Bungalow build log

[Buffman]

Great log mate you should be really proud of the changes you've made

I am indeed! I've since got the weed proof fabric down in the garden bed, mortared in the rocks, jet washed/sanded the patio.

Ready for 3 tons of gravel tomorro! (delayed, was meant to be Friday)

Valuation has gone from 255k previous to 310k for new mortgage which is reassuring! Got the bathroom still to do.

Finally also bought some new doors for the bedrooms/bathroom , taken far too long..

Going to have to put a 40mm door in a 35mm frame for lounge. Anyone done that before? I could shave off the frame but might not look too bad with 5mm of difference?

 

[Buffman]

Why thank you... I should really get up some finished pictures of the kitchen!

Been touching up a couple bits of cracked plaster by the doorframes today (red devil filler), fitted skirting board in porch (finally!) and went to the tip with 3 pallets after unloading 3 tonnes of gravel earlier in the week (breaking the pallets was a pain even with a good vibrating saw! I assume no one takes them for scrap.

I appreciate garden looks pretty bare which I shall rectify, but currently got some roses in back and on the left. Not sure wether to go with more contrasting pots or something that fits in. eg the one on the back left which I bought ages ago before planning this contrasts with the gravel...

 

[Buffman]

Replaced all the internal house doors... Finally!

The bathroom is being replaced in August. Also considering a log burner although not sure if I will make the money back (say £1.5k) when I sell the house?

(the unit in the corners skirting/plinth does fit I just have to reallign it )

 

[Buffman]

Knocked down the old carport, as it was falling apart, and blocked out a lot of light. I already have an adjacent garage and I think it's better to have more space.

Took about a week to do following and had help from brother, will need some overall garden pics once tidied up!

Old pic I happened to have when bbq (looks brighter than it is). Only part I liked was the gate/archway but the brickwork was wrecked.

About half of the timber here (what's left after making the below fence )

First time ever making a gate and hanging a door, but the result is pretty good!

Need to do the same around the back end also

 

[Buffman]

That gate looks well built, do you have a guide that you followed?

Thanks, just looked at a picture of my parents (similar double sided/shadow box fence) and various different 1st pages of Google and seemed to turn out alright!

 

[Buffman]

Great effort on the gate.

I don't see a router in your pics. Did you just use your mitre saw to make the lap joints?

Yeah just mitred and used a multi tool and a wood chisel. Could be slightly neater but not bad for a first attempt. Got to make one around the corner as well.

Following this thread https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...gs-etc-save-me-neighbour-complaints.18824485/

I've Bought some threaded bars and resin to make some strong fixings for the posts to a neighbouring wall between myself and a neighbour - should be putting fence in next week

Pics

Existing below I've tied in with some concrete screws

 

[Buffman]

Gate and fence on back side finished! Think I'm going to use the spare timber (decking boards) to make planter boxes. Anyone made them/got guides? (could easily mitre a load of 45deg corners and marry it up)

Got my bathroom being done on monday for 2 weeks and will need to get some before /after pics in for that...

Threaded bars worked pretty well! It seems sturdy

Also got new seats in the back

 

[Buffman]

Getting the bathroom done this week / next (other guys in for it so I only had to remove the awful wallpaper ) The tiles are looking good! Also replaced the floor and shower seaped through the old layers of tiles a bit :X

 

[Buffman]

Id probably have tanked the shower portion... Plasterboard and water are not a great idea!

Looks nice though, assuming they'll put trim around the window portion? Would be shame to have bare edge for sake of £30.

Shower pipes are against is against brick if it makes a difference (old one was against plasterboard ..). Isn't tanking it just a bit belt and braces? Agree I'd probably do it if I DIYd it, but I dont have much knowledge on it tbh..

Yep tiling is all a work in progress! Full floor to ceiling will be getting done. new floor and cement boards on top

 

[Buffman]

Looking forward to having a shower again!

Tiling done but all units etc still to go in. I've been sorting out the front garden this weekend.

 

[Buffman]

Looks like a really tidy job but those lines around the cubby holes are messing with my OCD, should look better grouted. Sorry

What size shower tray did you go with looks a good size?

It is grouted . Looks good in person trust me!
Electrics getting done today.

Shower screen been fitted but has a small internal scratch in it (not in too high up/noticeable a place)

Tray almost fills full wall at 1700x900,so pretty big!

I'll get pics up when it's done. Hopefully the end of this week. The fitter is taking longer than expected so getting my moneys worth

 

[Buffman]

Yeah I though the same about the tiles/niche but I imagine it's easier to align with the trim. Mine is 40mm height. Main thing I wanted was a stone one. I'll put up some pics soon..

 

[Buffman]

Pics below, not much of a step into 40mm tray.
Get to use it tomorrow

Both units and mirror came from Victoria plum damaged. Fair play they send out replacements without asking for the old sop good CS, OK quality and poor standards.




The old bathroom

Spoiler

 

[Buffman]

I hate to say it but that Rad will be rusted out in 18 months...

Why do you say that? (it's out of shower and not from Victoria plum)

To be fair I didn't look on ebay..

 

[Buffman]

The Radiator is in a high splash area where it will remain wet/dam for an extended period of time, Wet towels being draped over it (for drying no doubt) will also add to the issue, ask any decent heating engineer they will tell you the same, designed to heat already dry towels not deal with high moisture areas.

Hopefully the extractor should sort a fair bit of humidity and I'll try look after it. Time will tell!

Cross posting the below for info.

What size is your bathroom and how much did all that cost. Looking to renovate our current bathroom which is about 2.2m x 3.3m but as it's a flat I'm not sure what the limitations are.

I'll need to double check, it's 1.7 at short side I think to around 3.5m long side.
Cost wise it's very expensive! :x
It was about 5.5k for labour (new window/ boxed in window for niche and brickwork done outside, Replastered, retiled, new floor, new wiring, plumbing/fitting)
Tiles around 400 (about 14/sqm so fairly cheap)
Shower screen/tray around 500
Shower 150
Radiator 150
Toilet/units/mirror about 500

All in looking at just shy of 7k

I had a slightly cheaper quote however this guy did the parents bathroom and I trusted him to work at my house whilst I was at work. It's the one bathroom. I have in the house so I wanted it done fairly quickly /properly otherwise in future I would consider DIY.

 

[Buffman]

Thanks, I have **** myself with the cost expectations. I was hoping to do ours for about £3k so think we'll be doing it on a budget then

Possibly if you did it all DIY . I'd get it plastered/flat for tiling though!

 

[Buffman]

Thanks, I have **** myself with the cost expectations. I was hoping to do ours for about £3k so think we'll be doing it on a budget then

I forgot to add, mine included a replacement window and boxing in another window, which probably added circa £1k to the previous total figure (labour+materials )

 

[Buffman]

Got a bathroom tree, not sure on it yet!

 

[Buffman]

Put in a new mirror, also replaced the old horrible radiator cover....

As the old rad cover was high and they only wallpapered up to it I've shimmed the height up with some skirting (mitred/ glued/painted)

The 60 quid cover and old skirting Beats the £210 the Internet wanted for an appropriate height one customised :x

(rad cover was in situ in the latter photo and hadn't been fixed in)

 

[Buffman]

Laid some turf at the front garden and got rid of the stone mushroom I despised... The slabs were directly on soil so got loads of weeds in them. There's loads more round the front of the house and I dint want to change them all (most the rest aren't as bad weed wise).

Edged the turf into the existing slabs cut to a curve with the angle grinder. Hopefully the turf takes well, it was graft turning over/adding/raking all that soil!

Before