selling in the area first to realize the current market. We had figures in our head to work out what I had bought it for and what it was likely to sell to cover anything we had borrowed for the work on the house and while not to be in negative equity to what we still owe. To begin with even though we had listed at below the prices the estate agencies had estimated be didn’t get many viewings and no offers, we ended up lowering it another two times.
We did get an offer in the end that we did except but had the fun and games of them constantly fighting with us and asking for more off (various reason including his mortgage broker not including his student loan so couldn’t afford as much, market going down even further though all reports said it was staying steady, and finally had seen flats going for cheaper in the area (but forgetting that the ones he was comparing to were either backing onto a train line or had a 45 year lease so would not be able to get a mortgage for it)). In the end after 4-5 months he pulled out. We put it straight back on the market, had more viewing than previously, 3 offs and ended up selling for more than we had agreed to sell to the first buyer… happy days.
The sale all went through in February this year. With bills paid off it meant we could continue with more work on the house as well as a few other projects like getting married! Just over 2 months planning was need to sort out our special day in April this year. I will have loads to do on the house which I will add more to this as it goes. As always pictures to follow…
But lets head back to where i had left off with the kitchen and unity room getting fitted and work tops measured to size. The local company that we went through ended up be great, no scrape that, they were fantastic! The quality of work was spot on, they worked very well with the rest of my my builders and even put in some extras for free which is always a bonus (work top used for window seals. We has been so happy with what work they have done that we ended up chatting with a neighbour on the road that was thinking of using the company that we were able to convince the cost difference between them and other options were worth it.
With the kitchen in the plumbers came back to install the underfloor heading system and rest of the boiler system for the house in the utility room. Even though there will only be me and the misses for 90% of the time we made sure to order one of the large hot water cylinders for when we have guests staying with us - there wasn't much of a price difference and the footprint is still the same (they just get taller). One of the issues we had with the utility room was that we want to run in order the hot water cylinder, then boiler above the washing machine, sink in front of the window and the toilet at the end as this would be the most effective use of space and easy on the eyes due to the stepping back of items against the wall. The plumber had intended to have the boiler and cylinder the other way round due to the exhaust vent being too close to the open side of the window to meet regs (has to be further away than 30cm). In the end we got a new window installed with the opening window on the right had side of the two pane frame.
The underfloor tracking board, piping and top cement board was laid over the joist (with insolation installed between the joist) with the wood effect ceramic tiles on top. The misses had always liked herein bone laid tiles and while we did look for smaller wood effect tiles there was nothing on the market that suited – we could of gone for real wood but it does not work as well with the underflooring with heat transfer. The tiles themselves are quiet large so did a lay out a pack in varies places to see how they looked, in the end we though they would look too large and V shaped in the hall way/tighter areas so decided on just offset planks. The tiler did suggest going random in the offsets which did look even better and less clinical. Again really happy with how they turned out, my parents have a similar style of tile but they purchased them over 10 years back when they were just starting to be produced but they are more flatter and feel less rear wood effect.
Other progress continuous with general painting of the rooms with base coats and top coats to seal the new plaster. Doors were getting fitted in the rooms as well and carpets being added to the loft bedroom in preparation for us moving in (still loads to do in the rest of the first floor to do before carpets go in but trying to juggle funds and priorates need for us to be able to move in). Then day finally come for the small big ticket item to be fitted – the new front door! We had sort out the new door ages ago and the shop had had it in storage for us. Again we are so happy with how it tuned out, very classy looking without looking out of place. We have had so many comments on it from friends, neighbours and delivery drivers.
The last thing that needed to be done for us to start to look to move in was the commissioning of the hot water heating/supply system. With this set up we planned to move in over a two weekend period while I’m on outage at work – trust the misses to want to do this then. So for a week we ended up camping between the house and the flat sleeping on futons. The first nights sleeping in the house made all the hard work and effect so worth while. The best moment of that first night stay was speaking with a random neighbour about how much they loved the front door and seeing all the progress going on.
We have now had our first Christmas in the house hosting with 8 of us and a dog. Even though the house wasn’t fully finished by a long way it was so much fun and it was nice to use the kitchen in a way that we had planned and designed it. It was nice to have the parents over and take the stress of Christmas cooking away from them and give back to them for all the ones they have hosted for us. We had started to make friends with other neighbours in the street (by one) and can see we have made the right decision in buying the properly for its location for short walks into town. Talking about walks and neighbours, we have even been able to get a dog time share with on of the neighbours that is of ill health. One of the things that we had said to the builders when all the work started was that we wanted to have them all back once we had moved in, one of the guys had replied that he’s heard that enough times over the years but had never materialized to anything. Well we made sure of that as well with a couple of the builders and partners coming over for home cooked TexMex (with a little help from one of our American friends).
This all leads to the stressful bit, trying to sell the flat that we were staying in while all the work was being carried out…
We had put the flat up for sale when the ground floor extension had become water tight on the bases that we knew it would take time to sell but we also knew it would be a juggling game of timing and not losing a sale if the house was not ready for us to move into. Unfortunately we ended up putting it up for sale shorty after the mortgage interest rates rises would really wasn’t the idea time. Estate agents like always over egged what they though the flat should sell for to get you to sign up to them but we spent a bit of time looking at what else was selling in the area first to realize the current market. We had figures in our head to work out what I had bought it for and what it was likely to sell to cover anything we had borrowed for the work on the house and while not to be in negative equity to what we still owe. To begin with even though we had listed at below the prices the estate agencies had estimated be didn’t get many viewings and no offers, we ended up lowering it another two times.
We did get an offer in the end that we did except but had the fun and games of them constantly fighting with us and asking for more off (various reason including his mortgage broker not including his student loan so couldn’t afford as much, market going down even further though all reports said it was staying steady, and finally had seen flats going for cheaper in the area (but forgetting that the ones he was comparing to were either backing onto a train line or had a 45 year lease so would not be able to get a mortgage for it)). In the end after 4-5 months he pulled out. We put it straight back on the market, had more viewing than previously, 3 offs and ended up selling for more than we had agreed to sell to the first buyer… happy days.
The sale all went through in February this year. With bills paid off it meant we could continue with more work on the house as well as a few other projects like getting married! Just over 2 months planning was need to sort out our special day in April this year. I will have loads to do on the house which I will add more to this as it goes. As always pictures to follow…
The Gauge said:
Probably not but a compliment is still a compliment. As I said when we where looking to buy in the first place, they will do custom designs to your needs and we saw this in their previous customers book and feel in love with it instantly. Just need to finish off the rest of the exterior Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff