Hi all,
Looking for quite a bit of advice but I'll try to be as succinct as possible.
We moved into our flat (owned) about 2 years ago but haven't really done much to it, despite various issues, principally due to time and not knowing how to start or what to do!
- The bathroom -- it's tiny (probably 1.5x2.5m) with no windows, a tiny inefficient extractor fan (we've replaced it once to no avail) and the ceiling is covered in mould. It's clear that this mould had been painted over just before we viewed/bought...
We'd like to get rid of the mould and solve the problems that make it reoccur. So -- a contractor of some kind to de-fungus the walls and possibly replaster; then a painter for fungicidal paint; and also an electrician and builder to install a bigger and better extractor fan? Longer term we'd also probably like a whole new bathroom cos so much of it is old/ugly/poorly designed... Would it be better to do all of it in one go? Is there some way to minimise or mitigate the disruption of being without a bathroom for [however long]?
Potentially stupid question: are there companies who can do all of these things or do we need to coordinate umpteen separate contractors ourselves, potentially?
- Electrics.
Bulbs blow all the time. Particularly the main lights in the kitchen (there are two) and the bathroom light. I would say that in the last year we've replaced each bulb at least five times. We had a survey done when we bought the house which didn't identify and problems with the wiring, and maybe six months ago we had an electrician come investigate and he fixed
one problem... But still the bulbs blow! I assume rewiring should be a priority in case of fire risk etc... But how disruptive/expensive is it to investigate, diagnose and fix seemingly very fucked up wiring in a shitty north london terraced flat?
- Windows: front and back windows are both single glazed and draughty; front are also painted shut/somehow broken and can't be opened... But I've heard from some people that double glazing is not really worth the cost, either in terms of energy savings or value added to a property...
- Decorating. Everywhere needs new paint tbh. Most of the flat is the colour of cheddar cheese and scuffed and grubby. Ideally i'd want the walls, skirting, banister etc. all repainted but ugh i am so loath to pack up furniture and belongings and stuff (we have +++ bookshelves, all overflowing). Plus we have a dog which makes the prospect of painting especially daunting.
- Doors. The doors are horrible, ugly, draughty, don't fit in the frames properly, the bathroom door doesn't have a working lock. I'd love all new internal doors with nice handles.
Neither of us are very 'handy' but this is the sort of problem we're in the lucky position to be able to throw money at -- but time is more of an issue.
In an ideal world i'd love to go away for a week with partner and dog and return to a lovely mould-free new bathroom, non-fucked electrics and a lovely paint job and new doors and windows. Is any of that remotely feasible?
We're totally clueless here tbh -- all advice will be gratefully received!!