Renovation of Existing Property - Our Way to the House

A look into the living room, large window to the garden (aluminum, original from 1960)


The other windows were replaced in the mid-90s with painted aluminum windows (Biffar). An original wooden lift door still leads to the former terrace.


The terrace was at some point converted into a conservatory. However, it is very poorly insulated, with sun it’s like a sauna, otherwise indoor temperature equals outdoor temperature.


The two radiators in the conservatory and under the large window in the living room caused problems:


One of the first actions after handover was to remove and deactivate the two radiators. The living room still has a second one for heating and in the conservatory you could alternatively just burn money to keep it warm.
(15.12.2018)

The biggest problem was finding suitable plugs for the pipes. The ends had an M30x1.5 thread and every, really every specialist dealer said I was too stupid, it was 3/4", there is nothing else – until they had to realize that you could not screw on 3/4".
I was able to find two matching threaded plugs elsewhere in the house and remove the adapters from the radiators from M30->1/2" and use them instead.

Otherwise, the living room work was limited to renovation. So removing useless things (copper plates, mirrors)
(26.02.2019)

(24.03.2019)
(Behind the wooden ceiling paneling are charming S14s linear lights with over 600W total power.)

(04.02.2019)

Shortly before moving in, the package installer came and removed the old DD coating (6 sanding passes), repaired it, and repainted it
(10.04.2019)

Another problem occurred in the conservatory: a small side section of the roofing was made not with roofing felt but as a PC hollow chamber panel. Due to wind, weather, and hail, it was heavily weathered and the first layer was already damaged:

Additionally, there was already slight water ingress in the corner area.

Before it got worse and in a brief moment of megalomania, it was decided to solve the problem over the extended Ascension Day weekend.
(30.05.2019)
For some reason, my neighbor wanted to sleep in that Thursday and was not happy about the demolition noise. (I really hadn't thought about the fact that it’s like a Sunday and one should be quiet). So quickly put up an emergency roof:


And continued the next day with the OSB boards and cold-applied aluminum-coated bitumen membrane:
(01.06.2019)
(02.06.2019)
(It unfortunately unrolls so wavy from the roll. In the blazing sun and with the reflection, it was boiling hot on the roof.)

For some reason, I had to do almost everything alone. My better half was far too exhausted, suddenly constantly feeling nauseous — and it wasn’t fear of heights. (t.b.c.)

For some reason, I had to do almost everything alone. My better half was suddenly constantly nauseous - and it wasn’t a fear of heights. (t.b.c.)

I’ll take the risk: Congratulations

In the bedroom stood an old but still good corner cabinet. Unfortunately, once again the insufficient use of the house led to mold problems. As an unplanned measure, it had to be disposed of and the wallpaper behind it replaced.
(05.01.2019)

Under the cabinet, the parquet was considerably damaged, so the floor layer was able to go wild on the upper floor as well:
(08./09.04.2019)

The same was then done in the study/guest room and the upper floor hallway:


But there is another room on the upper floor: the shower:

Our plan was to later integrate the shower into the bathroom and, until then, to use the bathtub for that purpose. This room was to serve as a storage space (vacuum cleaner, etc.). The shower was hardly usable: corroded, dirty, and the hot water came from the instantaneous water heater in the bathroom, so it took ages until it got warm.

But sometimes things happen differently and faster than you think:

I'll take the risk: Congratulations

...which is the kind of surprises the security of owning your own house offers.

This small room will be the study room in the future, guests are welcome in the living room, and in January there will be a move-in to the study/guest children's room.

So first dismantling and inventory. Sink and tub out:
(10/20/2019)

Under the wooden ceiling paneling, some life has already taken up residence:
(10/27/2019)
But a hole punched and a look behind the wall still reveals a bit of extra space.


For home office mobile working, the emerging space under the slope is completely sufficient. A possible project for the Christmas holidays, if the little one still takes his time.

But outdoor areas also require work; during the first inspection, it was barely possible to walk in the garden. (26.09.2018)

So we started clearing paths, thinning bushes, trimming the hedge, and mowing the "lawn": (29.09.2018) (03.10.2018) (10.10.2018)

(04.11.2018)

Here mentally insert 14 days business trip to Mexico. And suddenly it’s winter, the property handed over, and interior work takes priority.

However, there was the moisture problem in the laundry room, which is the wall under the kitchen window. We were able to narrow down the cause:

[*]the driveway slopes toward the garage/wall with the garden passage [*]concrete slabs were laid under the window [*]the garbage bins were on the slabs [*]the gutter could not drain [*]dense rhododendrons at the wall kept everything wet for a long time after rain [*]in summary, water from various sources could not drain properly, accumulated in the corner, and penetrated the house through the aged black coating

After resolving these problems, water intrusion was only minimal. The only existing drain in the driveway was not designed for the driveway which had been enlarged over the years (and the slope was also incorrect).

(07.06.2019)

So use the summer vacation sensibly and dig: (25.06.2019) (27.06.2019)