Reply to: Am I the only one spending this week doing some decorationg?

[Troll]

Indeed.

Over the summer, whilst some of the esteemed customers were painting & such like, I noticed a very attractive feminine version of the builder's bum.

Being a Gentleman... did you avert your gaze?

[psychocandy]

Now that sounds cool - having a female builder in. ;-)

[Halo Jones]

Fook... a girlie who can build... my kind of woman

<Takes a bow> why thank you sir (nothing to do with it being my day job )

[Troll]

Yeah. As long as she is also blind, deaf, and with no sense of smell or style.

Certainly not interested in your missus

[shaunbhoy]

Fook... a girlie who can build... my kind of woman

Yeah. As long as she is also blind, deaf, and with no sense of smell or style.

[Troll]

WTS

& Other things to consider

Trace your power lines such as the ones to switches & plugs, turn off the mains then discconect them & re-wire to new locations

If the wall is papered remove paper prior to demo as you will be able to see better any hidden fixings / old works etc

Also consider the floor levels either side of the wall: are they the same? Depending on the wall / house construction you may need to leave the wall in place below the floor to hold up the joists

Where are your light fittings in the two rooms: will you need to relocate or add another to prevent a dark spot?

If the wall is a brick or block construction you will need to make good the joins to retained walls: diamond drill / cut these joints prior to demo

Ceiling height & finishes to the two rooms are they the same? You may end up re-plastering the whole new area

Skirting to the two rooms: are they the same ?

Or just get a quote from a reputable builder & let him worry

Fook... a girlie who can build... my kind of woman

[original PM]

My father in law is retired and bored..

So he does most of my DIY!

I do occasionally chip in with a bit of painting but I am better a breaking things than making them!

[psychocandy]

Bloody hell - didnt think of all that !!!!

[Halo Jones]

• Bashing walls down is good exercise but messy - just make sure they are not load bearing

HTH

WTS

& Other things to consider

Trace your power lines such as the ones to switches & plugs, turn off the mains then discconect them & re-wire to new locations

If the wall is papered remove paper prior to demo as you will be able to see better any hidden fixings / old works etc

Also consider the floor levels either side of the wall: are they the same? Depending on the wall / house construction you may need to leave the wall in place below the floor to hold up the joists

Where are your light fittings in the two rooms: will you need to relocate or add another to prevent a dark spot?

If the wall is a brick or block construction you will need to make good the joins to retained walls: diamond drill / cut these joints prior to demo

Ceiling height & finishes to the two rooms are they the same? You may end up re-plastering the whole new area

Skirting to the two rooms: are they the same ?

Or just get a quote from a reputable builder & let him worry

[Troll]

Must admit if I can find someone to do any DIY cheap enough I will. My rationale is if I do it myself:-

1. It'll be crap anyway if I do it.
2. It'll take me 5 times longer than a pro so in the end I'll end up saving the equivalent of £4 per hour of my time. Might as well get a part-time in McDs !!!!

Saying that though Mrs has got plans to knock one of the internal walls down and extend the kitchen. No chance of me fitting the kitchen myself.

But :-

1. Surely its easy enough to rip out cupboards etc.
2. Sounds like fun bashing a wall down!

However, am I the only one with a wife who thinks that just because they can do it on DIY SOS then 'anyone' should be able to do it? And god help me if someones husband in work is doing some DIY - suddenly I'm the lasiest dog in the world!

• You'll get better with practice - stand back at the end and think to yourself "if I was doing that again what would I do differently"
• You'll get quicker with practice
• Taking cupboards down is a doddle - putting them up isn't so hard either - top tip for the wall units is to screw a long batten (correct height & suitably leveled) and use as a guide so all the units align
• Floor units are easier - the only thing you may need help with is cutting crown miters in the work surfaces - but there are ways around that too (lots of kitchen fitters are happy to quote for just doing the cut outs (think the going rate is £75 @ cut )
• Bashing walls down is good exercise but messy - just make sure they are not load bearing

If you get half way competent then it allows you to make an informed judgement on the quality of work by any tradesmen you do employ - they should always do a better job than you could

HTH

[FiveTimes]

We (or should that be I) am about to embark on deco the master bedroom.

I've got a price in for a full over skim, wardrobes will be ordered today. I' will take the old paper off this week. Then just before the plasterer comes I will remove the skirts.
New ones will be ordered and stored, painted/stained/what ever she wants.

We been looking for flooring also.

I reckon the whole process will take 4/5 weeks.

[psychocandy]

Must admit if I can find someone to do any DIY cheap enough I will. My rationale is if I do it myself:-

1. It'll be crap anyway if I do it.
2. It'll take me 5 times longer than a pro so in the end I'll end up saving the equivalent of £4 per hour of my time. Might as well get a part-time in McDs !!!!

Saying that though Mrs has got plans to knock one of the internal walls down and extend the kitchen. No chance of me fitting the kitchen myself.

But :-

1. Surely its easy enough to rip out cupboards etc.
2. Sounds like fun bashing a wall down!

However, am I the only one with a wife who thinks that just because they can do it on DIY SOS then 'anyone' should be able to do it? And god help me if someones husband in work is doing some DIY - suddenly I'm the lasiest dog in the world!

[DodgyAgent]

oddly enough, I too had to do the bathroom ceiling, first scraped it all back to the plaster then a fresh coat or two.

spent the whole time wishing I'd paid someone else to do it. 2 days wasted and zero satisfaction.

last time I am ever doing it myself.

A bit like my sex life

[DodgyAgent]

WFS

My decorator charges £120 per day. My time is worth more.

Not with my margin taken off it isnt

[TheFaQQer]

I would always pay someone do to that as 1. I hate doing it, 2. I can afford to 3. They do it much better and quicker.

WHS.

Plus 4. They might actually do it, whereas I'll put it off for another year.

Apparently, this year is the year that we are sorting the house out. I dread to think what it will cost.