Victorian flat renovation / basement conversion pics & blog

[BlueC]

Hi everyone,

Please come and have a look at our blog!

http://www.renovationblog.co.uk/

We've started to record our attempts to renovate our flat and thought it might be of interest to other people here. We're not "restoring" as such but we are trying to keep original features wherever possible and also trying to use appropriate materials etc.

It may not be for the purists but we're trying to tread the line between cost, practicality, modernisation where appropriate, and remaining faithful to the period of the property. We are definitely learning a lot along the way and trying to do as much of it ourselves where practical. Even when not doing the work ourselves it is all being specified and managed by us.

I've tried to make the blog very visual with lots of pics so it isn't too heavy although there is bits of information too. We've also revealed loads of old stuff from the last 120 years along the way and we'll be adding this to the Historical Interest category as we go.

I hope it is of interest, and if people so wish I will post some pics and updates in this thread too as we go along?

Cheers
Chris

 

[MatthewC]

we're trying to tread the line between cost, practicality, modernisation where appropriate, and remaining faithful to the period of the property. We are definitely learning a lot along the way and trying to do as much of it ourselves where practical.

That's a good sort of target but do you have any fixed standards of your own, such as using lime or cement, lime plaster or pink gypsum/plasterboard, cast iron or plastic? Sadly, the time implication of lime adds to cost, and the ventilation requirements of breathability tend often to be overlooked. When you want to engage contractors, find out whether they will do the work the traditional way or the quick way.

I couldn't find any mention of your place being listed or in a conservation area, so at least you have no CO to worry about.

See my blog - click blue spot on right

Matthew

 

[BlueC]

That's a good sort of target but do you have any fixed standards of your own, such as using lime or cement, lime plaster or pink gypsum/plasterboard, cast iron or plastic? Sadly, the time implication of lime adds to cost, and the ventilation requirements of breathability tend often to be overlooked. When you want to engage contractors, find out whether they will do the work the traditional way or the quick way.

I couldn't find any mention of your place being listed or in a conservation area, so at least you have no CO to worry about.

Hi Matthew I have read your blog before it is partly what inspired us to write a bit ourselves. Congrats on the kidney donation too, that is an epic thing to have done.

Since the property is not that old we haven't felt the need to use really traditional methods as it is a fairly standard construction even by today's standards. I think if we lived in a 16th century barn we'd do things differently but in this case we're reasonably happy to use modern materials. In the basement we'll be using very modern materials - plastic membrane, insulated plasterboard, kingspan floor insulation etc but we feel we can do this because it is a new space and will have a modern feel.

In the existing ground floor we're being much more careful to preserve and to use traditional methods. e.g. we spent a lot of money having our wooden sash windows restored, but in the basement we're just using uPVC sash instead.

We are really constrained by budget too - we have borrowed a fair bit but I am shocked at how much stuff costs and it is amazing how quickly the costs add up - and sadly the more traditional methods and materials tend to be more expensive/time consuming.

And no, not listed or conservation area so that makes things easier!