Grange Cottage

The story of the renovation, and hopefully the holiday letting, of the Grange Cottage in Elslack - North Yorkshire.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Stripping!


Today i visited ' Steptoe's Yard' in Barnoldswick to see if they wanted to buy a cast iron bath, sink & a fireplace. They are sending someone over to look at them.
I also went to the door stripping warehouse in Eastburn. I discovered from friends last week that it would be cheaper to have the exsisting doors stripped rather than have new ones made. This is a much better option, expecially when we're trying to cut cuts & keep some of the old features.

Sale complete & work begins in ernest!


So.... Monday 19th February was Completion day. It's been a long time coming but now we can begin with the work that i've been planning for 6 months.
Fortunately, the joiner/builder was available to start straight away.... actually he'd already started knocking down ceilings last week!!...
The electrican arrived Tuesday morning . We'd walked around the cottage on Monday marking all the sockets etc. on the wall. This is where you need to be a visual person... i'm learning so it's getting easier. However, today i've already had to ask them to move a socket. Something we'd overlooked on the 'walkabout'.
Overall, a very good 3 days work from the electrician's & Dave the 'joiner/builder/you name it he does it' man.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Day 2 (unofficially)


Jo (builder's nephew) arrived somewhat later this morning than yesterday. Obviously worn out from yesterday's exertions!

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Kitchen ceiling is down!


The builder's mate (18yr old nephew) was dropped off early this morning at 8.30 am to start on the ceiling. He has just left 5.30 pm after spending the whole day pulling it down
Not too many surprises were found, but we did discover that it was 'chicken wire' holding the plaster up!!
The poor lad was completely unrecognisable when he left, for dust & grime on his face.
The floorboards are in good condition & so are the joists. There are some exposed slabs in the ceiling of the kitchen, where the old bedroom fireplace was, so some some patching up may be required, but not too much Phew!

Day 1 complete

Monday, February 12, 2007

Cottage is ours,almost!


Completion date for buying Grange cottage is finally in sight. We exchange on Friday!!
Work is beginning tomorrow however! I have spent 1 1/2 days taking out the carpets & knocking out the kitchen & other cupboards. In fact anything that was fastened down is now out of the cottage. It is stripped bare.
All doors are off & we are thinking of having them stripped.
Tomorrow the ceilings are coming down in a few rooms, so that the electrican can work more easily to put the spotlights in. Seems drastic but it's not such a big job, i'm told; just messy!!
I'm just waiting for a quote from the plumber who came back last week to re-aquaint himself with the job.
The joiner is waiting in the wings to get the ok to start on the windows.
Now i just need to ring the roofer to give him the ok to start. Unfortunately, he still has a few jobs to finish on our house next door!