Home D.I.Y.

[Drago]

Our lot, Tilia, don't directly employee anyone beyond half as dozen office staff. All the builders themselves, the site manager, etc, are local contractors. To be fair theyre very friendly and painfully polite when i encounter them out and about.

 

[Fastpedaller]

Oh and the laminate in the bedroom has been a doddle compared to the one I just put down in the conservatory. The conservatory needed a whole row assembling and locking before you slotted it into the row that was already fitted. The bedroom one is lock into the existing row, then move to next piece, lock in, and "thump" the joint to the adjacent board (rubber mallet suggested, but it was quicker just to thump it with my hand).

My wife was surprised with the lack of swearing - she thought she had a different husband - makes the job so much easier getting things that fit together properly. I did check the fitting instructions BEFORE agreeing to buy these planks.

The lounge will be next, but it will be solid wood - going to make sure I can fit one plank at a time rather than a whole row.

Whilst in the DIY store, I did get my Xmas present from MrsF - a Bosch multi tool with free battery (got a chainsaw using the same battery) as I actually needed it for the floor job - needed to cut part of the door frame off at the bottom. What a great tool. Should have got one years ago.

Have you used the solid wood 'click together' flooring? I'd never use it again after fitting it in our hall (levelling 'problem' mentioned above wasn't a factor). There are 2 issues I didn't fully appreciate before buying it 1) The time of year affects it - I guess it's the humidity more than temperature, but it creaks and groans, despite having a gap around the perimeter - I guess because it has natural wood it just wants to bend/move. 2) IIRC it is 12mm thick, so I had to take 3 doors off and trim them to give adequate clearance. Having recently fitted click together laminate in the kitchen at my Daughters, I was pleasantly surprised because it was a real delight to fit - she even joined in. The appearance of the laminates are far superior to those on sale 25 years ago - almost impossible to know the wood ones aren't real wood. I notice in the most recent kit car magazine that a car builder had used a laminate 'plank' for a dashboard in his classic style roadster!

 

[raleighnut]

Have you used the solid wood 'click together' flooring? I'd never use it again after fitting it in our hall (levelling 'problem' mentioned above wasn't a factor). There are 2 issues I didn't fully appreciate before buying it 1) The time of year affects it - I guess it's the humidity more than temperature, but it creaks and groans, despite having a gap around the perimeter - I guess because it has natural wood it just wants to bend/move. 2) IIRC it is 12mm thick, so I had to take 3 doors off and trim them to give adequate clearance. Having recently fitted click together laminate in the kitchen at my Daughters, I was pleasantly surprised because it was a real delight to fit - she even joined in. The appearance of the laminates are far superior to those on sale 25 years ago - almost impossible to know the wood ones aren't real wood. I notice in the most recent kit car magazine that a car builder had used a laminate 'plank' for a dashboard in his classic style roadster!

The 'compromise' between the 2 is 'engineered' boarding 3 layers of solid timber with the centre layer being at right angles but the top layer about 3mm thick of hardwood so it can be sanded and refinished, I used it in the little front bedroom and it has been excellent. In construction it is similar to plywood so dimensionally very stable, you do need to leave a gap around the edges as it is a 'floating' floor but I did it the proper way and removed the skirting boards but they had to come off as we had the walls 'skimmed' with plaster so I could just emulsion them

 

[Jameshow]

Sounds like you got one of the better builders 👷‍♀️

Not Gleesons then!!

 

[laurentian]

Discovered a slight leak under the kitchen sink.

I noticed the cupboard door below was not closing quite right, and closer examination revealed the unit is damp and the edge trim lifting, thus leaving the door a mm or so proud as it closes.

A quick check and I discover the muppet builders had not tightened one of the collars on the trap - it moved when I was feeling for the leak with my fingers - and over time sufficient had escaped to moisten the cupboard.

While groping about I discovered the cold water supply pipe is insecure and moves alarming as it emerges from the wall. Clearly a copper pipe should be mounted securely!

House is just over 2 years old so called NSBC. Their warranty doesnt cover internal plumbing. Bugger.

But they explained about my statutory rights and the pertinent legislation, some of it going out to 15 years, that covers this sort of thing so its within the realm of the builders to resolve.

Meanwhile, SiL (hes a qualified sparky and plumber and owns a building firm) has eyeballed it all and given me a list of regulations and schedules the builders have breached with the installation.

The damage isnt bad. I could clean it and bond over the damaged part one of those metal kitchen cupboard floor protectors to hide the damage, having first removed the now loose edging. But I shouldn't have to, and im not going to.

So I've reported it to the builders, and theyre already ducking and diving. Im awaiting their initial firm response, but if I have to start pursuing this im going to keep a schedule of my time in tenths of an hour and stiff them for the lot, my time, printing expenses, plumbers report, and small claims costs.

I never back down from a fight, and this will be a belter!

Not that I condone such things of course, but you shouldn't underestimate the power of a social media moan on the developers page . . .

 

[fossyant]

Daughter's bedroom is nearing completion. She's currently painting the windowsill. Floor all finished and the bed is due to arrive today. Once the windowsill is dry, I'll fit the window blind. Next job is for daughter to paint the inside of the built in wardrobe.

 

[derrick]

Thought we would try something different.got a wallpaper mural from Sweden, quality is really good, we love it , probably not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[MontyVeda]

Soldering!
...
I've got one that works off a USB and it just hadn't got the power
...
What's recommended?

I got one of those USB soldering irons from Aldi and was woefully disappointed with its performance... until i stopped tying to use the 1mm solder it came with and started using the thinner stuff. It's now my favourite iron.