OV9

Ugh, those are the kind of surprises are part of the sheer joy of property ownership

Finding decent tradespeople is half the battle. Whenever I see a builders van parked outside a house which is having work done (especially vans with no decals on them - good builders don't need to advertise) I see if I can get their phone number. I'm slowly building quite a collection

I've got a solid plumber / gas engineer, a sparky and a general builder guy who's my roofer.

Worth their weight in gold.

dinny_g wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 3:32 pm I've got a solid gas engineer

dinny_g wrote: Wed Jan 28, 2026 3:32 pm I've got a solid plumber / gas engineer, a sparky and a general builder guy who's my roofer.

Worth their weight in gold.

Solid, liquid or gaseous gold?

I guess the solid plumber does the soil pipes and you have a liquid plumber as well?

Three different roofers, three different suggestions for how much needs doing, and two quotes so far.

At least they all agree that the issue is with the ridge tiles.

An opportunity to zhuzh the roof up call this guy in!!

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/NqnX7GmonPQ

Maybe have a lions head or a large winged creature ?

Dave!

The flashing on the bay window is nicely done, not to that level, but definitely good enough. Just the chimney bit that looks poor.

To have a house that would warrant what he does would be pretty nice. Some houses in London look incredible.

Dave!

Middle of nowhere, but this looks like an amazing setup with the greenhouses, garage, pond and land. I'd be converting that pond into a swimming pond tout de suite.

https://www.drrural.co.uk/product/annwn ... r-JyTWj2IQ

Gavster wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2026 12:52 pm Middle of nowhere, but this looks like an amazing setup with the greenhouses

Nice. With all those big pines, also budget for one of these though.....

mik wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2026 1:00 pm

Gavster wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2026 12:52 pm Middle of nowhere, but this looks like an amazing setup with the greenhouses

Nice. With all those big pines, also budget for one of these though.....

Ahhh okay would mozzies be the biggest population around there?

Not mozzies, but I suspect you’d get a fair number of midgies.

We have one of these machines though - they are highly effective (although Mrs mik goes nuts when I pull the trap out and show her that it’s teeming with the tiny bitey bastards ).

Don't do it...
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Damn it...

Smidge is even better than skin-so-soft.

But the machines remove the issue.....

I’d love a proper sized greenhouse. I carry a Thermacell for mosquitos here, absolutely hate having to apply anything to my skin so works well for that. Don’t know anything about midgets though.

Gavster wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2026 12:52 pm Middle of nowhere, but this looks like an amazing setup with the greenhouses, garage, pond and land. I'd be converting that pond into a swimming pond tout de suite.

https://www.drrural.co.uk/product/annwn ... r-JyTWj2IQ

That’s lovely, in one of my favourite parts of the world too

Mito Man wrote: Fri Apr 24, 2026 2:18 pm I’d love a proper sized greenhouse. I carry a Thermacell for mosquitos here, absolutely hate having to apply anything to my skin so works well for that. Don’t know anything about midgets though.

I don't know much about midgets either, but the machine above does mozzies & midgies - I think it claims to effectively control upto an acre. Other competitors are out there