#DIY #RENOVATION
- Jane Shirley
- May 26, 2020
- 2 min read
I've started following a lot of renovation accounts on Instagram and often the blurb accompanying a before and after picture says something along the lines of 'came home today and the builders have done X and Y' or 'it's so nice to get back from work and see progress'. Unfortunately, as we are doing everything ourselves, if we haven't put the hours in the house remains depressingly the same.
I have mixed feelings reading those posts: Jealousy, as despite Jon (and me on the weekends) working our arses off, everything takes a long long time. Every detail has to be considered, every rubble sack removed, every nail/timber/tile purchased and every issue resolved. But I also feel a tiny sense of injustice. By paying someone else to do something on their house it almost feels like they're cheating, and it's not a 'proper' DIY project.
It's mainly jealousy though! ;-) How nice would it be to pass on the responsibility of a few of our tasks to someone else!?
Some of the tasks we have undertaken are pretty big. At the moment, Jon is up in the attic reinforcing the existing timbers, removing the existing purlin walls (the huge rafters that support all the tiles on the roof!) and rebuilding new ones, at the same time as creating stud walls on either side of the room. I don't think I quite realised the significance of what he was doing up there until he popped down the ladder for lunch and jokingly noted that the house appeared to still be standing.
It's a nasty job being up in the attic. Dusty and sweaty at the best of times, but with this warm weather, it's even worse. Jon actually caved yesterday and let me cut his hair as it was turning into dreads!
I have been painting the ceiling in the kitchen and the back bedroom, with a little help from my Dad. It's another shit job as you are constantly craning your head backwards and my neck feels seriously crunchy today. Just one more coat to go!
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