This Old House!

[Baldemyr]

It wasnt so much a holiday as a "fix the moneypit for ageing parents" sorta thing.  Its glaringly obvious that my folks are getting extremely old-its ALSO glaringly obvious I stuck my head in a PC for far too long;  I have no clue how to do some of the most basic home maintenence things -  im in for a year of very harsh learning curves as my dad breaks 73 years old unless I push for the cottage to be sold.  Since doing that would rip me apart, its time to learn plumbing, roofing drywall installation and finished carpentry ASAP.


And before I lose my "testosterone club-pack " card-I AM awesome with cars. 

[Bungle]

Plumbing...

compression fit connectors. No soldering....

Compression fit connectors with inbuilt valves solve loads of problems turning water off and on again if you can do it in the room on your own. I fitted them to all taps and the toilet cistern feed.

nice pipe cutters.

Reamer: think a plastic toilet roll tube with wire inside to clean all the cuts up.

PTFE tape for sealing all threaded joints. Lay it flat like sellotape

makes life so much easier.

Roofing... too bloody high.

Drywall? Score and snap, nail it on, cover joints with tape and a thing plaster skim over the joints.. easy.

Finished carpentry takes skill.. no substitute

[Keeper]

Plumbing:

PTFE tape - just like Bungle says.  Wouldn't do without it.  :icon_wink:

Flexipipe.  A touch more expensive, but no p*ss*ng about trying to bend that last foot of copper pipe before the tap - and it comes apart much more easily when needed too!

Finished carpentry:

Takes good tools too ...


Never done roofing or drywall installation.  Hope it doesn't turn out to be too difficult!

[Custom_Hobby]

Should we start a DIY thread?

[cheddarmonger]

Okay, you've been warned.  I'm gonna start posting pics of my place, or at least, the view of my backyard forest and lake!

[Custom_Hobby]

Post away Cheddar. I want to see all the work you did.

[Baldemyr]

That got rather confusing-i didnt remember posting this as a topic. I think im going senile in my old age

[Custom_Hobby]

You didn't, it was posted under another thread but was off topic so we moved it. It is a good topic though, and I know Cheddar has been doing a lot of work on his house.

[Keeper]

I don't know if this is any help, but it can't hurt! :)

DIY Help & Advice

[Dr.Evil]

It is a good topic though, and I know Cheddar has been doing a lot of work on his house.

Wonder what it will be when he's finished converting it.....  :icon_scratch:

I have a picture in my head now of it looking like the pub from Thrud with Cheddar in full Thrud kit out side it.  :icon_wink:

[cheddarmonger]

It is a good topic though, and I know Cheddar has been doing a lot of work on his house.

Wonder what it will be when he's finished converting it.....  :icon_scratch:

I have a picture in my head now of it looking like the pub from Thrud with Cheddar in full Thrud kit out side it.  :icon_wink:

Now, that's an excellent idea!

Actually, when we get to phase 4, we're remodelling the family room area to look like a medieval pub that will be combination media room, gaming room, and painting area.

[Custom_Hobby]

Ok Cheedar you have to do phase 5: building Mike a permanent guest room!

[cheddarmonger]

Funny.
Phase 1:  finish landscaping, detail and facelift the exterior
Phase 2:  top floor (bedroom area) projects; re-surface ceilings, paint walls, window treatments, remodel bathrooms, install hardwood floors
Phase 3:  main floor:  remodel kitchen, new floors, re-cut entry closet
Phase 4:  family room floor:  remodel family room into tavern with built-ins for multimedia, display cabinets, book cases, etc, rebuild fireplace, remodel full bathroom into a 1/2 bath and laundry room (its a big bathroom, wasted space!)(Laundry room will be moved up from the basement)
Phase 5:  remodel library (basement) into a guest suite; turn original laundry room into a kitchenette, enclose furnace, water heater, etc into a closet, open up the rooms into a big contiguous space.  Add a 3/4 bathroom.

Thats the plan at this point...  :/

[gi6ers]

Moved into new place in Sept, had new kitchen, redecorated the whole place and currently working on the garden...

It's a victorian cottage type place and I have a little area all of my own to paint and avoid the missus  :icon_cool:

[Dr.Evil]

Ok Cheedar you have to do phase 5: building Mike a permanent guest room!

That's room's.  :icon_wink: