Urgh - one step forward, two steps back

[Moobug]

Warning - not all DIY as we've had some people in to do specialist stuff, but the DIY is at a sticking point until this is sorted and I need to vent at a load of people who know their stuff. In short: the renovation is up and down like a yo-yo - mostly due to stuff we're not qualified to deal with.

The electrics are done, and were fine with no faults... and then I plastered around the sockets. Possibly me being too heavy-handed when I took the front off has resulted in a loose wire - one circuit was tripping regularly after I'd done the work, but we put it down to damp. We found one wire that had pinged out after I took the front off, and a relative put that back for us. Finally, over the weekend, we plugged something in when all the plaster was dry and turned the CU back on and something went bang on that circuit - a short, I'm guessing, but until the electrician goes back in we won't know why.

Also, the boiler guy put our boiler in - woohoo! But he melted the new conduit on one part of the wiring and may have damaged the wires underneath. Fortunately he's held his hands up to it.

Last, we found active woodworm in the joists of our floor, and in the floorboards right at the back behind the bath. Probably going to have to get the whole house treated to be safe - considered DIY on this, but too scared of poisoning ourselves if we get it wrong.

Sometimes, I really do just wish we could afford to get a plasterer and decorator in to do all this stuff for us. How do you all stop these situations from putting you off DIY?

 

[Pigeon85]

Step back have a break and then start again, renovations will always be stressful at times especially if your living amongst it, have a day out somewhere I'm sure you deserve it and good luck with the rest of it

 

[Moobug]

Thanks, Pigeon85. We're lucky enough to be able to live with relatives while we work on the place (it's got no kitchen or bathroom atm, and we've only just got heating and electricity in the last fortnight).

I think I just worry too much that by taking the fronts off the sockets I might have broken all the rewiring. I know, deep down, that this isn't really possible and it's just the one circuit that needs addressing, but...

I think I need a cuppa.

 

[fidom]

I've found from experience that the screws holding the wires in sockets and other electrical connections need to be done up much tighter than you would expect, especially for cookers and showers. If wires fall out when you disturb a socket like that should should really check the tightness of every electrical connection in the whole of the new installation. I've seen enough burnt wiring to realise the importance of this.

 

[Moobug]

Update: It turns out I'd pulled a wire out on one of the sockets (one that I hadn't even considered as problematic!). It's been fixed, and our heating is on We have a couple of tiny leaks in the old pipes, but they should be fixed in the next week.

We've also got paper up in half a room - woohoo!

 

[highleigh]

Just to make you feel better we haven't even got any electrics yet other than a couple of sockets next to the fuse board.

We do have have the underfloor heating working though as our first plastered room was a small utility/boiler room which has also has the pressurised water tank - so we have hot water too but currently only to one tap.

Our DIY renovation is also up and down and have some good days and some bad days. We have turned the renovation into a massive project that seems to never have an end so I completely sympathise with your position.

The thought of having what we want in the in the end is what keeps me going. Even if I could afford to get trades to come in and they wouldn't do it how I want it. (We are using a plasterer to skim walls though, that is one thing I don't have the skill, time or desire to do myself)