About 150 or so.
edit: I mean wall tiles above the worktop, the floor is probably going to have to have vinyl for various reasons.
edit: I mean wall tiles above the worktop, the floor is probably going to have to have vinyl for various reasons.
yeah, I guessed. What is the budget? If I remember correctly you are doing this up to sell, correct? Ifd so go for relatively plain tiles and then get a colourful splashback. Eg, when we did up our kitchen we used the currently in place grey/blue tiles, then bought a blue splashback from hereLike so:
Given the colours of the kitchen, maybe go for a green or a red splashback with lighter tiles of a similar hue.
Attachment:
21012011274.jpg
Given the colours of the kitchen, maybe go for a green or a red splashback with lighter tiles of a similar hue.
Super kitchen 
Thanks Bobby. Yes, I think you're right, neutral tiles, possibly plain white. I hadn't considered a coloured thing behind the cooker but that's a great idea. Perhaps terracotta-ish would work here.
Hmm, so it's just glass.. I have glass. I could cut a piece the right size, paint the back of it with gloss in the right colour, and screw it to the wall. For £0.. Hmm.
Thanks Bobby. Yes, I think you're right, neutral tiles, possibly plain white. I hadn't considered a coloured thing behind the cooker but that's a great idea. Perhaps terracotta-ish would work here.
Hmm, so it's just glass.. I have glass. I could cut a piece the right size, paint the back of it with gloss in the right colour, and screw it to the wall. For £0.. Hmm.
Due to the shitty weather over the weekend I got roped into repainting the feature wall of the lounge a lovely soft Duck Egg blue. Because it looked so nice and I had enough left over I did the lower half of the hall, stairs and landing 'below the wooden rail' in it too.
Crown paint covers very well, btw as I was painting over suede effect paint.
Crown paint covers very well, btw as I was painting over suede effect paint.
I'd have thought dog egg would be more your colour, Z.
It would clash with my garden.
kalmar, Bobbyaro:
1 - Where did you get your kitchen units from?
2 - How did you sort out the kitchen tops? Cutting them out and so on.
1 - Where did you get your kitchen units from?
2 - How did you sort out the kitchen tops? Cutting them out and so on.
@ Kalmar, it is just glass, but it has a BS mark on it, probably required heat proofing.
@ IAW, B&Q. they were there IT range, they are pretty cheap, but it shows, not so much in the finished product, but the putting it together. It is really fiddly and annoying, they haven't drilled any holes, the material and screws provided are poor quality so can break, etc.
If you have space and are replacing the worktops I would recommend Ikea stuff, it is a bit cheaper, and is better quality, however, there are some strange sizes with their worktops and iirc, their cupboards fit all the way to the wall, making piping behind diffficult.
wrt the tops, as you may have guessed, I didn't replace them, they were already in situ and we just removed the cupboards from underneath. Made life cheaper and easier.
@ IAW, B&Q. they were there IT range, they are pretty cheap, but it shows, not so much in the finished product, but the putting it together. It is really fiddly and annoying, they haven't drilled any holes, the material and screws provided are poor quality so can break, etc.
If you have space and are replacing the worktops I would recommend Ikea stuff, it is a bit cheaper, and is better quality, however, there are some strange sizes with their worktops and iirc, their cupboards fit all the way to the wall, making piping behind diffficult.
wrt the tops, as you may have guessed, I didn't replace them, they were already in situ and we just removed the cupboards from underneath. Made life cheaper and easier.
1) Mine are from Focus. They still have them, at something like 70% off the original price. This is actually the correct price though as they are not brilliant quality.
2) Yes, well.
I use a circular saw to cut them to length. If you don't have any corners to deal with, that's possibly all you need - just cut it off and glue the supplied laminate piece to the exposed end.
If you do have a corner, it's a bit trickier because obviously one edge has a curved moulding and the other is flat. The cheap option is to use a "joining strip" which is a bit of metal trim to fill in the gap. It looks a bit as though stuff could get trapped in it
The "correct" way is to use a router, with a special kitchen worktop jig and appropriate cutter bit. Then you mitre into one worktop, and make a matching cut on the one that will plug into it. You can probably see that on my photo. On the underside you recess two slots, which clamping bolts fit into, to pull the surfaces together very tightly. You also use a biscuit joint to align it, and a bit of silicone. Once this is done (it isn't on mine yet, so you can see the join line) it should be pretty much invisible as well as waterproof.
2) Yes, well.
I use a circular saw to cut them to length. If you don't have any corners to deal with, that's possibly all you need - just cut it off and glue the supplied laminate piece to the exposed end.
If you do have a corner, it's a bit trickier because obviously one edge has a curved moulding and the other is flat. The cheap option is to use a "joining strip" which is a bit of metal trim to fill in the gap. It looks a bit as though stuff could get trapped in it
The "correct" way is to use a router, with a special kitchen worktop jig and appropriate cutter bit. Then you mitre into one worktop, and make a matching cut on the one that will plug into it. You can probably see that on my photo. On the underside you recess two slots, which clamping bolts fit into, to pull the surfaces together very tightly. You also use a biscuit joint to align it, and a bit of silicone. Once this is done (it isn't on mine yet, so you can see the join line) it should be pretty much invisible as well as waterproof.
If you find a local supplier for worktops for a few quid per corner they'll cut them to size with really nice joins and cutouts routed in the underside with some bolts to hold them together. Also get some matching upstands and save yourself the faff of tiling.
Oooh, shiny. 
I like the upstand idea. Thank you!
Actually I just want your whole kitchen.
I like the upstand idea. Thank you!
Actually I just want your whole kitchen.
Is that your kitchen Mark? Looks like it was nicked from a catalogue awesome!
oh, and if you do get a kitchen from elsewhere, and it doesn't include handles, again, get them from ikea. ~ 1/4 of the price of B&Q.
In case someone didn't know, Focus is going out of business and they stuff they have left is cheap.
We got a six-seat, £400 outside dining table, umbrella and chairs for £160.
We got a six-seat, £400 outside dining table, umbrella and chairs for £160.
Bargain thread?
Already did it, I think.
Good.
Did it again.
Even better.
Replaced windows yesterday, the ones on the front of the house - did the others last year (yes, this is dragging on a bit).
Had to use plastic for these too, as standard size wooden ones wouldn't fit, and custom size is very expensive and takes months
Wasn't too difficult in the end.
Had to use plastic for these too, as standard size wooden ones wouldn't fit, and custom size is very expensive and takes months
Wasn't too difficult in the end.
Now those are in I'm able to frame out the living room walls, which is the one remaining room to do.
So, started that today.
As you can see, it is a 'three drill problem'.
So, started that today.
As you can see, it is a 'three drill problem'.
That's a man sized dollop of expanding foam. I hate working with that stuff
DavPaz wrote:
That's a man sized dollop of expanding foam. I hate working with that stuff
I know! I call it "disaster foam". However, it *does* work OK for windows, and is the right thing for the job, I think.
I have finally finished boarding the lofts out at my Girlfriends house...
Ye I did it yesterday in baking heat.. I am sure I passed out twice and sweating all the moisture out of my body!!
Ye I did it yesterday in baking heat.. I am sure I passed out twice and sweating all the moisture out of my body!!
Crikey, yeah, it was warm yesterday alright, I went into my loft a few times to fetch tools, can't imagine working in there on a day like that
Take it easy big guy!
Take it easy big guy!
We've finished the main potager conversion now - one false start but the main frame is in, along with some plants. Now we just need to do the terraced bit at the back (the school behind is a good 3 feet above our garden , so split level is a must). Quite pleased with it now.
Slowly progressing with the bedroom surround installation too, after problems at every step. It's some speakers FFS.
, so split level is a must). Quite pleased with it now.Slowly progressing with the bedroom surround installation too, after problems at every step. It's some speakers FFS.
Did a minor conversion of the corner ofd the kitchen, just a finisher knocked up a cupboard dor to hide a hole, but am really pleased with the results.
Today, a two minute job taking a radiator off the wall turned into a whole afternoon when a leak appeared. Couldn't figure out why it was leaking and couldn't get it to stop until I finally discovered the 8mm pipe was connected to a 10mm valve and so apparently as soon as I loosened the nut causing the pipe to move it compromised the seal further down the pipe that they'd somehow managed to achieve. Managed to find this out half an hour before b and q shut so got a replacement part which actually fit, cut the pipe below the olive and connected it all back up for a perfect seal in about five minutes.
This is the second plumbing related job I've had to do after the header tank kept filling, causing the outside overflow to pour water out at all hours. When I went to fix that, it looked like someone else had had a go, got stuck and given up.
Will be very satisfied when the kitchen is finished though. I'm plastering the wall tomorrow and hopefully painting through the week. Better do a couple of washes first, I've got soaking towels all over the place from today
This is the second plumbing related job I've had to do after the header tank kept filling, causing the outside overflow to pour water out at all hours. When I went to fix that, it looked like someone else had had a go, got stuck and given up.
Will be very satisfied when the kitchen is finished though. I'm plastering the wall tomorrow and hopefully painting through the week. Better do a couple of washes first, I've got soaking towels all over the place from today
Gilly, I love you.
Good skills
Good skills
We definitely need a Gilly in our house. Last weekend it took me about 5 hours to put up 2 curtain rails. This weekend it took me about 3 hours to paint a 2m by 2m toilet.
I hate DIY.
I hate DIY.
To be fair, I was crapping myself when it started pissing water and I really should have drained the heating system before I started but it was meant to be a simple job and I'd isolated the radiator I was working on. I was pretty convinced for a brief time that I'd somehow fractured the pipe but once I'd chilled out I realised that with the force I'd applied it would be pretty hard to break a copper pipe considering how malliable it is. It took me ages to find the source of the problem as well but in my defence, who would have thought someone would be that stupid! Lesson learned anyway.
Tomorrow will be a learning experience, I've only had a brief go at plastering before but I'm planning to plaster the whole spare room next week and then I'm going to lay a floor.
My big sister was laughing at me today because I said I wish I had enough money to pay someone to do all this for me and she correctly said that even if I was a multimillionare I'd be wanting to do it all myself!
Ironically, my least favourite DIY to do is electrics but that's because its a total ball ache to do domestic stuff when I'm used to industrial where if you lay a cable you just put in some new trunking and don't have to worry about hiding it in walls. I was going to put spotlights in the kitchen but I couldn't be arsed
Tomorrow will be a learning experience, I've only had a brief go at plastering before but I'm planning to plaster the whole spare room next week and then I'm going to lay a floor.
My big sister was laughing at me today because I said I wish I had enough money to pay someone to do all this for me and she correctly said that even if I was a multimillionare I'd be wanting to do it all myself!
Ironically, my least favourite DIY to do is electrics but that's because its a total ball ache to do domestic stuff when I'm used to industrial where if you lay a cable you just put in some new trunking and don't have to worry about hiding it in walls. I was going to put spotlights in the kitchen but I couldn't be arsed
Good work Gill! Yeah, other people's bodge jobs can be very annoying..
Satisfying when the job is done though isn't it. Apparently.
Satisfying when the job is done though isn't it. Apparently.
How's the house coming along K?
kalmar wrote:
Good work Gill! Yeah, other people's bodge jobs can be very annoying..
Satisfying when the job is done though isn't it. Apparently.
Satisfying when the job is done though isn't it. Apparently.
The stuff you've been doing is great, have to been teaching yourself as you went along or is it all stuff you've tried your hand at before?
The bad thing about DIY is once I've got one thing looking good I want to get everything looking good, which led to me floating the idea of a new kitchen last night
Gilly wrote:
kalmar wrote:
Good work Gill! Yeah, other people's bodge jobs can be very annoying..
Satisfying when the job is done though isn't it. Apparently.
Satisfying when the job is done though isn't it. Apparently.
The stuff you've been doing is great, have to been teaching yourself as you went along or is it all stuff you've tried your hand at before?
The bad thing about DIY is once I've got one thing looking good I want to get everything looking good, which led to me floating the idea of a new kitchen last night
Good on for your trying it yourself though Gilly, can't want to do stuff to this place.
Gilly wrote:
kalmar wrote:
Good work Gill! Yeah, other people's bodge jobs can be very annoying..
Satisfying when the job is done though isn't it. Apparently.
Satisfying when the job is done though isn't it. Apparently.
The stuff you've been doing is great, have to been teaching yourself as you went along or is it all stuff you've tried your hand at before?
The bad thing about DIY is once I've got one thing looking good I want to get everything looking good, which led to me floating the idea of a new kitchen last night
"floating [..] kitchen"? Be careful with those water pipes!
I thought your kitchen looked great but I know what you mean, when one bit is new and shiny you want it all like that...
And thanks. Most of the things are new to me, but you pick it up as you go. For example, this weekend I cut and nailed down floorboards in the hall, so you can now walk around a bit easier (new floors in 3 rooms, one of them poured concrete). Also roughcasted one of the outside walls with lime render (mixed by hand), and finally plumbed in the kitchen sink. So, it's actually live-in-able now, although like you I've been putting off connecting up the electrics (wiring from scratch).
It's pretty good exercise sometimes, every muscle aches today
so we now have:
Gilly for Plumbing
Joans for Electrical work..
Awesome
Gilly for Plumbing
Joans for Electrical work..
Awesome
Yeah, but Gilly hasn't drowned herself.
I'm currently midway through turning two rooms into one in a friends house, in between other stuff. So I've removed a stud wall, moved the two radiators that were on it to an adjacent wall (fuck me, 7' tall, 50cm wide flat fronted radiators are HEAVY), moved and repositioned several sockets. Sealed in, gyproced and plastered in one of the doors, put an open, floor to ceiling book case in to replace part of the stud wall, built a platform to raise the floor six inches in the smaller section of the now one room and am currently closing in on finishing the carcass for a custom built storage unit that's 10' long and 7' high varying in depth between 35-58cm. that's going to be for clothes, books and everything else the lucky young lad who's room it will be wants to store in it.
As ever, the best bit is buying expensive tools. I love Screwfix
As ever, the best bit is buying expensive tools. I love Screwfix
Proper DIY Snappa, good man! Pics.
Gyproced? I don't even know how to pronounce this, never mind what it means!
I hope you are getting thoroughly favoured for all that Snappa!
Bobbyaro wrote:
Gyproced? I don't even know how to pronounce this, never mind what it means!
Gyproc is a plasterboard manufacturer. So he basically plasterboarded some walls....it's like what hoovering is to vacuuming I guess.
Trooper wrote:
I hope you are getting thoroughly favoured for all that Snappa!
Yes. I'm also getting really well paid.
flis wrote:
Bobbyaro wrote:
Gyproced? I don't even know how to pronounce this, never mind what it means!
Gyproc is a plasterboard manufacturer. So he basically plasterboarded some walls....it's like what hoovering is to vacuuming I guess.
Ooh, that reads like I'm belittling your endeavours Snappa! I'm not! Good work, all that stuff you did is a lot harder and more time consuming that it sounds!
flis wrote:
flis wrote:
Bobbyaro wrote:
Gyproced? I don't even know how to pronounce this, never mind what it means!
Gyproc is a plasterboard manufacturer. So he basically plasterboarded some walls....it's like what hoovering is to vacuuming I guess.
Ooh, that reads like I'm belittling your endeavours Snappa! I'm not! Good work, all that stuff you did is a lot harder and more time consuming that it sounds!
S'ok, hon'. I just count myself lucky I'm not married to your hard to please ass
kalmar wrote:
Proper DIY Snappa, good man! Pics.
I'm seguewaying into more and more property work at the moment, though still taking pictures as well, but I really kinda like it, as it keeps me busy and pays really rather well.
Also: Powertools. I get to buy expensive powertools. This is a good thing
[edit] Obviously, I'll post some pics eventually.[/edit]
DBSnappa wrote:
I'm seguewaying into more and more property work at the moment, though still taking pictures as well, but I really kinda like it, as it keeps me busy and
Really? /me looks at house, strokes chin.Quote:
pays really rather well.
As you were then I've been doing anti-DIY. Had a plumber in on Saturday to work out why the shower and sink in my en suite drain so slowly (I suspected a macerator problem). He took the macerator apart (quite the job, that) and declared it "a little bit tired but it'll last a couple of years yet" so we didn't replace it. He also had to break the toilet flush mechanism to get the toilet out to get at the macerator (previous owner had overtightened and utterly stripped the nylon retaining screw that held the flush in), so he renewed that.
Pipe banging on the sink cleared a blockage that means it's now emptying fine but the shower is still a problem (seriously, how often does that happen? One problem has two distinct causes? Tsk.) Examination of as much of the shower waste pipe as possible (most of the pipework is behind a box that's tiled into the wall) showed it to be clean, which is puzzling. Then he had a brainwave: he thinks there could be an air lock forming as the shower drains out, slowing the flow. He's supposed to be coming back this week sometime to fit an air-pass trap to the sink that'll solve this.
In the meantime, I've just realised as I was typing this I can try disconnecting the sink trap, leaving its waste pipe open to the air, and running the shower to test this theory. I should do that tonight.
A while ago we bought a bath-tap-shower-adapter and shower curtains because the shower cubicle leaks quite badly down into the kitchen, a plumber couldn't fix it, and while Hel is intending to completely redo the bathroom it's not high on the list.
Of course, it now appears the bath is also leaking, because the stain/mould in the kitchen is still getting worse after 3 months.
Of course, it now appears the bath is also leaking, because the stain/mould in the kitchen is still getting worse after 3 months.
DBSnappa wrote:
kalmar wrote:
Proper DIY Snappa, good man! Pics.
I'm seguewaying into more and more property work at the moment, though still taking pictures as well, but I really kinda like it, as it keeps me busy and pays really rather well.
Quote:
Also: Powertools. I get to buy expensive powertools. This is a good thing
Right with you there. It gets less good the second time, but still.
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