What can we do while we wait for architectural drawings and tender?
Smi Kat
3 years ago
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Comments (7)
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What windows should we choose?
Comments (56)Hi Folks. The windows are in and I love them. I chose black slim profile aluminium chamfered profile. I've been delaying posting a picture because, as you can see the front drive isn't done yet so the house isn't set off very well in its surroundings. To be clear, the windows we replaced were already Everest replacement windows from the late 70's early 80's I'd guess. The only original glazing we had being external Crittal doors that were ffffreezing, so they have gone and the Crittal stained glass windows by the front door and chimney breast, which we've kept, though they need painting black to match the new windows. We haven't replaced all the other non-original windows, but will aim to do so over the years, when the cash flow improves. I managed to persuade my husband to at least agree to all the first floor front elevation windows being replaced, so now they are all the same when you view the house from the street. The windows of a brick built sun room, front right, that you can partly see, are probably going to be removed, to make that area part of the garden rather than the house. One thing I would say is that we are having a bit of trouble with condensation on the outside of the new windows, which was unexpected and made me quite miserable at first. It turns out we're a bit unlucky, it's a known, but not extremely common, issue with such good thermal insulation in modern double glazing and it depends on the aspect of your house and the dew point. Our front elevation is west and exposed, so cold in the morning resulting in condensation and our view being foggy until the air temperature rises. I've attached a poor photo to show a mild version of what I mean, it can be a lot denser and we have far reaching views from the upstairs windows, so disappointing. But I've got over it. The main plus point is that the rooms with new replacement windows are so much warmer than the ones which still have the old ill fitting wood and aluminium windows. I'm also really pleased that we chose the windows to be black on the inside too. A neighbour up the road has black on the outside, white on the inside and I think it looks really odd when the windows are open. Finally, all the houses on our road are completely different, so there is no uniting feature that ties them together, our windows couldn't clash with the windows in the other houses as they are all individuals, though I suppose you could say they are all clashing, but as we are fortunate enough to be in a big plot with the houses set well apart I don't get that sense. Thanks for looking and all the advice. It was really helpful....See MoreGrey window frames can we still have plantation shutters?
Comments (28)Hi HU-849894587 If you are unsure about Shutters, another product that we see a lot of people selecting when they have windows like yourself is Venetian blinds. Like with Shutters, they come in a wide variety of dark and light colours as well as louvre sizes to allow you to control light and privacy in your home. A feature that is also incredibly popular is adding tapes to the blind; this finishing touch looks great not only inside your home but also outside for people passing by. Hope that helps. Any other questions, let us know and we'll try and answer for you. Matt...See MoreArchitect wants more money after we have paid him
Comments (10)Sounds like he is trying (in my opinion quite rightly) to reopen conversations about fees. It sounds like you had an agreement about providing plans and he provided them and you settled his bill. You have gone back and asked for additional services and it sounds like he may have initially made a goodwill gesture and offered some advice for free but you expect him to prepare for this meeting and attend the meeting thereby offering his professional expertise and local insight. With travel time and time spent in discussion with yourselves there is likely several hours work. If he is unable to charge you for this he would be much better allocating his time to other fee paying clients. I say start a dialogue, make sure you have contracted him for what you immediately need him to do and open discussions about where else he might envisage his expertise may be useful to you- it may be that his contacts, or his project management experience or his influence to expedite matters might save you money long term....See MoreWait and do one big renovation, or do small ones ASAP?
Comments (6)Hi Sonia This sounds like a very exciting project! When renovating, deciding whether to do it all in one go rather than phasing it it almost always driven by budget. With older houses there's usually surprises along the way so be prepared for that. Before you start on the cosmetic changes you should make sure all the bones of the property (electrics, damp proof, heating, plumbing, etc) are in good order as having to rectify this later is more costly if you have to re-do all the cosmetic work. After that I would look at any structural changes you want to make and factor in the time it takes for any planning requirements. After this you can start to focus on flooring, kitchens, decor etc. The best advice I can give you is not to underestimate the amount of planning involved. The more you do upfront before starting any work the smoother the process will be. Renovating is great fun and very rewarding at the end of the journey but it can also be stressful, overwhelming and consumes an enormous amount of your time and energy! It's also very dirty - there's no way around this! Make sure you have the right professionals in place to support you and your project. Good luck!...See MoreSmi Kat
3 years agoEllie
3 years ago
Base 2 Roof Construction