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You'll be inviting me around for a cup of tea when you're done 
I'll fetch some (upper middle class) biscuits
I'll fetch some (upper middle class) biscuits
First Home - Renovation Project
- Thread starter Brozart
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Update?
You'll be inviting me around for a cup of tea when you're done
I'll fetch some (upper middle class) biscuits
If you are ever in the valleys give me a shout
This month we are focusing on the outside:
The scaffolding has gone up around the house and our builder has started preparing the walls for new render on the gable end and around the rear - getting rid of the old defective render, racking out the cement/lime pointing and allowing them to dry out. The front of the house is getting a freshen up too with new cement pointing, chemical stone cleaning & sealing and paint stripping & restoring the sandstone window bay.
I went with the Universeal range for the stone cleaner, sealer and stripper:
The garden wall was built onto the side of the house before they rendered it! So we've taken it down for the new rendering and will replace it with a stronger (and extra secure) one
We also dug up footings around the patio area for a new drainage channel that will divert surface water away from the house:
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Excellent work as always! Well done
Did removing the external render reveal any pressing issues?
Did removing the external render reveal any pressing issues?
Small update
Some of the sand and cement has arrived for the render:
The lead flashing needs to be replaced, previous roofers cut corners by using 3lb lead instead of 4lb lead - this has caused micro tears over the years from bad weather.
The front has been raked out:
The last of the old render has been taken off the utility room.
The bathroom vent has been fitted - a short run going straight through the wall instead of fitting it through the roof and worrying condensation falling back down the pipe during the winter.
The windows have been fitted with bead/drip
Some of the sand and cement has arrived for the render:
The lead flashing needs to be replaced, previous roofers cut corners by using 3lb lead instead of 4lb lead - this has caused micro tears over the years from bad weather.
The front has been raked out:
The last of the old render has been taken off the utility room.
The bathroom vent has been fitted - a short run going straight through the wall instead of fitting it through the roof and worrying condensation falling back down the pipe during the winter.
The windows have been fitted with bead/drip
Associate
wow! great progress
The house has finally been rendered 
Very happy with the outcome, it will be completely watertight once the pointing has been completed tomorrow.
Stone cleaner, sealer and paint stripper:
I want to wait around 4 weeks before I start painting to allow it time to dry out properly, I'm still debating whether to use a primer or not as the surface isn't very sandy/dusty.
Very happy with the outcome, it will be completely watertight once the pointing has been completed tomorrow.
Stone cleaner, sealer and paint stripper:
I want to wait around 4 weeks before I start painting to allow it time to dry out properly, I'm still debating whether to use a primer or not as the surface isn't very sandy/dusty.
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Soldato
Awesome work!
Soldato
Amazing that this project has been going for 3 years. Very ambitious work, really impressive.
Can I ask a few things. How has this affected your living situation? Where do you live currently? How are you financing this? Are you still working the day job and doing this on weekends and evenings?
Can I ask a few things. How has this affected your living situation? Where do you live currently? How are you financing this? Are you still working the day job and doing this on weekends and evenings?
The pointing has been finished and I sealed the stone with Universeal Rain-Off 'a water based, technical synthetic resin emulsion' which is stain resistant, water repellent and prevents moss and algae growth.
We ended up going with Dulux Weathershield Trade paint in Pale Slate which complimented the house nicely and wasn't too sickly as we had so much to cover. We used sheep skin rollers in a medium/long pile and watered down the first 2 coats 5:1 and the last coat 10:1 - the coverage and overall finish was perfect. It took us 4 days to complete...
We ended up going with Dulux Weathershield Trade paint in Pale Slate which complimented the house nicely and wasn't too sickly as we had so much to cover. We used sheep skin rollers in a medium/long pile and watered down the first 2 coats 5:1 and the last coat 10:1 - the coverage and overall finish was perfect. It took us 4 days to complete...
Caporegime
Looking good there. Love the join between the stone and render, very crisp.
Soldato
Superb work!
I live about 10 minutes away with family at the moment, apart from missing my own space it's been fine. This thread would have been completely different if I had to live in the house whilst trying to renovate it and probably would have skimped on jobs to get it finished. Yes I work full time in IT (Project/Infrastructure Engineer) then I work on the house after work, weekends or during holidays - I recently took a few days off to paint the house whilst the weather was nice.
I finance this from my monthly salary, I don't like credit cards or loans as its far too easy to become reliant on them. I don't have a strict budget but I follow some basic rules:
- Be aware of house values in the area.
- Be aware of pitfalls of negative equity.
- Don't become complacent with spending.
- Have a contingency fund for emergencies.
I've had two new jobs since buying the house, dealing with vandalism and something I was reluctant to mention on here but I've actually been through a remortgage too! That's why I went quiet between Nov 2013 to Sept 2015... I hope this helps and gives others reassurance if they are in a similar situation, everything works itself out eventually
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Roof Repairs
We had some damp in the main bedroom around the chimney/fireplace area, I suspected it was from the old chimney vent.
I think we found the problem
I'm surprised how we haven't had worse issues from this!
We replaced the perished felt with breathable membrane, repaired the dry verge the best we could (Marley don't make this verge anymore) and replaced some of the old tiles that were damaged or not cut into the verge properly. The damp spots have already started drying out
We had some damp in the main bedroom around the chimney/fireplace area, I suspected it was from the old chimney vent.
I think we found the problem
I'm surprised how we haven't had worse issues from this!
We replaced the perished felt with breathable membrane, repaired the dry verge the best we could (Marley don't make this verge anymore) and replaced some of the old tiles that were damaged or not cut into the verge properly. The damp spots have already started drying out
The builder who rendered and pointed the house offered to replace the lead at the same time, but he decided to take shortcuts and cement over the small hip tiles with large ridge tiles! They looked out of place and wedged into the angled guttering... It bothered me every time I saw it!
New Guttering!
We recently dug up an old drain pipe that links to the sewer which will be ideal for the front gutter rain water (right now it pours down the steps instead). We've decided to replace the existing guttering and do it properly, I've gone for Floplast Half-round in white with 600mm centers and a fall of 10mm every 6 meters (as recommended).
New Guttering!
We recently dug up an old drain pipe that links to the sewer which will be ideal for the front gutter rain water (right now it pours down the steps instead). We've decided to replace the existing guttering and do it properly, I've gone for Floplast Half-round in white with 600mm centers and a fall of 10mm every 6 meters (as recommended).
Caporegime
This thread, and the work you've done is fantastic!
Thanks all,
We went with a well known renderer in the area and was very fussy on how we wanted it. We insisted on stainless steal drip beading so it will never go rusty, we had one drip at the roof line and one to follow the sloped path - The renderer weren't happy because he was pushing for a middle drip so that he had a half way mark to float (smooth) to and had to get another guy on the job.
He originally set the drip level but it looked so high to us and we want to run the gas pipe directly under, so changed it to go inline with the path.
Pictures of progress during the scratch coat and drip installs:
You can see how dirty the stone used to be in this picture!
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Soldato
I've just read this through, great work!