DIY cellar HELP!

[clairem14]

I am currently converting the cellar into a habitable room, whilst I have had a few builders in tell me different ways of doing it I am off on the following path. I would be grateful for any advice, pointers and what not to do as it is a very slow process at the moment.

Ceiling - has been pulled down, insulated and will be plaster boarded/skimmed.

Walls -
1. taking off all the old render as its flaking off (which is taking forever). Once off do I need to apply a porous surface paint to seal it?
2. Flexible bitumin waterproof paint all over.
3. Stud wall using treated timber then foiling for insulation.
4. plasterboard and skim.

Floor - same flexible bitumin paint and then I was either going to use a DPM underlay and use laminate wood floor or do I create another sub-floor using treated timber on top of the paint.

I also have the coal skuttle to do which has the cobbled floor - do I treat this area in the same way as the rest of the room?

I really appreciate any help as I am doing this all by myself as a fairly competent DIYer!

Thank you for any responses!

Claire

 

[JohnD]

how much headroom have you got?

how is it ventilated?

 

[clairem14]

It will be ventilated by window with vent. Radiator and then if we need to a dehumidifier.

There is currently 2m30 but once the ceiling is lowered slightly?? 2m20?
That was one reason not to create a sub floor to make sure plenty head height.

 

[plstering]

id got with blackjack on walls and floors latex the floors first
then stud the walls with british gypsum stud work for all the walls ans the celing then you can insulated it how you want
use 12.5mm 8/4 sheets
the muilti finish plaster
CasoLine mf ceiling
GypLyner UNIVERSAL on the walls
GypFloor SB steel battens if you want a sub floor
much cheeper then using wood and faster even a diyer can do it

thats a mf celing i did you can drop it as low as you want or tite to the joists

and thats a floor i blackjacked to day ready for the latex floor compound over the top

 

[clairem14]

Thanks for the reply and picture plstering.

I am not sure what you mean by CasoLine mf ceiling

Do you think I need to create a sub floor or can I do without?

Also by latex the floors first do you mean floor leveling compound?

Really appreciate your expertise!

 

[plstering]

british gypsum make it search for it on google m8 as for the sub floor no just blackjack it and lay the flooring coumpond over it when its dry

 

[clairem14]

Thanks, that really helps. Should I still use an underlay with a DPM in it or normal underlay work fine?

Thanks again! Claire

 

[plstering]

what ou asking m8
blackjack the walls and floor let it dry and latex the floor then use a norm underlay
as for the walls strap it stud it then inserlate it then board skrim and skim
http://www.speedlinedrywall.co.uk/
this link is for all the walls and celings sorted i use it all the time
i can help you out on the wall straps iv got a new box siting here if you want them.
half price and iv got a load of fering beams for celings

 

[clairem14]

Okay, I am doing everything in my spare time so taking my time and not rushing.
Its a christmas holiday job! Hope to buy everything before Jan though!!

Thanks for your help.

 

[clairem14]

Can I ask for some expertise on the coal skuttle - the floor is the original cobbled floor, very nice feature!
Do you think it will be okay to leave this as it is?

 

[1john]

is damp rising up in that area?? it's a tricky one to answer really, if you black jack the whole floor except the coal scuttle then the water that may have been coming up elsewhere might be forced to the coal scuttle area.

could you pull the flooring and re lay it over a DPM ?

 

[clairem14]

I don't think there is much rising damp. I doubt there would be any point pulling up the cobbles and re-laying.

I think it may be an idea I forget!

 

[1john]

or try it and if you have problems then you will have to go over it to match the rest.

 

[clairem14]

I will have to see how well they clean up first then as currently they are black with all the years of coal on them!

Do you have any ideas about covering the actual coal hole? I had the idea of putting reinforced glass into it so that you can walk over it and see into the beer and wine!!
I can get the glass but not sure if sealing it with silicon is good enough and also if I can create a circular frame strong enough in the ceiling to support it...


Any ideas??

Thanks

 

[1john]

how large is your coal hole? some trimmers between joists and some big timbers around set back the thickness of the glass could do it.