I'm so glad I popped in here. We've just bought a three bed, first floor flat in a sandstone building, built c. 1900. We knew there had been an issue with dampness in the past, but believed it to have been fixed. If only that was the case...
So far:
1. We've had to replace the central heating pipework as it was old plastic stuff, that was leaking;
2. We had to lift lino in the kitchen to facilitate the replacement of the pipework, only to find that there was a layer of plywood. No issues there...apart from the fact that it had been glued, nailed and screwed to the floor!
3. Much like another poster, we were removing wallpaper--actually 8 layers of wallpaper, all over one another--and found a piece of plasterboard on a solid plaster wall. Removing it revealed a cupboard...quite a large cupboard infact.
4. We had to remove the tiles that were in the bathroom, and revealed yet more plywood. So, yes, it had to come up too. Once again, it was glued, nailed & screwed to the floor. Oh, and did I mention the tell-tale signs of woodworm? So, the wood needed treated in the bathroom.
5. Removed some wet plasterboard above the bay window, with the intention of replacing it. Joy of joys! Revealed two large rusty steel beams. Don't know how good they are, or what condition they are in.
6. Bedrooms, hall & living room were all covered in laminiate. So, lifted that to reveal floorboards that have been lifted so many times, they are either cracked, broken, or loose. So, you now have to tip-toe and dance up the hall, to get to the living room, rather than the downstairs neighbours living room!
Despair?
Upset? Frustrated? All of the above.
Still, as everyone keeps telling us, "It'll be worth it in the end!" Yeah right. If I's a £1 every time someone's said that, I could pay for someone to go in and do it all, then just hand back the keys.
Pockets are getting empty but I'm actually, in a perverse sort of way, enjoying it...getting my hands dirty and doing things myself, rather than pay for someone else to do it.
BTW, kidney for sale. One careful owner......
So far:
1. We've had to replace the central heating pipework as it was old plastic stuff, that was leaking;
2. We had to lift lino in the kitchen to facilitate the replacement of the pipework, only to find that there was a layer of plywood. No issues there...apart from the fact that it had been glued, nailed and screwed to the floor!
3. Much like another poster, we were removing wallpaper--actually 8 layers of wallpaper, all over one another--and found a piece of plasterboard on a solid plaster wall. Removing it revealed a cupboard...quite a large cupboard infact.
4. We had to remove the tiles that were in the bathroom, and revealed yet more plywood. So, yes, it had to come up too. Once again, it was glued, nailed & screwed to the floor. Oh, and did I mention the tell-tale signs of woodworm? So, the wood needed treated in the bathroom.
5. Removed some wet plasterboard above the bay window, with the intention of replacing it. Joy of joys! Revealed two large rusty steel beams. Don't know how good they are, or what condition they are in.
6. Bedrooms, hall & living room were all covered in laminiate. So, lifted that to reveal floorboards that have been lifted so many times, they are either cracked, broken, or loose. So, you now have to tip-toe and dance up the hall, to get to the living room, rather than the downstairs neighbours living room!
Despair?
Upset? Frustrated? All of the above.Still, as everyone keeps telling us, "It'll be worth it in the end!" Yeah right. If I's a £1 every time someone's said that, I could pay for someone to go in and do it all, then just hand back the keys.
Pockets are getting empty but I'm actually, in a perverse sort of way, enjoying it...getting my hands dirty and doing things myself, rather than pay for someone else to do it.
BTW, kidney for sale. One careful owner......
