Gill Smith wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
Gill Smith wrote:
bought a 1950's ex-council house

it's just about liveable-in

so, where to start?

central heating, electrics, or the damp patches I just noticed at the
base of the sitting room walls

--
http://www.gillsmith999.plus.com/
All part of the mix.

Start by making up a plan

For example, rewiring and replumbimg are best done properly and that means
messing up the walls, so it will need replastering.

Ad that means getting rid of damp FIRST.

Unl;ess that is condensation only.

I would say you treat it as a nearly new build: i.e. gut it of anything
that is loathsome, fix and structural or serious drainage issues, then
insulate it, then rewire and replumb it.

To be honest, these are all so interlinked... I mean you probably want a
mains pressure hot water system, a water softener, new bathrooms etc..plus
a rewire plus insulation, then add CH afterwards..oh, and are the windows
in good shape? might need DG units..


With luck the mortgage company will lend you the money to do it properly,
on the grounds that it will increase the overall property value.

I've got £30, 0000 to play with from the sale of my previous house


That SHOULD be enough

Strip to a shell, fix any major structural leaks and cracks, then
insulate next..the full monty. cavity wall, loft, and if it has
suspended ground floors, that as well. May be grants available here.

If windows are rotten or draughty, replace with DG units. But don't
waste money on DG if they are sound and can be draughtproofed. Double
lined curtains better and prettier than DG.

Rip out *all* plumbing and wiring. Install new Consumer unit. install
new mains stopcock and water softener. Install basic Combi if its just
you, or system boiler and pressurised tank if you have friends family
guests. Leave the actual rads and so on till later.




Then plan for complete rewire. And re-plumb. Hack into the walls madly
here to get a neat installation: expect to have to replaster everything,
be happy when its less..

Install basic sockets and plumbing everywhere, or leave wire or pipe
ends suitably capped off or insulated for later. Its easy to change a
plastic wall plate for something better, its hard to put a socket where
there is no wire.

Same goes for sinks and basins and so on. Easy to extend and hook up to
capped of pipes. Hard to get pipes there to start with.

Watch out for extra bogs tho. Sewer drains are a bugger to route. If
adding a new bathroom or bog, plan very carefully.

What this all means is get your infrastructure right. Its possible to
live on one bog and hand basin and a kitchen sink propped up on packing
cases in bare plaster walls and no carpets while you DIY the rest, but
you want to get pros in to run the pipes and cables and insulate the place.

And the rest is just spare cash and weekends. Tins of paint. Curtains.
Tiling the bog. Adding a basin and taps etc.

IME its better to have quality basic, and plain utilities (spend money
on tile, not china and fancy taps, in the bathroom)



--
http://www.gillsmith999.plus.com/