There’s been quite a lot going on this week, we finally have the central heating installation booked to commence a week tomorrow. In preparation we collected our beautiful school style radiator for our bedroom from Coventry Demolition. It’s amazing…Given the choice I’d have these everywhere, but Ronnie (aka the budget police) has put his foot down and we’ll be having ‘normal’ radiators throughout the rest of the house…boo!
The main job this week has been replacing the kitchen ceiling after we took it down to run electrics and insulation through. This was a job we’d put off as we thought it would be a nightmare, in truth, it was fairly painless. The plasterer has finished phase one, and left his tower with us until we’re ready to complete the library & attic conversion, so that bit of kit came in handy, he also recommended getting some props, we’d thought these would make the job easier, but dismissed the idea expecting them to be really expensive, they are actually only around £20, so if they are never used again, we’ve had great value from them! First task was to mark, measure and cut the boards, inc. apertures for spot lights.
Once these were cut, they were manoeuvred into position by Dad and I, held by the props, while Ronnie tacked them to the joists.
We had to make a few additional cuts here and there, but the whole job only took a morning. Last job for now was to scrim tape the joints and put on some plaster. We need to repeat this a couple of times until we’re ready for mist coat.
Ta da! It’s made a huge difference and the room already feels brighter and warmer.
In the cloakroom and lobby, we’ve got the ceilings ready to take pipework during the forthcoming heating installation. I’ve spent this afternoon stuffing in more insulation to any gaps.
We’ve received the beautiful stone for our kitchen floor, it’s currently sitting outside, we were planning on having this fitted professionally, but as we (I) blew the budget on the stone, we’re thinking of fitting it ourselves. You’ll notice there are a few of the stones broken…we don’t talk about that, it wasn’t me is all I’m saying!
In the lounge and hallway we’ve been beavering away working on the cracks in the ceiling and preparing the coving and plasterwork for painting, it’s looking good! More on that next week. Finally for this week I bought a gorgeous kiko frame which I’ve been trying to find for a while, strangely enough I found one on Ebay. Mine was from Indico-Wendy and I love it.
LANSDOWNE REVISITED 
Central heat will be something that you will be happy to have this winter! 😉 Ceilings are something that I have never had to work on. I am glad that you found it an easier job than you were expecting. It would be great if that could happen every time. I say this while in the midst of a re-grouting nightmare.
Absolutely, we moved in on Halloween last year, winter weather was kind to us but we wouldn’t get away with it again!
What a handsome radiator. Sometimes I wish I still had the old rads in my house … I think they’re cool!
Isn’t it just, if only they weren’t 4 times the price of standard of regular radiators!
OK – completely caught up with your blog – fantastic! Hello to Dottie!
Ha ha, apparently ‘my stats are booming’ according to wordpress! Thank you, I’m glad someone is vaguely interested. Dottie is in disgrace, I made the mistake if giving her scallops yesterday, and today her regular biscuits just won’t do. Loving seeing your place come along.
I take it that the stone you picked was the top sample from the prior post? I’m not sure what it takes to install stone but you’re brave to try it. We have lots of tiling to do so I’ll be looking for a tutorial on how it’s done and what not to do. Everything in your place is coming right along. I look forward to your posts and your progress. Jo @ Let’s Face the Music
Yep, that’s the one. We have a good sound floor to lay on to, we’ll try, and if we can’t do it we’ll have to get someone in! I’m thinking of doing a tiling weekend course, would be useful I think.
I don’t know how I missed this post! Any ways… this is coming along beautifully! I can’t wait to see that flooring when it’s done, it’s going to be gorgeous!
Smiles!
Terry
Hello!!! I’ve caught up, and about time too. Nice to see everything looks like it’s progressing marvellously!! Floor tiles look beautiful. Good luck with laying them!!
Nadine
Hmm, still outside currently! Getting ceilings sorted…and then to the floors. How are you getting on? X
Oh! It’ll all come together. It really is looking good. Yes, things are progressing our end. I will post soon and reveal all! Ha! Have very little time for anything besides the house and wedding planning at the moment. It’s all go! X
If I had known… I took out 2 very similar, but big, cast iron radiators from my house. And got nothing for them. Of course transatlantic shipping would have been a pretty penny.
They are worth a fortune here!!
And they say “American Radiator Co.” on the sides in small lettering circling the pipe fittings. That would have been an interesting conversation piece. But your plumbers would be cursing your name if the pipe sizes aren’t the same.