Why I got into DIY!

DIY_Johnny · Post by **DIY_Johnny** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 12:28 pm

One of the reasons I got into DIY was the seemly poor standards I saw in my flat when it was renovated by the previous owner. He gave me his receipts and he paid a fortune for a lot of work. It was done in 2004 / 5 perhaps. It was done by a registered company it looks like.

speed · Post by **speed** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 12:39 pm

wow Door 2.jpg

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 12:59 pm

The tape on the dimmer cables is certainly for ID.

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:42 pm

That door is special, did he plane it to size with an angle grinder?

Have you tried swapping doors 2/3 over

DIY_Johnny · Post by **DIY_Johnny** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:54 pm

There are loads of things on my "to do" list.

I hate buying a place where it has been "renovated" as it just adds a lot to the price and usually its done on the cheap, made to look cosmetically pleasing for purposes of sale. I may sell this place sometime and buy a place that requires a lot of work. Thay way you can put in your own kitchen bathroom etc .

Actually when I bought my place the flat on sale down stairs is identical but some granny owned it and hadn't done a thing with it in 30 years. Would have been a better buy in hindsight.

Live and learn I suppose

Deleted-user-3 · Post by **Deleted-user-3** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:37 pm

all depends on how the property was renovated... excellent philosophy though...
problem seems to be the developers who purchase propert that hasnt been modernised in 30 years just literally give em a lick of paint and then once in you discover it wanted a lot more...
there are still some cracking properties to be had if one is prepared to go the extra mile with the renovation but unfortunately there doesnt seem to be the profits there were a few years ago...
like your style, keep it up one bite at a time :)

DIY_Johnny · Post by **DIY_Johnny** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:56 pm

If you are doing for investment, I can see why people are do it, but for a home its a pain in the ass when some has coated the place in B&Q paint with cleaning the walls.

Drives me mad trying to explain that to my gf who is prepared to pay 25k extra cos they gave it a fresh coat of paint

diyguys · Post by **diyguys** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:14 pm

Woodchip paper hides a lot,the doors i would remove the wiggley bit and add some fresh timber2x1 glue and nail and plane down ,and the warped door you can brace some timber over it to force the warp out or remove the top door stop and push it in and put a screw into the top of the frame to hold the door in and leave for a couple of days but you probably know that anyway.Also the paint on the window they say wd40 is good to soften up the paint on the glass to make it easy to remove.

Mozzy Jones · Post by **Mozzy Jones** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:20 pm

Thanks for sharing, those colours sure are artistic. Everything else seemed OK.

Mozzy

Deleted-user-3 · Post by **Deleted-user-3** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:08 pm

diyguys wrote:Woodchip paper hides a lot,the doors i would remove the wiggley bit and add some fresh timber2x1 glue and nail and plane down ,and the warped door you can brace some timber over it to force the warp out or remove the top door stop and push it in and put a screw into the top of the frame to hold the door in and leave for a couple of days but you probably know that anyway.Also the paint on the window they say wd40 is good to soften up the paint on the glass to make it easy to remove.

or buy a couple of new doors @ 12 quid each....
nitromors is even better at softening up paint...

diyguys · Post by **diyguys** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:32 pm

you can buy some cheap doors but the original doors when refurbed are better quality,also if when you are selling a lot of people like the old doors also 2x1 is cheaper than a new door , and i don't like nitro paint stripper you end up taking the paint of the wood also unless you are extremely careful.

DIY_Johnny · Post by **DIY_Johnny** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:10 pm

My whole place is keep together with wood chip

Only thing I like about the doors is that the handles are high up (1.3m). Don't understand when we have to cater everything now-a-days for either midgets or disabled people, even in your own home. I hate the new socket height under building regs for domestic regulations

If the munchkins want an accessable height for them, let them pay my mortgage

Deleted-user-3 · Post by **Deleted-user-3** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:44 pm

high up handles? does that mean all the doors are hung upside down?
having just had another quick gander.... it would certainly appear so...

one way round it i suppose...

DIY_Johnny · Post by **DIY_Johnny** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:53 pm

Doors are probably the original ones. They are the right way round as all flats are the same, unless when they built the block the carpenters put all doors in upside down.

Deleted-user-3 · Post by **Deleted-user-3** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:45 pm

stranger things have happened...