Owning your own home

I did the same recently - see if you can find shop(s) that send samples to fill in the gap

Funky terrazzo, very on trend.

Sadly it's almost always +20% on that type of job. With that size and a small space I would have planned it exactly in cad before ordering. Been bitten before though.

our advisor has us set to go with Halifax once we've found somewhere, with rates the only metric we were looking at. I havent compared though tbf

Has anyone had the outside of their place insulated?

I just walked past a house being covered in grey foam panels, and wondered a) if it's effective, b) what considerations are needed from a damp perspective (being a solid Victorian wall), and c) surely it's goin g to be cheaper than the full strip & lime render that is currently needed.

I read about this stuff. It's something I'd consider.

• it should be more effective than internal insulation as it eliminates cold bridges and allows the walls to release heat internally
  
• you'll need some way for the wall to behave as it has previously, so some porosity is needed
  
• about £100m2, so no, but probably no more expensive either. And you can have a brick-slip finish rather than render if you like.
  

Do you know what it’s called or have a link to where you read about it?

Not us but I remember a house nearby having it done as I walked past it most days.

https://planning.wandsworth.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=873978&XSLT=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Wandsworth/xslt/PL/PLDetails.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/Northgate/PlanningExplorer/SiteFiles/Skins/Wandsworth/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING

According to the planning application is was "Caresit Insulation 55mm" although I think it is "Ceresit".

There was a problem with the installation though, it got put on once on a ~10x5m wall and then ripped off and reapplied. Streetview shows more air vents in the wall than there were before the work was done.

Sorry, I meant stuff in the general sense.

Some links:

https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/external-wall-insulation
https://www.eco-home-essentials.co.uk/exterior-wall-insulation.html

Many thanks

100% should have done that. But got so bored of talking about tiles with my wife that I sort of zoned out

Completely understand. The things I've agreed to without noticing!

No but our broker did ask if it was NatWest or Metro Bank, also said they have never had so many mortgage offers hit the buffers on expiry as they have at the moment, it’s unprecedented.

Makes me wonder if it’s intentional as they know rates are going up but that said Santander gave us another month which all became a bit pointless...

are you with Santander? (DM reply if preferred) would at least give us an indication if it’s going to happen on our side too.

Any recommendations for asbestos cement water tank removal from a loft in London? Ta

We used Asbestos Gone, they were quick to respond and did a good job removing some tiles. I imagine you could find cheaper but we were under some time pressure.

Seen elsewhere:

https://www.redfin.com/CA/Glendora/101-E-Linfield-St-91740/home/8032531

Just marvel at the floorplan:

I'm so confused, are there doors missing from the plan or is it really like that, good layout for a swingers paradise.

Amazing that they want 200 grand more after a year of living in that nightmare.

Indeed. The only two doors to the outside are from the Living Room or Laundry (LNDRY).

Three of the bedrooms have to walk through the bathroom in the middle to get anywhere.

Also that bedroom with no windows must be nice.

You can see (roughly) what would have been like originally (with the internal bedroom being a bathroom) and the middle bathroom being a hall, but I guess the owners needed an extra bedroom and didn't have the money/inclination to move elsewhere.

It's so insane though, if you really needed another bedroom surely you'd just use the 'bonus room' by extending the middle hallway to reach the top right bedroom and bonus room.

I just can't figure out how you could make that decision, or who would drop a mill on it?

I saw this last night but without the link to pics. Had assumed the middle bedroom would have skylights at least, but seemingly not.
Having no access to the bedrooms if anyone is using the bathroom is certainly an interesting architectural decision. Amazing.

There is a door at the end of the living room into the little hallway missing off the plan.

Surely there's a door between the living room and the corridor/hall?!

This is what I wondered, still a horrible layout but not bat shit crazy.

Hoping to finally exchange tomorrow!

It’s taken six months, but very nearly there and completion marked down for Monday coming. I wanted to ask whether people change the locks as soon as possible after getting keys? I’ve read mixed opinions on this and it feels like overkill, but then I guess you’ve got no idea who owns keys to the place though.

I do. I like to sleep peacefully.

Congrats!