Advice on redundant chimney breast removal

[Nigel Watts]

all I have received so far on this forum is patronising sneering.

You clearly havn't read all the posts properly. For example I made a suggestion for an alternative approach when I faced a similar issue - one which I got the Islington CO to agree.

Charging in like a bull in china shop, as you appear to be doing, is more likely to antagonise the CO and make life more difficult. As Gareth said, you have to make a case and present it in the right way. I suggest you engage an architect experienced in these matters. He/she will also be able to give you advice on what chance you have of getting your way.

 

[Lime]

Well, I wasn't poking fun when I mentioned stacks without support but I expect the advice given by others has not been what was desired and perhaps came as a bit of a shock.
To sum up some of the advice given by others, when meeting your CO try to gain a good relationship with them and have plausible arguments period-property-style to support your intentions.
Most important, listen to your CO and ask their opinion on the property.
The advice about waiting a while, 6 months to a year, before making decisions about the property is good too. Ideas that seem such good sense to start with often lose their relevance over time.

 

[Penners]

"I don't like it and I want to get rid of it" is not a reasoned explanation.

That sums up the situation in a sentence, direct from the horse's mouth (a fine thoroughbred, of course!).

It seems to me that you wanted this forum to give some kind of moral endorsement to your plan, and when this didn't happen you simply resorted to insults. As has been suggested above, I think you may find life more comfortable on some sort of DIY forum. No amount of your carping is going to get you the endorsement that you're seeking, on this one.

 

[skier-hughes]

It all sounds a bit fishy to me Penners!

 

[Penners]

Well, this is the right plaice for a bit of cod philosophy from a poor old sole.

 

[DJH]

Where's Moo? You'll get into trouble again Penners and it's nothing to do with me...

This is all very unfortunate and I don't think in my short time on here that we've had an upset and it proves the point that a picture tells a thousand words and, if there were a few we could all comment fairly. Please reconsider Drr and post a few?

I'm off to have a new hip... yipee! It all happens on Tuesday with any luck. Anyone want a bone for their dog?

Doug

 

[Zebra]

I'm off to have a new hip... yipee! It all happens on Tuesday with any luck. Anyone want a bone for their dog?

Good luck Doug. Perhaps you could make an ornamental pestle and mortar out of the old one....

 

[skier-hughes]

Personally I'm not looking forward to the pictures of this period renovation in progress, and hope it comes in on budget and in the timescales allocated!!!!!!!!!

 

[DJH]

Nice one Zebramaybe I should...

Doug

 

[Penners]

I'm off to have a new hip

Best wishes with that, Doug. Mrs P has a matched pair of titanium/ceramic hips, and they have transformed her life.

Now all she needs is a replacement husband...

 

[vicky whitworth]

Perhaps to re-focus us we should move on to things we have retained because it's a period property despite it being inconvenient to do so?
I'll start...doorway into our bathroom is less that 5' high and has a step up as you cross the threshold and goes through the thickness of the rubble stone wall so you have to keep your head down for the whole distance. Not great in the wee small hours when slightly tipsy and the emphasis is on 'wee'. Lots of suggestions from builders to raise the doorway which clearly was put through when the hayloft was added on at a later date - mid Victorian - but couldn't bring myself to do it even though the place isn't listed.

 

[Penners]

Perhaps to re-focus us we should move on to things we have retained because it's a period property despite it being inconvenient to do so?

Very diplomatic, Vicky - well done!

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I'm off to have a new hip

Best wishes with that, Doug. Mrs P has a matched pair of titanium/ceramic hips, and they have transformed her life.

They would. Surely a mirrored pair would be better, otherwise she'll be going round in circles?

 

[Gareth Hughes]

No offence intended to the lovely Mrs Penners, who has suffered from her husband's bad back for as long as any of us can remember :wink:

 

[Penners]

a mirrored pair would be better, otherwise she'll be going round in circles?

Damn! I wondered why it always takes so long when I send her upstairs for my slippers.

 

[Penners]

No offence intended to the lovely Mrs Penners, who has suffered from her husband's bad back for as long as any of us can remember :wink:

And doesn't she take every opportunity to remind her husband of the fact? Whereas I, the true sufferer, manage to force a smile through my pain.

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol: :lol: :lol: to the whole thread.

Still, easy to criticise others' attitudes as being wrong, and I most certainly go along with the conservationist theme of this discussion, but I know I might be in for some tears if we ever get the money together for some of the changes I've set my heart on, and they're refused. The bathroom extension into the upper scullery particularly, I think it's such a wonderful idea, but my CO was very worried about the loss of some crumbly old brickwork, and seemed fairly clear that I wouldn't be able to knock the old outside wall down to allow a glorious big bathroom, which the cottage lacks. I think you have to take these things on the chin though, and accept the next people might be very glad your plan was blocked, and the spirit of the house also unruffled.

 

[Penners]

I reckon a big roll-top bath standing in the centre of your entrance hall would look rather grand!

 

[JoceAndChris]

What a cracking idea Mr P! I think the postman might be entertained too!

 

[skier-hughes]

But the newspaper boy won't be seeing anything new :wink: