Bungalow build log

Every subfloor in my house will be 18mm ply by time I'm finished! If anything it's better.

On that bit shown open, I'd probably put a few cross battens if it was myself... not a lot of support there bar very thin edges!

You really want all 4 corners to be supported well so there is no flex.
Yeah I put a cross batton between the beams actually but is that not likely to cause squeeking itself by shrinking/expanding?

Also, did you just drive in your ply with screws? I've got to get better screws as i broke two heads on my impact driver as they didn't get on well with the ply!

Any preference for type of screws?
 
First fixes done (electrics, plumbing, gas in the trenches).

Electrician needs to come back Tuesday as he missed a switch! Doh. Thus I've not put all the celotex in the ceiling. Does anyone know if you need a vapour barrier under the celotex if it's in the joists? I've left a 80mm air gap but their tech team recommended a vapor barrier.

Had the first fix of flooring screeded in the old hall section with latex. I kept asking, but they assured me it won't mess with the radiator pipes!

Just sugar soaped and washed today ready for a skim. (and fibreboard ingredients steels etc)

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Some great work here.

Where abouts in Warwickshire are you? I'm in the process of buying a house in Rugby that needs a lot of work doing. Do you have any tradesmen you would recommend from good work & reasonable cost?

How did you go about getting the steels done? Did you get someone in to sort it out from beginning to end (including calculations, drawings, submitting to BR, installation etc), or did you organise any separate bits yourself, or do any of the work yourself? Would you do the same again? How much did it cost?
I'm asking as I need a similar bit of work done, and trying to decide on the best way to do it!

I got a structural engineer to come look and do steel design
Builder to build
Building inspector to sign off.

In retrospect I would get the builder to open up the reveals of the building and show what's there then get the steels specified (if I had/knew a good builder). This would potentially save getting overspecced steel work. On the long length of larger steels there is two tied together but only one is taking weight.

My only slight concern with the steels is they don't look prestressed to take the weight of one section of roof, which potentially could cause sagging at a later stage if weight is applied . (sub 10mm, might cause a crack in plaster say). Building control spent all of 2 minutes looking at it and thought it was OK.

In terms of locality I'm about 10mins away from Warwick centre but a lot of the work I've had done is from tradesmen in redditch, Halesowen, Coventry.

For cost
£300 structural engineer
£2.7k builder steel work
£216 building control

Also going to cost a further £850 to get the rest of the large open room plastered/skimmed and a section of ceiling reboarded (I also had quotes of 1.1k and 1.8k for plastering).

Edit: if you want some tradesmen ping me an email and I can send some (probably best after it's all done to check they are kosher!) . I generally use ocuk on my phone. Cheers.
One I would recommend to avoid is British gas!!
 
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Celotex all in and now been boarded by the plasterer.

Trenches getting filled on Monday and plastered next week

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Plasterer managed to board it incredibly quickly! Only took about 1hr!

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(there's a missing block in top left wall as I applied too much pressure taking it out with a hammer... It'll get mucked up and filled back in!)
 
Plastering now finished (other than the reveals by the doors)
Front/back door to be replaced & reframed
Lounge door to be replaced
Bedroom hallway (new) door to get new corner on frame as previously was up against wall on that side


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Plasterer had a helper/mascot!

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Finished a coat of the steel tonight, but here's the red kitchen and a lot of delivered kitchen units from diykitchens..

We now think we're going to paint the front face of each of the padstone /steel walls red. Thoughts? (the thin nib in the back, and the wider one to the right)

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Also insulated the loft hatch with some spare celotex

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Unfortunately the plaster still isn't dry in sections of the opposite side of the room (seen in the 2nd picture..)
 
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Yes indeed, all diy! (saying that I need a fair amount of help from Mrs and in laws!) I'm getting the worktops and tiles done this week by a fitter.

I also have a top box to put above where the fridge will go and filler panels above boiler etc.

Flooring is being done by a seperate specialist (3 different floor types being merged!)
 
Still a fair bit more to do (back panels, fridge adjacent to oven, top box above) but a lot is in! It's nice to have an oven after 1+year without!

Flooring should be sorted next week

Also ducted in the extractor fan. Fairly long route but 150mm and seems to work! gWTVBZ8.jpg



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Also bought an sds to open up a wall vent for Tumble dryer. The old drill + hammer was not up to the job!

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Ductwork is thru the previous 100mm roof duct which is now above the oven. I got a 150 to 100 adaptor, thus why it's taking a fairly long route!. If I was to change the roof/tiles etc I'd vent it straight to ceiling.

The drimaster is still working, and it seems a relatively "fit and forget" piece of kit as I havent don't any maintenance to it since installing it.
 
Cheers, we need to do the same for the kitchen extractor but was concerned if it would push the air out of the ducting to roof vent.

So the drimaster has sorted condensation issues then? It’s basicaly down to that or envirovent and mainly as finding an installer for the drimaster is not going well!

Yes I had some serious condensation issues forming on the bedroom wall adjacent to the garage it's since no longer occured. I think the humidity went down from 80 odd to 60ish (it would be less but she doesn't like the bedroom door open much at night!)
I think I have some pictures of it installed a couple pages back. It's relatively easy to install, I just jigsawed out the plasterboard for the given template.
 
Floor is now in! Been about 3 seperate days work prior to this, to bring the previous hall in the back of the first photo up to level, but the blokes have been in thurs/fri/Saturday this week to finish.

Plywood to level up suspended floor
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Friday nearly level in to get it all married up
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Slight level of latex to match up tiles and suspended floor
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A lot of prep work went into it and I'm impressed with the results!

They've also used this in the old porch which I don't think I've ever shown pictures of.. It was pretty naff but been dressed up nicely with a fresh lick of paint & new floor.
 
Lovely! Looks awesome.

Myself, I would have gone for an oak effect finish on the floor to match the worktop. But awesome anyway!

I considered oak but thought it would be difficult to match with the worktop, adjoining engineered floor and the hallway door.

Finally got a new dining table and 8 seats (2 out of view) 0Yusen6.jpg
 
Done a couple things this week/weekend.

Plumbed in dishwasher/washing machine and they don't seem to rattle despite being packed in tight!

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Put in a curtain/pole this afternoon (the old dining table is going to be sold..)
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Made a frame to allow a top box above fridge, first pic is mid way thru (it has another CLS batton below). Still need to cover panel it to hide the wood but should fit well. Also plugged in the small unit on the left hand side for house phone. Good use of a small space! (I need to cut the depth of the worktop slightly tho)

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This was an absolute pain to do! Glad I don't have any other wall units..

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Haven't posted any pics /done much in a while, fitted some blinds and also a TV (also plinths and bought a new bin to just fit under the worktop)

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Also bought a second sonos but the sound is better when theyre on opposite ends of the kitchen to allow better stereo effect

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From rubbish old doors to new doors (front and back) . Just need to get door reveals plastered then skirting board on.

Also painted the porch will need to get a comparison if I I have any old photos.. (was previously a hideous poor cream...

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Back door
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Yeah drimaster is still good, no problems there.

Just need to put finished pictures of that bedroom (need to put skirting and carpet in then its done)


Been doing the garden, took a lot of jet washing and cleaning! Also levelled out some of the stones today (broke out and re levelled)

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Before picture from December but gives an idea of the growth!

I've de weeded the back since this.

Got rid of all the plants weeds etc.

Plan to dig down further, weed proof membrane then sand then shingle on top. Is this the standard way of doing it?

Also going to mortar in the flower bed better so it sits in better. I imagine standard mortar be will be OK?

Im getting rid of the car port also later this year and a new bathroom in a couple months :p
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