Demolition...

After a plethora of builders and quotes...with the best intentions and a budget firmly in place, work commenced!

I could say it isn't as bad as it looks, but IT IS!!! When I said complete overhaul I was thinking new fixtures and fittings...even a new kitchen and bathroom...NOT...damp proofing and dry rot course, total re-wire, new heating system AND replacing ALL the joist in some of the rooms as they're rotten!

By week three..budget completely blown...well I say blown...11k over and counting...obliterated would be more appropriate...with each new issue comes great expenditure. Further compounded by the Freeholders deciding to carry out long-overdue works, which include a facelift of external and communal areas. Totally conflicting with said plans as we are working within totally different timeframes.

Ever onwards and upward, I have befriended the lassy in charge of scheduling...maybe befriend is too strong a word, but we have a certain rapport going! Though totally scatty, she appears most excited about the works I am carrying out and has eluded to the fact that she will align our schedules...we shall see how that works out for me...did I mention she was somewhat scatty already???

Once it was discovered that damp-proofing, not to mention dry rot and wood-worm courses were essential, work commenced on removing the plaster to the height of 1.5m throughout. Floorboard were pulled up as directed. This is when it was discovered all the joist in the lounge was rotten and needed to be replaced, also attributed to rising damp. To combat the constant dampness, I settled on an "overfloor" heating system, which is like underfloor, just less mess...as opposed trying the newly established skirting board heating .

One would think that depression would have reared its not so attractive head, alas I count my blessings on a daily basis,
though as the days go by I wonder if my enthusiasm is
somewhat misguided!

The Plan

The proposed major works will involve the re-organisation of the of the Kitchen and Bathroom, allowing more space in the latter (subject to Freeholder permissions). Swapping them by way of extending the bathroom by five feet and bricking up existing door.

If permission is not granted, wet room to be created from the existing bathroom space that will contain shower, toilet and basin only.

The relocation of the Master bedroom door to adjacent wall and the widows in the hall converted to double doors to allow for access to the garden.

The London Flat...

...spacious ground floor garden flat with 2 bedrooms, high ceilings and in need of a complete overhaul, re-wiring, re-plumbing and general TLC inside and out.

Located in a conservation area in Catford, it affords a leafy countenance with the added bonus of a accessibility to both Docklands and the City.

The project will be undertaken in two phases, the interior and exterior, with step by step pictorial commentary.

After a 9-month delay, with sitting tenants etc. I collected keys yesterday...let the games commence...

Builder No. 1: viewed the property and insisted that the cost would be around 15k for labour only for the interior, this does NOT include any work in or around the garden...we shall see!!!