One girls DIY restoration of a cottage.

As far as possible we, me and MeWally, want an old age with low, or no, utility bills. We also happen to be stingey with money and will make as much eco stuff as we can and build it all into our tiny house.

So we'll have a comfortable home that's cheap to make and to run. RESULT!!
Showing posts with label Putting in a staircase. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Putting in a staircase. Show all posts

Saturday, 9 April 2011

Ass Through The Glass - Sunday 3.4.11


We make no bones about it - our house NEEDS RESTORATION.


Today we had 3 steps forwards and one step back. MeWally bent down to nail the sheet of chip board in place - to give us a temporary landing - and stuck his ass though the window. 

If the house looked rough before, it  looks really rough now!

Monday, 4 April 2011

Finally - We Have Half A Staircase - Sunday 3.4.11



Look at me! I'm on the stairs!! 


They're attached. nice and secure,


but not too safe, there's a big drop right down to the ground floor.


MeWally thought a landing would be nice, so he went to FOCUS and picked up a sheet of floor boarding to make a temporary one. It's still a bit exposed up there. The top step ends in mid air ..... must bear that in mind if I walk down them in my sleep. It's a long drop! 

Tuesday, 22 February 2011

Suspending The New Stairs - Tuesday 22.2.11


Today's the day to fit this large section of our RUSTIC STAIRCASE.


Ed came over to lend us a hand. MeWally set up the rope and simple pulley system as the stairs rested on the middle floor of the house, following the long haul up from the ground floor.


The stairs were hoisted into place, swinging high above our heads. It was safe, but looked precarious. 


Once at the right height, these supports (made yesterday), were knocked into place. The stringers were wedged at the top to stop sideways movement,


and a temporary joist rigged for the bottom of the stair case. This meant chiselling out a stone from the wall and posting in the end of the joist. Spacers were put in between the first riser and the joist, as the stair will sit on top of the floor boards that will  cover a small landing.


Now it looks like a flight of stairs. Ed's sitting a where the new landing will be. Three steps will lead up to the landing.



Lovely, chunky stairs.


Looking down through the little landing to the little landing on the way down below, on the ground floor. You can also see the a piece of wood, used to stop the stair shifting horizontally.

All that was left to do was to clean up the mess - again!



Monday, 21 February 2011

Demolition Crew - Monday 21.2.11

We have a couple of days at home, together, this week. I don't know about you, but there's nothing better than a bit of wrecking to strengthen the marital bonds .... at least I think that's what the RELATE counsellor said!

At last, we've taken out the stairs to the 2nd floor of our house. No going back now.


You can see the old stairs on their side on the floor.


We removed the ceiling, floor joists and wiring over the point where the new stairs will come up.


Once everything was out of the way, the wiring to the 2nd floor was reconnected. This floor is scheduled to be rewired, but not today.