Quiet day. Post Office have confirmed that Luis has received his second letter.
Finding it difficult to get a gas fitter - left loads of messages on answerphones but no responses. Will have to try some names from our nearest city.
Thursday 2nd April 2009
Floor re-laying day today, time to put more of Luis' handiwork right.
Nice and early start with both Barry (Hire a Handyman) and Dan (Plasterer) on the job today. Pretty uneventful (thank heavens) but it is worth noting that they used ¼ tonne of small chippings and a couple of bags of cement to bring the level up to the two doorways into the room. As it was, you'd never have been able to have a fair game of marbles on it :-)
Nice and early start with both Barry (Hire a Handyman) and Dan (Plasterer) on the job today. Pretty uneventful (thank heavens) but it is worth noting that they used ¼ tonne of small chippings and a couple of bags of cement to bring the level up to the two doorways into the room. As it was, you'd never have been able to have a fair game of marbles on it :-)
Wednesday 1st April 2009
Electrician John came today for 1st fix. Obviously, he has to be very safety conscious and as a result, I have no lights in the main kitchen area until 2nd fix in a couple of weeks time :-(
Having said that, seems an excellent job - much tidier than what lay before. By way of example, here are some before & after piccies.
Had a look for a gas fitter and discovered that as of today, CORGI do not do the official registration for gas work - it's now the Gas Safe Register. Phoned one guy who told me his paperwork was still with CORGI but he'd be around late afternoon to quote me. Fortunately, he forgot to visit - like he forgot to get on the GSR - and any work he does with Gas will be illegal until he gets himself on the register. Obviously, my luck with tradesmen is improving lately, but that was a near-miss.
I particularly like the fact that you can view a photograph of every registered gas fitter on the Gas Safe Register - even those employed by companies.
Having said that, seems an excellent job - much tidier than what lay before. By way of example, here are some before & after piccies.
Had a look for a gas fitter and discovered that as of today, CORGI do not do the official registration for gas work - it's now the Gas Safe Register. Phoned one guy who told me his paperwork was still with CORGI but he'd be around late afternoon to quote me. Fortunately, he forgot to visit - like he forgot to get on the GSR - and any work he does with Gas will be illegal until he gets himself on the register. Obviously, my luck with tradesmen is improving lately, but that was a near-miss.
I particularly like the fact that you can view a photograph of every registered gas fitter on the Gas Safe Register - even those employed by companies.
Tuesday 31st March 2009
Guys have started moving rubble from various bags around the perimeter of the house. Be really glad when they have done as most of them are technically on my neighbours land and they are a constant reminder of John Wayne (Luis - keep up!)
A few minor bits of plumbing to do myself today and then tommorrow we can ask John how much a 30A connection for the new cooker will cost.
A few minor bits of plumbing to do myself today and then tommorrow we can ask John how much a 30A connection for the new cooker will cost.
Monday 30th March 2009
Remember my earlier comments about Luis using the cooker to stand on to get up high? Here's the evidence:
We also discovered early this morning that the floor Luis (now to be known as John Wayne) laid is around 2" lower at one end, and uneven throughout. Plasterer Dan came around and discussed the floor with Barry. They agreed it was fixable and will work together on the job on Thursday. Dan will move his plastering to Fri & Sat.
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Also had Transco come along as we could smell gas. There was a leak on the pipe to the cooker, but it was isolatable without turning off the whole supply. I guess now is the time for things like this to be fixed, whilst there are no cupboards in the way. The pipe passes from the outside into the bathroom and then through 2 more walls before getting into the kitchen. Barry has now drilled a hole from the outside straight into the kitchen - this should make it easier and cheaper for a gas engineer to sort the problem out.
And finally.... The stud work is now in place to fill the doorway, the lintel is secured and there's a framework within the chimney for the cooker hood to be fastened in. I know it's not rocket science but I'm so glad things are moving again.
We also discovered early this morning that the floor Luis (now to be known as John Wayne) laid is around 2" lower at one end, and uneven throughout. Plasterer Dan came around and discussed the floor with Barry. They agreed it was fixable and will work together on the job on Thursday. Dan will move his plastering to Fri & Sat.
====
Also had Transco come along as we could smell gas. There was a leak on the pipe to the cooker, but it was isolatable without turning off the whole supply. I guess now is the time for things like this to be fixed, whilst there are no cupboards in the way. The pipe passes from the outside into the bathroom and then through 2 more walls before getting into the kitchen. Barry has now drilled a hole from the outside straight into the kitchen - this should make it easier and cheaper for a gas engineer to sort the problem out.
And finally.... The stud work is now in place to fill the doorway, the lintel is secured and there's a framework within the chimney for the cooker hood to be fastened in. I know it's not rocket science but I'm so glad things are moving again.
Sunday 29th March 2009
Where have all my kitchen units gone?
Thought I'd show the other side of the tale - the second photo shows what passes for a kitchen in our house right now. Formerly the dining room, we had the sink plumbed through the wall from the kitchen, and a few of the old units. No washing machine - that's all done at the launderette - but fortunately we had bought a condenser dryer for the new kitchen so that can be used. For temporary use it is passable - but when you bear in mind that my wife is disabled it makes it terribly inconvenient for her.
Ah - here they are.....
Thought I'd show the other side of the tale - the second photo shows what passes for a kitchen in our house right now. Formerly the dining room, we had the sink plumbed through the wall from the kitchen, and a few of the old units. No washing machine - that's all done at the launderette - but fortunately we had bought a condenser dryer for the new kitchen so that can be used. For temporary use it is passable - but when you bear in mind that my wife is disabled it makes it terribly inconvenient for her.
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