Home improvements

[TechMonkey]

£11.5k is stupid for a kitchen, unless you have a kitchen the size of a castle. Max you would / should need to pay is £6k. Source the parts yourself. Don't always buy direct from them, they add about a 30% on top of the RRP..... I'll try and find you some kitchens.

 

Well that was what I thought, it isn't even a very big kitchen and only had about 5 units. That did have appliances in but they came to about £750 if that. We may still go to a local kitchen designer/installer but I think he will be the same if not more so it will be off the shelf Wickes and us fitting.

[Andrew_C]

The government have decided to help the building industry ...

Yep; but you still need to be very sure that your scheme fits within ALL the rules. You can ask the council for a bit of paper to conform that your project is "outside the scope of the planning regulations" or some-such wording.

 

Things that might trip up the unwary: Add a bedroom? This may increase the required off-street parking!

[pcstru]

Major reconfiguration of walls is nothing big, lol.

Depends what they are holding up. Even worse, it depends on the difference between what you think they are holding up and what they turned out to be holding up.

Ceilings, what for?

It's slightly less hassle to lower a ceiling 6 inches than to raise a roof by the same. We also have 200 year old lath and plaster which is held up by half a hundred layers of old wallpaper - it just needs replacing.

[Sunnyknight]

We also have 200 year old lath and plaster which is held up by half a hundred layers of old wallpaper - it just needs replacing.

 

LOL!!!!!

[NikChillin]

I did an average sized galley kitchen in my old gaffe for ~£4.5K. I did all the work myself apart from some plastering and that didn't include appliances.

 

Was it a good quality kitchen? How many units? I have a galley kitchen too and I am thinking of doing it myself. Has anyone had any dealings with these guys?

[pcstru]

Was it a good quality kitchen? How many units? I have a galley kitchen too and I am thinking of doing it myself. Has anyone had any dealings with these guys?

 

It was from Homebase, reasonable quality oak fronts fairly standard worktops. I can't remember offhand the exact number of units - I did the photo's for the house sale so I'll see if I can dig them out.

[NikChillin]

It was from Homebase, reasonable quality oak fronts fairly standard worktops. I can't remember offhand the exact number of units - I did the photo's for the house sale so I'll see if I can dig them out.

 

I have solid Oak fronts but they are looking a little tired, the interiors and worktop are getting tatty so by the time I have changed them I might as well start again. I did get quotes from three companies, all independent but around 12 - 20K, without appliances.

[witch]

Basement to a room shouldn't take (if he has the time off) more than a week bar electrics. Again, i agree with you and @Andrew_C with the piece of paper. Looks like the last of the chores.

 

Er - but in this case he has to cut through the living room floor to make a staircase down into said basement, reinforce the roof which is acting as a patio outside the living room (house is on a steep slope) and dig out the floor a bit. Not that straightforward!

[pcstru]

I have solid Oak fronts but they are looking a little tired, the interiors and worktop are getting tatty so by the time I have changed them I might as well start again.

 

Damn - send me that old tired wood!

 

I did get quotes from three companies, all independent but around 12 - 20K, without appliances.

 

ISTR the quotes I got were much the same. The upside of that is hopefully quality, peace of mind and minimal disruption.

 

This time round, I'm looking to avoid a fitted kitchen altogether and go for free standing stuff - probably not much of it, I think our budget runs out before we get to the kitchen contents.

[Fleetwood]

Always wanted to get into renovating, pity I know bugger-all about building.

Sounds like a good build @Sunnyknight, well done! How the hell did you end up in IT?

[Sunnyknight]

Er - but in this case he has to cut through the living room floor to make a staircase down into said basement, reinforce the roof which is acting as a patio outside the living room (house is on a steep slope) and dig out the floor a bit. Not that straightforward!

 

Seeeee, seeeee, not enough details have lead me to drastic conclusions from the get-go. Seeeeeee. Staircase shouldn't be too hard to fit if it's a spiral. Reinforcing the roof will be by far THE most difficult thing to do.

 

Always wanted to get into renovating, pity I know bugger-all about building.

Sounds like a good build @Sunnyknight, well done! How the hell did you end up in IT?

 

Cheers bud, it looks cracking! Nice place to chill out with the lads, or lasses

 

Never wanted to be in IT. Wanted to be a Fighter Pilot or as a fallback, in the Army then SAS squad / reserves. Fighter pilot denied because we're (UK) in debt, stupid country , and Army / SAS was denied due to family constraints. Was my last alternative as IT.

[Achandler]

I bet the homebase units were Burlington.

[pcstru]

Always wanted to get into renovating, pity I know bugger-all about building.

 

Your half way to being a builder. All you need now is an inability to understand project dates.

[Fleetwood]

Your half way to being a builder. All you need now is an inability to understand project dates.

 

It took a moment for that to sink in.. in fairness we've never had any bad experiences yet *crosses fingers*, and admittedly my interest in wanting to buy a house to 'do-up' came from watching Homes Under The Hammer repeats when I was looking after a bed-bound relative for 3 months. I'd never know where to start but I've always loved the idea of doing something like that

[Sunnyknight]

It took a moment for that to sink in.. in fairness we've never had any bad experiences yet *crosses fingers*, and admittedly my interest in wanting to buy a house to 'do-up' came from watching Homes Under The Hammer repeats when I was looking after a bed-bound relative for 3 months. I'd never know where to start but I've always loved the idea of doing something like that

 

Have £30,000 to hand if you want to do something like that. Just a heads up.

[Fleetwood]

I know, I'll never have the money for it Sunny just a dream

[Sunnyknight]

I know, I'll never have the money for it Sunny just a dream

 

*Master OoOoOoOoOoOgway voice* You must...... believe.......

[pcstru]

It took a moment for that to sink in.. in fairness we've never had any bad experiences yet *crosses fingers*, and admittedly my interest in wanting to buy a house to 'do-up' came from watching Homes Under The Hammer repeats when I was looking after a bed-bound relative for 3 months. I'd never know where to start but I've always loved the idea of doing something like that

 

To be fair they are not all like that. Our current contractor started on time and is making good progress. He is very local though - perhaps that keeps him honest. Our last lot were terrible on dates (apart from payment dates!) but the quality of the work was reasonable. My biggest problem is with the plumber who fitted the boiler and underfloor heating system in the man cave. The system has started making a high pitched whine - which is not what you want while watching a film. Getting them to respond to email or messages is a huge pain - I guess they have our money now so are less inclined to care. I'm starting to document it all very carefully - I think a small claims action might be the only thing that will motivate them.