With the ceiling boarding complete, we started taping & jointing the boards to provide a (hopefully) smooth finish to the new ceiling. The joins were taped with plasterboard tape and skimmed over with a thin coat of plaster. After letting this go off for 24 hours we then attacked the ceiling with a sanding pad…

Having finally had enough time to make a start, the rest of the old kitchen’s stay of execution has expired. The remaining cabinets put up a surpassingly tough fight considering the state of them but it didn’t take too long to remove them. Based on the delights found previously in this house I wasn’t particularly…

With the subfloor up to spec, next stop was to cut & lay the new plywood flooring ready for test fitting of the new shower tray etc. With the plywood floor down, the new shower tray was manoeuvred into position and placed on the fllor. All somewhat easier said than done as this is a…

An evening of grouting later, the floor’s looking like it’s finished – and most importantly, is nearly ready for installation of a new WC, sink & heated towel rail.

With the onset of 2010, our builders have arrived in style on the first working day of the year. We’ve engaged a brilliant local firm called Upgrade Building Solutions (UBS) to demolish the dividing wall between the old Utility & Dining rooms, make good, tile the floor and supply/fit a new kitchen. The rooms started…

Needless to say, life’s been a bit busy over the last few months. We’ve moved in, and have just about got everything “straight” now. There’s lots and lots more that needs doing like ripping out the remaining bits of old kitchen, refitting the “family” bathroom, and sorting out the remaining bedrooms. That’s all before we…