Setting up this chat

[fjm]

I plan to try and post on Mondays, but heaven knows if I will have much to say. This weekend has been special though because I finished the third draft of my book on Friday and have been clearing admin since and tidying my desk and all sorts of things.

One thing I've done is made a list of all the tasks that need doing around the house. The aim is to use March (in which I won't write) to do them.

Now here is the issue: for two very key reasons I am underskilled at DIY.

1) I grew up with my mother instead of my super competent Dad. When Dad did jobs for my mother, speed and getting out of there was his aim. So I never learned from him.

2) I have always been the youngest in any housing situation, and the other person always preferred to do instead of teach.

But I am 56 and Edward is 78. Now is definitely the time to get competent.

I'm going to start with clearing the garden of rubbish and sorting out plants (I know zero about plants) and then painting outside things, followed by painting walls and doors inside that didn't get done when we moved in (because I sacked the decorator who was taking the piss--I agreed to x amount 'which will take six weeks', to be paid weekly; not x amount per week for as many weeks as he could stretch it to by working four hour days).

So I think I'll talk about that this month (as well as other things that cross my mind).

Project Household starts tomorrow.

Comments

[coth]

I kept a complete household that included some reasonably successful DIY during the first few years after I left my parent's home, but much of it lapsed when we set up house together and B and I divided up the work so that he does the cooking and DIY while I manage the car, the money and the cleaner. I am trying to reacquire practical skills, but finding it hard work.

We have quite a clear idea of where we stop and get a professional in, but there is no denying that we also prefer to get in the professional even when we could do it ourselves, so we could do more than we do.

[fjm]

Same really. My aim is to reduce the list of things for the handyman, to save money. And any decoration that has to look good is being done by a pro.

[coth]

Also, welcome to Dreamwidth.

[glaurung]

Protip: When hiring people to do any kind of home remodel/renovation, including trivial stuff like painting: always, always pay them by milestones. So much down, then x% after they complete each stage. (Payments by room finished, for a painting job).

Hold back the last bit of the agreed amount (10% is a good fraction) until after they are completely, totally, 100% done, have cleaned up, taken away all the garbage, and you have no “what about that bit” issues with the work.

The times when I forget this rule, more often than not I end up regretting it.

Having them pressure you into paying them the last bit before they are completely finished is a very red flag, indeed.

[fjm]

Oh I did. I allowed for a two week over run. I gave due warning. Then I sacked him. They are always shocked. I seem so *nice*, and middle class. Dad is in the trade.

[karen2205]

I sometimes struggle with being the only person in the house, which makes some bits of DIY less safe.

I don't know whether Scotland has the same policies as England does, but it's worth checking with your local dump what paperwork you need to leave rubbish there - sometimes you have to prove you live locally, sometimes you are permitted a certain number of visits per year, sometimes it's more complicated if you've hired a van and are taking it rather than a car. Mostly the policy is aimed at stopping traders avoiding paying for waste disposal. This is assuming you're on a scale of rubbish that fits in a car /van rather than at hiring a skip.

I'm pretty sure you know ewt who knows lots about plants.

[paulkincaid]

Because of the amount of work they have done I got to be friends with the builders. So I trust them and I don't think I have been ripped off. Even so I keep a close eye on the work done. Also I have a secret weapon, my cleaner is the builder's sister in law, and the builder is scared of my cleaner's mum. So whenever he hasn't done exactly what I want, I just have a quiet word with the cleaner and lo, it gets sorted out.

[cmcmck]

As I said earlier, we've been eight years on this house and now pretty much have it as we want it.

We found getting a quoted price to be stuck to could be quite useful as it means the workers don't want to waste time.

[watervole]

When you say 'sorting out plants' do you mean working out what is already there, or working out what to plant?

The trick on planting is too look at the location. eg. Dry, shady corner, and then Google 'plants for dry shade'.

Makes a BIG difference to how many survive.

[fjm]

Right now, figuring out what has died. What we didn't realise was that certain areas swamp if we get a lot of rain.

And we are also in that situation where the back garden is too exposed but the things we planted to solve that in the long run may not have made it.

[watervole]

Ah. Possibly a clay soil. Mine's totally saturated right now...

For what it's worth, acanthus plants seem to cope with wet winters, and are pretty unkillable (at least, mine are). The leaves look good, and the flowers are nice and dramatic.

I could have a hunt and see if I've any seedlings if you fancy one, when you've worked out where you have space.
https://www.architecturalplants.com/product/acanthus-mollis/

[anef]

That is a good tip, I will try to remember it!

[heleninwales]

I have done a fair bit of DIY in the past, but now I'm in my early 70s, I don't have the energy or strength I once had. I have a few projects in the house and garden that need doing, so I'm going to have to bite the bullet and find people to do the work.

[pfy]

Given how many "professionals" there are doing work that makes you question whether they've ever seen a paintbrush or screwdriver before in their lives, you might as well take a crack at things yourself!

Not sure exactly where you are these days, but it might be worth looking to see if anyone's set up a tool library in your area.

My learned-the-hard-way tip for anything plumbing-related is to place a bucket and a couple of old towels within arm's reach *before* unscrewing anything :-)

Have fun fixing stuff!

[fjm]

Perth and a good point because there is one at the Library and it never occured to me to check it out.

[anef]

My father did a lot of DIY, but more because we couldn't afford to pay for professionals than because he enjoyed it. It always looked difficult and required a lot of swearing. Now I regret that I didn't learn more from him.