What does an architect do and ...

[Nemesis]

And as for:

Can I cordially invite you to look at the 'sticky' towards the top of the Forum threadlist entitled RICS 'One in Five Roadshow'? You might find it illuminating- as indeed, you might have done the roadshow, if any were still to be had. Does anyone (Stephen?) know if there will be any more?

Why? Lindy isn't a chartered surveyor as far as I am aware?

 

[stickybeak]

I misremembered what was in it. I thought it made more of a point about the fact that 20% of our building stock is 'historic' i.e. made from traditional materials and using traditional materials/ craftsmanship. The only point being that all historic buildings, listed or not, require careful thought, repair and appropriate materials.
Whether you're a surveyor or not, it's a key point. I wasn't actually suggesting that she attend (altho in any case I had forgotten that it was only targeted at RICS members).

 

[Lindyboo]

Hi Lindyboo

I'm very happy to come to Suffolk and wield a trowel (for lime mortar, of course!), a (limewashing) paintbrush, and lay (sheep's fleece) insulation in the roof...

Stickybeak – alas I’m not in Suffolk. Couldn’t afford it, so settled for lovely Lincs instead. But feel free to turn up with your trowel …

Pity I'm not a surveyor - t'would be very helpful at times. Alternatively, maybe I should have been a pest controller, as I spent most of the night and early hours eliminating what seems to be a beetle infestation. Sigh.

 

[Nemesis]

There are worse things - like listening to rats gnawing away at your staircase...

 

[Lindyboo]

Ah, so that's what I can hear in the wee small hours ...

 

[Nemesis]

Possibly - or of course it could be me gnashing my teeth at the thought of you spoiling your nice hice with uPVC...

Go on give Biff a ring. He makes lovely windows. A thing of beauty etc etc.

 

[Lindyboo]

I'll be glad to give Biff a ring, but within the last half hour I've just taken up the landing carpet, ready for a new one next week and Lo! Woodworm! Yes, we knew the house had had some in previous years (supposedly treated) and I wasn't at all surprised. Problem is, as I'm discovering right now, to find someone locally who supplies (pine) floorboards - also hardboard and plasterboard. I don't need much, but it appears there's none to be had in East Lindsey - not so far anyway. I know it's off this particular topic, but anyone out there know of a supplier who can deliver within a couple of days? If Biff can turn up with the necessary under his arm that'd be grand and would help his cause no end ...

I feel I must have a winge at this point and add that the previous incumbents of chez nous deemed it necessary to fix the underlay in place with 1.5 inch cloutheads.

 

[Nemesis]

Oh, it's always with six inch nails ... how do you know the beasties are active?

And you really aren't going to use plasterboard and hardboard surely?

 

[Lindyboo]

Beasties I think are dead - didn't explain myself too well in the previous. There are a couple of short lengths of board which are extremely friable and about 4 other pieces not as far gone, but certainly well chewed. Some gaps were filled in with old Tesco carrier bags, but I think that's taking recycling too far. However, it will gladden the hearts of many on this board to know that some original boards and - wait for it - hand-made nails, remain.

The hardboard and plasterboard I feel will go well with the uPVC windows.

 

[Nemesis]

What on earth are you doing with them?

 

[Penners]

someone locally who supplies (pine) floorboards - also hardboard and plasterboard. I don't need much, but it appears there's none to be had in East Lindsey - not so far anyway. I know it's off this particular topic, but anyone out there know of a supplier who can deliver within a couple of days?

There aren't many places in the country that are outside the delivery area of some builders merchant or other. I should have a look in your Yellow Pages, and ring round a few.

Just keep in mind that most of them have a delivery charge for orders below a threshold value. It's worth asking about that, and seeing if you need anything else to bring the order value up to the free delivery level.

Much better to shell out for materials than for a delivery charge.

 

[Nemesis]

It's also worth realising that old floorboards are possibly not a standard size. They may have to be specially ordered if trying to fit them in with others.

 

[Lindyboo]

I've just returned from the DIY centre (sorry about that) armed with pine boards. As you say, they aren't quite a match for the old ones - they're about 2mm shallower in depth, but as the aim at present is to get the rotten ones replaced in short order they'll have to do. I can put a few noggins in as required.

'Have to do' I realise is not a popular expression on here and I know that short-term fixes are just putting off better work until later, but my heart and conscience are in the right place. The time, money and energy are slightly left of centre however and some compromises have to be made at this stage. If the floor were going to be exposed then I'd order specially made ones, but the scale of the work here, which I'm doing entirely on my own, requires some prioritising. At least the floor will be substantially improved when I've done and will require very little work at some future time if the boards are replaced with better ones.

Daren't say what I want the plasterboard and hardboard for - might give all of you the vapours ...

 

[Nemesis]

Well - hardboard is not great stuff really, there might be easier and cheaper fixes.

 

[Penners]

hardboard is not great stuff

It's a particle board, just like all the particle boards used nowadays. They're good for some things, and not for others. It all depends on your choice of board and the application.

OK, you can make an argument against urea formaldehyde, but it's a genie that's out of the bottle. No going back.

 

[Nemesis]

Sure - just might be something better!

PS some of the genie disfigures the Tyne Valley. Egger. Ghastly.

 

[Penners]

some of the genie disfigures the Tyne Valley. Egger. Ghastly.

You appear to have lapsed into Swahili...

 

[Nemesis]

Egger - manufacturer of chip and other board, Ghastly. Ruins the Tyne valley.

 

[Penners]

I never knew the Tyne Valley was made of chipboard.

 

[Penners]

compile a complete building history. This is what I do for a living.

That's interesting, Stickybeak. What training and qualifications are needed for that job?