Preparing for a building site

[JoceAndChris]

At last we have a start date for the removal of all cement render and replacing in lime. 9th July! very pleased, though also a bit nervous as we have never been a building site before really, but taken on room by room for a full but very contained refurbishment.

Skillington advise works will take 8 weeks. Any tips from them wot know wot it's really like? Will it be OK to paint the exterior wood after, as I really don't have time now? ( they will be lime washing)

I'm very worried about the noise, and even more worried about my cat Horatio who is exceedingly shy and hates noise and other people. Also quite worried about my cockerel The Earl of Harrowby, it seems mean to keep him and the 22 wives in their area but I know Harrowby will attack the workers.

I suppose I've just got to prepare for everything being a bit chaotic and unhappy pets.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Noisy and dusty, do you have an outside loo?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Yes, but getting it in working order may be quite a challenge. Can't they just wee in the hedge like I do?

 

[a twig]

Expect the work to take longer than planned, get an industrial size tea urn otherwise you'll get an RSI from clicking the kettle to make tea,.

If the builders aren't providing a toilet, I would recommend hiring one (portaloo type) yourself for the site; or put a lot of tarpaulins down between your door and the nearest indoor toilet!

Also, expect things to go wrong, your garden to be a mess, complaints from neighbours about: noise, shadowing from scaffolding, not sweeping up well enough at the end of the day, you name it...

If the do get behind, wave goodbye to lie ins on Saturday mornings, and expect the odd face popping up by a window at singularly inopportune moments.

Then, if you are expecting all this, hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Zebra]

Yes, but getting it in working order may be quite a challenge. Can't they just wee in the hedge like I do?

Probably, but you cannot guarantee that they don't have other needs too. Is it the cistern or the drainage which is malfunctioning? I have only a bucket to flush mine, and everyone manages.

 

[Flyfisher]

Exciting times, but I think you should prepare for the worst in terms of disruption. We've become accustomed with it after about six years so 8, 10, 12 weeks should be a breeze and you'll just have to grin and bear it - after all, what choice do you really have? Perhaps a quiet word with the contractor's project manager about any specific concerns would be a good idea, as well as drawing any lines not to be crossed. Given that it's all outside work, a reasonable requirement would be that no one has access to the inside of the house, which should keep out the inevitable dust and dirt. It's not in their interest to upset you if it can possibly be avoided, so just tell them your concerns and give them every chance to keep you happy.

I wouldn't worry too much about the 'facilities'. Modern H&S means that the company has to ensure adequate facilities for its workforce and they'll hire a portaloo thingy if necessary. There seems to be loads of companies out there providing this service and our builders subcontracted to one and they came out every week to service it, so it's something you really shouldn't have to worry about. Again, discuss with the company if you do have any concerns.

Alternatively, just go off to a Caribbean island for three months and come back when it's all done. :wink: :lol:

 

[Keithj]

The only rule I had to add in for ours was "no transistor radios". Quiet music would be OK, but there is a tendency to turn the things up to maximum distortion.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, yes, I'd forgotten about the inevitable radio! Ugghhh. Wouldn't mind if it was R4, but it won't be.

Tea urn, that's a very good tip, and reading the comments here has made me think we must spend some time trying to fix the outside loo as we have promised Skils full facilities. It's in the workshop, I could set up a little shelter for them in there and somewhere to keep their stuff and the kettle in there too. It would indeed be nice to keep the house clear of the traffic.

No neighbours, fortunately, for about a mile. I must get into the plants though, there are around 200 that are in the way of the render!

FF, I always admire your stoicism with the sheer amount there is for your house!! Puts mine in perspective really. I wish we could go to the Maldives or somewhere but sadly all the Maldives funds are going on this - the quote came in at 25k with 15k of that being for the lime plastering - about what we expected, but thank goodness it isn't any bigger!

Must choose some sample colours today, they want to use a Rose of Jericho limewash. Anyone got that on their exterior?

 

[Lime]

All the above.
And expect your garden to be devastated.
If there is anything you really treasure, protect or move it out of the way.... and out of the way means a loooooooooooong way away.

 

[88v8]

Our second house was hacked off and ... repebbled... well I knew no better then...

Tape up all the windows while they are hacking or the abrasive dust will come in...masking tape....then remove the tape at the end of the day... or it will take the paint off.

Better do the plants now so they can resettle while the weather isn't too hot. Are you potting them? That's a lot of pots to water. Or heeling them in? Allow plenty of time - it took me several days to clear a 25ft bed behind the cottage last autumn. Some of the big plants with their root balls were seriously heavy.
And label everything.
And if you want the planting as it was, make a plan.
Any wall plants, you may have to cut back to pretty much a stump and hope they regrow.
Ensure all the debris is removed from the flowerbeds.

Is there lawn where they will be working? Put down sheets of exterior ply on it, or it will be trashed. Then lift them up at the weekend. We did this for our wall building out back last year, six weeks of it, and the grass has come back as good as ever. Twelve sheets at £23, which then went in the skip, but it was worthwhile.

Woodwork... with all the care in the world, if the cement is well adhered then a slip of the chisel might ding the woodwork. And if there is any brass work adjacent to the hacking off you might want to remove that. We had a rather good antique bell push damaged..... but once the render is off and before it's re-done, then is the time to prime around the edges of all woodwork. An intensive weekend programme for you perhaps.

Materials... decide where the materials are to be kept. Some builders regard the bottom of a hedge as a suitable site.

Contract? or at least a completion date in writing, with penalties? If not, they will be off doing other jobs while yours festers. Depend on it

And the radio... too right. I had to ban the radio on our garage building - which is still ongoing, or would be if they were here which they're not... again... after weeks of Kiss FM, getting louder and louder as the day went on. Perhaps that's why they're now off on other jobs so frequently. :?

Never mind, it will be worth it in the end.

Ivor

 

[davidbrac]

The only thing l would add is that if you have gravel near the house then temporary remove it, we learnt the hard way when we re-roofed and are still finding nails in the gravel 12 months on.. Nails are easier to remove than bits of concrete render

 

[JoceAndChris]

Eek, that's a lot of things I hadn't considered - many thanks for the tips and warnings! Good idea to cover the section of lawn where they're working.

I suppose I must cut back the overhanging branches, I'm just 5ft and like the winding brick path in the tunnel of holly, but I notice everyone else stoops. It's very difficult access to the house unfortunately, steps and a brick path and yes gravel by the gate. No driving up to the house, so all the rubble will have to be wheelbarrowed over quite a distance to the skip. I suppose they may board over my shallow steps which would protect the gravel a bit too.

I think the 200 plants are mainly for the compost, they're chiefly wild dog roses and leggy lavenders, though I have one very special, mature, 7ft lollipop bay tree that's planted right up against the house that needs a new home. I plan a new planting scheme for when it's all done.

They said they were going to board up the windows. The cement is around 2-3 inches thick and will require mighty power tools to get off!

 

[Owain]

Oh, yes, I'd forgotten about the inevitable radio! Ugghhh. Wouldn't mind if it was R4, but it won't be.

Get yourself some noise-cancelling headphones then you can slip away into a world of your own ... If the budget won't stretch then earplugs and ear defenders are good. Just remember to take them off when you go shopping as (a) you won't be able to hear people (b) people will think you're a bit odd.

Are they using your electricity (expensive...) or providing their own genny/compressor (noisy)?

You might want to have some disposable plastic shoe covers so you/they don't tread muck into the house.

 

[Flyfisher]

Noise-cancelling headphones do a very good job of reducing constant noises such as engines, compressors, generators etc but are less good at things like radios, speech and music where the sound is not really repetitive and the electronics can't generate an accurate 'anti-noise' to cancel out the unwanted noise.

 

[CliffordPope]

You aint seen nothing until you have all the walls sandblasted. Unbelievable noise for endless hours, and fine sand everywhere. We boarded up the windows, but still it got in.

On the plus side, the scaffolding was fun. After the builders had left each day, it became a gigantic climbing frame. 3 continuous levels of boarding all the way round the house, then two towers up round the chimneys at each end.
The children and their friends loved it.

Fantastic and unrepeatable views from chimneypot level - worth taking photographs.

Our only real problem was the water supply. It was hard to re-educate builders who are used to just leaving a hose running while they think what they might need it for. I had to keep reminding them that they were wasting our precious resource until the well filled up again or it rained.

 

[Penners]

Lots of good advice above, but I wouldn't worry unduly. I'm sure if you tell the workmen that you're worried about your cat and your cockerel, and that their radio must only play the Today Programme, Woman's Hour and The Archers, they'll tiptoe around like little mice in carpet slippers.

If it were me, I'd insist that they all wear ties, too.

 

[Flyfisher]

But surely ties are a given, or have standards really fallen so far?

 

[88v8]

In the DIY books to which I refer, they're wearing waistcoats :shock:
And in some cases pocket watches.
And when outdoors, hats.
Now there's standards for you.

Ivor

 

[JoceAndChris]

Lots of good advice above, but I wouldn't worry unduly. I'm sure if you tell the workmen that you're worried about your cat and your cockerel, and that their radio must only play the Today Programme, Woman's Hour and The Archers, they'll tiptoe around like little mice in carpet slippers.

If it were me, I'd insist that they all wear ties, too.

:lol: :lol: :lol: Oh Mr P, that did make me laugh - I am
being ridiculous aren't I!

I've never been sure about the Archers though, I think I'd like it more if there were less focus on the silly human dramas and more in depth detail about farming. But the other programmes, yes! And the Moral Maze, and Crossing Continents, and of course Gardeners' Question Time. That's my favourite. Really hoping the wheelbarrowing school leavers will like those too!

At least I know that Phil the famous plasterer will be appropriately dressed, last time he wore a very neat white coat like a surgeon, and he was very neat and tidy with his buckets of lime and things. But I know that if Belton House or Stawberry Hill call him back he'll have to go, so I'm not sure about insisting on a finish date.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Our only real problem was the water supply. It was hard to re-educate builders who are used to just leaving a hose running while they think what they might need it for. I had to keep reminding them that they were wasting our precious resource until the well filled up again or it rained.

No way are they having a hose! I've put their water in a butt and that will have to do them.