Monday 03 August 2009

It’s been a while since we’ve updated the blog…

Late May/early June Mike began to tile the new shower room. We went away for a couple of weeks mid-June & had a lovely break in Menorca. We enjoyed the island and were pleased with our choice of Villa (http://www.finesse-villas.com). It was also nice to spend some with D, who learned to swim (with armbands) whilst we where there.

On our return Mike continued to tile the bathroom. He started on the long wall, leaving the bottom row of tiles out (so we could fit the shower cubicle at the end, leaving enough floorspace for tiling/painting). He then tiled the wall behind the door, and removed the toilet, washbasin and towel rail before tiling the soil stack. The internal wall was completed next (new architrave was bought and fitted too), and then, finally, the wall under the window. This was left until last so that the tiles could be centralised and cut to size if necessary. Due to the size of the tiles, there was very little waste (even with the cuts involved), and we were only left with 2 tiles over. We’d only had one issue with the tiles – 1 pack was broken right the way through, but Pilkington’s swapped them out without a problem.

We removed the stickers on the bathroom suite at last (inc. the downstairs loo). Once all of the walls were complete, the shower tray was plumbed in and then the lowest row of tiles stuck on. We finally grouted them on 30-Jul-09, and Zoe picked up some paint for the limited amount of wall(s) that’s on show. We decided that the paint (Jasmine White) looked a little too light, so Mike swapped it for a Barley White colour, which we also plan to use in the old bathroom and possibility the utility room. Then he spent Fri 31-Jul-09 cleaning off the tiles.

After fitting a pull switch light, we decided against having one, so that was swapped out for a switch just outside the door.

During this time, we also moved the last of our belongings out of the neighbours garage. Our garage still looks messy, and Zoe’s still struggling to reach boxes and crates to unpack the whole of the kitchen. She’s now managed to unpack a crate of pans, and approx. 3 boxes of alcohol.

Work halted temporarily for D’s birthday celebrations. Fortunately she was well this year, and she had a ball… With the birthday weekend out of the way, work began again. The marks on the ceiling from the pull switch were filled and painted. The walls were sanded and painted. They’re a little more yellow than we’d expected, but we think we can live with it… Today Mike also sealed the tiles.