277.11 g

[raggamuffin]

AKA the molecular mass of asbestos

The 5 places they tested the Artex downstairs all tested positive for Chrysotile. Whilst this might sound like a secret ingredient in an energy drink it unfortunately is the precursor to mounting costs for renovating downstairs.

We've got one of the builders visiting tomorrow to see what's what. Some might be able to be plastered over, some might need removing.

Personally if the cost isn't too steep I'd rather get the whole lot removed. I don't want to take any chances with Senor Asbestos and his sidekick Asbestosis. Whilst the asbestos content is very small and the vast majority of cases of asbestos related illness are due to repeated exposure to high levels of particles - I'd rather not take any chances.

They've advised us the company they use could get it done in a day and we wouldn't even have to vacate the house. When the renovation work begins we'll be setting up camp upstairs. I've re-arranged holiday time off work and I'm also working 3 days from home. That way we're hoping Kes won't be too unnerved by all the banging and crashing going on downstairs.

Adding on the asbestos removal to the list of jobs to get completed might push back the final date for completion. We'll probably know the dates by Thursday or Friday.

Ed

 

[raggamuffin]

Result!

They said they only really need to remove the Artex from the bay window which is probably less than 2 metres squared. The rest will be plastered over.

Cheap as chips maaaate

Ed

 

[raggamuffin]

We've got the final quote for renovating all of downstairs.

Grand total of £2200. That's less then half of what I expected it to cost!

Pretty shocked truth be told. It means we can get upstairs redecorated before the end of the year too at this rate.

Ed

 

[raggamuffin]

Day 1 of the build

Stripped wallpaper throughout downstairs. Still some left to do in the kitchen and dining room. Removed brickwork to left and right of fireplace. Put damp treatment down for bay window. Fitted stud wall in the under stairs cupboard to convert it into a pantry. Removed gas fireplace and disconnected house from gas supply. Electrician laid the wiring etc in preparation to install the electric fireplace. Drilled hole in the external wall for a bathroom extractor fan. Fitted new plug sockets in kitchen and preparing to move cooker point to new location. Not bad for 8 hours work with a 3 man team

 

[raggamuffin]

This week the following work has been done:

The brick sides of the fireplace were removed.
Gas fireplace removed and house disconnected from gas supply. Going all electric with this house...don't trust the explosive nature of gas.
Drill through external wall in bathroom in preparation to install extractor fan.
Stud wall installed in understairs cupboard to make way for shelving and conversion into a pantry.
Wallpaper stripped from living room, dining room and kitchen.
Existing exposed wiring chased into walls and new plug sockets installed in various locations.
New cooker point installed.
TV bracket fitted to chimney fascade.
New skylight fitted.
New roofing fitted to kitchen extension and bay window.
Damp course applied to bay window walls.
Front garden area concrete and slabs dug up to make way for gravel. To help with drainage and prevent future damp problems.
New plaster applied to kitchen ceiling and dining room walls.

On Monday the carpenter arrives to start fitting the kitchen units. All the cabinets are pre-built so we should be looking at a quick turn around for kitchen installation. All that'll be left to do is finish the door frame in the kitchen/utility room archway, fit the wood flooring, finish the skylight surround, fit the extractor fan and new sockets and paint the walls.

The final stage of the decorating will be on the 18th-20th September when the decorators will paint the front room, dining room and kitchen.

All in we're looking at about £3500 to renovate the entire downstairs and front garden.

 

[raggamuffin]

Kitchen and floor are being fitted today. Exciting times.

 

[raggamuffin]

Hit a snag that I thought we might run into. There's not enough room to lay the wood flooring.

Rang the local removals/storage company we used when we moved here 2 months ago.They said because we're local and there's very little that needs to be moved they should be able to squeeze it in this week.

Waiting for a call back. I really hope they can get it done quickly so the carpenter can crack on with the flooring.

Ed

 

[raggamuffin]

Kitchen is looking great. He might even get some of the utility room finished too.

 

[raggamuffin]

Utility room is 95% done now. Dryer now stacked on the counter to save space. Need to buy vinyl for the floor and get that fitted. Upstand due to be delivered on Friday and to be fitted along the wall just above the kitchen counter to prevent water issues with the sink being there




The wood flooring is being fitted. Carpenter hopes to get over half done by the end of the day which will be great.

Doesn't the archway make the house seem hobbit like?





It's a weird arch but we've grown to love it.

They've also removed all the concrete and slabs this morning that were dug up from the entire front garden. Someone has spent the day laying the underlay and gravel. We're keeping the monkey puzzle tree as it's awesome looking. Although everyone is getting stabbed by it.



Project roadmap is as follows:

Thursday carpenter to finish wood flooring and continue with door frame and hang door when it arrives. Finish final bits of kitchen and install new surround for the new skylight that was installed last week.

Electrician visiting on friday to fit new plug sockets, wire up cooker, hob, kitchen extractor fan, bathroom extractor fan and electric fireplace.

Plasterer attending next week to plaster front room walls and ceiling and tidy up patches in the utility room.

Wednesday next week the asbestos removal guys are coming to remove the small section of artex on the bay window ceiling as it's sagging.

Finally from 18th-20th the decorators are coming to paint downstairs.

14 days to go and then we're finally there.

Ed

 

[raggamuffin]

About 85% of the floor has been finished today. Very happy with the results