General renovation issues

[Zebra]

I am pushing the boundaries on just how many jumpers and socks it is possible to wear at any one time.

Now there's a challenge.

Cocoa, would it be possible to just lay the pipework whilst the floor is up, leaving it capped off and accessible beneath short, easy-to-lift-again boards at the radiator positions; leave the two ends of the pipework accessible at your likely boiler location and take it from there, making your decision before you splash out on radiators and a boiler? You could get some plumbers round for a quote and sound them out about whether your chosen boiler location is suitable, if necessary. If you use plastic pipe and pushfit connections then you could DIY this stage, and the pipe isn't expensive, although clearly that depends on whether your house is big. You could even DIY the radiator install, and the plumber would just connect up the boiler as if it were an existing system. That's my plan anyway.
I've just spent my second winter in the house without central heating, and although it hasn't had a proper road test without, because I've had a lot of drafts (doors that don't fit), and no loft insulation (no ceiling yet..), so I haven't really seen whether it would be livable without, but I am planning to install central heating.

 

[Moo]

One of the highlights of the last few months was the episode when our Albanian builder defended our sitting-room floorboards from the depredations of the Polish plumber. Speaking slowly and loudly (as one does with foreigners) he insisted that no boards should be ripped up, and drilled the holes for the pipes from underneath. Now I know why it's called a 'crawl space'.

 

[Cocoa]

I've just spent my second winter in the house without central heating, and although it hasn't had a proper road test without, because I've had a lot of drafts (doors that don't fit), and no loft insulation (no ceiling yet..), so I haven't really seen whether it would be livable without, but I am planning to install central heating.

No ceiling? Sounds like I have no right to complain!

Good idea regarding the flooring. As I say, I wanted to be clear in my mind regards lay-out, what would be required of a boiler (how bug & etc) before I did anything, and it's taking me a bit of time to make up my mind. However, I am not sure the current electrics will hold out for another 12 months - I replaced a lampshade in one room yesterday, switched on the light, there was a bang and the light fitting blew off, leaving me with nothing but a charred cable sticking out the ceiling. I may have to bring some of the work forward!

 

[Zebra]

I replaced a lampshade in one room yesterday, switched on the light, there was a bang and the light fitting blew off

Dodgy lampshade, obviously.... :wink:

 

[LadyArowana]

I replaced a lampshade in one room yesterday, switched on the light, there was a bang and the light fitting blew off

Dodgy lampshade, obviously.... :wink:

I am not a qualified person like Zebra, but I agree with her diagnosis, tricky things lampshades, this one was obviously plotting to kill it's owners too :shock: .