It was a very last minute decision to take a day off site and scoot over to the Northern Homebuilding & Renovating Show in Harrogate last week. We're about 40% into our renovation / self build of our part Georgian, part Edwardian home in Manchester, which many of you will know as the Do Up... Continue Reading →
Do Up Diary #35 Today’s 3Rs: Ridges, reclamation and rubbin’
Woop woop! After timbers, breathable membrane, laths and slates comes the final step in making a reclaimed roof water-tight... sitting the ridge tiles (RTs) on the very top and sealing all the gaps. If you look at the image above on the right, the long navy blue gap you can see to the front is... Continue Reading →
Do Up Diary #33 Dormers, buy two get one free?
No major build comes without it's hiccups and often these hiccups are very hard to spot on flat plans. In my experience, the renovation of old houses can only be done successfully with constant monitoring and adaption. As you can see, the initial plans for the remodelled West Wing elevation included two dormers to the steeply pitched roof... Continue Reading →
Do Up Diary #29 Getting up to first floor level
So me, Missy & Mr M are about half way through the build process at our home Moregeous Mansions, a period Manchester property near the city which was in a whole heap of crumbling trouble but which we're restoring and rebuilding back to it's former glory. The collapsing oldest part of the house, which was... Continue Reading →
Do Up Diary #28 When only steely determination will get you through
What a week. As I sit at my desk with Missy insisting on clambering all over my stitched up belly (ouch!!) it all seems a bit surreal to be truthful. As the lads and Mr M have been busy with Herculean steels, as all the exciting interior decisions start to be required, as our Love... Continue Reading →
Do Up Diary #26 – Jumping Junipers, I’ve got a Jet Floor
Gawd, anyone would think carrying and manoeuvring 20 odd concrete 4m long beams was hard work, the way these three dived on their beers after this little weekend DIY job 😉 We have a Jet Floor! Our very own concrete lattice, ready for heavy duty polystyrene blocks to be neatly inserted in-between the beams but... Continue Reading →
DoUpDiary #18 : Old Kitchens – Don’t skip em, sell ’em!
After 36 hrs in London away from home/site/chaos, I'm back and thrown right back into a mad week. The original kitchen which straddled the main house and the West Wing has now completely gone, partly as half was demolished when the West Wing was knocked down, and now this week as the ceiling to the... Continue Reading →