Miscellaneous DIY Projects (or bits of jobs)

[plaques]

Don't worry about me. The 'good ideas' department is running at full tilt. Example... Those cupboards above the fridge & freezer units never get used it would look better without them, WE could easily take them down.. That back wall above the bench would look nicer if WE put some more of the fancy glass panelling up. So that's wall repairs and painted, Power and switch sockets moved. Walls smoothed and re-plastered, Glass measured and ordered. Now glued on. Trims on long cupboards cut and mitred to suit. ... Yes, its very nice. Wasn't it a good idea of mine. It didn't take US too long either.

[Stanley]

That made me laugh..... I might have known her indoors wouldn't be letting you off too lightly! Thanks for brightening my day.

[Big Kev]

I considered some DIY today but decided against it, it's a bit too warm.

[Stanley]

It was warm in the shed! (And the iron was chilled and pot hard which didn't help my health and temper!)

[Big Kev]

Took advantage of cooler earlier hours and created the fake panelling in the hallway this morning.


Just need to get the flooring now, might wait a bit and see if B&Q put the chosen one on offer. I can suffer the old grey carpet until the August bank holiday

The next project is already underway, the 'working from home' looks to be a permanent feature with one day a week at the office. I currently have all my kit on the dining table which was OK when no one was allowed in the house but I now want the dining room back to it's intended use. The spare room is going to become a combined office/spare bedroom, this will involve moving a wall to extend the room into a bit of 'dead' space on the landing. Fortunately the wall is only timber stud and plasterboard, there was some remodeling done back in the 1980s so it'll be straightforward.

[Stanley]

I hope it works out OK Kev. Permanent changes in the way we work, I wonder what it means for cities?

[Big Kev]

I hope it works out OK Kev. Permanent changes in the way we work, I wonder what it means for cities?

The closure of a lot of coffee shops I reckon.

[Stanley]

[Big Kev]

An interesting day to demolish a plasterboard wall, 30 degrees according to the car on the way to the tip. I've salvaged the studs, de-nailed them and they're ready for the new bit of wall to block off the end of the landing.

[PanBiker]

Sounds like fun Kev and well done for the recycling of materials. Just moved our car from remote parking to nearer home and the temp read 32 degrees, car had been sat in the sun all day though, hot, hot.

[Stanley]

I think yesterday was the hottest day we have had. Much fresher this morning.

[Big Kev]

Today is much fresher, the hole in the wall and the salvaged studs are ready. I'll re route the electrics and fix the studs for the new bit of wall today. No rain forecast so a couple of 8 x 4 plasterboard will be OK on the roof rack

[Big Kev]

Recycled studwork


A bit of plasterboard and, not that you can see it, some rockwool. Got a slither to patch in at the top as nothing is square or plumb in these old houses.


There's an extra 3ft on the end of the room plus access to what will be a built in wardrobe (where the PC monitor is).


Just waiting on eldest offspring to collect the redundant bedroom furniture and I'll skim over the plasterboard.

[Stanley]

Tidy job as usual......

[Big Kev]

Thank you, it's getting there

[Big Kev]

Today's job was a good tidy up, there was dust everywhere from cutting plasterboard and timber, I then turned the door around so it opens against the wall.
Advertised the double bed base on the local selling pages, gratis, but no takers yet (it'll go to the tip if there are no takers by Monday).
Once all the existing furniture is out I'll give the room a coat of paint and then look for a suitable desk.

[Stanley]

The desk.... Ever thought about two drawer units and a piece of 3/4" ply for the top? You can have the exact width you need.....

[Big Kev]

That's the plan, or something similar, a 'standard' desk is no good for me as they're not high enough. Since working in an office I've had various ways of fixing this from wooden blocks, on the bottom of the legs, to adjustable height legs. It only needs to be 6in taller than the standard 29in but makes a real difference to comfort. I currently spend most of my day standing as I have the right bit of kit to do this but need to be comfortable when I do sit at a desk.

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The adjustable 'standup' desk will get full use, up or down, once a new desk is in place. It'll be nice to have my dining table back.

[Stanley]

[Big Kev]

A bit of joint filling and feathering of edges today. The stud and plasterboard are straight, the existing wall isn't. It'll take a while for the filler to dry as it's nearly 10mm thick in places.

[PanBiker]

Like you said Kev, none of the older houses were built square, sound but not straight I know if I replace any of my internal doors I would have to do the frames as well so I leave well alone, they open and close OK even if they are not perfect rectangles.

[Big Kev]

I think it's called rustic

[Stanley]

When I measured Hay Farm for the new roof timbers that I never put on the difference between the two diagonal measurements over the equivalent of three cottages was less than 3". That would be a 17th century footprint.

[Wendyf]

Col must be feeling better, today's task is to replace the faulty hob with a new one. I'm there to help with any heavy lifting.

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[Stanley]

Good to hear that Wendy but we need a report later.....