This blogspace chronicles the ups and downs of our house renovation project in Vale de Prazeres, Portugal from first purchase in November 2019.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 2 mins
We started the process of installing a solar PV system in July. The idea had always been to go 'off grid'.
As always, the process has been slow.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 2 mins
The final major project for the house is to build a carport that will double as support for a solar PV set-up.
We plan to get fully off-grid with a sizeable array and sufficient battery storage, no more continental power cuts.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 2 mins
It has been more than a year since the basement stairs were completed, and more than 2 years since the stairs were opened up.
Finally, and with enormous pleasure, we have the handrails and barrier manufactured and installed.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 5 mins
In the spirit of my DIY policy, because I like to do everything if possible and because I lack contacts for some types of work, I bought a small welding machine quite some time ago.
I repaired my office chair with it and did a few practice runs on scrap metal found in the workshop but it has been waiting for a proper trial.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 2 mins
As we are growing vegetables and fruit in the garden, we had a couple of small covered frames to start the seeds before planting in the vegetable plot.
These worked well for the first couple of years but the sun soon ruined the polythene covers making them quite useless.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 2 mins
A little more than two years ago we had the old, uneven, and unsightly concrete drive removed. We have lived with the sand and mud ever since.
I did ask our local calçeteiro to complete the work in February of this year. In the early part of April he told me that it would be two or three weeks before he could start.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 2 mins
With the bathroom taking so long, the work on the outside fencing has been delayed - no big surprise.
However, with some decent weather, and with the driveway finally completed it was time to get the fence installed.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 3 mins
As we had been without a bath for such a long time, we decided to splash out and install a spa bath in our new bathroom.
With hindsight, buying from BigMat can not be recommended.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 3 mins
So, it has been some time since the last blog entry. Janet and I had been ill through much of May, and both the work and blog have been neglected.
But much has happened since the last entry.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 2 mins
Now that the work on the new ceiling is complete I can concentrate on the bathroom floor.
Fitting the under-floor heating mat is relatively simple.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 1 min
April 25th is Liberation Day, a big day in the history of Portugal.
Even so, the guys came today to finish the work on our garden wall and fence.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 2 mins
As agreed, the work began rebuilding the garden wall just a couple of days ago.
A bleary-eyed 7am start was not very welcome for a Monday - but certainly pleasing that the work was going on.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 2 mins
That's how it goes, you wait ages for a bus then three turn up all at once. The same thing seems to apply to house renovation work.
Bathroom materials arrived, work begins on the garden wall and the calçeteiro is hoping to start on the driveway very soon.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 1 min
Exactly three weeks ago I ordered the metalwork and plasterboard for the bathroom ceiling from Fundagesso. I knew there would be a delay because my order was only for a few items and they would need to combine the delivery to make it worthwhile coming all this way to Vale de Prazeres.
I didn't expect it to take so long though.
- Written by: rick
- Read Time: 2 mins
With the unfortunate events of the previous week put well and truly behind, more progress has been made.
This week it is looking somewhat tidier and almost ready for tiling.
