Sarah has worked hard all week scraping off layers of wallpaper throughout the cottage. Carpets have been ripped up from the bedrooms and thrown out of the upper windows (narrowly missing the villager in the driveway delivering a Parish magazine).
Stripping the cottage back to it's bare bones has revealed where the damp problems emanate from. The damp wall in the dining room backs onto the downstairs bathroom and after removing the bath panel is was obvious from the two buckets of water underneath the bath that the shower leaked. A new bathroom suite is on the shopping list.
The uncapped chimney needs re-pointing and has been letting in water. It has also been blocked so the lack of airflow has accentuated the problem. We plan to remodel the fireplace and install a small wood burning stove.
The front and back entrance doors are old and ill-fitting. New doors will be ordered. Laminate flooring will be removed from the ground floor and replaced with engineered oak.
The cottage has been occupied by tenants for decades and the landlords were loath to spend any money on the property. It's going to be a lengthy and costly process but I think it is going to be a very satisfying project for Sarah to restore this place and turn it into a beautiful, warm and dry home.
A labour of love! I think it's great that she's able to buy her own home. It will be charming when it's all finished. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a labour of love!
DeleteWhat a fabulous new project for you all. It is going to be so nice. I hope you will show us more of the process. -Marjan
ReplyDeleteIt will provide me with plenty of blog fodder!
DeleteIt sounds like the perfect project, nothing structural apart from perhaps the fire place. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteIt was a bit overwhelming to start with but it's all looking doable now.
DeleteHow exciting, hard work but what a great achievement when the cottage is completed to your daughters satisfaction. She will probably have times when she thinks "why did I buy this or why did I start this job" but it will all be worth it, been there, done that & bought the t=shirt, so rewarding. Good luck & keep the photo's coming, Thank you
ReplyDeleteSarah seems quite energised and excited by it all at the moment.
DeleteSarah is making tremendous progress. Stripping multiple layers of wall paper, pulling up carpet and gutting wet walls is no small task. Looking good Sarah!
ReplyDeleteShe's achieved a lot this week but 'holiday' is over now and she's back to work in the office tomorrow.
DeleteI am impressed with how much Sarah has already accomplished! And she is learning so much about how to take care of her own home. Well done!
ReplyDeleteShe is very determined to get her perfect country cottage.
DeleteI'm sure that underneath that modern fireplace there'll be another of very similar shape but with old brick; just an arched opening. Revealing what's there will be fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm eager to see what's behind the existing one.
DeleteWhat fun! It will be interesting to follow Sarah's progress, with a little help from Dad. She's made a very good start, so more power to her elbow!
ReplyDeleteQuite a lot of help from Dad I think!
DeleteAs you say, it will all be worth it in the end. There are no roses without thorns. I found the term "engineered oak" interesting. The two words seem oppositional somehow.
ReplyDeleteYou can get thornless roses.
DeleteIt looks like hard work but will be so worth it and satisfying as it takes shape. Sarah will have a home to be proud of. I look forward to seeing it transformed.
ReplyDeleteI hope she has a lot of patience, the lead time for tradesmen and parts is very long.
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