Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

Thanks karmalady - I'm going to venture into my loft now I know it's clear of woodworm and I'll have a look - so I can tell a tradesman if it happens to me I'm terrified of falling through the ceiling.

shandy, lofts need the ventilation, the mistake that many diyers make is to tuck insulation right into the soffits, which is where incoming air is from. I noticed that mine had no insulation around the edges and almost tucked it in, then I read about not doing that or result would be mould and condensation. Oh, this is when my husband would have been a pillar, he was so hot on loft ventilation, first thing he did was check that. The family home, he went around putting soffit vents in as soon as we moved in. I am having to research every step of the way, thankfully my brain is still very active

The loft gets cooler when extra insulation is added and more so when the loft is boarded and filled with stuff, hence more likelihood of condensation esp in winter. The air going up is moist from eg washing drying indoors, cooking, bathroom etc so cooker hood should be used and I am not going to dry any more washing indoors without the humidifier on, anyway it saves money v a tumbler dryer, I always try to dry washing outside but even more so now. Watch outside rh (humidity), it was 67 here 2 days ago and in spite of getting cottons out at 1, they were almost dry by 4

I have decided to not fret about that small patch, I will not be using the en suite vent any more as there is a window to open in summer and I will have my dehumidifier close by in winter. Just thinking ahead, I don`t want to be checking every few weeks and certainly don`t want a problem to show itself if I move again, even in years to come

My (non-diy) neighbour had to have the roof vent exits moved and loads of repair work inside. I am sure that they have not been up to check, they sometimes have 6 in the house, all having showers and baths and another neighbour part boarded for him a few months ago. None of that first household would think of going up to check and the builders have long gone. I am in preventative mode here after his experience

Shandy what did you observe?

Yes I did oil all the door parts Karmalady think you may be right re the door dropping. Had someone to quote for patio doors yesterday, another next Weds and just asked another, so 3 quotes is enough. The first said he could do it in 6 weeks time and it would take just a day, so sounds good, just need the cost now.

Oh Shandy you are going through it! Why did the survey not pick up on all this?

Thanks for sharing all your tips Karmalady and everyone else, it really is helpful to hear. xx

I am glad you said that yogi, I felt afterwards that I went on a bit much but I try not to waffle. At the end of the day we are a support club and if what any of us say helps just one person, then it is worth taking up space on this thread. The new doors would be a better spec anyway yogi, better insulated

I have now ordered and given a large deposit for my new kitchen. Big Deep Breath. Have arranged for all the work to be carried out in May. Will be able to have in the dining part of my Living Room, my table opened out and covered, and will put on that, toaster, microwave, kettle, etc. Will put my existing larder fridge in there, so will manage like that for a fortnight in the summer - using the sink in my en-suite for water, etc. My bedroom is next to my Living Room and opposite to the kitchen, so will be easily accessible. Will store boxes of food and kitchen stuffs in spare bedroom, along with freezer, washing machine and dishwasher. Considering purchasing a small, single plug-in electric hob for that fortnight also. I still have to decide on the new flooring, and will be paying a visit to my usual flooring company during half-term to sort that.
Apart from property (always and only for me to live in), this is by far my largest payment for any single item. Far more than any cars I ever purchased, even those from new.
Caught, at present, between being very excited and feeling trepidation.

On the matter of vents. Do remember that in the 'old days' nobody had any such things in their kitchens. AND, often those rooms were also used to dry wet washing. Can't remember any specific mould problems caused.

When I came here I discovered that the vent to both the bathroom and en-suite (both internal) was not working. These were joined through a single pipe going to an external wall. Thought it had either been deliberately turned off due to noise or else fused. But it turned out to be that the motor had died. I was rather concerned and used to leave the en-suite door wide open all day after using the shower. All repaired now.

The kitchen here, much to my astonishment, had no cooker hood over the hobs. That kitchen was installed in 2003 and expensively done, cannot think why it was not included. Have not found it a particular problem, - also not a lot of steam ever made in my hob use. But , am having one included in my new kitchen.

Hope everyone is careful when going up into lofts. One of my really bad falls was from a loft, as I slipped on the steps coming down and fell (Edwardian house, high ceilings). Split second of falling,- felt like an age as I can clearly remember making myself twist in the air as I thought I would fall and smash my skull on the edge of the landing radiator. In the event I missed that but did break my clavicle as I landed on the floor. Perhaps main reason for that fall was that I was wearing slippers at the time!!!!

That fall sent a shiver down my back Franbern. You`ll be camping too, tbh it is very worth it and so is all that pre-planning of what to put where. I also bought a single plug -in induction hob, it was very necessary. I also found some instant food very useful

The old houses were not sealed as nowadays, the fireplaces for starters, they always had air up and down the chimney and windows were not sealed units. From 1994 new builds have to fulfill SAP testing for energy assessment, air is not allowed to flow as before. Houses also used to breathe

I spoke to my neighbours yesterday, he has stage 4 cancer, so I am not saying anything to worry them. They are still waiting for the remedial work to be finished, have a very heavy loop in their aluminium vent pipe and now have a 2" water stain circle around the en suite vent and also drips coming through the vent.

I think they have a water blockage from previous problem in their venting system and that is causing the water vapour to only travel up to there, turn back to liquid and travel back down. Honestly I am horrified. If his wife and I get a moment, I will suggest having the ducting re-done by a plumbing company that I know, of very good repute, . It will cost them but I also think they need a stronger fan. They have been waiting months and poor jobs are blamed on different trades

I have certainly learned from this, I would only ever have a full structural snagging survey now on a new build. We never needed to have a survey for any other house but I had my husband. I had a full structural survey done on the 1930s house I liked, before this one, there were potential problems so I quickly pulled out, best £2000 I ever spent

The air is very cold at the moment, so it is a good time for condensation to happen, if it is going to happen. I am sticking to my plan for now, re my vent. I will go and examine the tray underneath in a couple of weeks

Ohh, this is so typical of me once I have a potential solution to a problem. I went up to the loft again this morning, getting to be quite nimble now. Left the vent and bathroom light on.

Pulled back the insulation over the thin white flexible vent pipe and it is cosy and warm in there from the little motor and the ceiling light below and any warm air pulled up through the vent, no chance of any condensation now. I actually wanted to check if there were any U shaped loops in the aluminium pipework. None. So now I am happy that I will not get any more condensation and the problem is fixed. belt and braces for me nevertheless, I left the tray in there

Morning all - woke up to find it is raining, thankfully no drips coming in! Gutters working well front and back. Whoever thought I'd care!

Sorry to read about your loft fall Franbern, what a shock for you - and how painful, my son's girlfriend broke her clavicle falling off her horse, it still aches occasionally all these years later. Excited to see your kitchen when it's all done.

I've not been in the loft karmalady yet, hatch and ladder are by the bedroom and the floor is still full of kitchen stuff I had to move for the ceiling decoration. I'm struggling a bit with all this moving and lifting, my energy levels are zero at the moment, it was a stressful couple of weeks. Glad you are happy everything is working OK. I did ask the surveyor about venting the chimney and he didn't think it was necessary as I have a trickle vent in the window, and as the chimney is short, being a bungalow. There isn't any evidence of damp on the chimney breast. I will still have the loft boarded and the ventilation unit put up there.

I'm writing my packing lists today to try and motivate myself to get started, I really didn't expect to be in this situation but as a practical friend said 'it is what it is'. Faster I work the faster it will be over and I can start enjoying life.

Have a good day everyone

I am a little miffed!!!!! Now I no longer have a car, I want to have some shelves erected in there. Plenty on line, metal, boltless. Daughter offered to do this for me during half-term, So, I ordered from amazion got them put straight nto garage.

Half term here is not for another week, but I went down today to unpack those, and ensure the place I wish them put is free of anything else. Unpacked, but NO Instructions, or even list so I can check that all that should be in that package actually is there. Have now downloaded and printed off instructions. Evidently this is the only way to get these. They are not supplied with the actual shelving. How do these companies get away with this??

It's not good, so lucky you are computer savvy and managed to find the instructions. Wish I had a nice dry garage, enjoy planning what goes where.

I've just reordered my packing boxes - prices have gone up enormously!

Just heard on the radio we've got 70 mph winds again in the NE on Wednesday and Thursday, will be checking the garden for anything that can fly around in the morning. I do hope the new roof stands up to it.

It seems as though those nasty winds are all across this island, right down to manchester and I heard on the radio, potential gusts stronger than 70. Wishing you all the best of luck in battening down for wednesday and thursday

That hurricane, I was working, a couple of people had messages to get home as windows had blown out. I often drew my curtains across after that, whenever it was badly windy, when we had the old glazing and old patio doors. I absolutely hate strong winds and sustained wind is the worst. If it does get very bad shandy, sit away from glass and draw your curtains, just in case

Morning all, we've just had radio reports that the winds could reach 90+ again up here. I'm having my handbrake fixed on Wednesday and hope to be able to park on the drive, the lamp post was wobbling around on that terrifying night. I hate strong winds too karmalady, I will draw the curtains and turn the radio up, fingers crossed my two chimneys survive - many in the local village came through the roof.

Your roofman is going to be fully booked again shandy, if you need his for the floors, book him if you can, before the rush

I can't get ready in time karmalady, Storm Dudley and then Storm Eunice are going to hit at the same time. I feel as though I should build an underground bunker!

Had to ring my aunt - Anderson shelter!

anderson shelter sounds about right, if you have flasks fill them for hot drinks at least and put cartons of water in your freezer today, to fill any empty spaces, freezer contents will stay frozen longer. It seems to be due wednesday from teatime

She said the indoor shelter was called Morrison, like a huge metal table with wire mesh sides, all four of them used to have to crush into it and sleep during a raid.

I'll get ready for power cuts, it's been really bad a few miles from here and people waited weeks to go back on, the poles went down and men were working frantically to restore power in freezing dangerous conditions.

I've just phoned a storage company and they offered to come round to assess for a quote, but I've said I'll phone them back as I'm not ready. I need to go round each room and pick out the largest furniture and decide what needs to go. I'm going to have to have the built in wall cupboard and wardrobe dismantled and removed as well. Woe is me! If my neighbour hadn't gone into a home and is having to sell I know she'd have let me use her garage.

oh shandy, I wish I was nearer and could physically help you. All those decisions, by yourself, all that upheaval, by yourself. They say that what does not kill us makes us stronger, hang onto that

How nice of you karmalady, thank you!

I feel a lot better now I've made my list of furniture. I'm still dithering over my daughter's desk - I don't like the style but it will do as a sewing machine table until I find something else. Luckily I've only bought two items since I moved in, the art deco sideboard and the tv unit, so I don't have very much - as you know the sofa was ruined. I was worried about dismantling the beds myself, and wasn't sure if I could lift the mattresses. And I would never be able to lift the big Ikea Hemnes 8 drawer chest the vendor gifted me. I'm going to send 'unbreakables' in boxes to storage - all my sewing stuff and books. I won't be sewing for some time yet, but hope to continue the proggy mat I'd started for my daughter.

I've ordered 20 double bunded boxes from kite packaging, and tape - and I'll be keeping them afterwards!

Good luck with your decorating, isn't it marvellous it doesn't smell nowadays. In the late 60's my Dad painted my windowsills inside my bedroom with creosote!

oh crikey yes, all the dangerous stuff we dabbled with in those days, rolling mercury around with fingers, dissecting rats preserved in formaldehyde, with bare hands, sniffing ether to remember the smell. Sitting on an upstairs sash window cill and cleaning the outside for my mum. Whoops must go, need to prep for painter

Boxes have arrived so starting to empty the huge wall cupboard tomorrow, I'm going to number them and keep an inventory after the teddy coat disappearance! I am going to do one room at a time and be methodical, my normal approach is haphazard, I'm going to be disciplined for once.

My garage have cancelled my car appointment tomorrow and I'm quite glad, my route takes me past several country lanes lined with old trees.

shandy I must say that your organisation and mental stoicism, well they must have inspired many of us. What has happened to you has been more than a small hiccup and you have kept going through thick and thin. It really does put small problems into perspective. You deserve some at least you won`t have to find a vase for these.