Ferdinand

My second bathroom refurb is now coming down the track like the proverbial train pretending to be the end of the tunnel, so this is the project thread. I still have lots of questions. There are two blog posts with piccies from the spring: This is the design I plan to go with. The main changes from last time are 1 - The bath will be a corner bath slotted in by the shower - round ended unlike the plan and with a bath flller mounted on the wall. I plan a custom bathside shelf thing of sorts along the bath on the window side at bath rim height to make it look properly integrated. 2 - There will be 2 washbowls with a pair of shallow cupboards above. The width on these needs to be watched as it is potentially quite tight. I have the loo and taps already in store, and sources for tiles identified - so it is bath, basins, vanity unit, shower tray next, and practical issues. Ferdinand

I am not sure if you want feedback, and what type, but the architect seems to have done a generally well-rounded job on room sizes etc. It is interesting that the plan is relatively conventional within a modern-style shell. I am interested in the office at the top. Lots of visitors will keep you very fit going up and down ! Dad had that - used to drop the keys out of the window for them. Are there solar panels on top of the office ? if I have it right a ta glance the others will be shaded until lunchtime. F

Welcome. There are several here who have comsidered Gravenhill, and one who has followed through. Where are you in Nottingham (ish) -several of us are reasonably close. Ferdinand

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I think I would look at doing the downstairs reno yourself, and having a contracytor do the big stuff. Mine was gutted to 3 walls and a hole by the previous owner and they extended in two directions and added 3 beds and a bath upstairs. Generally a good job, but it took about 3-4 years. Then they moved out within 3 years. So do not underestimate the value of time living happily in your renovated house drinking cocktails as opposed to spending your evenings and weekends working on it. The idea is that living the dream aims to be a larger chunk of your life than building the dream. Have a look at moduloft, who bring the whole new floor in sections, and you probably have more local less radical options who will nevertheless do the whole loft bit for you. IMO think about renovating the existing to at least current building regs for newbuild for each element, and probably better. Then when you have to compromise on one or two things you still have a liveable house. Ferdinand

"Interest free loan" does not sound very "gifted". ? The Council probably view that the previous person had the discount. You may get it off the VOA list by disconnecting things or gutting it, but that may be such a battle that you would be better off doing a sponsored unicycle to Coldstream in December and back to get the same money. Ferdinand

I can't think of something that detects the lock, unless something like the Yale digital lock setup (or similar) does it. The other angle for managing the problem could be an auto-close something plus auto-locking, like a traditional night latch, but the flipside is that it is easy to be locked out. If you have an autolock-on-close, then a burglar alarm type sensor could be the other half. Not satisfactory, though. F

No worries. This can of worms will sit quite happily in the row with all the others you open with all these excellent questions ???. Soon there will be enough for an off grid loo. ? F

Well they have a pallet of 640 sink power plungers to help you clear the aftermath. https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auction-catalogues/william-george-auctions/catalogue-id-wi412583/lot-cb671fcf-2aaf-4b4f-935d-aaa00116ceb3 All life is there.

Threads:

There are various threads I cannot find. A lot of people use Ironmongery Direct for the furniture. I used Todd Doors, who also often do reasonably priced solid oak (perhaps £150?). Travis sometimes have offers. There are several other suppliers who may be mentioned. The important thing is to go and look. Ferdinand

A hard won, beneficial insight. Recommended for everyone, at whatever frequency that can be managed. (Sorry - that sounds po-faced. Not intended.)

If anyone needs to organise their screws there is also a pallet of 440 no of 12-compartment organiser-boxes. ? They will then need something to organise their organiser boxes. Hell is a branch of Ikea that consists entirely of recursive organiser systems, which never have anything else inside. Modern take on Sisyphus.

OK I'll 'fess up. This para was post-self-censored. You really shouldn't have asked that. Or perhaps I should not have posted it. "Coming back to @pocster, if he wants to flood his basement and have a stag party (or @AliG with his swimming pool), there is an entire pallet of 140 "sensational inflatables" blow up ladies. - (very Dallas). Starting price £60. And hundreds of pairs of MMA fighting shorts, a dozen or more really high end BBQs, and 220m of assorted scotia beading. You did ask...

Welcome. Are these solid wood doors you want, or solid core plus veneer? I think a lot of us use oak veneer - my last lot weighed 30kg each. And what is a high price tag in your terms? Heavy oak veneer doors can be from about £75-80. "Not oak" doors are not something that I have looked for, but walnut and hemlock seem to around, for two. F

(Side note: @pocster added to my "ignore messages" list for the next 2 days. I am familiar with the "malicious communications" laws. ?????. ?) My second bathroom refurb of the year is coming up, so I am back looking at the auctions. This bathroom auction finishes in about 2 days, and it has 900+ items in it. There seem to be a lot of good designer radiators (eg tall and thin) with reserve prices of around £20. There are also half a dozen Crittall style shower screens with reserves of £50 or so scattered throughout. Baths seems to have reservces of £200 for retail prices of £500-700. Some vanity units and decent mirrored wall-cabinets. Lots of showers. But shower trays and screens generally better purchased new. Charges add 40%. https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auction-catalogues/timed/william-george-auctions/catalogue-id-wi412727 and another on the next day I have not looked at yet https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auction-catalogues/timed/william-george-auctions/catalogue-id-wi412729 There is also a Classic Car auction ending in 2 days. https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auction-catalogues/timed/william-george-auctions/catalogue-id-wi412568 There is a Triumph Stag which has been apparently "tarred and feathered" in a Ribena Factory. Guide price a mere £8500. https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auction-catalogues/william-george-auctions/catalogue-id-wi412568/lot-edeea14d-d90d-49b6-9d49-aa9b00f2dad1 My object of lust is the Pagoda Mercedez 230SL, which has unfortunately already reaches 41k. Several Ferrari 355s, and a Green Goddess starting bid £4500. There is also a commercial auction with all sorts of goodies. https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auction-catalogues/timed/william-george-auctions/catalogue-id-wi412583 And there is a closed-down Sushi restaurant coming down the track, for anyone who wants a special feature for their self-build.

Welcome.

That is actually the minimum reqd to get a mortgage.

I think the up and down of it is either bang the table and make them fix it, which you need to be willing to back up with refusing to complete (which requires you to be in a position to not move in if they try and face you down), accept and wait for them to repair or do it yourself, or walk away. The only person I know on here who refused to complete as leverage was @newhome, who has a post about it somewhere. F

Skirting you need to have your list of lengths and match them to your known dimensions, including dealing with the left over bits. Ferdinand

Sandtex do an untra smooth range, which is more prominent in the sheds now iirc. I think one key thing is how much latex (?) is in it. For interiors I know that Armistead, Normal Valspar, and Leyland Trade contract work for me. And that anything with Dulux on it is like jelly down a drain. F

Does anybody ave an idea which exterior paints would be suitable for spraying?

Hmm 2

Hmmm.

Has anyone done this? My sprayer (Wagner Project Pro 119 - a 720W, 200 bar, powerful machine) says nothing in the manual, but some "details" seem to insert an extra "and exterior" here, which is not in the manual: "Lacquers and glazes containing water and solvents. Lacquers, oils, solvents, solvent, PVC lacquers, pre-lacquers, primers, fillers and anti-corrosion paints. Interior and exterior dispersion and emulsion paints. Also suitable for many types of thicker paint.". Spraying the inside at the correct time can save days and days. Is this a similar opportunity? Ferdinand