Does It Get Better

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Being new (since December) to these pages l find most postings of interest paticularly those containing feeback about work done. So having posted twice before my feedback for those of you who replied is:- 1. The council removed the Horse Chestnut tree and those of us who were there to see it go have no complaint, the main trunk was pretty rotten in the core.
2. Having removed cement that was covering the floor in the living room the bricks found underneath have cleaned up ok and l am now impregnating them with a HG product.
Moving on and more advise please, the ground level at the rear of our cottage is much higher than inside due to a brick path having been laid onto a concrete base tight up against the wall. I have taken up the bricks and am now looking at the concrete question ,does the concrete have to go? there is no sign of damp to the internal wall. We bought the cottage to live in not as a restoration project but now realise there is a lot of maintance work to be done has anyone gone through this worrying phase and does it get better !!
Many Thanks Bill
PS Have booked myself onto a SPAB course at Burghley House in Sept. "Introduction To The Repair Of Older Houses" any good?

 

[Anonymous]

Booking youself on a SPAB course is the best thing you have done.
Your building will get worse unless you are always prepaired to make it better with regular maintenance.
Unless you understand the repair mechanism which keeps old buildings in good condition the building will suffer and things get worse.

Learn as much as you can about repairs on your building, if you do not wish to make repairs yourself, at least you will know how it should be done and will not get ripped off.

 

[Anonymous]

Middi has commented on your intention to go on a SPAB course, and I wholeheartedly agree with him. Good decision!
As to your concrete path, this is a difficult one. If there's no sign of damp internally, then it's tempting to let sleeping dogs lie. But how long have you had the house? If it's not long, there's always the risk that your predecessors did a quick cover-up job on some damp with new skirting boards or a bit of internal tanking.
Is there a DPC in the building? If so, is it a couple of brick courses above the path? If so, then you may be OK to leave things alone. However, if not, then I should keep a close eye on this wall. If any signs of damp appear, it might be best to dig a french drain between the path and the wall, in order to allow the wall to breathe.

 

[Anonymous]

We have only been in the cottage a short while but have been told the path has existed for a number of years, There is no damp proof course and from what l can gather l should not bother with one. My inclination at the moment is to do nothing but just keep an eye on things.
Something that l believe was done about two years ago was a complete paint job internally in what looks like a modern emulsion paint. Am l being paranoid to be considering removing it? or should l be more concerned with the exterior masonary paint.
I have a lots more to ask but will try to contain myself to just one topic at a time thanks to all who respond. Bill

 

[Anonymous]

Go on - dig the blessed thing up and lay something more attractive straight on to the soil.

 

[Anonymous]

"We bought the cottage to live in not as a restoration project but now realise there is a lot of maintance work to be done has anyone gone through this worrying phase and does it get better !!"

Yes, Bill, it gets better!

Once you have attended to the essentials, and have the breathing space to start living your normal life in your cottage, all those other maintenance tasks tend to reduce in size to 'I'll get around to it' maintenance tasks (same as in a more modern building). You've lived in your cottage through the worst season and I guess nothing fell down or caved in, right? Instead, maybe you've got a new hobby, a new interest that you never expected.

I'm no expert at anything (pretty useless at everything would be nearer the truth), and I take forever to complete the tiniest task (which is probably an advantage anyway), but I sit here (in my wheelchair) and look at, for example, the rebuilt kitchen wall and the now-stable inglenook in my mud hut (clay lump/wattle and daub cottage) and think, 'I did that' and I'm so proud.

When summer comes, I'm not going to do a thing but enjoy the outdoors. Come the autumn, I'll wonder what I can learn how to do next. Like yourself, I wanted a real home to live in, not a restoration project. But I like caring for what surrounds me too. Hundreds of years of families have lived here. I want there to be hundreds more. I like to think of people coming here after I've gone to my mud hut in the sky, and saying, 'Isn't it lovely? Thank goodness it is still standing; thank goodness someone took care of it.' They won't know me. They won't know I wondered how on earth one mixes lime mortar when one cannot use one's thumbs to grip anything. They won't know I wondered how on earth one purchases materials when one's money doesn't seem to stretch that far. But that is part of the delight. Ancient cottage still standing thanks to slow moving clumsy ignorant non wealthy person who just wanted to live in the countryside and be happy.

Dear me: and I thought I was just another tough nut. It has brought out in me a side I didn't know existed....... (!)

Good wishes. You'll relax and enjoy. Summer is coming.

- Kal.

 

[Anonymous]

Is there an award for 'most inspiring PPUK post'?

 

[Anonymous]

Well there certainly should be now!

 

[Anonymous]

The SPAB course will be brilliant - really worthwhile!


http://www.spab.org.uk

 

[Anonymous]

Wow - I've just read your post Kal, and suddenly you've made me feel an awful lot better as well.

Our "new" property isn't in the same ancient category as most (only 50 years I'm afraid), but its in desperate need of a great deal of TLC and although I'm trying to do as much of the work as I can, the task of getting "experts" to quote for electrics / plumbing etc is proving monumental - I was beginning to fell much like Bill "does it ever get any better?".

But you are right, now that the weather is getting better and the blossom and buds are appearing on the trees, and the view from the garden is green and yellow with daffodils, I can remember the reason for buying the house and have already resorted to a "I'll get round to it" state of mind.

Thanks.

Helena