When I last spoke to you we had a hole in the electrical ring main, second fix plumbing to complete and the worktop was about to come through the door!
Gareth fixed the ring main and left a nice little bill for the fitters, Malcolm finished the second fix – nice! - and the worktop went down well, mind you, the two chaps lifting the pieces of granite out of the van and into the kitchen looked more like weight lifters, tight large belts wrapped around the waist, powder on their hands and the pre-requisite body build!
Next, enter Gary our painter. He does/did a great job – as always. Loves white coffee (I say white because even after him working for us for over 15 years I still forget the milk!!!) and a chin wag – there’s always something going on in Gary’s life!!
How many grandchildren have you got now Joe, Gary asks, Four I say, the youngest being just 10 months – do they visit often Gary asks, yes quite often I reply - best have Dulux Endurance on those kitchen walls then says Gary – tougher than tough!!..............how right he was!!
Now that it’s all done, it does (even if I say so myself) look pretty good. It’s a relatively small space but makes a HUGE difference to us and I hope to those who visit us.
The whole project has been fun and a great learning experience for a novice building project manager – for what its worth, here are some items from my yet to be published “Little Book of Little Building Project Management” (they say it`ll never sell?!?!)
• Get as many of your chums as possible to help with demolition
• Always make sure one of hem looks like a YMCA member
• Never light a fire when the roofer is using a blow torch
• Always provide spectacles for your digger driver (in case he’s unable see bright blue water pipes)
• Make sure you can get EASY access to your mains water valve in the street
• If not, have a heavy hammer close by so that you can smash the cast iron cover
• Make sure you know where the valve is in the first place
• Never let you chum repair circular saws
• Stay on good terms with the building inspector by smiling lots, never disagreeing, let him walk in with muddy shoes, and pretend you know what he is talking about
• Tell kitchen fitters where the NO GO areas are in terms of electrical cables
• Hire grab lorries rather than skips – much cheaper
• Choose a builder with a flexible approach because YOU WILL change your mind lots!
• Order industrial quantities of tea!!
One foot note - Brock House has, however, despite all my best efforts become a shed again!! – will I ever get a space of my own I ask ….oh well better build another extension
See you all next time!!
No comments:
Post a Comment