Our back fence has been on its last legs for a while and although we did a repair of the side panels about a year ago, the wood warped because the wrong fixings were used. So the first few weekends after we got back from honeymoon it was time to re-do the side length and also replace the one at the bottom.

With the bottom fence, we needed to use something stronger than gravel boards to contain the soil because it backs onto a path that is lower than the soil. We toyed with the idea of building a wall (too much work), then thought about railway sleepers (too thick), then spotted some thick stair boards used for decking at the garden centre - perfect.

So, the first weekend after we were back from honeymoon we set about rebuilding the bottom fence. On Saturday we pulled down the old one, dug away the soil, dug out deep holes for the posts (very difficult job), put each post in level, fixed one stair board in place, stabilised with props, filled the holes with dry concrete, watered the concrete mix and left to set over night.

On Sunday Dom put the stair boards in, one on top of the other,

then attached the arris rails,

then screwed on the individual feathered edge boards. Sunday night it was done, all bar the paint job.

The next weekend we only had a day free and worked on the side fence. My job was to take each individual feathered edge board off with a crowbar and take out the nails with the back of the hammer. There were about 70 of these to do. Dom screwed them back on, then I touched up the paint. I also painted the back fence.

The final weekend was for building a trellis for three of the panels on the side fence. Dom built, I painted, and Dom attached. We had to build them ourselves rather than buy them because the posts were set a bit further apart than the length of the trellis you can buy. Anyway, homemade is more sturdy.

It looks good!

Labels: d.i.y., gardening

Well, after a few days of solid working and very little sleep for both of us, we have reached a point with the house that we are happy with. Not everything is finished, but the place still looks lovely compared with before.

Now all we have to do is prepare for a good party. The weather forecasts are encouraging thank goodness. All we have to do is get the gazebo up, buy in the beer and wait for the hog to roast. Bring it on!

Labels: d.i.y.

The weather is going to be crap. What a bummer.

[METCHECK.COM STICKY REMOVED]

Labels: d.i.y.

Things really aren't looking good at all for the deadline of Dom's birthday party. Every evening last week was dominated for both of us with preparing a presentation for the MD for Friday.

Yesterday it was hard to get motivated. We went shopping for tiles, a gazebo, plants etc and when we got back Dom started putting the skirting board on, but this also turned out to be a slow job, so there's only a couple of bits on there now and I can't really start painting until that's done.

Today, we were sitting having a cup of tea with breakfast when I heard what I thought was a dripping noise coming from near the front door. Turns out that the pipes that feed the bath taps (not Dom's workmanship) have leaked through the ceiling, so it had to be fixed. Dom is working on that now.

Nothing is ever easy!

Labels: d.i.y.

The handles for the kitchen arrived yesterday - they're lush. I got home early from work today and cleaned the window frame and sill ready for painting. Then we went to Bluewater and bought this dining table and chairs. It will be available for pick up the day before the party! Aaagh!

Labels: d.i.y.

We worked our arses off at the weekend and the floor is down. It looks fantastic, it really feels like a big achievement. There are still so many things we have to do before Dom's party though and twelve days doesn't sound like much at all.

Labels: d.i.y.

I can't remember what we did Thursday night, but Friday, we really got on with stuff. We went to B&Q and bought the skirting boards and some router bits, then I forced myself to sand all the door frames that needed sanding as it was important to get this out the way before we could start laying the floor. Dom cut the corner sections for the bespoke corner doors we are making and with his new router bits they came out very neat.

Labels: d.i.y.

Nothing much got done Tuesday night. I sanded the window sill and Dom fell asleep on the sofa. He had a 4am start yesterday to go to Edinburgh so the only thing we did last night was enjoy a bottle of red wine. It was good to have a break. We're going to try and complete some small tasks tonight but really, the only time we are finding we are able to make any real progress is at the weekend. Nearly there!

Labels: d.i.y.

Not much was done last night. We were both feeling weary and a bit de-motivated from the pressure of the jobs.

I did order these handles for the kitchen doors though.

Labels: d.i.y.

Most of the kitchen doors went on yesterday and I finished taking up all the gripper-rods and skirting boards ready for the floor.

We still made time to go and watch the Le Tour de France which came through our village. It was excellent!

Labels: d.i.y., seeing_doing

Yesterday morning we went out early to shop. It was supposed to be a quick trip, but it was 7 hours later when we returned! We went to Gurney & White first and bought a new Roca sink for the downstairs toilet. We looked at some Roca toilet pans and a sink for the bathroom too but I'm going to compare prices on the net before we buy.

Then we went to three tile shops to get ideas for the kitchen and bathroom, then to B&Q to buy the underlay for the floor and finally to Bathstore to check out more bathroom ideas.

When we got back I took up the carpet. I wasn't expecting it to be so difficult, but there is A LOT of carpet and it's heavy. I had to move the furniture around to be able to access it and then cut it down into about four sections to be able to roll and remove.

Then I used the crow bar to lever up all the gripper-rods round the edges of the room.

Dom got all the top kitchen units in, but the top corner unit was a real struggle and had to be shaved down to fit. It's really coming on!

Labels: d.i.y.

What better to be doing on a Friday night than hanging wall units?! Hmmm. Longing for the days when we can leave the house.

Labels: d.i.y.

Last night Dom moved the electrics for the oven, as typically, there is a box at the back of the oven that is in just the wrong place and prevents the oven from going back against the wall as far as it needs to.

I tried to remove the skirting in the entrance way that I have been working on, but it is really difficult to prise off without damaging the freshly plastered walls. Luckily, most of it is off already.

We really have to push forward this weekend. I'm going to take the rest of the carpet up and crack on with door frame sanding tonight.

Labels: d.i.y.

There were more setbacks yesterday. The oven is having to be set slightly lower than the other units to accommodate the hob. It won't be noticable - it won't be as low as in this picture, but it does require some accurate carpentry.

So all that was done yesterday was making the filler sections for either side of the oven and resetting the corner unit to remove a bracket that was obstructing the dishwasher. At least everything was in place for the granite templater to measure up. He spent 2.5 hours with Dom and was impressed with the accuracy of his work, asking if he did it for a living!

Dom is back at work now, so there won't be much happening until the weekend. We had scheduled to lay the floor this weekend, so I might have to do that myself. Bring it on!

Labels: d.i.y.

Dom had a bit of a set back yesterday. The oven that we bought doesn't fit in the oven housing unit. It's not a problem design-wise because we already have to build custom filler panels either side of the oven, it just means that Dom needs to build a custom unit to house it. For this he needed some white board to match what the units are made of and sourcing this took a big chunk out of his day.

Everything else is fitting to the millimetre. The freezer door has been hung and the drawer fronts are on. Dom also built a custom filler for behind the curved unit, which is looking good now that it has it's door.

It is such a slow process though - but perfection takes time.

I continued to sand door frames when I got in from work last night. I really hate that job. Only one more door frame to go, then three doors and the window sill, then I can paint.

Labels: d.i.y.

When I got home from work yesterday Dom had carefully raised all the base units to the right level, and had them bolted them to each other and to the wall. The huge end panel had also been attached to the fridge freezer unit.

It's looking good. It feels bigger than before, but granted we don't have the wall units up, nor the black worktops on, which will darken it a bit.

Labels: d.i.y.

Over the weekend Dom made good progress on the kitchen. He boarded up the pipework he'd done for the dishwasher and when there was a break in the rain he was able to get outside and cut down the end panel that goes down the side of the fridge freezer.

We also used a water level and Dom's new laser level to measure and mark the right height for the units so they will accommodate the granite for the worktop and the windowsill.

I painted, filled and sanded the entrance way. Then took the doors off and started sanding the door frames. It's a tedious job.

Labels: d.i.y.

The kitchen units and doors arrived last Thursday and Dom took Friday off so he'd have a long weekend to start installing them. It was a slow weekend, because of the plumbing for the dishwasher, which involved some intricate copper pipe-work. We had to pre-empt delivery of the appliances and go and pick up the dishwasher from the shop we'd ordered them from to find out how much space there'd be between the back of the dishwasher and the wall. It turned out there was none, so the wall had to be cut out and the pipework inset. This took up the whole weekend.

Meanwhile, I gave our downstairs ceiling it's final coat of white paint. It was a neck-breaking job which took 6 hours, but it looks fantastic.

Labels: d.i.y.

After buying some more paint samples, I was relieved to find exactly the kind of colour I have been looking for - sort of light stone, without a yellow tinge.

It's Dulux Ash White

OK. It might look like grey, but it's still a warm colour. It will go with my aubergine light fitting, and the monotone kitchen, and because it doesn't have a yellow tinge, it doesn't clash with the wooden floor.

We've mixed up 10 litres, so I know what my job will be this weekend!

Labels: d.i.y.

We have chosen our floor. Laminate by Quick-Step.

I love it. Not too dark, not too light. Great quality.

We've gone for Vintage Oak Natural Varnished Planks with 'Perspective 4' which means it has a 'v' cut on each edge, to give a profiled look rather than smooth laminate.

The salesman at Allied Carpets was kind enough to let us take some large samples home to lay out on the floor. It's going to be difficult telling him that we're going for an online retailer who can undercut them by £5 per square metre, but I'm sure we'll get over it.

Labels: d.i.y.

Our walls are currently a patchwork of sample paint colours from Dulux. Clockwise from top left: Chalk Blush 4; Chalk Blush 3, Dusted Moss 4, Dusted Moss 3, Khaki Mists 5, Khaki Mists 6.

Our favourite out of these is Khaki Mists 6, but I think I might need more samples to make the final decision. No rush. Kitchen units being delivered next week, appliances on order, collecting quotes from granite worktop suppliers but nearly there.

Labels: d.i.y.

Dom has installed these wireless light switches from Starlec throughout the downstairs.

1= living room
2= dining table
3= landing
4= kitchen

The arrows allow you to fade up and down and the centre button switches all off or all on. We also have a funky remote.

What with our movement sensor-controlled light in the front door entrance, we look like real gadget geeks.

They were expensive. Definitely not worth the money imo, but if my luxuries will be soft furnishings, Dom needs his too!

Labels: d.i.y.

This weekend we need to buy some paint samples, get sanding down door frames etc, fix the bathroom pipes and the shower curtain which have oh so conveniently fallen to bits at the same time and maybe think about flooring for downstairs. I need to start some serious studying for my final law exams in June and I mustn't let the wedding organisation slip out my sight (got to get that wedding photographer booked).

On top of all this, the pressure is on at work at the moment.

I'm beginning to wonder if I/we might have taken on too much at once!

Labels: d.i.y., seeing_doing

At first it was white, then off-white if we could get it, and we thought we could in MFI's Space Cream. Then MFI shocked us with their appalling customer service and numpty kitchen designers, so we gave Magnet a go. They were an improvement on MFI service-wise, but the price was double and the design still wasn't flexible enough for our awkward little kitchen.

So, after some research online I came across www.diy-kitchens.com who deal in Second Nature kitchens. Their website is great in terms of giving you all the specs of the units, their range is vast and their prices are good. We ordered a sample door in Avant Beige which looked like MFI's Space Cream on the website, but when it arrived it was too dark.

So now we're back to white: plain white gloss doors and a black granite worktop. Dom is going to install it himself, and we'll buy the worktops from a different company who can cut and fit it aswell. It is going to look LUSH. Can't wait!

Labels: d.i.y.

The plasterer finished the ceiling and all the walls in our downstairs living area about two weeks ago. Each night we would come home from work to another smooth pink wall (the picture shows progress after only one day) until it was all covered and ready for paint.


Last weekend we gave it a base coat with the recommended mix of half water half white emulsion. It took about five hours. Next step for the walls is to choose colours, but before that we are choosing the kitchen and repainting all the skirting and door surrounds.

Labels: d.i.y.

This has been a weekend of some serious hard work. After an early start on Saturday, Dom had the window sill (which was sagging in one corner) and the entire kitchen(!) gutted by lunch time. Check out the dust!


As is typical with this house, we find one problem hides another. In this case, not only had the window sill been entirely unsupported but when we pulled it out we discovered that the breeze blocks that make up our house wall could be pushed out with one finger, so Dom would have to rebuild it.

At 2pm we had a kitchen design appointment. I won't say which shop we went to, because we weren't overly impressed and we do still want the kitchen, but it looks like we'll have to utilise Dom's carpentry skills if we want it to fit the space we have available.

After this I managed a quick sprint round some shops to check out what bridesmaid dresses were on offer, then we were back early evening to clean up the huge amounts of dust. I cooked dinner and we watched a smidgen of TV, and whilst Dom, like a machine, went back to work on the kitchen electrics, I ashamedly fell asleep on the sofa at about 9.30pm.

This morning we woke early again: Dom continued with the kitchen electrics and I packed away my law books in the loft, feeling that it was safe to do so having passed some big exams on Friday (hurray!).

I then packed the car full of the ripped out kitchen units and tiles for us to take to the tip. We followed this with a trip to B&Q to buy plasterboard, strong glue and expanding foam and were back for about 1.30pm.

Dom reconstructed the wall under the window in the living room, then proceeded to replace the plasterboard in the kitchen where the tiles had been ripped out.

My role during all this was one of labourer, passing screws, sawing batons for attaching plasterboard, cleaning around Dom as he worked etc.

When I had some free time I planted up the garden, cut up some disused fence panels ready for the tip, did the weekly shop and painted the length of the new fence we put in a few weeks ago with our new Cuprinol fence sprayer. It was amazing! Very quick, but although I tried to be careful I still managed to get spots of paint on our new neighbours' white sheets as they hung on the washing line. Oops!

It's nearly midnight now and Dom is still working away on the kitchen walls! I forgot to mention the reason why we are doing all of this - the plasterer. He has spent three days here and is coming tomorrow morning for his next three and everything has to be ready. Every muscle in our bodies is aching but, as the saying goes - no pain no gain!

Labels: d.i.y.

The fence in the back garden is very nearly there and it is very much improved. I should point out that we did first ask if the owner of the neighbouring property (who doesn't live there, but rents it out) would undertake the repairs but the immediate response was no, it was our fence.

We could not argue. Our deeds give no indication and the plan does not come in a big enough scale to be helpful.* The internet suggests that if the side which shows the rails is facing you, then you are responsible. In a terraced property the general rule, apparently, is that you are responsible for the boundary to your left. This didn't help as the old fence looked the same on both sides.

So, we could either argue for weeks, possibly months with a neighbour who has no interest, or repair the fence ourselves. Being the good human beings we are, we have done it ourselves.

Now, because of the advice on the internet and because we are good human beings, we have put the aris rails facing in towards us. This should prevent any disputes over who is responsible for future neighbours but the sacrifice is that our neighbours get to see the good side of the fence and for all our hard work, we get to see the back of it. Where's the justice in that?

Photos soon.

*_{NB if you can agree your exact boundary with your neighbour you can get a larger scale plan drawn up by a surveyor and make a permanent record on the property register of precisely where the boundary lies}

Labels: d.i.y.

Putting up a fence is, in my opinion, a very tedious job, but unfortunately, we haven't had a choice, because our back fence has blown down, and the neighbours have a dog, yada yada yada - as if we didn't have enough to do with our indoor tasks! Anyway, the fence posts are in (that's the slow bit) and Dom's new nail gun makes putting up the feathered edge panels a breeze so we should be able to finish it this week.

Much more interesting for me is looking around for things like this aubergine light fitting, which, after extensive research, we have decided will shine over our dining table. I like it, I really like it.

Labels: d.i.y.

OK. The exams are over, for a while at least, and I can now join Dom on our mission to get the house "finished" (i.e. into a state that we are happy with) for Dom's 30th birthday at the end of July when we are going to be holding a big party for family and friends.

Dom has spent all weekend getting the loft flooring down so it can be properly used for storage. I spent a few hours today stripping wallpaper in what is to be our office.

This is what we have to do in 5 months:

all rooms need lighting to be wired; the downstairs ceiling needs to be put back up; we need a new loft hatch; the walls in the airing cupboard need finishing and shelves put up for storage; the stair rail needs taking down; the wall between the downstairs toilet and the coat cupboard needs to be put back up; we need to fit a new front door; all walls need sanding and filling or plastering then ceilings and walls need painting; the skirting boards downstairs need putting back; all the upstairs rooms, landing and staircase need carpeting; all the downstairs rooms need new flooring; we need a new bathroom suite and a new kitchen, including new appliances, this will involve re-plumbing the washing machine through into the conservatory; kitchen and bathrooms need tiling; the office needs fitting out; our bedroom needs wardrobes fitting; the TV/ multimedia housing needs building; all the doors need sanding and painting; all the door handles need to be changed; all the switches and sockets need replacing; and finally, we need a new dining table and chairs, new sofa, new curtains and blinds.

Wish us luck!

Labels: d.i.y.

This was what Dom did last Saturday while I was in college - no more Artex! We are now ready for the plasterer to re-board and skim.

Labels: d.i.y.

It was the last weekend in October when our Super Mario look-a-like plumber commissioned the gas and we let water flow through our new central heating system for the first time. There was the odd leak, always to be expected, but they were soon fixed and since then we have been enjoying a cosy warm house and mega powerful showers. Dom has done such an excellent job - I'm very impressed!

Our next task is to replace the entire downstairs ceiling, but before we pull it down we are testing out the placement of our lighting. We have decided on dimmable tilting downlighters for the kitchen, the same in the living room plus a funky standing lamp and three pendants hanging over the dining table. Pretty standard fare for the times I suppose.

Once the ceiling and lighting are in place, the rest of the work is relatively cosmetic.

Some photos of the project...













Dom had to move the old water tank to give him space in the cupboard to work on the boiler. This tank is no longer needed because we have a combi-boiler. In the photo on the right, Dom is drilling a big hole for the flue.













We decided to hide the pipework behind the skirting board, so it had to be removed. Dom started me off, then I used a plasterboard saw to cut, at skirting level, along the length of the wall.













I hacked out the plasterboard with a hammer and crowbar. Dom had to work in the loft to bring the gas pipe inside. He shaped it to feed through the ceiling and into the boiler...













On the left Dom is working on all the connecting pipes into our new Vaillant boiler. These will be hidden behind plasterboard to make the inside of the storage cupboard neat. On the right is an example of the downstairs hidden radiator pipework. From the front the radiators look like they are floating. We still need to paint the pipes and put new skirting on.

Labels: d.i.y.

In the last few weeks Dom has been hanging radiators and fitting internal pipes. We were away last weekend, but tomorrow we have the downstairs radiators to hang and the pipework for them to put in and then we are almost there. This job has slowed down from the initial fast pace of progress but we are hoping to have it complete by the end of August when my family are coming to stay for a few days.

Labels: d.i.y.

This weekend Dom finished cutting all the channels in the ceiling downstairs where the pipes to the radiators will run. Although this saves us lifting all the floorboards upstairs, it means we have had to drill holes through each beam that are wide enough for the pipes to go through. This was quite a messy job and took all weekend.

In between drilling, Dom managed to hang one of the chrome towel radiators in the bathroom and we ordered all the other radiators at a great price from our local plumbing store Gurney & White - they arrive today!

Labels: d.i.y.

Last weekend we made the first real step in our central heating project and fitted the pipe on the outside of the house for the gas to run in to the boiler. This involved cutting and bending the copper pipe, soldering it and drilling clips into the wall to hold it. Dom did most of the work, while I held the ladder and passed him the tools.

Labels: d.i.y.

We won't get to decorate the upstairs of the house for a long time, so as an interim makeover, I got to work with the existing colour in the room (the dark turqoise carpet) and created a sumptuous chocolate haven...



...a big improvement on before...



The total cost for bedding (2 double duvet sets which I have combined), curtains, cushions, candles and vase was £116.00 - not bad at all.

I was going to make all the soft furnishings myself, but there is a distinct lack of fabric shops in the area, so I ended up utilising ready made. I am going to have to look harder and wider to satisfy my fabric fetish.

Labels: d.i.y.

We (Dom) knocked down part of the kitchen wall. We're going open plan...

Labels: d.i.y.

How long has it taken me to write an update? A long time. That's because we have been too busy doing things! So far we have stripped the wallpaper off the living room walls, all the way up the stairs and the landing...

Labels: d.i.y.