Progress photo

[DJH]

Well done Ms Zebra, you've made a first class job there, you deserve a day out at the zoo for that...

Doug

 

[LadyArowana]

Well done Ms Zebra, you've made a first class job there, you deserve a day out at the zoo for that...

Doug

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh don't use the "Z" word.

 

[88v8]

Excellent. Takes some vision to get from where you started to where you are.

Ivor

 

[JoceAndChris]

That looks lovely, you've really blended that in nicely. Think how much prettier our street scene would be if everyone made such an effort to harmonise the extensions! It just shows, as well, how wonderfully disguising render is and what a vast difference right-looking windows make.

But Zebra will know all too well the huge cost of this, financially, emotionally, and why so many buildings retain their modernised, clashing appearance!

I know you used lime, but specifically which products were used? I'd like to know as I'm hoping to get to ours next year.

Hope you've rewarded yourself with some proper nourishing oats and a good laze in the sunshine.

 

[El Greyo]

Well done Zebra, it looks really good now. I'm sure it's taken a huge amount of effort and will but it's really paid off. While the extensions are obviously newer than the original centre of the house, they are now very sympathetic. It looks like a house that is all in keeping, whereas before it looked like a conglomeration of separate buildings, randomly stuck together.

You should pin those before and after photos up somewhere prominent inside, then, if you get frustrated by the work or slow progress, you can see that it's all worth it in the end when you do it all properly.

 

[Zebra]

Thank you all for your lovely encouragement and kind words.
Joce, indeed I am enjoying a large nosebag of oats right now. Think I'll leave the zoo out, although it always makes me wonder, those animals must have done something very bad to get locked up like that. And they'll find it very hard to get a proper job when they get out!
I realied heavily on the expertise of Lime Green in Much Wenlock, simply because they supply the lime products to go with the woodfibre insulation boards which I bought. Wanting to use the same through-coloured top coat as I used on the upper storey, which is called Finish WP (I don't know exactly what's in it but it's all lime, no cement), the only question was which base coat could you use over modern masonry, which could carry that top coat. I wasn't concerned about breathability or about using a pure lime product, because it was over modern blockwork / brickwork. Your substrate may be of a different material, and a more historic material, so the following may not apply.
Lime Green said that the base coat mix had to be strong enough not to show through the mortar joints in the blockwork, and recommended either a ready mixed render called Lathrend, which contains NHL and cement mixed with sand, or a product called Hourdex by St Astier, which is NHL and cement, but you mix with sand on site. The latter was cheaper so I went for that.
However, I have not used it on the historic brickwork on the house (mainly on the back) for obvious reasons. I have given those areas a putty-based lime render, and this is too weak to carry the through-coloured top coat. So those areas I will have to paint in Beecks or similar, or make a coloured limewash to match.

 

[Penners]

Madam!

For the purposes of clarification, perhaps you could consider changing your nom de plume to Zebresse? Or is that suggestion hideously sexist?

Excellent work, there, Zebr(?)! I can see that you've even started constructing the wall of your loose-box inside.

 

[Zebra]

I think that would be unnecessary, since the word for a female zebra is a zebra. If someone occasionally confuses my gender, so be it. Besides, if I were to assume that you will all assume that I am male unless I indicate otherwise, or unless I fill my posts with "feminine" content, then that would be sexist of me! Why would I assume that anyone would assume either way?

Yes, I am very slowly filling the house with sawdust. Except sometimes I ruin it all and sweep up!

 

[Penners]

I'm very confused now.


Plus ça change...

 

[Feltwell]

But not as confused as this man - he's "mighty confused":-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh5kZ4uIUC0

Well done Zebra, the place looks great, belated congratulations!

 

[Zebra]

Here's another few progress pictures. I have one room finished!!!!
It's gone from this

via this:

to this:

 

[LadyArowana]

That looks lovely, much much better than what was there before and all properly sorted underneath too. Have another nose bag of oats to celebrate.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Lovely room, well worth the effort! What next? Is that a black Labrador on the bed?

 

[Zebra]

No... that's my neck brace! Able to take it off sometimes now...... What's next will be the study! Wait for more pictures in about, oooh, two years?!

 

[88v8]

Good to see something finished, isn't it... two years, well that's OK, at two years per room by the time you finish it will all have a period patina

Ivor

 

[JoceAndChris]

What a gorgeous colour! Looks very nice, didn't it look silly when you took it on!

Shame I'm not nearer, I'd sort those over long curtains for a cuppa.

 

[Feltwell]

Looks fantastic, I hope you're looking forward to a warmer, more comfortable winter in your house than you've had in recent years!

 

[angrybird]

Zebra that room looks amazing!! you have worked so hard.
I have 2 sparkly cushions that would just about finish that room off :lol:

 

[Flyfisher]

Lovely transformation Zebra. A major achievement by any standards but for someone with no opposable thumbs is it quite magnificent. :wink:

 

[Penners]

Well done, Zebra! Take a brief moment* to celebrate your success before you immerse yourself in Phase 26!





* and a Kit-Kat.