Home DIY

Very kind and appreciated. Bit of a cycle from Devon sadly :)

Good workout this, have got the cable down the stairs, just need to go under or around a wall and then we're there. Had tried to open up the hatch by front door where gas engineers have been before but I didn't fit comfortably ( in an empty house at least), so more board pulling. Bought some estwing pry bars this morning and they've paid for themselves a million times over so far.

I’ve just done the grout pen trick on the bathroom floor. I took around 10 minutes and looks a bit fresher. I may give it another go tomorrow if it needs it.

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Any recs for runners to go on the landing and stairs? Ideally something natural, super hard wearing and cheap. I’m also thinking of using old capet and some edging material to make my own.

Is now your job to recommend a Sharpie at every turn - headache postponed - result

Kersaint cobb / hessian Indian carpet (many grades) is underrated and overlooked if you can stand walking barefoot on it
^ edit; I was more thinking of fitted runners/ carpet

I'd have to guess it's about 3m, so I'll look into one of those and see if it would work, thanks.

White done with two coats. First coat of wall paint. Definitely the right choice.

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Most annoying thing is how bright the contrast between the new woodwork and the rest of the stairs. Really don’t want to have to paint the stairs…

The new paint will soon dull down, just make sure everyone runs their grubby hands over it when they walk past

Have a 4 yr old. It’s a feature, not a bug.

Started the floor sanding….it had a rubbish job in the past, with lashings of some sort of varnish…..I couldn’t get a proper floor sander from anywhere, so I bought a belt sander and am cracking on……my back is already complaining that I should plan things properly….

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Done.

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Looks a lot better in grey than white :). I guess you have a laser level judging by the photos on the wall.

I do but for those, I got the first one level then knocked up a jig (straight bit of wood with a spacer nailed to it) to do the rest. Only took 15 mins.

Does anyone know where to get some door thresholds from, preferably in North London? I just want a flat strip of wood, finish doesn't matter because I'm going to paint it. B&Q don't keep them in stock, nothing at the usual big chain diy stores.

Champion timber?

They're all a bit of a trek away on a bike!

Any builders merchant will have some but the patterns vary from door to door so you often have to accept a close match and then trim to fit. Sometimes it's easier to make them from PAR timber on a table saw.

I just grabbed some flat lengths of pine, I'll cut them to length and sand the harsh edge off slightly flat.

Looks great. Correct choice. Did you make the cupboard/drawers as well?

This is a massive job to do with such a tiny sander.

I worry that to do it properly it will take days and permanently disfigure you...

Nah. Paid a man. Just no time to do things with work and kid. He did a better job then I could anyway and did it about 3 months quicker than I would have.

Not sure where you’re based but you absolutely can hire a proper floor sander unless you live on the moon! Floor sanding is one of the worst jobs on earth, it’ll take you ages with that and result in a less good finish.

Do you not have a Travis Perkins etc? They deliver hire kit.

It’ll be fine….! 😂

Everywhere was out of sanders till Monday… too late! I’m a third done, and it’s looking good. It was full of troughs and lows, but yeah, hard but worth it