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I’ve several DIY renovations/conversions behind me (own homes) and recently bought a three storey plus cellar, terraced town house to become my own flat, plus give me work/income possibilities. With the help of a friend with similar experience (but more effective muscles than my middle-aged girly ones!) we’ve been carefully removing all the awful additions, ready to start re-constructing from early next year. Absolutely everything needs doing, apart from the roof which is ‘new’, and the stone walls are more or less vertical! (it dates from 19th, 17th and 15th century so a bit of quirkiness is to be expected and is even welcomed!)
Nothing much scares me. Not really. I have a healthy respect for practical things and not being stupid – though that’s a bit of a subjective concept I know! All is possible when you know how, or at least find out who to ask, and what to use.
Which brings me to the interesting new-to-me challenge I’m now faced with and would appreciate serious advice please. S’ok – don’t mind the daft comments too (as long as they’re entertaining) – you won’t come up with anything I haven’t already heard – trust me!!
Within the stone, there’s a lot of structural timberwork – A-frame? with floor/ceiling beams running 5 metres front to back at each level and every couple of metres side to side. Imagine the double fronted property split into thirds with a wide staircase in the middle and single room spaces either side. It’s built mostly (but not entirely) up against the stone battlement walls of a long demolished castle.
I need to find out how (Step by Step Guide please?) to replace all the timbers running along the back wall to the right hand side of the central stairwell and about a metre +/- into the rooms at each level at the corners. That’s ground floor ceiling/first floor floor, and first floor ceiling/second floor floor…
Amazingly there was little visible sagging. Around 2cms at first floor skirting along about 5 metres. Was when we pulled down a damaged lathe and plaster ceiling and started looking at the inter-floor/ceiling space along that back wall we realised it does all have to be done. The worst of the wet rotted timbers are in fact against a bit of exterior wall that isn’t against the battlements.
As a precaution, we’ve installed a couple of Arco props in the corner at ground level, but they’re not really doing anything. The house would appear to be extraordinarily self-supporting (currently!!!) even though the wood resembles nicely crumbled earth in too many places!
I have a trustworthy local wood-man, who will happily supply me with reasonably priced oak… or am happy to go the I beam/RSJ route if that’s better/easier/more practical… as most will not remain visible.
To head off one likely specific question in case anyone’s wondering – they really don’t “do” surveys here and in any case it wouldn’t have made a ha’pennyworth of difference to my choice to buy – the purchase price really did reflect the work I need to do and it’s going to be one hell of a place when it’s done. And I don’t mind hard work one jot… not like the locals – I love them dearly, but they’re sensitive souls who do scare easily and give the sharp intake of breath (and associated price hike) when opinions asked – which is why I’ve come to Brits who I know I can trust to provide a range of ideas and solutions and maybe some comedy to boot. We are eminently capable of physically doing the work – when we know what to do.
Please fire away with any questions to help clarify anything if you need, before you answer – is really hard to know what/how much to describe. Haven’t a clue how to post photos though… happy to learn if it’s not too hard/time consuming! Thanks a lot, in cheerful anticipation.
Nothing much scares me. Not really. I have a healthy respect for practical things and not being stupid – though that’s a bit of a subjective concept I know! All is possible when you know how, or at least find out who to ask, and what to use.
Which brings me to the interesting new-to-me challenge I’m now faced with and would appreciate serious advice please. S’ok – don’t mind the daft comments too (as long as they’re entertaining) – you won’t come up with anything I haven’t already heard – trust me!!
Within the stone, there’s a lot of structural timberwork – A-frame? with floor/ceiling beams running 5 metres front to back at each level and every couple of metres side to side. Imagine the double fronted property split into thirds with a wide staircase in the middle and single room spaces either side. It’s built mostly (but not entirely) up against the stone battlement walls of a long demolished castle.
I need to find out how (Step by Step Guide please?) to replace all the timbers running along the back wall to the right hand side of the central stairwell and about a metre +/- into the rooms at each level at the corners. That’s ground floor ceiling/first floor floor, and first floor ceiling/second floor floor…
Amazingly there was little visible sagging. Around 2cms at first floor skirting along about 5 metres. Was when we pulled down a damaged lathe and plaster ceiling and started looking at the inter-floor/ceiling space along that back wall we realised it does all have to be done. The worst of the wet rotted timbers are in fact against a bit of exterior wall that isn’t against the battlements.
As a precaution, we’ve installed a couple of Arco props in the corner at ground level, but they’re not really doing anything. The house would appear to be extraordinarily self-supporting (currently!!!) even though the wood resembles nicely crumbled earth in too many places!
I have a trustworthy local wood-man, who will happily supply me with reasonably priced oak… or am happy to go the I beam/RSJ route if that’s better/easier/more practical… as most will not remain visible.
To head off one likely specific question in case anyone’s wondering – they really don’t “do” surveys here and in any case it wouldn’t have made a ha’pennyworth of difference to my choice to buy – the purchase price really did reflect the work I need to do and it’s going to be one hell of a place when it’s done. And I don’t mind hard work one jot… not like the locals – I love them dearly, but they’re sensitive souls who do scare easily and give the sharp intake of breath (and associated price hike) when opinions asked – which is why I’ve come to Brits who I know I can trust to provide a range of ideas and solutions and maybe some comedy to boot. We are eminently capable of physically doing the work – when we know what to do.
Please fire away with any questions to help clarify anything if you need, before you answer – is really hard to know what/how much to describe. Haven’t a clue how to post photos though… happy to learn if it’s not too hard/time consuming! Thanks a lot, in cheerful anticipation.