It's only little...but I have my first Oak window!

[robgil]

found one ! you can now consider me jumping around with a bottle of baileys in my hand. :mrgreen:

 

[Schoolmarm]

Awww fantastic Rob!!!

 

[robgil]

Thanks Marm , any excuse really to crack open the baileys and jump up and down in my front garden dressed in a kinky version of a bat mans costume.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Oh well I bet you could get away with that at Halloween too!!

 

[Tom]

Rob, that really is fantastic! You must have so elated when you found it Will you bring it back into use?

 

[robgil]

Will you bring it back into use?

I did think about it but my batyhroom is behind that wall and i would have to remove some original/old lath to do it anyway so that option had everything stacked against it.
If it wasnt a bathroom a stained glass window in there for some borrowed light into the room behind would have been lovely.

 

[Pford75]

Congratulations DWB on the window.

I can appreciate that with a large project, it's not always possible to do everything the way you would want immediately - hence the plastic windows. We've had to tolerate plastic guttering until we can afford the cast iron. Hopefully this first step will show you what it could all look like eventually.

I do feel there is a certain snobbery here about some of the changes you have made. I confess that not everything is to my personal taste, but then it's not my house and I am sure there are elements of my home which others wouldn't like.

I think there are really two key factors in any period property above all else....

1. Are you operating within the law? In other words, LBC, planning, Building regs etc.
2. Are you undertaking works which will damage the building in the long run (cement renders etc.)

Everything else is a matter of taste. If the works are really inappropriate for a listed building, they won't be given LBC.

I believe, on balance, that the building is better off now than it would have been if left in it's previous state. Congratulate yourself on this first oak window and look forward to the next one.

 

[robgil]

If the works are really inappropriate for a listed building, they won't be given LBC.

.

some of us own houses that are not listed PFord75 which believe it or not makes things doubly difficult , on one hand you have to be incredibly careful doing any work in the respect that it must be none damaging to the original fabric of the house but on the other you have to be careful to stay as much as you can within regs , i think most might find the latter less of a priority but that doesnt make it any less of an issue.

 

[Flyfisher]

That's a good point about non-listed buildings. If it's a fully-DIY project, then falling foul of building regulations might be less of an issue (in the sense of no-one finding out, anyway) but once a BC file is opened on the property, the BCO is unlikely to sign off the works until they meet all the latest regulations and they may have little sympathy with historical considerations.

What's the position with having period windows replaced, for example. Does a commercial installer have any liability to ensure the new windows are fully compliant to the latest building regs - as they should be - or is all the liability on the property owner as the 'main contractor'? In other words, would it even be possible to find an installer prepared to install SG windows to match the originals?

 

[philpjuk100]

Being listed is no bed of roses either! our old boiler died,leaking ,obsolete,it was over 30 years old and spares were not available so a new one was needed,we had no heat,hot water,shower etc,so I contacted the planning dept as the large stainless balanced flue would need to be replaced with a small plastic condensing boiler flue (the only type of boiler now allowed) the duty planner asked for pics of the current flue,drawings of the replacement flue and a pic of the flue from the brochure,these were sent.Five weeks later there was still no decision,the new boiler was fitted and I gutted the original flue and fitted it over the new one against the advice of the "gas safe" man.This done we were contacted by the CO to say we did not require an LBC but any bricks replaced needed lime mortar (I had already used this) even though the house had been pointed with cement mortar.I would like to remove the cement and repoint with lime but expect I will need permission to do this as well,phil.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Being listed is no bed of roses either! our old boiler died,leaking ,obsolete,it was over 30 years old and spares were not available so a new one was needed,we had no heat,hot water,shower etc,so I contacted the planning dept as the large stainless balanced flue would need to be replaced with a small plastic condensing boiler flue (the only type of boiler now allowed) the duty planner asked for pics of the current flue,drawings of the replacement flue and a pic of the flue from the brochure,these were sent.Five weeks later there was still no decision,the new boiler was fitted and I gutted the original flue and fitted it over the new one against the advice of the "gas safe" man.This done we were contacted by the CO to say we did not require an LBC but any bricks replaced needed lime mortar (I had already used this) even though the house had been pointed with cement mortar.I would like to remove the cement and repoint with lime but expect I will need permission to do this as well,phil.

I can't see where the "no bed of roses" problem is in this saga?
Although, despite the boiler being the only sort now allowed, the plastic flue isn't part of the mandatory requirement, and everyone agreed you didn't need LBC for the change.

If the cement isn't currently doing any harm, leave it alone.

 

[Pford75]

I can't see where the "no bed of roses" problem is in this saga?

Perhaps it was the 5 weeks with no heating or hot water whilst everyone was deciding that no consent was required?

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I can't see where the "no bed of roses" problem is in this saga?

Perhaps it was the 5 weeks with no heating or hot water whilst everyone was deciding that no consent was required?

But it's established that the work was done during that 5 weeks anyway (I'll admit that 5 weeks is a long time to come up with an informal view)

 

[philpjuk100]

No the boiler was fitted after waiting for five weeks,there were only two flues offered for condensing boilers,neither look anything like the original,I had three quotes from "eagga heat","northern gas"and"mr plumber"explained my problem to them and they all said the original flue could not be used.After cutting holes in the original stainless flue and hanging it over the new one I came inside cranked up the computer and there was an email from planning telling me I had wasted my time! never mind,Im warm now and glad the old boiler did not fail when the weather was colder.phil.

 

[philpjuk100]

Just in ref to my prievious post,as I was without hot water I investigated the non working imersion heater,the element is open circuit,the cylinder is tucked in below the eves with no height available to lift the element out,it is conected with a mass of pipes some I can only feel behind the cylinder which is behind some sturdy shelves.My question is"is it easy to remove tiles, felt and lath and plaster to gain access from above?" I have done most things apart from roofing,thanks,phil.

 

[robgil]

i would re-site the tank if i could ,coming down through the roof to replace an immersion is a tad on the silly side.

 

[philpjuk100]

I cannot face the idea of re-siteing the tank,and there is no real alternative site for it,the other idea is to keep it where it is and "spin" it so the immersion is under the higher side of the cupboard,this would involve a lot of re-plumbing.My idea of getting it out through the roof is now a non starter as the wife has banned me from using the ladder after my last trip to hospital! As we now have a working gas boiler I think I may just forget about the immersion until we need a new tank.phil.