Space Voyager Posted July 9, 2011 Report Share Posted July 9, 2011 For the past two weeks I've been working on a reconstruction of kitchen and living room. My and my GF (hmmm, is GF still a GF if you have two children? ) are investing heavily into the upper floor of my family house to make it a separate apartment as a family REALLY needs some privacy. Anyway, kitchen and living room come first. Than our makeshift bedroom in a future children's room will be moved into a makeshift bedroom in a future living room... Than children's room will be built and Tjaša moved into it. Than former Tjaša's room will be rebuilt into a final bedroom and THAN living room will be put into it's final state. I have no idea when that will be as we sure won't have the money any time soon. But we have old stuff to use so it will do just nicely. The kitchen is bought and I (with A LOT of help from my friends) have installed new electrical wiring to accommodate all kitchen appliances. Kitchen left and right:https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01245.jpghttps://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01244.jpg Apart from that a part of a wall between the kitchen and living room was removed. This will make it a much more open space. We had a similar solution in an apartment we once lived in and we loved it, so GF demanded the wall to be removed. From kitchen into living room:https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01246.jpg A lot of work that I'm doing is new to me and I might not have the nerves to do it if a friend of mine wouldn't insist we do it on our own. Luckily he has far more experience so he showed me everything than left me to my own devices. (exaggeration, he helped a lot) A recipe for disaster but so far so good. Howardmump, Danielref and Samellaborn 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 9, 2011 Report Share Posted July 9, 2011 It's a bit of a task, SV, but well worth it. Especially if it saves you a load of money. I did a kitchen once and installed a lot myself to save money, got a friend to do the wiring at mate's rates, and only had to pay seriously for a new gas pipe for the cooker. Far more satisfying, doing it yourself. I had great fun destroying the old kitchen, but cleaning up after was a chore. If you have a lady to stand around and make you tea to keep you going, even better. It's stuff like this that turns a house into a home. Best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 It's stuff like this that turns a house into a home. Best of luck!Very true, and thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Looks like a serious amount of work indeed. At least it seems like you have planned ahead, which is always good. "(...) so GF demanded the wall to be removed."Yeah, right - she really had to twist your arm for you to tear down that wall. Are you sure you didn't just say: "My background in geodesy also makes me a qualified demolitions expert; women and children please stand aside and stay out of the danger zone." :: "Righ lads, she's off! Let's get another crate of beer and... blast away?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Are you sure you didn't just say: "My background in geodesy also makes me a qualified demolitions expert; women and children please stand aside and stay out of the danger zone." I'm VERY sure this is FAR from what happened. I was far more more into "Are you sure honey?! Shouldn't we reconsider? This is a lot of work and I'm lazy and unqualified... And there is electricity in the wall, it will have to be moved! And there will be a hole in the floor and it will have to be filled! Oh boy oh boy oh boy..." We both agreed we want open spaces but I was the only one to be scared. She knew she won't be the one to do the work and negotiate the prices. "Righ lads, she's off! Let's get another crate of beer and... blast away?" You're spot on about that crate of beer. Last week was really heavy on my liver. This must be finished before I end up as a alcoholic. Even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 14, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Want to know what cutting a wall looks like? Here... https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01250.jpg https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01251.jpg https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01252.jpg https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01253.jpg https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01254.jpg https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01256.jpg That is my friend Andrej who is helping me. He came out looking like a ghost. I kidd you not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Good God! It's almost the same as if a grenade had gone off there! No wonder you're all left so parched after such undertakings... :: For a moment there, with the flower appearing on the last picture, I was thinking: R.I.P. *yipe!* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2011 For a moment there, with the flower appearing on the last picture, I was thinking: R.I.P. *yipe!* I was laughing when I was taking that pic as I was thinking very much along the same lines! Andrej didn't find it just as funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Just a quick word of self-proclaimed wisdom; Crocks, Clocks - or whatever your soft slippers are named - are best shoes available if you are forced to work in an environment with already laid parquet floor. Even if you step on a piece of brick or something (and you DO), your floor will remain relatively unharmed. The piece will sink into your shoes instead into the wood. And I HATE having to constantly sweep the floor. I've never swept as much as I do now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted July 23, 2011 Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 And I HATE having to constantly sweep the floor. I've never swept as much as I do now... Do not complain - learn! :: Next up: wax on, wax off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2011 Broom fu?! https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/anim_lol.gif I'll never look at a broom quite the same again. Karate Kid training awaits, I'll have to paint the ceiling and all walls after I'm done with masonry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 The kitchen-living room pass is definitely the worst part of the whole project, so I'm glad to say that it is nearing completion. The pass with final styrodur inner plating, holes on the sides.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01271.jpg Holes closed off detail.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01272.jpg Being styrodur it doesn't really offer armour grade hardness, so the edges will be reinforced with plastic edge elements with a net (you can see a small net detail in the left side of the previous pic) to bind it all together when the end coating is applied. After "hard" work you need something to cool you down. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01267.jpg(those are mushrooms below čevapčiči) https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01268.jpg(čevapčiči, bacon, chicken wings. Zucchini and mushrooms incoming) I apologize if you are hungry. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Smiley/drooling.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Over here you'd most likely find these little beauties: https://www.columbofilia.net/msarnes/fot29853.jpg Or these... https://www.lisbon-tourist-guide.com/image-files/lisbon-sardines.jpg Or both at the same time. :: And, for heavy lifting, there's aways our 'national dish', of course... https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K2BVG3QP3Xs/S9GB0CZNcHI/AAAAAAAABtA/8DQiTNgztlk/s1600/cozido%20a%20portuguesa.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 HE HE HE, this is definitely not a thread for the hungry! Luckily I ate. I love real grill, but a plate (with gas heating) is far more versatile. Especially as far as vegetables go, I don't like the added smoke flavour on them. Meat on the other hand is a completely different matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Stop! I'm drowning in my own drool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knan Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 Bah. Most exciting thing I've done to my apartment recently is fixing the dishwasher to not drool on the floor. With a spanner. Hmm. There's a wall there just begging to be... no. Must... resist! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Hmm. There's a wall there just begging to be... no. Must... resist!DO IT, DO IT!!! Applying the netted edge elements. It was dropped for non-vertical surfaces, I used aluminium edges there.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01273.jpg Vertical part covered with ceramics glue; it is modelled far easier, it makes nicer surface and it is far stronger than ordinary mortar. https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01275.jpg Covered whole.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01277.jpg And I got a new roof window! More work to close the sides...https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01278.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 No question about it - you really do have a thing for holes... The wall work ended up being quite smooth with those finishing touches, though, and It must be said there's nothing quite like natural lighting to make a room 'breathe'. :: Now all you have to do, SV, is keep cats from standing in the way of your sun... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 29, 2011 Report Share Posted July 29, 2011 Also doubles as an emergency escape hatch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knan Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 I'd be worried about snow weight in winter. Then again, we actually have snow up here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted July 30, 2011 Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 "But why do you need an ejector seat underneath the skylight?" "Woman, building that seat has made me hungry. Make me a sandwich." Charlesmi, Ciaratrof, RobertVep and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted July 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2011 @Knan, we too have snow here, but I wouldn't worry, these windows can handle a meter high bowling ball fall. And that is point pressure, snow is much nicer on the glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted August 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 Sadly this is the only AAR I have time for lately... BTW, a British dude told me that they have Eastern Europeans for this kind of work. Tough luck, I'm Eastern European so I have to do it on my own. Oh, and Andrej lost his will to help (no wonder after cutting the wall) so I really am on my own now. I'm sure he'd help if I nagged him long enough but I have to save that for real emergencies. It is kinda dull working alone. Also you can't blame anyone else for mistakes. Finally gathered the nerve to find the air duct for kitchen exhaust vent.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01281.jpg Close-up on the detail:https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01280.jpg I was really glad I nailed it down this well. I did however totally misjudge the size of the air-duct so I went for an oversized hole. Don't do it. Seriously, you'll need a lot of time to patch it up again. Hole with the cover, after patching and with a wall smoothing applied. Smoothing is done with a paste similar to joint compound for plaster.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01344.jpg Hole without the cover, after sandpapering. You can roughly see how much patching was needed because of my stupidity.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01345.jpg The pass after I applied wall smoothing and sandpapered it. It will need some extra corrections, my homework for today.https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b348/SpaceVoyager/Za%20net/DSC01347.jpg Tomorrow there is more sandpapering, than I tidy the mess and paint the ceilings. Than I have the floor sandpapered and coated. This I can not do on my own.Than I paint the walls. This should be the final step before the kitchen arrives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorondor Posted August 17, 2011 Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 That does look rather largish a whole. And, for some strange reason, I keep thinking that would be an interesting place to fit a Kuckoo watch in... https://www.preserveusfromthehouseofclocks.com/images/cuckoo.jpg :: One thing's for sure - you're going to be a martial arts expert by the time you finish all that work. Sandpapering: hee-ya! Waxing: hooo-y! Painting: Wo-wa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Voyager Posted August 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2011 He he he, I'll be a white ninja... White from the wall smoothing dust, as you can see on the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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