The House Projects Thread

[MikeHunt]

More progress on the garden, 100 sq meters of patio down, with another 12 to go (in the place where the shed was now temp home to the cement mixer). After 2 weeks there is even sign of the lawn seed turning to grass. The garden furniture now looks a little lost, the photo looks a little bleak but the light colour seems to amplify the sunlight and increases the feeling of space both inside and outside the house. Its a milestone, but still a long way to go.

[integrale_evo]

Can’t believe it was back in July when the old bit was knocked down. No chance of having our Christmas there, would be nice if it was at least waterproof by then…

Weird how it goes through phases of looking small, wondering how things are going to fit, then something else gets done and completely changes the sense of scale.

Bedroom block is built, hoping they can move on with the roof soon. Part of the old gable where the two join was beyond repair so dismantled to be rebuilt, and until that’s done they can’t repair the timbers in the centre section. They’ve done a great job of reusing bricks and blending in repairs where they can. Hoping to keep some of the internal bits visible especially where there’s ancient etchings and wavy bits where cattle used to rub against it.

[dinny_g]

What is it with people planning Shower Rooms off their kitchen's or Utility rooms as part of an extension.

We were looking at 3/4 bedrooms Detached and Semi Detached last year and there were loads with this feature. Most of them had you walking through the Kitchen and the Living room to get to the stairs to the bedrooms.

It always strikes me as a really odd addition to an extension

[Mito Man]

If I had to guess it’s because you’ve already got the plumbing right there so it’s the cheapest place to locate it.

[dinny_g]

Yeah, I suppose...

I hate getting dress in the bathroom after a shower so it put me off looking at those houses but I guess not everyone feels like that..

[Gavster]

What is it with people planning Shower Rooms off their kitchen's or Utility rooms as part of an extension.

We were looking at 3/4 bedrooms Detached and Semi Detached last year and there were loads with this feature. Most of them had you walking through the Kitchen and the Living room to get to the stairs to the bedrooms.

It always strikes me as a really odd addition to an extension

My folks did it previously in anticipation of being old and living on the ground floor to avoid the stairs. They’d move their bedroom into one of the ground floor rooms and live on a single floor. A living room with an en suite would be even more weird

[Mito Man]

A living room with an en suite would be even more weird

Welcome to central London

[dinny_g]

A mate of mine was house hunting in Dublin and found a place with a shower in each Bedroom. Not an en-suite… no, just a shower.

Yep ex brothel

[Ascender]

Your build is looking incredible @integrale_evo, loving the brickwork. Must be really satisfying seeing it progressing.

[mik]

Mrs mik has wanted an Artichoke lamp for evah - design icon and all that - they are generally £toomuch . Managed to get a brushed aluminium version recently in a sale, but despite the alu construction it’s a pretty chunky monkey, so needed some planning to hang it : you can’t just let it dangle on the cable.

Took a few hours up and down ladders, with plenty of awkward bedding and stretching, but it is now up and she’s happy.

Not my image - just in case you don’t know wtf I am talking about.

[McSwede]

Mrs mik has wanted an Artichoke lamp for evah - design icon and all that - they are generally £toomuch . Managed to get a brushed aluminium version recently in a sale, but despite the alu construction it’s a pretty chunky monkey, so needed some planning to hang it : you can’t just let it dangle on the cable.

Took a few hours up and down ladders, with plenty of awkward bedding and stretching, but it is now up and she’s happy.

Not my image - just in case you don’t know wtf I am talking about.

A great bit of kit Mik. Glad she's happy after all that bedding and stretching

[mik]

Bedder earlier

[Jobbo]

We need a photo of your actual erection, Mik. Not a library photo.

[mik]

We need a photo of your actual erection, Mik. Not a library photo.

Sent one to your PM’s.

Also - here is an image of our lamp.

[Rich B]

Disappointing lack of reflectoporn... though actually, I think I can just make out your penis in the square in the centre??!

[Jimmy Choo]

FFS! Nothing is ever bloody simple, is it!

I turned the heating on and discovered that the radiator in the smallest bedroom wasn't heating up. After a bit of swearing it seems that the valve in the thermostat has failed. It appears that the spring and internals are kerput and not allowing any flow. It's a five minute job to swap it out for a new one....

Or it would be if all the existing fixings are the wrong gender for current fixings. I can swap the tails over so I can attach it to the radiator but then can't fix it to the pipe that comes up from the floor. Looks like I have to learn how to be an actual plumber, cut, solder and fuck about with copper pipe, olives and all that bollocks.

On the plus side, my external tap was plumbed in with hosepipe (seriously? I hate shitty bodges like that! Do it properly or don't bother!) so I can fit that properly too.

[jamcg]

FFS! Nothing is ever bloody simple, is it!

I turned the heating on and discovered that the radiator in the smallest bedroom wasn't heating up. After a bit of swearing it seems that the valve in the thermostat has failed. It appears that the spring and internals are kerput and not allowing any flow. It's a five minute job to swap it out for a new one....

Or it would be if all the existing fixings are the wrong gender for current fixings. I can swap the tails over so I can attach it to the radiator but then can't fix it to the pipe that comes up from the floor. Looks like I have to learn how to be an actual plumber, cut, solder and fuck about with copper pipe, olives and all that bollocks.

On the plus side, my external tap was plumbed in with hosepipe (seriously? I hate shitty bodges like that! Do it properly or don't bother!) so I can fit that properly too.

Soldering is easy. Make sure everything is clean and polished with wire wool, touch of flux, fitting on the pipe, heat it up and touch the joint with solder- you need the solder to run because the pipe is hot, not because the flame is on it. If you use a solder ring fitting (aka Yorkshire fitting) you still need to add a touch of solder. If you use end feed you use approximately the diameter pipe you’re soldering in the length of solder, ie 22mm pipe needs 22mm of solder etc

[mik]

Disappointing lack of reflectoporn... though actually, I think I can just make out your penis in the square in the centre??!

You've clearly done this more than once before Rich.

[McSwede]

Good news on small jobs in the McSwede house. The blown plaster in the extension has been repaired and now coated in white until we do the kitchen renovation.

The decorator has been and done the hall, stairs, landing and downstairs loo (walls, door frames, & architrave). This in turn means that we can finally carpet the new staircase and landing. After being carpetless for quite some time in this area it's amazing what a difference thick underlay and a nice carpet makes. It feels like absolute luxury!!

On to the next jobs

[Jobbo]

FFS! Nothing is ever bloody simple, is it!

I turned the heating on and discovered that the radiator in the smallest bedroom wasn't heating up. After a bit of swearing it seems that the valve in the thermostat has failed. It appears that the spring and internals are kerput and not allowing any flow. It's a five minute job to swap it out for a new one....

Or it would be if all the existing fixings are the wrong gender for current fixings. I can swap the tails over so I can attach it to the radiator but then can't fix it to the pipe that comes up from the floor. Looks like I have to learn how to be an actual plumber, cut, solder and fuck about with copper pipe, olives and all that bollocks.

On the plus side, my external tap was plumbed in with hosepipe (seriously? I hate shitty bodges like that! Do it properly or don't bother!) so I can fit that properly too.

I’d offer to help but I’ve never soldered - can do compression fittings or plastic push-fit if that’s any use. I’ve avoided heating pipes previously too…