Finally finishing off the Landing Ceiling

It has been a few years now and it's about time I finally finished the last few bits. The last major job was to take down the old, damages lathe and plaster ceiling on the landing. So I can fit the sun tunnel and fire alarm on to new plasterboard.

It's quite a quick job to rip down but the clearing up and cleaning up after wards is a huge task.

The rest of it should be a bit cleaner.

Other Extreme DIY - after the Loft Conversion

Another project just being born, after a long pregnancy.
I'm now going to be covering what I'm up to at http://www.idostuff.co.uk/ and a blog at www.iDoStuff.co.uk/blogs . At this stage it's not not fully formed but I can't stop the delivery now. "Nurse, the forceps quick!"

Why I've not finished the loft conversion yet!

It's a problem I have, biting off a bit more than I can chew. Starting a new project before I've finished the last. Since January I've been masticating this house....

... and turning it into this

It was bargin at auction but has needed a lot of work, I'll detail what I've done elsewhere. Anyway it's about done now, the first viewing has resulted in a tenant so I can move on.

On the big TO DO LIST. finish off the loft conversion, landing ceiling, sun tunnel, smoke alarm staining and varnishing and finally get the Building Control sign off. Plus the Sliding Sash windows, plus earning some money, plus everything else I've been neglecting.

Nearly finished the Loft joinery

Well I missed the Christmas dealine to finish the loft conversion but I put in some hours between Christmas and New Year.


The Landing Banister and and one streach of hand rail up the the stairs is fitted and looking good. I've finally unwrapped the newel turning just so I can stand back and admire the handiwork.

I've got a run of 7 spindles and handrail to go, hopefully this weekend. It's a tricky one as I've got to cut the handrail with a compound angle at both ends.

The other bit I wanted to finish was the shelves to create our pompus sounding library. The uprights I had finished a while back are made from one of the old pulins I took out. All the rest is new timber I've had aclimatisin for ages. As always it took longler than I expected. This was due to walls and purlin not being perfectly square. Each shelf is individually shaped so it all lines up.

So with a lot of sanding then finshing it will be complete. However this will have to wait as we've bought another project house to do up that will keep me busy for a few months.

A little progress on the loft conversion

The spindles should be delivered this weekend and now I can see the finish in sight. I've started making the shelves for the landing area. However time is running short, with another house to do up due in January, finishing the Loft stairs etc. is going to have to go on hold. I'm determined to get the bulk of it done before Christmas...

These Christmas deadlines keep cropping up.

Sprial Stair for Loft Spindle turning price

I've ordered the 25 spindles in hemlock. Total price inc. delivery and Vat £195.
Not much dearer than the local chap but it leaves me with 25 planed up blanks in redwood sitting doing nothing. Oh well, I live and learn.

Let me know If you want details of my supplier that can get the turning done on a copy lathe.

Alternative spindle turning for spiral stairs

I went to see the chap about the spindle turning. I think he's not so keen on doing 25, however he's put me on to local stairparts place who can now send a spindle out to someone with a copy lathe. I should get price for these tomorrow for doing in hemlock and for using the blanks I've already got.