Come and talk to me about doing up a house -your tips, advice

[goingtobefree]

Our offer for a house build in 1980's has been accepted finally,hey!!!
We have been searching for the last 3 years in the area and could find a house which we both liked finally. The only way we could afford was to buy in the area was to buy a house which needs work doing. We are planning to do this slowly.
The builder has seen the property and we can afford to do the structural work straight away before moving in.This includes damp proof couse, replacing lead work in the roof etc.,
I am planning to remove the horrible wall paper and decorate the house before we move.
We are not in the position to do any work ourselves before we move in for various reasons.
Kitchen has to wait as I want to live in the house before we decide what works and what does not, no budget for it for the next couple of years.
The new house has gas fire -I am really struggling with what to do with this.It has got marble surround but wood mantelpiece.
We will have to change the heating system so it makes sense to do this especially with the building work.
Wood fire? How safe it is with children, can it be left unattended. This seems to be popular in MN. Can it be installed in new house.
how about modern fireplace, not sure how it will look in this house, looks nice in magazines.

I'm interested in what people come up with as we have an 80s house that needs a lot of work too.

we have been here a month and so far stripped wallpaper from the utility room and loos and replaced most of the 4 bathrooms. only the appliances/items and we need to decorate and replace flooring next in those rooms.

dd2 has just arrived a month early so we won't be doing much more for a bit (love my en suite!!!) but we have similar decisions to make fireplaces, kitchen and decor for the rest of the house.

we wont have a budget for a kitchen for a while.

our style is comfortable rather than any of that bare minimalist stuff - but I've never chosen carpets or curtains before and I do want them to suit the house style.

it might just end up a mix of what I like and hope it works!!

We have a wood burner but are mostly too scared to have it on when the kids are still up. I have a babydan thing to put over it but it is very ugly. I like it but the living flame fire in the last house was so handy.

Goingtobefree - how come the damp proof course needs doing? It's unusual in a house this age for it to have failed or not be present. Do you have a confirmed cause of damp by somebody who isn't a damp proofing salesman?

Yes, there is a lead flashing which has come loose and needs replacing in one room and the guttering has not been cleaned for a while in another.
The builder has seen it and has quoted this has the reason.
Does it makes sense?
We have never done anything like this, it is exciting and stressful.

Poocatcherchampion- we have been thinking of bamboo flooring for downstairs (nest 6 months) after we move in. But getting carpets for upstairs.
Do you need a fireplace if you have underfloor heating!!

I was going to look up bamboo flooring.

I think I want a fire place, underfloor heating seems a bit clinical to me. we might have it in the kitchen but I will need to be persuaded tbh.

I am undecided regarding ufh, so won't do the flooring till we decide.

I envy you! My first house was a 1935 shell lived in by elderly people. It had to have everything done to it and it took nearly 5 years before everything was done. I found it exciting. Hard work, but definitely worthwhile :) good luck!!

Thanks solo. It is very exciting, wish could have funds to do what I want to do.
But do love the house a lot..

If that's the cause of your damp then you don't need a damp proof course.
They are only needed for rising damp. They were fitted as standard in 1980's and unless damaged or fitted incorrectly shouldn't be a problem now.
If it's damp from a flashing & blocked gutter. It would be a matter of reflashing the leadwork and clearing the gutter, you may also need some repointing of the brickwork. Then let it thoroughly dry out and repair the plaster.
Make sure they are not quoting for damp proof course, I'm only going on about it because it is the most often misquoted solution to peoples damp problems and is costly and often unnecessary. I think because the public don't really know what they are they are hoodwinked into believing they are the solution for all damp.
Your builder might be perfectly right bit it's worth checking.

We have two wood burners, one in sitting room is never on unless its Christmas Day and we are there. It was in that room when we did the refurb works. The other is in the kitchen and I have to put gates round it to stop children going near. To be fair, it's still easier than an open fire as once its lit, that's it for the night and we don't have to keep restocking it.

In terms of decor, I had no idea what to do so painted the whole house cream, once we had stripped the wood chip and re plastered. We have lots of pictures and it means we can get a feel for the place before adding wall colour. I have quite bright linen and throws etc which brightens things up.

Exciting! Good luck.

watching this thread, we completed on our purchase of a 1930s house last week and so far have been ripping out cupboards and wallpaper stripping. We are totally gutting it! is scary but exciting