The Bathroom Diaries: Week 7
First-fix plumbing, window f**k up and anxiety levels through the roof!
This week has been full of excitement and, to be honest, a fair bit of frustration. My anxiety levels have been through the roof, and continuously waking up at 5.30am isn’t really helping.
This project is a true emotional rollercoaster. Some days, everything seems to steam ahead in the right direction, while other days I’m left wondering what has actually been accomplished.
The good news is we’re moving onto the internal work. With the exception of the main window (more on that later), everything externally is almost finished.
Monday 25th November:
The finishing touches of the roof have been done. Lead sheeting has been added to the roof valleys and the ridges are prepped for the ridge tiles.
Tuesday 26th November:
The roof is complete with ridge tiles and guttering!
However, there’s been an absolute fuck up with the main bathroom window. They ordered a single pane window instead of replicating the design of the current bathroom window.
Despite explicitly confirming (more than once) the windows had to match exact, the confusion likely arose from our plan to board up the internal side of the window for the walk-in shower.
However, from the outside, it needs to replicate the same design as the rest of the house. I mean why would we want a completely different window design?
The window fitter had it in his head, it could only be installed from the outside and thought the design of our current window wouldn’t be possible to fit, insisting it had to be a single pane of glass….WRONG!!!
After some discussion and a moment of panic that it wouldn’t be arriving until after Christmas, we’ve been assured the correct design is now on order due to arrive on the 9th December.
Hopefully it won’t set us back too much, and we have a plan to work around this minor blip.
Wednesday 27th November:
I think one of the main reasons my anxiety is so high at the moment is not being in complete control of this project, and not really knowing what the plan is.
There are far too many things spinning around my head continuously.
As we’re now starting to move onto the internal work, I spent some time creating a process map outlining all the activities, with approximate start and finish dates, and who is responsible.
I did exactly this when we worked on our kitchen, and although the tradesmen took the piss, it really helped provide everyone with visibility of what needed to happen by when, so as not to delay another trade starting.
I’m all for organisation and if it helps free up space in my head, then it’s all been worthwhile.
Back to todays progress; the upper section of the scaffolding is finally down!
This is the first time I’ve been able to see the extension complete.
One of my biggest concerns was how the new brickwork would blend with the existing house, and I have to say I couldn’t be happier.
There is nothing worse than an obvious difference in brickwork when you see an extension (in my opinion), and I’m so pleased with how this is looking.
Further woodwork has been applied around the Velux, ready for the ceiling to be boarded and plastered.
And a lot of time has been spent reviewing all the pipework that needs to be installed in preparation for first fix plumbing.
Thursday 28th November:
It’s been all go today!
A visit to the local plumbing store to pick up all the fittings ready for first fix plumbing to be started.
Today is the first day where I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Talking through the positioning of the shower head and taps really feels like we're starting to make some progress.
The building inspector also paid us another visit to sign off on the next phase, where the steel was constructed between the existing bathroom and the extension.
We also needed to discuss and get sign off on the plans for the drainage, which has now all been approved.
The back of the garage roof has been reconstructed and is now fully watertight.
I told you it has been a busy day.
Hopefully, all the tiles will be laid tomorrow, alongside the front part of the garage roof, and that should mean all the external building work is complete.
Friday 29th November:
We are completely watertight!
The front part of the garage has been reconstructed, felted and battoned.
Where I had hoped all the tiles would be added back today, that didn’t happen due to a lot more work needing to be done on the front roof structure.
We also had the pillar box window installed.
Next week I’m hoping the remaining external work will be complete, including the drainage; let’s see.
I’m also very excited to have one of the other half’s friends, who fits kitchens and bathrooms, coming over next week. All being well he’s going to be available to help us with tiling, laying the floor and installing the bathroom suite.
Tune in next week to find out how we get on.
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The Bathroom Diaries is an additional weekly post every Sunday, sharing the progress of our first-ever renovation journey, documenting the creation of my dream bathroom.
If you missed any of the The Bathroom Diaries series you can catch up here:
What a week Sonya!!! I hope your stress levels have improved a bit! Look forward to the next instalment! 🛁