Show us yer house and house-related meddlings

[UnderOpenSky]

If the guttering and roof tiles are ok it’s probably a condensation issue.

Have you insulated the loft? If so it’s possible that the Rockwool or whatever was pushed too far into the eaves and is preventing air from circulating (a building of that age was designed to have a cold loft; we insulate them now but that means they are much colder than was intended and means they are prone to condensation unless properly vented). So, check the airflow from the eaves is not blocked by insulation in the first instance. If the insulation is properly installed but airflow is restricted install some soffit vents (cheap, and available from builders merchants and DIY sheds although you’ll need a head for heights).

Thanks. I've not actually checked the tiles, but couldn't see anything from the ground. I'll out and have another look.

We've done nothing to the loft. When we got the place three years ago I went up and found it was insulated with those tiny ball things, which put me of venturing up there again. It's a bit of an ambition for some time in the future to use the space better, but it's always seemed a long way away. So I guess I need to go up again and have a look.

 

[teuchter]

If the guttering and roof tiles are ok it’s probably a condensation issue.

Have you insulated the loft? If so it’s possible that the Rockwool or whatever was pushed too far into the eaves and is preventing air from circulating (a building of that age was designed to have a cold loft; we insulate them now but that means they are much colder than was intended and means they are prone to condensation unless properly vented). So, check the airflow from the eaves is not blocked by insulation in the first instance. If the insulation is properly installed but airflow is restricted install some soffit vents (cheap, and available from builders merchants and DIY sheds although you’ll need a head for heights).

Yes, show us a photo of the inside of the loft, if it's accessible UnderAnOpenSky

 

[ignatious]

...those tiny ball things...

Polystyrene beads? They’re often used to insulate cavity walls and it’s possible they did that at the same time. It could be causing an issue because it isn’t filled to the top so a cold spot has developed. You’d need to drill a hole and get a camera inside there to have a look, then top it up if necessary with more beads. Either way, best to get it sorted sooner rather than later.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Polystyrene beads? They’re often used to insulate cavity walls and it’s possible they did that at the same time. It could be causing an issue because it isn’t filled to the top so a cold spot has developed. You’d need to drill a hole and get a camera inside there to have a look, then top it up if necessary with more beads. Either way, best to get it sorted sooner rather than later.

Yes, show us a photo of the inside of the loft, if it's accessible UnderAnOpenSky

Think I'm going to try and wade through the beads next week. From memory they certainly don't go to the roof. If disposing or them wasn't such an issue I'd have them all out and just lay some new stuff myself.

 

[Cloo]

Cloo
It was a pub i and am the worst gentrifier.

Kind of guessed it was that or office!

 

[teuchter]

Polystyrene beads? They’re often used to insulate cavity walls and it’s possible they did that at the same time. It could be causing an issue because it isn’t filled to the top so a cold spot has developed. You’d need to drill a hole and get a camera inside there to have a look, then top it up if necessary with more beads. Either way, best to get it sorted sooner rather than later.

Sounds like they have maybe used them between the ceiling joists, ie in the floor of the loft rather than in the roof itself.

 

[Cloo]

I'm not sure if I'm glad or scared that my money I've just got from my grandfather's will is probably enough to allow us to do a loft extension.

We don't need to do it, but our roof's in a bit of state and if we're going to heavily repair or downright replace it, it seems worth sticking some rooms up there while we're at it - we've kind of held off doing anything about the roof it in the hope we can afford a conversion before too long. It would mean we could offer au pairs a nicer bedroom (I feel bad we can only offer a small bedroom right now) and also, let's face it, the kids will probably have to live with us until their 40s at this rate, so the more space we can create, the better. Probably looking at a bedroom and a bathroom plus storage like our mates two doors down. So I guess we might get some quotes in over winter to see what the options are.

 

[ignatious]

Sounds like they have maybe used them between the ceiling joists, ie in the floor of the loft rather than in the roof itself.

I know that, but it’s also possible that the issue might be coming from the cavity wall. Snotty wall ties and slumped fillings have caused a lot of issues with damp.

 

[mauvais]

I'm not sure if I'm glad or scared that my money I've just got from my grandfather's will is probably enough to allow us to do a loft extension.

We don't need to do it, but our roof's in a bit of state and if we're going to heavily repair or downright replace it, it seems worth sticking some rooms up there while we're at it - we've kind of held off doing anything about the roof it in the hope we can afford a conversion before too long. It would mean we could offer au pairs a nicer bedroom (I feel bad we can only offer a small bedroom right now) and also, let's face it, the kids will probably have to live with us until their 40s at this rate, so the more space we can create, the better. Probably looking at a bedroom and a bathroom plus storage like our mates two doors down. So I guess we might get some quotes in over winter to see what the options are.

Depending on the roof design, why don't you do what our neighbours have done and replace the roof but put in windows while you're at it? Then you can defer converting without having to redo work.

FWIW our half-roof replacement (Show us yer house and house-related meddlings) cost about £2500. Conversions are much more money AFAIK.

 

[Cloo]

I have suggested that, but gsv's not keen. Depends what costs we're given, I guess. I know the ballpark, but we'll have to add it roof repair/ replacement

 

[equationgirl]

Cloo makes sense to do it if the roof needs redone anyway.

 

[Cloo]

Cloo makes sense to do it if the roof needs redone anyway.

Think we'll take quotes and go from there.

We know these lofts are fairly easy to adapt from our mates two down (and they highly recommended the guys who did theirs) - there's a lot of room and an easy point to turn the stairs for another run up, and have also been in another of the same type a few houses further down where I think they had two bedrooms and a bathroom in there.The thing I almost want most from it is what put mates have - a skylight above the loft stairs that actually gets some sunlight into the middle of the hallway of the first floor. It's a long, deep Edwardian terrace, so the lack of the natural light in the hallway upstairs at the moment is a bit of a downer

 

[Cloo]

Things are getting serious - I'm starting to save loft bathroom/storage/bedroom ideas on Houzz. All of which my other half will totally ignore, but never mind, it keeps me out of trouble.

 

[equationgirl]

I've had the junk taken out of the spare room, the new mattress had arrived and I'm going with a dark blue for the walls. I'll be doing a picture rail line again, so the walls will be about one third white, two thirds blue. I've ordered the curtains, because the drop is over 3 m, but got a good deal online.

Can't afford to replace the carpet so have ordered a light grey rug from ikea to go on top of the carpet.

Only issue is bed frame, bought it off Wayfair but they sent it via XDP couriers and it's been sat in their depot since last Tuesday. Was supposed to be delivered by Friday, but so far they've offered delivery on Tuesday this week, which is no good for me. At this rate it will be going back for a refund.

Expect more thrilling updates as I paint the spare room over Christmas...

 

[Cloo]

I'm trying to get the front room downstairs done before we do the loft, it's a relatively inexpensive job - I just need to pin down my husband on it as he tends to vaguely seem to agree with things, but then it turns out he's half listening and I don't want to book tradesmen only to have them turn up and him say 'Wait, we never talked about this?' It's getting more use than just as a junk room now, but it's still kind of a junk room and will remain so until we do it up.

I just realised looking at it that it will be much easier to do it if we just put all the books and filing in there into storage while we do it - also means less likelihood of everything just ending up back in there afterwards.

Re: loft space, I'm a bit in love with this eaves library, we'll never manage anything like it though.

 

[Baronage-Phase]

I've had the junk taken out of the spare room, the new mattress had arrived and I'm going with a dark blue for the walls. I'll be doing a picture rail line again, so the walls will be about one third white, two thirds blue. I've ordered the curtains, because the drop is over 3 m, but got a good deal online.

Can't afford to replace the carpet so have ordered a light grey rug from ikea to go on top of the carpet.

Only issue is bed frame, bought it off Wayfair but they sent it via XDP couriers and it's been sat in their depot since last Tuesday. Was supposed to be delivered by Friday, but so far they've offered delivery on Tuesday this week, which is no good for me. At this rate it will be going back for a refund.

Expect more thrilling updates as I paint the spare room over Christmas...

Crikey. It doesnt seem a year since we were all following your sittingroom refurb and the whole sofa delay debacle.
Cant wait to see the bedroom reno.

 

[mauvais]

Finally some more meddling - very expensive accoya windows (the two top ones).



The job gets finished tomorrow and this enables, some time next year when money permits, replastering of the bedrooms.

 

[bimble]

They look really smart and warm as well mauvais, proper job well done.
If I make fun of the artex effect wallpaper with random Chinese characters embossed in it there's a risk however small that this was actually your chosen wallpaper so i wont mention it.

 

[mauvais]

Haha no that predates us. For the chop!

 

[equationgirl]

Some great looking windows there mauvais

 

[mauvais]

Ta! These were the old ones, all single glazed, so quite a step forward.



Unfortunately lots more still to do downstairs.

 

[teuchter]

Are the glass panes each an individual double glazed unit in those new windows mauvais?

 

[mauvais]

Are the glass panes each an individual double glazed unit in those new windows mauvais?

Not 100% but fairly sure it's one single sheet with internal whatever-they're-calleds to make it look like separates, and duplex bars fitted.

 

[mauvais]

Done:

 

[teuchter]

Not 100% but fairly sure it's one single sheet with internal whatever-they're-calleds to make it look like separates, and duplex bars fitted.

That's kind of what I'd expect but the bits behind the glazing bars looked quite like the actual spacers you get at the edge of DG units.

 

[mauvais]

That's kind of what I'd expect but the bits behind the glazing bars looked quite like the actual spacers you get at the edge of DG units.

That's the idea, but it's definitely one piece.

 

[moose]

Done:

View attachment 192722

What a strange window!

 

[mauvais]

What a strange window!

The panel? There's a wall behind it, ie the left hand side is one room (which also contains the separate window on the left), the right another. Same on the house next door which has one continuous bay - even weirder - so presumably the original layout.

Edit: here, there's a wall in there

 

[teuchter]

Yours obviously had a bay originally too.

 

[Manter]

Yours obviously had a bay originally too.

But where would the wall go in the bay! If you look at the interior pics, there would just be.... well, I dunno, a gap for cats and children to wriggle through?