Bit of a DIY project

[Simon T]

Not been online much of late as we've been decorating our lounge, which turned out to be a bigger job than expected once we had stripped the paper off. Basically, we've been there 8 years and its the only room that we haven't touched, unfortunately it appears that stevie wonder had been messing with the electrics as they were fucked to put it lightly (turn downstairs plugs off and the lights went off and 3 plugs up stairs..., to name just one of the problems).

There was a horrid 1980's style brick fireplace which had to go:







At this point we decided to rewire the downstairs of the house, as the electrics were in that much of a mess, ideal time as we were already plastering so new channels into the walls, and new cable ran where required, we added a few extra sockets too.

Once the electrics were all in place it was up with a new ceiling and re-board the chimney breast:


Then fresh plaster:





My bro hard at work



and how it looks to date after 3 weekends, most week nights and a couple of odd days:



Along the way there have been 2 electric shocks, one each for me and my brother, my dad nearly had a cardiac arrest when he was looking at the electrics and I took a picture with the flash live and my brother slashed his thumb open.

We're past halfway there now, new door to fit this weekend then gloss the new skirting board etc, then new fireplace being delivered next week ready for fitting weekend after next, then we can get the carpet ordered and fitted

Can't wait, its been a mission, as what was intended just to be a fireplace out and replaster has ended up being a bit more, and its been a nightmare having a 3 and 5 year old at home whilst this was all going on.

Sorry for the crap pics, from my phone, i do have some better ones which i'll add later.

Thats it for now

[Simon T]

And this is my clio loaded to the brim with rubble, on one of many trips to the local tip:





surprising how much you can get in a clio.

[rstoughy]

Brilliant,
I do like a bit of serious DIY.

Great job

[radiant rob]

Looking very nice well done.

[Mark-C]

looks the bizzo Si, can't beat the telly on the wall mate

[Ben Purnell]

looks great Si, once finished all the hard work will be more than worth it

[so cossie]

Looking

[TEREX]

good work

[Dan Le Moignan]

Great work! Just doing our place at the moment, it was last decorated in the 60's!. Just had a new fireplace built and got it going tonight nice and warm

[RS 500 Registrar]

Bloody hell

Superb work there

[Simon T]

Cheers all, i'll be glad when its done. Only problem is we're doing the hall and stairs next couple of walls in there are going back to bare brick and we're moving the door that goes into the garage

Dan, what did you decide on your boiler in the end? Did you rip out the solid fuel fired one?

[Dieseldave]

Is this you on the way to the tip?

http://www.escortrscosworth.com/foru...ad.php?t=27089

[Simon T]

Is this you on the way to the tip?

http://www.escortrscosworth.com/foru...ad.php?t=27089

[Dan Le Moignan]

Si was that a working fireplace? Did you think about a wood burner at all?.
We decided to brave it out, had ice on the inside of the windows and 4 quilts on the bed we have got better with the aga, it stays in over night now but still using about £200 of coal every 6 or 7 weeks, summer soon
Next week I'm adding an extra rad in the lounge and changing all the rads to double panel double convectors

[Simon T]

it was a working fireplace when the house was built, but has had a gas fire fitted since mid 70's. The current gas fire was 10 years old so thats been taken out and we have ordered this as the precast chimney liner is still perfect:

http://www.victorianfireplaces.com/f...fireplace.html

with a solid fuel kit so we can use smokeless fuel. We don't need it for heat as our heating is good so its a feature really that will just be lit occasionally. A log burner wouldn't have suited the room style plus I wouldn't be able to mount our TV above it