Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT London Calling. An ordinary life.

[sawduststeve]

Looks like McFloatly may be getting a sweet upgrade?

Nice work Steve.

That would be my guess also after they take a little boat ride.

Yep, thanks guys, all destined for the McFloaty round shed, round sheds are even more rubbish than square sheds as nothing fits nicely, anyway I’ve been told it’s the Thatched Sunroom and that’s what I’m to call it.
Glazed and given another coat today so we’re all done. Hoping to install next Wednesday/Thursday.
We’ll see, weather permitting.




Steve

 

[captain14]

Steve

You should post the windows in the repurposed thread after they are installed.

The repurposing thread

I don't believe I've seen a thread like this so I thought I'd start one. Show off your repurposed items. Prefer "useful" things versus scrap turned into "art". I'll start with my plasma cart made from an old pressure washer cart. Welded some shaped round stock around various places to hold the...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[sawduststeve]

Managed to get a couple of days by the river and got the windows fitted
The originals were totally rotten


We also pulled of two sections of rotten shingles, got some breathable membrane on the frame and new shingles nailed up.
It was our first go at shingles, I don’t mind the different sizes it’s the not being square that messes with my ocd.


Still chasing thatchers.

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

The main event downriver was the work to the boatshed.
New raised quay heading all three sides and dredged. The spoil gets packed behind the new timbers helping to keep the water in the river.



A massive improvement with the timbers going down. The new end section is a very usable
20ft x 17ft.



The little boat now doesn’t run aground and goes right to the end.

Steve

 

[Old tool guy]

When you removed the rotted windows, did you find any bad structure?

 

[Just Puttering]

The mini excavator in the skiff is pretty cool. Wouldn’t want to try that in deeper water though.

Boathouse is looking great

 

[bugnut]

Awesome windows, and the boathouse looks good!

 

[y'sguy]

Wonderful rescue progress on all McFloaty. It's really looking very nice. The neighbors are soon going to have to up their game.

 

[Old tool guy]

The neighbors are soon going to have to up their game.

I know a guy …

 

[sawduststeve]

When you removed the rotted windows, did you find any bad structure?

Unsurprisingly yes we did. The shed was originally well built, but that word keeps rearing its ugly head, it has been seriously neglected.
All of the windows were rotten at cill level and I only had to cut one upright out of eight to take them out.
I also replaced the timbers in the section under the middle of the three windows.

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

The mini excavator in the skiff is pretty cool. Wouldn’t want to try that in deeper water though.

Boathouse is looking great

Yeah, it worked really well, so well at dredging the **** that this, with the big timbers went in, couldn’t have done that before.


Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Awesome windows, and the boathouse looks good!

Thanks fella, it’s slowly gonna start coming together.

Wonderful rescue progress on all McFloaty. It's really looking very nice. The neighbors are soon going to have to up their game.

Cheers, the fun and games start proper in a couple of weeks.
Worst house in the best street is my theory, can make for hard work at times though.

I know a guy …

Ha, I’ll be in trouble if I don’t finish this one first
Funnily enough though, next time we’re there I’m going to take a company name board and fix it to the fence, see if it scares the locals.

Steve

 

[48windsor]

Hardtop, nice to meet you too fella.
Cup of tea, now you’re talking, all day every day. ️

lol,Jolly good show

 

[sawduststeve]

lol,Jolly good show

I say old chap, jolly nice of you to pop in.
Are you related to the Mountbatten Windsors, a jolly rum bunch they are.
I remember the spiffing times we had at Annabells with Pippa and Bunty, getting very very drunk.
Any way, got to pop orf now the kettles on.
Toodle pip

Steve

 

[48windsor]

I say old chap, jolly nice of you to pop in.
Are you related to the Mountbatten Windsors, a jolly rum bunch they are.
I remember the spiffing times we had at Annabells with Pippa and Bunty, getting very very drunk.
Any way, got to pop orf now the kettles on.
Toodle pip

Steve

No. Had a 48 Chrysler Windsor coupe. I let her go.
Funny enough , Chap is half my last name.
Im in Wa.
My tea has steeped gotta go
James

 

[crab]

Lets see now, you need to work pretty much all the time to be able to purchase a place to live that you don't particularly like. Is that about it? Well their are cities like that in this country also, I just don't understand why folks put up with it, MOVE! I was an interstate mover for many years and I did move a guy from London to a house in the country in Missouri, really nice house with 40 acres of land. He said he got it for less than he sold an apartment for in London. I have moved folks from New York city that could tell about the same story. I told a guy in the Bronx that I would leave if I had to walk out. And I meant it! I suppose that England is like our west coast, their is no land left to build on unless you go pretty far out. Their are folks that commute 3 or 4 hours daily! I am blessed, I have lived my entire life in the mid-west [Missouri], blind luck!!!!!!!!!

 

[sawduststeve]

Lets see now, you need to work pretty much all the time to be able to purchase a place to live that you don't particularly like. Is that about it? Well their are cities like that in this country also, I just don't understand why folks put up with it, MOVE! I was an interstate mover for many years and I did move a guy from London to a house in the country in Missouri, really nice house with 40 acres of land. He said he got it for less than he sold an apartment for in London. I have moved folks from New York city that could tell about the same story. I told a guy in the Bronx that I would leave if I had to walk out. And I meant it! I suppose that England is like our west coast, their is no land left to build on unless you go pretty far out. Their are folks that commute 3 or 4 hours daily! I am blessed, I have lived my entire life in the mid-west [Missouri], blind luck!!!!!!!!!

“ He who is tired of London is tired of life “
Samuel Johnson 1777

What ?? No that is certainly not it.
I think you’ve confused me with someone else, sunshine.
I very much don’t work all the time, in fact I probably haven’t work hard since 2009 when the girl child was born, maybe even earlier.
I love my job, been at it 45 years. I charge proper prices for proper work.
I’ve lived In East London all my life ( see above)
The old saying is “ the harder I worked the luckier
I got” I have been very lucky.
Only about 8% of England has been built on, there’s plenty left, contrary to some opinions.
I’m a townie at heart, the countryside is lovely for a holiday, wouldn’t want to live there
My longest commute was 8 miles the shortest about a 1/4 mile. Never been to far from the workshop.
I will MOVE ( no need to shout at me) when I’m good and told to move by the wife, I’m sure.
We renovated our house from top to bottom, and love it thanks
Thanks for calling in, hope that answers some questions.

Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Normal service has been resumed.

Mike was commissioned to repair a local RAF museums lead light, which he gave to us to put into a dg unit and make a small frame for.
To be re hung prior to today for remembrance Sunday .


Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Been doing some work this week for a guy I
last worked for 2018
Namely this



Well he bought a pair of doors from some fancy Dan company and now we have to match them
Here goes
Multi point locking, man’s hinges 8” parliaments
and for the very first time in my whole career
styles of different sizes.


4” on the hinged edge and 5” up the middle.
All very odd.
Back at it tomorrow, have a good week all

Steve

 

[Old tool guy]

Lets see now, you need to work pretty much all the time to be able to purchase a place to live that you don't particularly like. Is that about it? Well their are cities like that in this country also, I just don't understand why folks put up with it, MOVE! I was an interstate mover for many years and I did move a guy from London to a house in the country in Missouri, really nice house with 40 acres of land. He said he got it for less than he sold an apartment for in London. I have moved folks from New York city that could tell about the same story. I told a guy in the Bronx that I would leave if I had to walk out. And I meant it! I suppose that England is like our west coast, their is no land left to build on unless you go pretty far out. Their are folks that commute 3 or 4 hours daily! I am blessed, I have lived my entire life in the mid-west [Missouri], blind luck!!!!!!!!!

That was … interesting.

 

[Old tool guy]

man’s hinges 8” parliaments




Steve

Can you explain that please. I see dowels so the windows can’t be removed from the outside. Window doesn’t look very big, and the odd shape, is it for a stairwell or dormer?

 

[sawduststeve]

Can you explain that please. I see dowels so the windows can’t be removed from the outside. Window doesn’t look very big, and the odd shape, is it for a stairwell or dormer?

morning mate
Parliment hinges allow you to fit the door frame further back from the front edge of the building and still be able to swing the door fully open.
This customer is worried that burglars will cut the exposed hinges and the door will fall off
Hinge bolts into the frame with metal plates on the door prevent that happening.
I must admit I’ve never known it to occur burglars aren’t that clever and just normally throw a brick through the glass.
The shaped window is indeed a dormer window at the top of the stairs.
I’m delivering everything to site Wednesday, I’ll grab some pictures.
It’s a very nice converted farm house.

Steve

 

[Old tool guy]

I’m familiar with the offset hinges for recessed doos, never heard the parliament term.

 

[sawduststeve]

It’s nice to be home in the dry and warm
We braved Storm Claudia to have a quick couple of days at Mc Floaty.
Was nice to have a “walk and talk “ Friday with the guys on site, we cemented plans for going forward.
The detached bedroom, originally the only building with the Boatshed before the main house was built, coming along nicely.
Battened and insulated, ready for paneling and plaster board.

When the rain stopped Saturday managed to fit the two windows, the first new dg windows in the building. Allowing the guys to finish that wall next week

Outside to be finished properly when the shingles get changed for timber cladding.

Baby swans, won’t be ugly ducklings for much longer


Plenty of water about

Boatshed finished internally and
Looking good


To finish, bottom half of a local 100+ year old helter skelter brought to the riverside and converted into a house.

The top half , closest , two sheds.

Steve

 

[Prospecter]

Love the progress on McFloaty. That asphalt siding has saved many a structure for decades until someone could come along do repairs and upgrades. We also had some on the back of the carriage shed attached to our house.

 

[sawduststeve]

The supply only doors were delivered here
Front

With the doors going here.
The builders had started cutting the hole in the wall. Turns out it was 16” thick , with some proper sized rocks


Here’s something’s I made earlier

We had to pass through a little village called Seal,
Originating about 1086 with some very old buildings
Kebab anyone


Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Love the progress on McFloaty. That asphalt siding has saved many a structure for decades until someone could come along do repairs and upgrades. We also had some on the back of the carriage shed attached to our house.

Thanks.
The shingles have to come off, they have reached the end of their life expectancy and are as brittle as hell, touch them and they just snap.
Also, as a “look” it’s not the look we like.

 

[Prospecter]

We also HAD some on the back of the carriage shed attached to our house. Yup. Ours also did their job, but also brittle, and not our taste either!

 

[sawduststeve]

Just when you think you’re finished alas more work turns up. I’ve been gainfully employed since 1980 with just two weeks officially unemployed about ‘82. I received £36 unemployment benefit in total. Work can be monotonous at times *

Next up, while waiting for a ton of oak to arrive, is four complete box sashes. @Prospecter, look familiar.
Boxes made

All painted

A start on the sashes, will be together tomorrow and the glass can be ordered.


* Breaking news, you heard it here first.
I’ve sold the workshop. Well I’ve taken an offer on it and my people are talking to his people.
We’ve possibly 5 jobs to complete and the provisional date of sale is April’26.
Exactly 40yrs since of ownership

Steve

 

[Prospecter]

Wow! I did not realize you were this far along in your retirement planning, Congratulations. I will miss your business projects, and look forward to your retirement projects.

I do recognize those box sashes. The long narrow "secret" panels are a huge improvement over the ones where we had to remove the fascia on each side to get to the weights for rope replacement. I always thought with the access panels, a box sash would be a good place to hide something like a pirate map, or stolen jewels.

 

[Old tool guy]

Congratulations. So how does that work? They get the building (with the awesome new roof), the property it sits on, and the tools?

 

[f121]

Just when you think you’re finished alas more work turns up. I’ve been gainfully employed since 1980 with just two weeks officially unemployed about ‘82. I received £36 unemployment benefit in total. Work can be monotonous at times *

Next up, while waiting for a ton of oak to arrive, is four complete box sashes. @Prospecter, look familiar.
Boxes made

All painted

A start on the sashes, will be together tomorrow and the glass can be ordered.


* Breaking news, you heard it here first.
I’ve sold the workshop. Well I’ve taken an offer on it and my people are talking to his people.
We’ve possibly 5 jobs to complete and the provisional date of sale is April’26.
Exactly 40yrs since of ownership

Steve

Congratulations Steve! (There goes my plan to get you to build me a window!)

 

[sawduststeve]

Congratulations Steve! (There goes my plan to get you to build me a window!)

Thanks
Hurry up and get the order in

 

[sawduststeve]

Congratulations. So how does that work? They get the building (with the awesome new roof), the property it sits on, and the tools?

No tools. It’s a freehold property.
Been a little chilly today and fired up the wood burner for the first time this season.
It got a little too hot in the workshop if I’m honest.
Only about 20yrs too late with the roof.

Cheers
Steve

 

[sawduststeve]

Wow! I did not realize you were this far along in your retirement planning, Congratulations. I will miss your business projects, and look forward to your retirement projects.

I do recognize those box sashes. The long narrow "secret" panels are a huge improvement over the ones where we had to remove the fascia on each side to get to the weights for rope replacement. I always thought with the access panels, a box sash would be a good place to hide something like a pirate map, or stolen jewels.

No planning whatsoever, things just aligned and I’ve said yes it feels about time

Never ever found anything remotely interesting in any old box sash. 100+ years of dirt and dust is about it.

 

[Geoff289]

Best wishes for the next chapter of your life. I'm 15 years into retirement and yet to find anything about it I don't like. Don't know how I had time to go to work.

 

[Ford52PU]

Congratulations!! I retired in 2021 and have never regretted it. Enjoy it you’ve worked hard on all these buildings you’ve shared pictures on. I hope someone has apprenticed under you and can transfer your talent into the next generation.

 

[littlebean]

No planning whatsoever, things just aligned and I’ve said yes it feels about time

probably the best way to do it, good luck with the sale (hope it doesn't drag out too long...) and the next chapter of your life.
i'm hopeful that there will be enough upgrades/repairs to do on the Broads that I'll be able to follow your posts for years (no pressure )

 

[RoninB4]

-Will miss seeing your projects. Most of my working career was spent in metalworking so I appreciated seeing professional grade woodworking for buildings that also require aesthetics. As an American (a colonial?) I also liked seeing how an ordinary life in the UK looks from the building types and the surrounding countryside, I've only seen Heathrow. I've been retired for 3 years now and congratulate you on crossing the finish line. Good luck on the next chapter, thanks for posting this thread.

 

[bugnut]

Awesome news, though I will miss seeing your work. Congrats, and enjoy the new career!!