Time is moving on

It's been 2 weeks since i've updated the blog as there have been no photos of interest to post. Dave & Jo have been busy doing little fiddly things which haven't warranted any comment.
After been given news last week that the windows had been delayed, i have set Dave the task of making the porch /utility room look more inviting. He has come up trumps & created some new pine panelling & a door for the washing machine & drier to hide in. It looks so good i'm thinking of asking him to do something similar in our area next to the utility, to hide the recycling bags & make a cheap cupboard for our motorcycle & golf gear.
Tomorrow, Jo starts flagging the outside area.

Secret room under the stairs

Joe's job today was to make a shelf in the cupboard under the stairs.And that's just what he did! It's a work of art, but it, by his admission, took a long time.
We have created a very useful space as a result, so it's not just a store cupboard. It could be a work space for a computer etc.

Ensuite progress

After bragging that the plumber was ahead of schedule, i'm now told i have put him behind! I've chosen floor tiles for both bathrooms & consequently the sink, bath & basin all need to be raised! Hence, the tiles have to come off above the sink but thank goodness there is a way around it as far as the bath is concerned. I would not have been popular if those tiles had to be removed. Anyway, it's just slowed them down a bit but nothing too tragic. Unfortunately, too few tiles will also slow them down. I'm informed that i haven't got enough tiles for the en-suite. I drove immediately to Keighley to get more. I came back with just a few for the shower area but have to go back tomorrow for the others.The plumber is managing to find other things to do but can't finish 1 thing, which is a little frustrating. Credit to him though as he is going to come back on Saturday to finish off upstairs. He is planning to disappear for quite some time after the w/e!, & come back, i hope, to finish off the plumbing for the kitchen.

Floor tiles chosen & delivered

I made some 'executive' decisions yesterday when i was at the tile shop & decided to buy matching floor tiles for the bathroom.Picked them up this morning so i'm feeling ahead of things.
The plumber has already indirectly accused me of changing my mind about the flooring! He's a little grumpy because the floor is now going to be higher than it was & he has to make some adjustments to the level of the toilet etc. Dave is going give him a hand with this!
The ensuite flooring has already been laid ready for the tiles which is going to raise the floor by quite a bit. It's ok Jack, the toilet hasn't been fixed here, but the basin has!
Dave has also started on building the 'cupboard' around the new water cylinder & prepared the area in the ceiling where we are putting some glass.
Plumber is back tomorrow, so we'll see what he's got to say about things!

Doors returned stripped!

Dave returned this morning with the 5 doors we'd sent for stripping. They look really good & just need a bit of 'tarting up'. I already have some spare handles for the doors but we are reusing one of the originals for the bathroom.
There's still a lot of 'patching up' to be done by Dave & Jo and replacing of old skirting where necessary. We're trying to save what we can but using mdf if we have to replace any.

Main bathroom takes shape

Saturday morning was spent dashing about the county looking for tiles for the bathroom! The plumber told us on Friday that he needed the tiles for the bathrooms on monday morning!!We got off to a late start due to a late night the night before (another fundraising event) but we were confident of finding tiles. Our plumber sent us to Keighley where we got our tiles for the main house. We were unimpressed & decided to shop around, to no avail. Nobody kept the stock. Therefore, we went back to where we started & chose some tiles that we'd seen earlier.
On presenting them to the plumber yesterday he said he'd installed the same tiles several times recently! I take that as a good sign since they are not for us but will be ok for a letting property.
The photo shows the progress of the plumber yesterday. There's no grouting in but that won't take long.
Have been back to the shop today to pick up the shower room tiles & also to order the floor tiles which will match. The floors will need re-boarding in order to lay the tiles.

Electricians gone! Plumber ahead of schedule!

Things are looking good currently at Grange Cottage. Electricians have been in 2 weeks & have finished the 1st fix. It's taken me 20 mins to get to talk to the right person at npower, in order to get someone over to take out a meter(10 mins. less than it took the electrician) who was told he couldn't act on my behalf!

After several false starts with the bathroom equipment delivery (faulty parts, shower tray wrong size etc) i think we are ok. It was all bought on the internet so it's always a bit nerve racking. Everything was bought for under £1600, which included a showerbath & screen, 2 toilets 2 washbasins, large alcove shower & all taps & shower fittings, which i think was pretty good.
The plumber is progressing very well. Bath in, toilets & wash basins in. Shower tray is being fitted, after having had to ask the builder to level the floor.
We are going to have to get on with buying tiles this w/e as the plumber reckons he will be finished next week!!
Things are taking shape and our budget is looking ok too.

More ceilings down

Things are really moving along at a good pace. Now that more ceilings are down, the electrians have started. They moved in last week & have made good progress. The main bedroom & bathrooms have had the ceilings knocked down so that spot lights can be put in. The plumber is now happy cos. he can see which way the joists are running. We thought for a long time that we were going to have to put a macerator on the toilet but Jack has given the all clear for a 'bog standard' loo to be put in!
Jack has given us the quote for the work & he starts tomorrow.
Everybody, but a roofer, is now 'on board'. Must call him.