Ha ha. Probably just as well they are not near me. Good "how to" info in the catalogue and on their Youtube channel.
They are literally five minutes away. Unfortunately, I feel whilst the quantity of items they stock has increased significantly since the boys took over from Dad, the quality on some of their stuff now does leave a lot to be desired.
JB - I think that the 'Quality' issue is a problem with just about every non franchised automotive parts / aftermarket supplier in the UK if not Europe - All of them are bursting at the seams with stock produced in the Far East in order to gain / increase margins & profits - It's bloody frustrating when new stuff has be fixed before it can be put to use - A client recently supplied me with new vintage style headlamps on which the rim tab was so poorly spot welded it fell off the bowl upon taking it out of the box - The fastenings are shockingly poor quality that I consider them scrap and the chrome rim already has signs of rust ingress and its not even been outside yet
Post by grumpynorthener on Dec 13, 2023 9:09:14 GMT
One of the tasks this week has been to unearth the loose parts in I had in store for the project Jupiter that I've just sold on behalf of a clients late family
With car now heading off for a career in racing most of the cosmetic fittings will not be required and will be retained for use / spares on other projects
Some parts that are now rare to obtain are already ear marked for another clients project car
Other parts are duplications of what I already have in stock and rather than just hoard for the sake of it these I shall donate in the clubs parts stock holding along with other parts that have come from other sources over the last few months
Some other parts still to gather up in the South of the country before I transport the lot up to the Bradford based Jowett Car Spares
Post by grumpynorthener on Dec 16, 2023 7:13:42 GMT
Had to trip out to collect a order from my joinery supplier yesterday afternoon
To collect some timber for the studwork frames of the new bathroom along with some new doors & linings
But also the new floor for the lounge ( All 70 m2 / 600 kgs - Which I don't currently need for a few months - but special offer and I had to move it before their year end stock take - something else to fall over)
Post by grumpynorthener on Dec 23, 2023 18:45:57 GMT
Work to the new ensuite configuration is getting factored in as time allows
The studwork framing has been stripped of its plasterboard & insulation
All of the corner has to be removed up to the door frame has would prevent the use of a reasonably sized shower if left insitu
All now cut back & removed - some of the timber is reusable
One of the next challenges before the new walls are built is to sort the floor area by the landing step
This runs out of level by 15mm from side to the other - When the previous owners undertook the conversion they bodged the floor levels to span over a steel beam
I'll have to remove the boards and look at a way of levelling the floor within that area
Meanwhile the ever curious Mrs GN wanted to know what the layout was - she then went away and came back with her own design - which I advised wouldn't work because the door would hit the WC pan upon opening - Ah so you have thought it out with your design then
Post by grumpynorthener on Dec 28, 2023 9:08:20 GMT
The floorboards on what will become the new landing were lifted
To expose the utter bodging tactics that the previous owner had signed off on
The used joists have been extended to reach the steel beam and there's nothing wrong with this if its undertaken properly - but its the shoddy workmanship to support the floor over the steel beam that is at fault
Barely attempted with just 3 pieces of scrap timber screwed from the underside into the floorboards with screws too short to secure the intended support in the first place
I pieced in new bearers for the boards at every joist socket with the steel beam and levelled the area over the beam itself
Leaving just a small infill section to be trimmed in once the boards were refitted - A few of which were replaced
And a further infill by the step up to the mezzanine landing - I'll be boarding over the repaired areas with a 3mm ply sheet once all works are completed prior to a new floor coverings being laid
Before I commenced with the new stud walls I wanted to get most of the enabling works out of the way - basically just creating access below the floor in the new ensuite
There are a couple of sockets & light switches to delete and I'll need to draw the cables back and reroute them
The frame for the ensuite between the new landing is starting to take shape - Of course there is not a single existing wall that is either level or true
Post by grumpynorthener on Dec 31, 2023 10:45:53 GMT
Final wall frame completed - I've built this as a thin wall construction using the studwork side on to maintain a narrow profile which will allow the door be to reverse hinged and have it open directly against the new wall therefore maximising the amount of usable / accessible space in the room
Which creates this small laundry / storage room
Cladding of the wet / shower area walls is virtually complete
This cladding is a specialist tile backing board which unlike plasterboard is waterproof
Post by grumpynorthener on Jan 1, 2024 11:17:59 GMT
Shower / wet area walls are now complete
I spent some time tracing / marking up the circuits and the the bodgery continues with downstairs sockets being supplied from the first floor ring main Frankly nothing now surprises me with this place - Its all getting corrected and correctly wired as we refurbish each area / room
Some of the first fix wiring has gone in
I've still a couple of switch circuits to run in yet but some of the plasterboard cladding can now be undertaken
Post by grumpynorthener on Jan 2, 2024 9:57:04 GMT
More circuit tracing on the cable runs - this taped joint is pretty typical of what I'm finding - Its going along with the awful light fitting that its connected to
Meanwhile the ensuite room has now been boarded out with plasterboard
And I've just got a small area on the ceiling to patch in where the old stud wall cut in to
Once I have this sorted I can crack on with the plastering
Post by grumpynorthener on Jan 7, 2024 18:47:06 GMT
I'm now on with checking / tracing the existing plumbing routes that I'm going have to access to serve the new ensuite - conveniently (NOT) they are hidden behind a wall that's obscured by a radiator - Absolutely nothing has been planned / laid out or given a second thought to the access of services / pipe runs etc in the property by the previous owners who completed the fit out when the chapel was converted
Radiator & plasterboard wall removed
And has I assumed access is going to be somewhat tricky But somehow I'll find a way
Can only sympathise. Am currently working at my Daughter's house which has been extended twice with no real thought. Plumbing in particular has been thrown in and needs to be done again largely from scratch. Good luck with this, I know you will leave it better than you found it.
Post by grumpynorthener on Jan 21, 2024 20:04:17 GMT
I'm slowly getting things completed
Did the plaster skimming over a couple of shifts
Then I could start the trial fit of everything for the plumbing runs
Sid was about on quality control duties
Whilst there is a temptation to make little more space between the hand basin and the WC - there's a critical factor that needs to be taken into account
Which is the sloping ceiling - move the WC a little further down the wall and you reduce the headspace (which was the ultimate bodge that the previous property owner made) - In the position that I have it now even the tallest of gents should be fine
Now progressing the pipe runs - no easy task when you have 18" thick walls
Long since decided Plastering is a black art, all that would be on the floor if I had attempted it. I've been a convert to taper edge board for some time, no real skill needed to finish as long as you get the boards aligned.
Long since decided Plastering is a black art, all that would be on the floor if I had attempted it. I've been a convert to taper edge board for some time, no real skill needed to finish as long as you get the boards aligned.
I'm capable of both - in this case I find it quicker - By the time I have taped the joints then filled & feathered them I can have the wall plastered - Bearing in mind that just about everything in this house is out of true by a significant few miles too - I'm having to make that up in some areas with bonding to level it true prior to skimming it