Transcript
Speaker: Welcome to the DIY guys the podcast where home renovations, power tools and mild panic go hand in hand. I'm Nick Morris. And I'm Dan Doher. Each week we'll be chatting with some property pros, some DIY diehards, hopefully help you with some tips and tricks along the way.
Speaker: Welcome back to the DIY Guys podcast. As always, ah joined by my uber-talented co-host, Mr. Neil Harris. Warming me up. You're obviously in my good books after hosting that amazing barbecue at the weekend. Yeah. And what did you think of it? Oh, it's...
Speaker: so good and like the food i think we discussed this before a couple of weeks though but food like getting in from the butchers yeah was so good it's just a different level isn't it i was gonna just go like waitrose but one of our friends owns a butcher isn't it so good basically i invited basically loads of people that i know expecting maximum of 20 people including children and i think it was like near a 40 wasn't it so it took us a bit by surprise and we spent way more money than we anticipated we wasted so much money as well we bought like Worst case scenario. start So we've got like, I bought 24 Diet Cokes for some reason. 24 Coke Zeroes.
Speaker: Alcohol-free stuff. um Gin-free stuff and things like that. And then none of that was touched. So there's probably like at least 100 and something pounds worth of just waste. But obviously, it will get used in time. I always think it's the sides as well. Like you think sides, but nine times out of 10 people don't touch it.
Speaker: You'll love this. Emily's always obsessed with salad. She's like, everyone wants salad. i So she always gets loads and loads salad. I'm just like guys, particularly for very like sexist just saying this, just I would not just have a burger with like a bit of like lettuce on the side or something. might put something in it, but I'm definitely not going to have something on the side. Maybe one, i'll swear some one of our friends like Moth might do it. But I was saying most of them won't.
Speaker: So she always buys time to say it. I was like, oh, did anyone have it? She was like, no. No, yeah. So how many bags of salad if you don't like? Exactly. well then You can't even keep them either. You go in the bin. No.
Speaker: That's what's so good about the Tom's Butcher stuff. Shout out Tom Butcher's in Blackfen. Really good. All of his stuff is freezable. So I had loads of like pork steaks left and lamb chops left that we didn't even use. And then maybe like half a dozen burgers. And it can just all go in the freezer and be used. i think he said up to like nine months time or something.
Speaker: weak I mean, I can't think when we're to just randomly have pork steaks. Maybe we could have like a World Cup game or something and do them out here. Just just the guys this time. Yeah, yeah. Have you seen Gunn and Segway, but it kind of moves nicely. Like someone's like doing like projectors in their back garden. Yes.
Speaker: oh do I think they do them in, I think Dave, my friend Dave bought one in Audi, I think. I think Lidl were doing them and they copied it as well. They're not even that much. They're like 70 quid or something, I think. pretty good. So it's probably quite dark, but I'm thinking like I'm not making you host this. I think like under your gazebo, you could like, or you're out where your outdoor pity is, you could have Yeah.
Speaker: be fair, if I invite you lot over, everyone's chipping in this time. this That last one was on me as I invited everyone over. I have like five a year. I'm like, chip in 30 quid boys, you know. But that's a genius idea as well. I mean, there must be somewhere in my thing. It could go against the project, that you know, the sun trap thing. Yeah. Comes down over the pergola.
Speaker: We go against that. be But you can actually see the TV from in the living room from outside as well. So you could just watch TV. Yeah, but that doesn't sound as good. Yeah. It felt bad. don't know about you, but I spent like, it felt like 15 minutes max with Lydia all afternoon. Yeah. and But obviously she was just out having a great time.
Speaker: I don't know you if you saw Dylan much or well. Dylan was, to be fair, Dylan was the smallest one. Yeah. He held his own. Yeah, he cracked on. He was like just getting stuck in mind. It was all there. He loved the paddling pool.
Speaker: It was actually quite s sweet. Like Lydia was actually living up. Oh, what is he? I don't even know. So busy because you realise like someone just goes, oh Nick, have you got any ice? And he's like, oh yeah, he's kind of, oh Nick, have you got any like, not, was going to Diet Coke, but no one took any bloody Diet Coke.
Speaker: And people just ask have youve got a spoon? you got an extra thing? You've got like a serving? You just end up just going back and forth doing loads of stuff and trying to get all the meat for the barbecue and everything going. So i was like, I just didn't see anything going on in the kids. All I saw was one of um our friends just said, oh, the kid's are having a great time and my brother's kid is an absolute loon. Like kept like...
Speaker: bashing into the paddling pool getting naked all the time i was like okay didn't see any of this yeah it was amazing i feel like it was like it's like your wedding day right yeah but like oh it's great i'm hosting everyone and then you're like running around like everyone like trying to sort about food and drinks and like you say just like little bits and but And then when people was start going home, you're like, well, you can't be going home. You got here at two. It must only be four. you know Oh, it's like seven, eight o'clock. yeah And all their kids are knackered already. I ah didn't realise it was only because like Dylan was getting a bit like shirting. Oh my God, it's like seven o'clock. So far, it's close to your bedtime.
Speaker: But it cracked me up. But I think he like must have trod on something. So like he was like pointing at his foot. So came over to like look his foot and stuff. And then i was are you okay, buddy? Like, looking at his friends. And then, out of nowhere, just a massive jet of water, like, goes straight over. I look around, it's Lydia there. It's either Lydia or your nephew, Teddy. but It must have been Lydia. I don't think Teddy's that, like, cheeky. Especially doesn't really know you. It would definitely be Lydia. Oh, but was...
Speaker: Yeah. I know that, that I was, I'm so like, that is a massive mistake, that paddling port. It's wicked in a way, but it's too big. I just got it, it was 50 quid. Yeah. And I just looked at the measurements, it said like two meters by something. I was like, that sounds like, because i wanted a bigger one than the last one and after that burst.
Speaker: It's just too big. It took me like an hour to fill up. ah but But it's got like cushions in it and beer holders and stuff in it. So if I go for it, I could probably go for it. But by like a week after nursery, I put her in the old pan and pour couple of times. It takes like 10, 15 minutes to fill up.
Speaker: So was like, oh, God damn it. It's such a massive faux pas. I'll massive one. yeah So need buy another one probably. And heard Emily go, I don't know if on water meter. you're not. have no idea. We've been, we watered the grass all last year and didn't get any big bills. So please, I would say the hose was on for six, seven hours. Yeah. Probably.
Speaker: I kept turning it off and look around, it's on again. And like another dad was turning it on or on. I was like, oh, what's happening? It hits. Yeah. So pretty. So good. Although with your passing pool with the beer holders, we could like position in front of the...
Speaker: That fat old middle-aged men though. That does sound a good idea. But yeah, i loved having people over to be fair. Yeah, well, why you've such a got like such a good outdoor space. Yeah, it's great. I was grateful. look I loved seeing all the kids and the families, but i just felt bad because you don't even... There's that many people you still don't talk to. No. I didn't talk to hardly anybody, it felt like. don't talk to half the people, do you? I think it was nice to like see your outdoor pitching because obviously I've seen the AP stages and...
Speaker: It's awesome. Shout out Great Escape Garden Roomers, my brother's business, who they do garden rooms, but they've also started doing these outdoor kitchens. I think they've done, think this is the fourth, but Dave said this is his favorite because he just went to like ultra detail. I didn't even ask him to do this.
Speaker: ah just went on holiday. i went to Disneyland Paris and I came back and it was done. And the detail he's gone to by doing little alcoves. I've put LED lights in the alcoves. He's like framed it. It's absolute nuts. Absolutely nuts. So good. So worth it. Like, especially like,
Speaker: got the barbecue and then you've got like the pizza oven and then like the fridges and stuff. So good. Little hidden fridge is good. It's so good. And like when you're doing a barbecue, like how many times you're like standing there while playing? I don't know what to do with it. Yeah, exactly. The thing is with that, Outdoor kitchens, you can have one as big or as small as you want one.
Speaker: So, you know, it doesn't have to cost a fortune. You can have but a barbecue and then like a little space where you serve things up. Yeah. So good. And actually, if you did build it yourself, it wouldn't actually cost a ridiculous amount because it's just four by two, but is a lot. It was like, he says al I bought 20 lengths and you bought one other.
Speaker: So it must be like 40 to 50 lengths, which is probably about... three, four, five, three, I'd say about 400 pounds. And then the cedarwood stuff is expensive, like eight, 900 pounds.
Speaker: So it's not like loads of money if you did it yourself. But obviously if you had to pay someone, luckily mine was free because I did work for them for free. So it was a kind of exchange.
Speaker: I think also you, i suppose you wouldn't need the cedarwood, right? you think Oh, exactly. i Yeah, and Chris and his garden rooms, they use cheaper materials sometimes down the side or the back because people can't see it.
Speaker: People do generally go for the cedar, but you don't have to. There's way cheaper things you can clad it in. yeah, it looks awesome. I love it. I just want to host more and more and more, but I just don't want to spend £500,000 every Saturday. And the mess tidying up. Yeah. The garden didn't take too long, but we had our my nephew's second birthday party the next day. Yeah.
Speaker: So we basically did about two hours. Oh, no. And it was Father's Day, wasn't it? Yeah. So I went to breakfast with my dad and my brother and his nephews and Lydia. My nephews and Lydia, i'm my mum.
Speaker: And Emily stayed here and did tidying in the house. and then I came back, did about an hour of tidying in the garden. And basically five days later, we still haven't tidied like about four rooms now. There's just stuff everywhere. But I guess that's why some people don't bother doing it. It's just too much chaotic. Yeah, it is a lot of cars, but it's so work. Yeah, exactly. You've got these like, probably.
Speaker: Yeah. 100%. So if anyone wants an outdoor kitchen, this is not an ad, but great escape garden rooms are awesome. Give you 50%. Yeah. Yeah. And I just said all the costs out loud as well.
Speaker: yeah So what have you been up to other than the Barbie? What'd do for Father's Day? The Father's Day, i went round my parents. Chrissy made me breakfast. I'm going in the Crips. And then we just put... That's a good one.
Speaker: Nice. Yeah. So then we just worked down my parents' house and a good lot of of lunch. Oh, nice. And Dylan, his cousins were over there, so he was like pounding in. not Once again, I just had the Paddle and Core. Paddle and Core's the best thing ever.
Speaker: had the best time. And then, yeah, evening, we just sort of chilled out, especially made dinner, and then... Nice. But you didn't think good? Oh, to be fair, Lydia, or obviously Emily, but Lydia gave me the best card. It was like...
Speaker: personalised, you could draw a little picture in here, like favourite things to do if you here. i was like, oh my God, I'm so pathetic. i was getting quite emotional. Really? there And Emily was like, you're such a softie. You've got even softer since you've had lint. I was like, oh it's so pathetic.
Speaker: But yeah, that was not, and some chocolates, standard. They have already gone well I can't think what they're called. What are the Cadbury's buns? Yes. And they're all gone. And Emily had first dibs and she just goes for like the crunchy, the cream egg, the dairy milk straight off the bat.
Speaker: I'm like, they're my chocolates. Can I have first dibs? Because I swear they give you two dairy milks in like five eclairs or something. It's like, come on. Loaded by the worst ones. I said to Christy, I was like, this year I want Picamix because I'm so sweet.
Speaker: she went and got me some Picamix. Which ones? Oh, so how much Picamix is got 20 pounds. No idea. Apparently like, it's gotten from Tesco. Oh. So they do like a little. I didn't even know they did it.
Speaker: Oh, you just buy the pot, you don't choose. Oh, yeah, you buy the pot and then you... Oh, really? Yeah, they've got like... I haven't seen that in years. It's Woolworths. Yeah, yeah, exactly. I was full... Oh, you used to get like a pound. Yeah.
Speaker: Oh. Yeah, she got me that. And so there was these drinks in Italy that I was drinking called and lemon sodas. They're just like a lemon nut fizzy drink. They were so good. So she made me find it. Woof.
Speaker: That's a lemonade. Very nice. Oh, but nice of it. I thought you were going to say something really exotic. Yeah. If anyone's Italian that listens, they'll know. Lemonade is the best. Oh, nice. hi So, yeah, we did that. And then on Monday, our plumber came around and we're looking at doing our downstairs toilet. Really? So, yeah, super excited for that. So, yeah.
Speaker: So how long has that been since it's like, since like your last major thing that hasn't been DIY? ah like How long has that been, do I reckon? Two years? Yeah. Just shows how like slow these things are. Yeah, that's it. All the big jobs. And then I suppose I try and do as much as but all the little jobs that I can do myself to save money. Yeah. So I've been doing bits like that. But yeah, it's that this feels like it's going to be a real sort of game changer. Oh, so nice having a downstairs loo. Downstairs, sorry, no. Especially with a kid and he's doing toilet training. you're actually go quick
Speaker: i Yeah, that's going massively up. So, i mean, like, he's really great. Like I said, I want to do bits myself. And he was like okay, cool. And then we just sort of talked through it. And he's like, this is where like tradesmen just walk up their way and go, or he's oh, are you doing this? I'm like, oh, yeah, I'm thinking about this. And you can have like conversations with them. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker: Because we're going to have like the toilets that's like inset into the wall. So you've got to build like stud framework. And I was like, oh yeah, just do it to the ceiling. was like, oh, don't do it to the ceiling. Do it like to like halfway. And then you've got like, can put like, was like, not yet your wife and put like handles and like pictures and stuff. Yeah. And I was like, oh, I didn't even think about that stuff. Yeah. That's a nice idea.
Speaker: And then I talked through it, doing like a really small bit of underfloor heating, because otherwise, but where do you put the radiator such a smooth space? Yeah, true. Do you need heating?
Speaker: I think so, purely because it's on the external wall. Oh, yeah. I'm just thinking, like, it's just literally going be one, like, map. Yeah. ah think you can get one metre squared, can't you? Yeah. even, it'll probably just be that way. And to be fair, they are cheap to buy. Yeah. They're just expensive to run, aren't they? But you just have it on. That's it. But I just thought, where's such a small room?
Speaker: And if it's a little bit cold in there, it's not big deal. And, like, going in there with, like, no shoes on yeah like having it heated up and it is well nice with the heated floor there you suppose but then oh every time that's nice i'm like it's probably yeah definitely right so we're looking through that and then like getting prices back he's gonna like source like the the vanity and stuff where it is also so built in there's such a small space he was like oh you can source it yourself but like the way he's gonna do he's gonna able to find like
Speaker: Stuff you don't think about, like the thinnest bit. and Yeah. It's like a wall. Because loads of cloakroom stuff now. connnie I reduce depth toilets and reduce depth sinks and all that. That's what I need to look into the en suite grands. Like the sink can't really jut out more than like 20 centimetres. But I think there's loads these days. I think that's what we're going for. And Christy wants a little vanity under it. Yes. So it's like, oh, i I know you can get the vanity. Yeah.
Speaker: Vanities are easier for them as so Because you can get those s sinks where you can see the waste, but the waste is like attractive. Like... black or gold or whatever but then you've got nothing right spare the toilet rolls and stuff where you're putting this you just need anything i think so that's what i'm gonna do i'm gonna get i might try and get something in like this sort oaky style look here and just so something just put toilet rolls and bleach and stuff oh i was just out isn't it about that's exactly yeah and where it is like small space you don't want like it to be taken up by like a lot toilet bath that's difficult to what i mean it's like all those bits you don't want to hanging around
Speaker: What is annoying is like he was like, oh, what are you going for? Like with the metal in there. I was like, oh, Christy wants to go with brushed brass. Yeah. um I thought you might say that.
Speaker: Like chrome, you can get like the plastic ones and they look like chrome. Yeah. Rough brass is the most expensive. Yeah. yeah So even like the fluff. Yeah, and it's all the little bits. It's like the the waste in the sink and the collect the click-clack waste and stuff like Some of them are like £45 for like a little click-clack waste coming out just because it's brushed brass.
Speaker: My only tip on that is to try and buy from the same like company if you can. Otherwise, you just end up with different variations slightly and it's irritating. That's it. And he he said he's going to go to his supplier and just all the same supplier. So he'll just source everything.
Speaker: For a price. He was like, you can go and get your own bits, but I just think it's nicer when he knows what he's doing. Yeah, 100%. And he was oh, definitely want this brand of toilet as if going to it. Yeah, exactly. It's like we've said before, though. With toilets, feel like it's really crucial.
Speaker: It's the one thing I'd really like to see work, like how it works. Yeah, yeah. Because the toilets upstairs in our en suite are amazing. It's like... Like, everything's gone. and Whereas downstairs, it's like, boo. You're like, oh, God, all the guests are using in that. You're like, you need to come on, you need it a good, like, powerful flush here.
Speaker: always feel like you need a test, like, showers and toilets, but it's just not a thing. Yeah. You go to a kitchen showroom, you can see everything, how it works. But with a bathroom, you just don't. No. You just look, and I'll like the look of it. That's fine. Yeah, yeah. Even our shower head, we've got, like, a million little dot things.
Speaker: And it just quite slow, so I changed it to one with just less dots, and it's more powerful, obviously, because it's got less things coming out so I was just like, little thing, you just need to test this, it's been hard. It's like a hidden thing. like i thought This is where it's like people do this week in and week in. Yeah, 100%. Oh, you want to go for this? like And you've used him before. i mean you yeah trust him, I've used him so through you. Yeah, exactly. It's like, that's why I'm not getting numerous posts.
Speaker: Yeah. Plus he did all the plumbing in our house, so he's like, I know everything is. He set everything up in advance ah because he knew that we were going to play that. Mark, I remember the electric thing. I was going to say, you're going to be annoyed because you've got come back and be the electric. It's the world's easiest thing. all It's like yeah probably two lights, a light switch and a fan isolator and a fan. yeah Yeah. But I still like, just can't remember where it all is. And hopefully there's like the writing still on there, but it's not docking size. I'll be to work it No, exactly.
Speaker: Well, lucky for you, i haven't plastered the board doing anything. Yeah. Literally just have a look. But... I'm pretty sure it's very self-explanatory, like, where you're wiring this. I'll probably send you your a picture before I block. Yeah, I can always pop it. It's fine. It's fine. though So what's your first job? Plasible, the ceiling, internet and plasma ceiling, like the slope there. So I suppose it's a little more complex because...
Speaker: one end of the toilet where the ceiling is all pipe for our boiler her flu goes through so the builder access oh yeah there so this is right where the plumber was mocking me because he's like oh just you know don't bother getting a cheap one from sprufix you just like build one from scratch i was like it gonna build one from scratch so we're going to have to put like a hatch because legally you have to access the clue.
Speaker: All of it or just like a part of it? just Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was all of it. Yeah. It's purely it just runs through at the end. So the way it works anyway, because it's under our stairs, it will be like a flat ceiling. So there'll be enough of a void. Yeah. not the access So that's not a big deal.
Speaker: I've got to build a stud wall where the downstairs toilet meets like the slogan bit of under the stairs as well, because we're going to put storage and stuff. Nice.
Speaker: um I think the thing I'll speak to you about is obviously all my cables run through there. Yes. So but best ways to like hide those, whether or not i chase out the wall and it goes in there or if it's the the way the ceiling falls.
Speaker: Some people put a little dummy panel thing in. So just like clad the wall or the ceiling with like the thinnest bit of timber. Yeah. And then just like put a bit of... thin bit of like hardboard or whatever across it.
Speaker: Then all the cables just sit in that little void. And then you've got like a flat surface. But yeah, I mean, you could chase it. That's a lot of effort. There must be loads of cables. Yeah. And then you have to bond it in and stuff. Yeah. You just want to bring out. and the I just did a rewire.
Speaker: And I needed to get from under the stairs upstairs, which like always. And they you can see the last people did that. And I literally pulled this thing down from under the stairs. And was just a whole void where they just battened it out It left me a island massive void. It was awesome. It perfect. Yeah. So I imagine it just be something like that. My brother, rewired his house in 2015.
Speaker: And he's still never done that. And that was the plan. to Run them all down the wall. We're bathing it out. And every time I go there, there's like a thousand cables, like all behind their coats. I'm just like, oh, let's do it, man. But why? But then and I've only put up three photo frames the other day that I've been trying to put up for about six months. So I get how slow these look.
Speaker: So, yeah, the idea is we're going to like plaster the top half and then we're going to use... it' kind of like, it's called like EU panning. Oh, yeah, yeah. It's just like the sex, probably similar to what you've i think that's what I've got upstairs. I think they gifted me them.
Speaker: Yeah, and I did a little video for them. I i think that's behind our bedrooms. and Oh, and in the downstairs toilet. Yeah, it's those. It's just so easy. Just slots in like tongue and groove into each other. and cut them down if you want to.
Speaker: They come in different sizes. They were awesome. And then they've got like a little thing can on top if you want to. or you could do something different. Yeah. Yeah, they were great. And then you just stick. Yeah, you just put um silicone or whatever, or CT1 or whatever you want, and just stick it in. um We used some pins because that was the old part of the house, so some of our walls were little bit out.
Speaker: But generally, just stuck up in our bedroom, where it was all brand new. took me like an hour. so google And that was a bit harder because I had to go around sockets and stuff. They have super, super good stuff, really clever.
Speaker: What i have seen, and this is really random, I don't know why I've just thought about this, I was listening this podcast, the from Romesh. Oh, it's coming yeah, also that one. And it was like, it made me think you because I know love the chocolate digestive. Love the chocolate digestive.
Speaker: So which way up do you eat a chocolate digestive? Chocolate up. Chocolate up, yeah. Like, that is like a no-brainer. Officially, you should eat it chocolate down. Why?
Speaker: Because of the taste buds on your tongue. No way. But like you would look mental. if When your hands get covered in chocolate, I guess it's sort of same, same, isn't it? but But still, no imagine watching someone, you'll be like, hang on a minute.
Speaker: I've got to do that. I think they're a very underweight biscuit there also. Would you prefer dark or milk? I prefer dark. Yeah, like I used to have milk, but dark. Dark's way better. It's not as sweet and the biscuit is sweet.
Speaker: You sound like people are food quizzing. was just going to say something really basic, like I just feel it tastes better. You were a bit technical for me there. Not anyone knows me. I've got the most beige palette. But you talk about biscuits, know, and I've been to that test and bloom them. Oh, it's too hot to laugh like that. No, but just like 34 or outside, basically.
Speaker: oh Yeah, it's super hot today. Yeah, i was ridiculous. It was too much. i am Grand is actually quite cool. It's like mainly older. i felt it a fifty ill still that' I still haven't looked up when it was built, I'm pretty sure it was Yeah, and I guess there's not much insulation or stuff. But yeah, it's just even the plasterer who's been there all week in the last few weeks, he actually said that's not bad, to be fair. You know, plastering is just... well yeah hey We've said this so many times to guests and stuff, haven't we? Yeah. your Your mindset, you must get used to it, but I'm so impressed by painters and plasterers that just cracking on at like a similar-ish job every day. I think plastering...
Speaker: might be more, i dont I'm not saying this in a rude way, mundane than painting. I think there's less like diverse in in it, do you think? Same. I mean, I guess a lot of it, there's a lot of prep still with like bonding and like foaming bits and yeah i the scrimp tape and and stuff like that.
Speaker: But I don't think that takes like a massive amount of time. Then it is just like plastering, plastering, plastering. fair play to you But hed but you know he's just used to and he's only good money and stuff. So he's just like, obviously fine. but I don't think what's worse, plastering or rendering?
Speaker: Oh, God. Rendering UK has got to be bad, hasn't Because just the weather, it's either too hot or too cold, basically. Yeah, too wet. Too wet. Never liked that. did my, he, he the plasterer, the Grand Spangler did that my rendering here.
Speaker: Oh, really? Yeah. I can't think if I said this in the last one, but I had to, not use my regular plaster and it was a bit awkward had to say to him oh Jimmy he was an absolute legend like best personality really good plasterer but he's just so busy he just does loads of jobs so in in a five day week it wouldn't actually shock me if he did like eight jobs and there's just him and another guy and I just said I really want this on in September so i reached out to Dave the builders plasterer Lee who did the rendering here did some he's lot stuff for me and part
Speaker: And he said, yeah, I'll i'll start and I'll just crack on till I finish the whole house. And I was like, it's definitely costing me more. i wouldn't like to say how much as a percentage, maybe like 20%.
Speaker: But literally now, almost ready for, I'll go in more later, but I'm almost ready for like the kitchen. i can start putting skirting on. And it's not just like, like the whole house is like nearly done basically.
Speaker: That's how I work. But obviously I get why Jimmy can't work like that. because Yeah. He's got too many clients, basically. Yeah, that's it. And I was going to say to you, i don't know, because I need to have pastor and we use Jimmy and Arthur.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. He probably likes that sort of room though because he's so busy. He can just come by himself. Probably needs like one bag of everything. Yeah.
Speaker: Bonding and stuff, he's probably just got like a little bit in the back he can use. It'd probably be cheap as chips. Yeah, that's what was thinking. And like... Especially with only doing half walls as well. Yeah.
Speaker: Didn't know whether or not to do the whole thing, but then if you've got EasyPan, then it's different. yeah. I think you might as well do the whole thing, though, as it's so small. Yeah. Obviously, just don't go right down to the bottom, you might as well do a bit, otherwise the panels might sit out.
Speaker: Yeah. So you might as well do it properly, I think, as it's so small. but Do I do the panels first? No, just just get it all plastered and then do the panels last, like with skirting or whatever. Yeah, I think that'd be easy.
Speaker: always think it's hard for, I would hate to quote for that, but he's more used to it. He just goes on, blah, blah, blah, 250 or something. Yeah. Because he probably will be there two hours, but you've still had to travel there, like get all the materials, travel somewhere else.
Speaker: It's still a half day and you're like 250 quid for half day. But then you're like, oh, actually, if you did a full day with two guys, it might be like six, seven, eight. So it kind of does make sense. But I know, yeah, you think, oh, maybe it's half day, but you've probably got to turn up, like, fill some bits, like, put some stuff out and then do it.
Speaker: So I was thinking maybe a day, like. Yeah. It's a small room, but sometimes it's harder doing a smaller space thing. And you've got funny angles. Yeah. yeah like And I ive found at Grand's as well,
Speaker: I was like, the smaller rooms going so quick to like, plasterboard and stuff like that. because they're smaller, it's awkward to get, like, plasterboard sheets in. So if you're plastering, you might be like, oh, I'm i'm ah stuck against one wall doing this. It's, like, slightly more uncomfortable. Yeah.
Speaker: I did wonder about that, like... past the ceiling in there. So going to all the past the building myself. Yeah. It's like such a small space, like trying to get it up. Yeah.
Speaker: It depends whether it or can actually fit in the room. Otherwise you just have to split it in half or whatever. Yeah. I made the faux part grand doing this one ceiling, I think I said to you, in one sheet. have just split in half. yeah It barely got in there and then it got all the way up and it left like a 10 mil gap, which isn't a big deal. yeah i was like, it took me like so long, faffing, faffing, faffing, faffing. I should have just gone back. It would have taken me half the time. And when you hold it. Exactly. oh I had the plasterboard hoist, oh my which helped me but also slows me down because the room was tiny. was like bashing one wall, not perfect. It took me so long to get it up.
Speaker: methods Yeah, it wouldn't surprise me those little rooms. It's like actually more annoying. this that He's still doing like four walls and a ceiling. It's just very small. Yeah. And around all the plumber's pipework and stuff. Yeah. Yeah, it's...
Speaker: I was thinking a day. yeah Oh, yeah. Easy. Yeah, it should be a day. I reckon it should be a day. I did some quite satisfying plasterboard in this, but you know when all the all the plumber's pipes are sticking out of bathroom? Yeah. And you're like, oh, you yeah like you think oh it's just a full sheet on the floor, but it's not because the full sheet's 2.4, so i've got but I put a bit of 4x2 on the floor to raise it up, and then it's all getting screeded up.
Speaker: So I have to like think, well, this sheet's not on the floor. It's like this much up. And then have to measure up and out to each pipe. And so there was like a waste for the shower in like hot and a cold waste for the toilet and a waste two. So there's like five things had to cut out and I did it And you're just like, come on baby. It is weird.
Speaker: And it just went first time im over all five. was like, yeah, come on. I'm so pleased with myself. i mean, I did the holes like bigger than like probably you could have done, but I was still like, it's fine. It's getting tiled. It's getting plastered. It's all good.
Speaker: So satisfied. Yeah. I was thinking like, interesting, you're your land place is like cooler because I saw this new trend online and you know, when you watch something you like that doesn't seem like it's clear.
Speaker: Not clickbaity, but it was just like, you're watching, you're like, that doesn't make sense. So obviously everyone in the UK is now like immensely hot. Yeah, I am right now. I'm wearing this little like podcast. have been listening into Everyone's sweating. They're like looking up ways to like stay cool.
Speaker: And this one was like, oh, open your loft hatch because hot air rises and it's going to go through your loft and then you're going to be nice and cool. And was like, i I've been in my loft when it's even slightly sunny and it boils. It's And then other I don't know, it must have got in my algorithm because then I saw someone debunk it.
Speaker: Yeah. as They were saying like, yeah, you are opening hot air does rise, but it also goes, hot air goes towards cold air. So if you open your loft, the hot air is just going to get down. Yeah.
Speaker: come out and into a house and make it even hotter. So I was like, mate, someone's spreading some vicious root. That would be my first instinct as well. That wouldn't be a good idea. It's just like a room full of hot air and you just let a little... Yeah, I didn't actually think of it ever going be cold, but now it sounds logical, doesn't it? Yeah. It's just like, oh, it's going up. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
Speaker: And then... um So what was it i saw last It was like... don't open your windows. Everyone thinks, oh, I know. It's like, keep shut. Shuttle your curtains. We did that. But when I got home, I just had to, we opened the front door and the back door and then like, and then it brings like a bit of a wafty through. But we had them all closed and we were just too much. And then actually, obviously it probably hasn't helped, but did bring a breeze to like cool us down because I was just melting.
Speaker: Yeah, definitely. And at night when it does get cooler, obviously not going to do it like... Yeah, going so exactly. Like you say, if you've got like front and back open, it does actually bring like fresh air. Yeah.
Speaker: Did you see the other one on Capitol? with that Is it Chris Stark? What's the name? Sian something? And the guy used to be on Radio 1. Oh, Chris Sian and... Oh, God. Pitt Jordan.
Speaker: So, she's saying if you... So, if you had a kid, nothing to do a kid, but picturing a car. So, if you open your front window being the driver, yeah like a little... I think just a little... don't know if it's all the way or just a little bit.
Speaker: And then your kid's back left window is like diagonally opposite. Yeah. Oh, no, sorry. I'm trying to absolutely rubbish. So open the kid's back left window. Yeah. And then waft your door open and close like five or six times, something like that.
Speaker: Apparently, that does waft in some scientific way. All the cold air and swirls it around and actually cools down the whole car. Yeah, so that was almost, mean, I don't how scientific there you are. yeah She actually did say on Capiton, I was like, no way, I'd love to try that. I've got my dad's rubbish car, which has got really rubbish aircon. So I was like, I've got to try it see if it works. But just looked like an absolute nutter. yeah But if it worked, I mean, I'd go for it.
Speaker: I was like, so i obviously coming over to yours, I came home from work, I was in the office today, laughing the aircon, and then you get on a train and you're like, this is mental. Ow. How is it 2026 and there is no air con on train? that is I'm lucky I haven't had to get a train yet. I usually would have, I've just chosen to have the car. yeah I'm sorry, I can't.
Speaker: How is that a not a thing? There's a couple of things as well with that. it's been I see people like walking home since like 34, say was it, or 36 days. I see people wearing their jackets still.
Speaker: I'm like, you're like a lunatic. Even if you've got the world's biggest sweat patches, I was just like, it's fine. Take the jacket off. You're dying. There's always someone in the pocket. Yeah. I just don't get it. Maybe some people just don't, aren't affected by as much or something. I'm literally sweating now.
Speaker: Shorts and a t-shirt. Shorts and a t-shirt. Yeah, you look at them, you're like, I'm sweating. You must be like, drinking. Yeah. Yeah, that's a lot of tips for keeping cool. Tips for keeping cool, yeah.
Speaker: yeah So then, yeah, you so you'll do your toilet. How long it going take? um ah then I don't know. always takes so much longer. I'm hoping it should take me. don't really want to book time off work, but I probably will have to. I reckon it will be like a hundred seven a week of work.
Speaker: ah but So, like, over a few weeks. Yeah. So, shouldn't take me too long. I'm doing, like, some some of the stud work, plasterboard in and do the easy panning, doing the flooring and... Oh, right, nice. Yeah, you're doing a ton work then.
Speaker: I was thinking, what are you doing? i was like, actually, you've just labelled, like, a tempering. Yeah. You do Yeah, just because of the barbecue barbecue motivating me, I had a list of things to do, and it was put a few put three photo frames up in the utility room. i farcically used a laser. Fun, though. And much quicker, obviously.
Speaker: Much better. Even though at first one of them was out, but it's because the frames are so shit we bought. yeah They're the same, but not the same. I looked at the back, and the little clip thing was slightly different places. I like, oh, my God.
Speaker: And I started painting that chimney breast we did. started since September, so I did the skirting really rough. Like it was my bedtime and everyone I'm going to go do the bath and book. So was like, I'm going to do skirting. Yeah, And then driving it after when she fell asleep, I did another coat and I did the chimney.
Speaker: So did that and then I did a few bits of the barbecue and it literally took me nearly two days. I'm not joking. I'm just on and off stuff yeah around life. And i was like, didn't really do much. I jet washed the patio.
Speaker: yeah Just all these little things. It just takes so much for time. Yeah. So frustrating. What annoys me is like, you i need to do this job. And then you're like, actually, I've got like four other jobs. i have Yeah. Or I can actually do this job. Yeah. That is so annoying. And Lydia was helping me with the jet wash. I did like loads when she was at nursery. And she I was like, she'll actually like it. It's just fun to like dick about with the jet washers there.
Speaker: But the bit she helped me with was so frustrating in the air. Because just wanted to look and just spray me or up in the air. And there was just this one bit under the table she just never did. And i was sitting there and set on Saturday. I was oh, that's dirty there still. but Why did she do it?
Speaker: That's when we first got to it. remember she generally did it properly, like going out. But now she was like, no, it's just too much fun. Just like squirt everywhere. for Fair enough, she's full. Yeah, that's it. So, yeah, like we're we're getting a quote to get our.
Speaker: that Oh, you have to let know. And then, yeah he was just like the amount like material. I know. You probably know. this yourself Well, I said we should probably do a thing on it. We're talking a little bit now, but i think we should do it almost like a special on it because it's literally... I even saw the Blam Hall Bill guys who we interviewed a couple of months ago.
Speaker: he he bought a bit of guttering today. oh yeah. And because they've been... I think they're five years in, aren't they, or four or five years in. He literally had the same... He had the prices on his spreadsheet of what he bought this exact same bit before.
Speaker: So he paid £10.97 or something like that today. what do you think he paid four or five years ago?
Speaker: No, lower. Lower. Not fiver. 590 something or 570 or something like that. You're just like, is it is it actually costing more we're just getting completely ripped off?
Speaker: As I just say, we want to do a special in it, but I'm speaking to so many tradesmen who haven't got as much work. And I think it's A, everyone's charging more. Yeah. So obviously you're going to get a little bit less work if somebody starts charging like seemingly 300 to 500 a day, it seems like. Yeah. And then B, materials are just a joke. So people just like, how can you afford it? No. Especially like this time of year, if you're going on holiday and stuff. Yeah.
Speaker: I think rob one of our friends just did his toilet and downstairs. It was just, the quote was just phenomenal. Yeah, it's mad. Hard, isn't it? Like, trying to get it done because you want your house to look nice, but you don't want to pay extortionate now to manage them. Yeah, and that's why looking at changing... um We've got IKEA wardrobes upstairs.
Speaker: I've never liked them. I was going to rip them out and do it properly and buy new ones and install it myself. I've just decided to change my mind and just buy different IKEA inserts to improve it because everything's just mad. might cost me like three grand where...
Speaker: Initially, I think I paid 700 and something. Yeah. So i might have to spend a further 300 or something to bring it up to like a nice spec with more drawers, more hanging space. Or rip it all out, put it in a landfill, which is just stupid. Yeah. And spend three grand on essentially stuff to hang your clothes and stuff. Yeah.
Speaker: Isn't it IQ that you can take some stuff? Yeah, I've read that. don't know how they do that. And what conditions. Yeah, yeah. I have heard that's true. i don't know. Obviously, they must recycle it or something, wasn't it?
Speaker: Yeah, they must do. But their stuff is really good, to be fair, for lot the cheaper. It's definitely like not as good quality as ah when you're buying kitchen, that same like wood. it's obviously wood, but it is good for the money.
Speaker: But then that's great that you can... I'm sure a lot people have done that past. Oh, yeah. A great tip that you're like, oh, actually, got drawer in here now, and I don't actually use that. I would rather shelf, you just take it and put it in. Yeah, exactly. We've got all these shelves, and it just gets dusty because we don't have doors and It's supposed to be open, you know, like walking wardrobe style, full of dust. So I'm just going to place it all for drawers, and I think they're 25 pound a drawer. Yeah. So I could do like five or six of those, and just, yeah, so much better i just being able to do that.
Speaker: very good that you can just swap it out. Yeah. Because it's like, you know, and sometimes you like envisage something and then you use it and you're not actually... Yeah....need an extra drawer or something. But yeah, the materials are just farcical and yeah, I think someone needs a price comparison website just to find the cheapest places because it's just getting ridiculous now and I'm just shopping around...
Speaker: Yeah. an argument But I'm not stalking you, I promise, but I saw on Instagram some very exciting news that your kitchen's been delivered. Yeah, I'm so sorry for those guys. I know.
Speaker: They were just so... know, some people really moan about it. I'm like in between. I'm like, I'm fine, but moan about little. They were just not moan about it at all. They're just like, that's fine, we've got to do our job, crack on. One of them was, let's I ordered from DIY Kitchens, my favourite.
Speaker: I've ordered the same styles I've got here. I try and trust it. tried and tested made out real wood a lot i like that rather than the other stuff they some other companies tend to use yeah and it's so yeah it came today and it's just super looks exciting it's worked perfectly because the plaster has literally just finished Front two bedrooms, the hallway, the living room, finished the kitchen today, moved into the extension now.
Speaker: So living room, I spent a whole day, i spent the whole day, end of a day clearing it. So there's nothing in there. And it's a really nice size. And so the kitchen has just slotted straight into there already. And I've just got to unpackage it, check it for damage.
Speaker: And even better luck. yeah but The appliances, ordered through DIY kitchens as well. I've done the work, so I've done the handles. so the appliances came the day and it two different delivery companies so I booked them in when I knew the kitchen was coming and worked out luckily like it that was able to change the date and then they literally phoned me on the same minute as in like it was like 35 past 10 in the morning or something i was like I will see you in like three hours or something. I was like, okay, cool.
Speaker: And I put that down and it phoned again. And I was like, oh, it must be, he must have dialed me again by mistake. was like, hello. And this was a different delivery company. was like, oh, maybe it's the same company, but one driver's making thing and the other one is.
Speaker: And then even weirder, they both turned up at like 2.15 together and they're different companies. And I was like, this is the weirdest thing. It's like they both come from the DIY kitchen thing or somewhere yeah to pick up the stuff together.
Speaker: And I'm like, the first drop or something? But they were completely different companies. They were like, oh, we're going to put our stuff over here and the different vans. i was just like, there was just weird quits going on to that. But in one day, it got all got delivered and it's all wrapped up lovely. But I've got the farcical thing of checking it. So annoying. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker: I'd that with mine. wish I wish I'd like kept as I like got it out yeah hard when you're trying to get it in and then you're like don't want to take the package know yeah ah exactly and you get the problem is as well it's wrapped obviously so well and cardboard cardboard cardboard so you need to think about where to put the cardboard as well so if it's not going to rain for a bit i can put it outside because it honestly it will fill up like the room so much cardboard um but yeah you've got check it for damage now think get was gonna say two weeks but that feels too long But if if the kitchen fitters can, Stuart can start fitting it, it's great. Because I can start moving it in and checking it whilst we go. I'm going try and have a little glance at it just so I'm, because it might take a week or so to get a replacement. Yeah, true, yeah. But yeah, nice it's really exciting now. And as I say, so Lee the plaster has been there, don't even know how long now, but just solidly. He's basically finished Gran's old house as it was. Yeah.
Speaker: Everything's just coming together all of a sudden as well with me pestering people. and like being annoying but also having those relationships with people who have dealt with them loads before it's like andy was there stay he's done the window in the kitchen just in time for it to get plastered he's done the windows in the extension now so we've got watertight in there that means that can be gotten dabbed and plastered it's that perfect timing ah only caveat to that is we've still got no back door and the other back door needs change but my window guy is so old school. He was like, I think I said to you he said, I'm going to lower it.
Speaker: So it's the same height as the other window. it looks good from the back. And I was like Oh, don't bother. There's like a drain pipe in between. You can't really see it. yeah I'm not as precious about it. It's like my house where he was like really keen on that.
Speaker: He ignored me. Did it anyway. And also I said not to do that. you've got to it. said, no, don't want do it. He went and bought the bricks all part of the same price. So he put the like, put the bricks in so made it smaller to match the other one and then on the inside that had been plastered because i told him to come four weeks ago and that he went on a holiday did other bits i don't know why he just like plastered it skimmed it in feathered it in and he's just like he's been doing it for 40 years or whatever so he knows how to do everything but and i was like fair play i was i actually said you don't bother doing it like 10 out of 10 and you've done it 10 out of 10
Speaker: So from the back is all... It literally would have been one brick out. So the utility window would have been one brick. Would it have been lower or something? No, higher, higher. So you're yeah. But I was like, fair play you, mate. But yeah, it's all just clicking on now. So the plumber's telling me order the shower tray and the bath because... Oh, and that's the other thing. On Saturday, Dave and Toby, the builders, are doing the screening, the extension, to bring up to finished floor level.
Speaker: And that means... the shower train the bathroom can go in and then that can be plastered around that as well so it's all just flying so i feel like my september finish is pretty on the board yeah it's awesome so good like like you say when when you do set that deadline it does hit it yeah because where you've done it so often you know like the way to the stages i guess and when to ring Yeah, and even just, yeah, it's so hard to advise people on that. and I bet people who have never done it before, they I remember making that mistake. Bathrooms as well are so technical.
Speaker: ah You do need the shower tray down first, and then you can get the tiler in or all that plasma, and then you get the tiler in. And knowing that order is really tricky. Yeah. um Even like my other plumber likes the radiators there so he can hang the radiators after plastering, make sure they're right and take them off again. Then you can paint and stuff. Whereas this plumber was like, don't bother with that. I've i've done the post.
Speaker: I'm bang on. I've really thought about it. So I just sort of learned over the years, which all does it do? it I think it's finally paying off. Yeah. And like I said before, it's not a big house. So it just feels better. Everything to feels easier.
Speaker: Yeah. So we're doing well, doing well. Yeah, budget maybe. The £100,000 bungalow renovation, I'd be surprised if it was the £100,000 bungalow. I haven't spent much this week because the kitchen was £14,000 and a bit grand. yeah Probably four weeks ago, I think I said.
Speaker: we were in the 80s then. paid the plaster a little bit of money. Plumber, I think I'd already paid, I think I've paid him six and a half now of his 12 quotes. So it's not too bad money-wise going out last week. I think I've had another skip since then.
Speaker: It's not too bad. So I haven't actually done this, spread but it must be in the 80s still, hopefully. I feel like 100's not going to do it. No, no. 100's not going to do it. i'll be There's no way it could be over 110. I just don't think we have it.
Speaker: No, yeah. But I just don't think it's going to either. It would only go if we decided to do the if he fell into money and decided to drive in the garden, yeah which it's definitely not doing. Definitely not doing. It's just too much money.
Speaker: Yeah. It's good to hear it, mate. Yeah. fra little fin Another solid episode. Another a solid episode. Rambling about also. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Not much DIY. Also, so I like it. I like it when I'm just chatting about the bungalow for an hour. I feel I'm just talking too much. Imagine if you were doing DIY. It would make me laugh when Chrissy said when you went to Italy, you you had a weekend off DIY. You're You must be so sick of it.
Speaker: I enjoy it. What I get sick of is like big projects because they take so long. It's fine when I still do something that you can do in a couple of days and then it's done. Yeah. oh that's nice. And you can step step back and look it.
Speaker: Yeah. I like it when you can throw away the stuff, you know, like you do something, you throw away the stuff. I don't like it when you've got like limbs skirting hanging around the house for like six years and stuff. don't That winds me up so much. Although I am like one of those typical guys that keeps like all the wood and all the stuff. Well, one day. i Yeah, yeah that I've got that, but it's in the garage. yeah Amazing. Well, thank you to everyone for sticking around and listening to us bumble on. Everything really, wasn't it?
Speaker: We say it every week. Please drop us some emails. We will, will, we'll do an episode of the Day of Freedom. I know we keep saying it, but we will do that. So if you do want to get in contact, please reach out to hello at DIYguardspodcast.com or just hit us up on Instagram, DIY underscore guys.
Speaker: And I look forward to chatting to you again next week. Yeah, see you next week.
