Owning your own home

@Bobbo @nefarious @Airhead might have some more evolved thoughts

Check what’s out by putting a set square on the wall to see if it’s not square. Hopefully it’s just the skirting cut too long on the face that’s kicking everything out.

@Fox directly behind. Will pass that on thanks

From my experience of when I had my loft converted there is a level of filling, caulking, sanding, etc that needs to be done by the decorators.

That example is beyond that though, it's just a bit slapdash and needs to be redone

👍 That's good because that means you don't have to worry about flanking noise ;)

And that's the flip side I guess. I know there's a level of caulking etc, but I just don't know 'what' that level is in order to kick up a fuss.

That’s not the greatest bit of skirting, that’s for sure. Getting skirting neat is a tricky job, and the devil is in the detail.

Write a list of things that need sorted and withhold the last bit of payment until they’re fixed. Fairly standard procedure. I guess the tricky bit is knowing what’s ok and what isn’t. Having to caulk a gap is normal, but it’s the size of the gap that’s the problem.

“Putty and paint, make a builder what he ain’t” and all that.

Get some photos of the bits you’re not sure about and people should be able to help assess what’s ok and what isn’t.

Subbed plastering team have left splodges of plaster on door frames, skirting, windows etc. There were a couple of dents and divots in the plaster too. Lead builder has come in and patched up with filler, but any decorator (or me) is going to have to sand back filler now. Is that normal/right?

Not in my experience. I've worked with a few plasterers, and done some plasterwork myself under supervision, and any decent plasterer wouldn't be happy with anything other than a glass smooth surface. It's messy work, and there's likely to be a bit of splatter, but equally I'd expect any decent plasterer to clean it up before it sets. Before it sets, easy job. After it's gone off, PITA.

What did they cut that mitre with, a bread knife?

lol'd irl

I've done skirting better than that, and I'm a slap dash amateur. Imagine being a professional and thinking that was an acceptable finish.

@allsop Yeah I had something similar albeit there were particularities to the situation. Definitely challenge it. One tip my partner came up with is get the tradesperson back in and ask them to explain it to you. Ask what they think of it/ is it the sort of work they would like to represent their efforts? Let them talk until they're done. The idea is they have the sudden inspiration to make it better for you. If they don't figure this out then you can say "ultimately this is not an acceptable standard to me - I expect better, how can you help achieve this" etc

@allsop I would also mention (make up) similar work you've had done in the past on other properties that its fallen way short of. There is a strong chance they will say it's fine and try to justify it, so stand your ground.

More garden clearance, 4 more paving stones uncovered. Think I'm going to clear the left hand side up to the same point, level out the lumps and bumps and start seeding the grass.

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There's still a jungle beyond the yard/ton bag but I want to get some grass seed down before it's too late.

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That corner is seemingly the ivy's nest/lair/mothership. Miles and miles of roots pulled and shredded. Some a good couple of inches thick. Tendrils were right out across the lawn. I reckon it will be an ongoing battle for a bit as there's no way I got every scrap of it. But I reckon I've made a significant dent.

How it started

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Good work. Needs an ornamental hedge maze now.

More garden clearance

I need to do this, whats the source on those white bags? how do you move them (to the front?) once they are filled?

What's the aspect? I guess the upstairs shots are looking north?

Possible council garden waste bags? In Lambeth if you sign up for the year (£64 I think) you get two bags a week taken away with your normal rubbish and recycling collection

oh in lewisham we only get a brown bin that I haul back and forth, pain but those bags look like they have way bigger capacity

Fill the bag, fly-tip on Layhams, fill the bag, repeat?

Don't forget the sofa

Looking east.

My friendly neighbour. He's active in the community garden in the rec, had a couple spare and gave them to me. I am shredding what I can which goes into one bag (the smaller, crumpled one) then into the Croydon garden waste bin as and when there is room. Anything that can't be shredded goes into another bag and I'll likely just decant that into the bin as and when too. As it stands, I can shift a full bag about by myself so it's not in the way.