Garden Walls

Have spent today chopping down shrubs from small front garden, to make way for scaffolding that will be erected tomorrow.

The front garden walls are in a poor condition, can just see where original steps used to be in centre of wall,where they used to lead straight to front door, but the addition of a porch, and for easier access, side steps have been installed.

Previous Owners

Collected a file containing old conveyancing documents and deeds from the solicitor...
North View cottage was built in 1875, but legal documents don't commence until 1914, when it was sold for the pricely sum of £95.

Since 1914, it has changed hands 12 times, being owned by various tradespeople, Colliery Manager, Flour Miller, Landscape Gardener, Inkeeper, Farmer and a Welder and one person bought it, sold it and then bought it back 2 years later...

Patio Area

Decided that as the weather was dry this morning, to make a start to clear the garden rubbish from the rear patio area. This secluded area is hidden behind the bathroom extension, and we hope to replace the current kitchen window with french doors, somewhere to have our breakfast in the sunshine!

This pile of rubble appears to have been kindly left by someone nearby who has recently dug up a concrete driveway! Our yeard was nearer than the local waste disposal site!

 

and eventually........ now just need the sunshine!

Building Regs

Received confirmation today from Local Authority that our Building Regs application has been approved, and we can now obtain a start date for works to commence!! We have 3 years to complete work noted...should be sufficient time!

Building Contractor visited, with a sample of roof tile, (wasn't happy with original sample of a thick concrete tile) and we have decided to fit Marley Rivendale slate like tile in Blue/Black colour.

Garage goodies!

We have had difficulty getting into the garage and outhouse, and after speaking to the previous owner, he tells us that the door has not been opened for more than ten years! Once inside, can see the reason why, the hinge and door opener is rusted closed..no chance of opening main garage door..luckily we have access through outhouse door

Once inside, discovered an "Alladin's Cave" of treasures! Only trouble is, we will now need several skips to get rid of it all! Newspapers on top of the piles date back to 1997, so previous owner is probably correct.

Planning to begin...

Had the first visit today of the Building Regs Inspector, to advise on works we want to carry out to replace the 2 roofs. The main roof is a remove and replacement with black slate type tiles, replacing any necessary timbers, and the bathroom extension roof which was a flat felted roof, is being replaced with a hipped apex type roof at the rear of the property.

The Building Contractor also came to the cottage, to finalise details etc, and good news is that forms are filled in and relevant fee has been paid, we have the "go ahead" to commence work!!

We have asked for a contract from the Builder, and once this is in place on Monday, scaffolding will be erected, hopefully next Thursday...

Building Regs person also told us its possible to replace kitchen window with a pair of french doors out to patio area, and to knock down a brick wall into bathroom, to extend bathroom, the plan is to make room for a shower. So far, so good.

Busy Days....

Have spent 2 days taking out all of the "horrible" removable items from the cottage, mostly left by previous owner...smelly carpets, curtains, kitchen cupboards, shelves from airing cupboard, all stacked up ready for disposal tomorrow.

The cotage is taking on a new look now the carpets are removed...beginning to wonder about replacement possible floor coverings

Discovered hidden tiles, but don't really think any of them are useable!

Completion Day!

Well finally, after a rush to the solicitor's office to sign a further letter, received call from Agent to say completion had taken place, and I could go to collect the keys.

Our first visitor was the Plumber, to try and rectify a leaking water pipe in the loft! it appears to be leaking from several joints on central heating pipes in the loft..not good news, although he has checked cold water mains supply and that is ok.

I took down old smelly curtains from kitchen and bedrooms, brushed cobwebs from window frames (which are Everest, with lovely hardwood window sills - windows need to be replaced at some point in the distant future!) and then decided to fill in some time while plumber was busy, by pulling up lounge carpet and underlay..old oak boards under this flooring, and pulled out the ancient electric fire surround to reveal a chimney opening (so we can possibly have a gas fire installed).

In the kitchen I managed to dismantle the wall cupboards (before they fell off the wall) and took apart the kitchen base units that are destined for the skip...lurking behind these the plumber discovered that the gas cooker pipe had not been sealed off - he did a double take when he saw it, had been left in a dangerous state..

Home for a lovely hot shower...a good start for day one!!

Preparation begins

Sunday, had a visit to a nearby Car Boot Sale... and found some "old" tools, i think they may come in handy.

However, also went to superstore, for other items, wall paper scrapers and a decent stanley knife as I have old carpets to cut up and dispose of.

It won't be long now.....

Our Solicitor rang this afternoon, to tell us exhange of contracts will take place Monday morning, and we should receive a telephone call to ask us to collect the keys from the Agents...Disappointed that it won't be today, Friday, as he first suggested, but some hold up in vendor's paperwork.

I have been preparing for the "big clean" when I do get into the cottage..It's not been lived in for years, and is musty, foisty, damp, smelly, with old carpets and curtains still in place. I had to laugh when I read the contents list as part of the house purchase, the Vendor has actually listed these plus curtain poles as part of fixtures and fittings! They will be first things to go into the skip!

I decided to pick up some paint colour charts while in DIY store, this is (very) forward planning!!!

Cottage is almost ours.....

Had meeting with Solicitor today to sign the contract, and to confirm all is ok with land, mine and water searches etc.
He told me that cottage was built in 1875, and the name of the Landowner at that time who gave the land for the cottage to be built on. Still have to have exact date of exchange of contracts confirmed, the cottage is almost ours....then the hard work, stress and worry begins!

I drove past the cottage this morning, i find myself doing this quite frequently, my route to wherever I am driving often detours via the road in front of the cottage! Especially eventful this morning, I had to stop to take a pic of Estate Agent's board showing "Sold" notice!!

The beginning.....

These are "before" pictures, as the cottage stands now..our plan is to take "several" years to renovate to a decent standard.

The first project planned is to remove and replace the roof with slates, replacing any necessary roof timbers, joists, purlins etc as needed. We have had 3 building contractors/roofers to inspect the interior roof void, and they all tell us that full timber renewal is not required, it's not as bad as first presumed! (thankfully)

The bathroom extension roof is a different matter..over several winters the flat felted roof has disintegrated, and has been covered with blackplastic sheeting as a temporary measure by present owner, with heavy rains this has totally failed and the bathroom ceiling has fallen in.

We have decided to replace the flat roof with an apex hipped roof joined to main roof at rear, covered in same slate tiles as main roof.

The kitchen window to rear will hopefully be replaced with new french doors, leading to a small outside private patio area...

It needs some vision, but we will eventually sit out here for breakfast in the sunshine!