New to the Site

[Jill]

Hi, I just thought I'd introduce myself as I only discovered the site yesterday. I'm Jill and my partner Paul and I purchased the cottage next door to ours in March 2005. The house is made of stone and we believe was originally one, we have deeds dating back to 1735, but do not know when it was split into 2. Paul renovated one half 20 years ago but it was always the dream to buy the other side and convert it back to one detached property. That is the stage that we are at - living the dream. We did nothing for 6 months then set to last September knocking a hole in the wall between the two front rooms. (Not as simple as it reads) The acro props are now part of the furniture as we decide exactly what we want to do in regards to room positions and decide the best way to go about it. Finding this site I am sure will be valuable to us as there are loads of questions we want to ask so we don't make a complete mess of things. Where possible we want to do as much as we can and are definetely in no rush. First step is to get some plans drawn up as we want to raise the roof, will need to remove some of the beams and remove some more internal walls. Any advice on which professionals we should get in to give us advice before we splash out on an architect?

 

[middi]

Hi, and welcome to the site.

It sounds like you have a nice period cottage, is it listed ?.

Whilst it is appreciated you need to do changes for your home comforts it seems a bit drastic to elevate the whole roof, apart from the expense you may destroy it's original charm.

I would suggest you talk to a conservation architect and discuss what you are proposing to do before you steam into it.

 

[biffvernon]

Welcome to the site. I'm from Lincolnshire too - near Louth.

Raising roof, removing beams and internal walls sounds a tad drastic when it comes to caring for an old buildings. Good to hear that you have not rushed into doing things too quickly but removal of any historic fabric needs reasoned justification. At 1735 your building 'should' have been listed but maybe went un-noticed?

My advice is first to join SPAB

 

[Jill]

Thanks for your quick replys, the building is not listed nor is it in a conservation area. Paul, steam in and rush do not go together. He only starts work after numerous coffees and fags. He is quite pleased I have discovered this site as it keeps me quiet while he is watching the telly.
I wouldn't say it is a nice period cottage, bit of a mess really, it just happened to be next to the one Paul already had, to us it is just four walls. Some work has been done but not very sympathetically at all, silicon sealer and bodge it was the previous owners solutions. The roofs are at two different levels and a rather large RSJ has been put in the front room and covered in render and faked to look like wood. It is disgusting. I'll attach some photos one day when I work out how. When Paul renovated the first half I don't think building regs allowed him to do everything that he wanted and money was a lot tighter - he was young and in experienced but had alot of help from builders in the family. We are in Kirton-Lindsey.