Since a few months I've been wanting to move out of my flat in the city back to a house in the countryside. Especially during the summer this place really sucks because my balcony is dimensioned for smurfs. In other words, if I want to get some sun and fresh air, I have to haul my ass to the park. On top of that there's the cat incident with my landlord. Not being allowed to keep pets bites. Time to move on...

The only problem was finding a decent house. And then it struck me: my parents moved out of our old home six years ago and since then it's been empty. Result: the place has been gradually decaying from a nice villa to... well, I think "disaster area" is a fitting description. On top of that, it got squatted a few times. No need to say there's a lot of damage and things are bound to get worse. So I made a deal with my parents: I move into the house and renovate the entire place myself in exchange for x months without rent.

So today I did a tour inside and around to determine the actual condition of the house and the garden and to make an inventory of actions that need to be taken.

When you take a look at the pics below, it shouldn't come as a surprise that this is going to be a huge project. I'm not going to tackle the entire place at once though. That would take too long and I want to move in mid October. So the plan is to renovate the master bedroom, kitchen and bathroom first so that I can live there. Afterwards I'll renovate the entire place one room at a time, starting with the livingroom and the winter garden.

Follow the guide please...

The driveway and garage - A lot of mowing, trimming and cleaning up here...

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0026.jpg[/IMG]

The carport and the front of the house - I need to get a new lawn here and the path next to the house needs to be redone...

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0004.jpg[/IMG]

The hall - New front door, new wallpaper, some fresh paint and an acid polishing for the marble floor (fuck, I hate that)...

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0032.jpg[/IMG]

A part of the kitchen - I'm not going to invest in a new kitchen at this point (sorry Jenks ;)), so a good paintjob should do the trick.

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0010.jpg[/IMG]

The living room with the fire place - Might need to plaster some areas of the walls which have suffered from moist, again a lot of paint, new wiring (electricity and (surround)sound), spots in the ceiling, new rosters for the convector pits, the wooden floor needs grinding and a new coating...

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0007.jpg[/IMG]

A view on the winter garden from the living room. It used to be a living/dining room, but I'm going to use it as a dining room only. Might put two seats in there as well since it's pretty cosy with the stove during winter - New wiring, new plastering for the walls (terrible state), new lights, new chimney, paint...

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0006.jpg[/IMG]

What used to be the bathroom... - New lighting in the ceiling, a new sink, bath and toilet (yup, they're missing), window needs to be replaced and the ceiling painted...

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0013.jpg[/IMG]

Bedroom 1. Since there are no short term plans for kids, it will be a dressing room for the time being - Still in a pretty good state, maybe some paint and a new coating for the wooden floor

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0016.jpg[/IMG]

Bedroom 2. Will be used as a guest room since it has a sink - Same to do's as above.

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0017.jpg[/IMG]

Master bedroom - Same work as above. I might need to check the rosters and the convector pits.

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0018.jpg[/IMG]

The study. I'm thinking of using it as a fitness room. Finally a decent spot to hang my boxing bag! - New paint and grinding/coating for the floor.

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0012.jpg[/IMG]

The hallway - New paint, new lighting, new doors for the wall closets (were stolen).

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0019.jpg[/IMG]

My old room above the garage. Since it's a bit separated from the rest of the house (only room apart from the attic which isn't located on the floor level) it's going to make a perfect spot for a home office - The wall to wall carpet needs to be replaced (going for linoleum this time), fresh paint, wiring for phone, new lighting in the ceiling.

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0015.jpg[/IMG]

The terrace - New floor tiles, new lighting, new wiring (sound) maybe build a fixed bbq

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0009.jpg[/IMG]

The backyard. Welcome to the jungle! There used to be a nice trimmed lawn here. Now there's only bushes and weed reaching up to 1 to 1,5 meter... - hardcore gardening required, might lay a garden path too.

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0029.jpg[/IMG]

Sorry, couldn't resist posting another pic of the backyard. I kinda expected to find what I have found inside the house, but seeing this wilderness was quite a shock. Mother Nature sure does take back what man tries to tame and control :shock:

[IMG]http://www.fromyellow.com/photos/Project%20Geel/Day%20one%20Sept%202nd/images/photo_0030.jpg[/IMG]

Apart from all of the above the garage needs new floor tiles, new plaster on the walls, a new central heating system, new electrical wiring, the stair to my old room and the attic needs fresh paint. The storage room behind the garage needs tiles as well, the lighting needs to be replaced and since I'm going to put the washing machine there, I have to get some plumbing and electrical wiring going. The pantry next to the kitchen needs to be painted, some parts of the wall have to be replastered and the glass door needs to be replaced.

Yep, when you add it all up it's a hell of a project, but I'm really looking forward to dive right in. I have some DIY experience with wiring, plastering and construction, so I'm going to do the work myself as much as possible. It will probably take me a little longer, but bringing in professionals would be a catastrophe for my budget...

Deadline for the entire renovation: Summer 2007. I'm going to work there every Saturday and Sunday from now on until I can move in (deadline mid October). From that point on I'll throw in a few evenings during the week as well. Dunno if 11 months is a realistic estimate, but I'd like to get it done before Erzina moves to Belgium.

Now where's my hard hat? :D

Re: Jan the Renovator

less house pics more boob pics please.

Re: Jan the Renovator

lol that looks like A LOT of work! Better get at it :p

Re: Jan the Renovator

looks fun dude. I think Jenks does remodeling for a living, so you may want to hit him up for advice. my only question is how did the house become so destroyed if nobody else was living there? was it in a par/subpar condition when you guys moved out? toilet/tub/etc?

plus, I've never heard of a sink in a bedroom. crazy country.

Re: Jan the Renovator

Great looking potential....why was it abandoned?

Re: Jan the Renovator

[quote=picklemonkey;370324]looks fun dude. I think Jenks does remodeling for a living, so you may want to hit him up for advice. my only question is how did the house become so destroyed if nobody else was living there? was it in a par/subpar condition when you guys moved out? toilet/tub/etc?

plus, I've never heard of a sink in a bedroom. crazy country.[/quote]It is fun and it's just the thing I need right now: a long term project (been having the feeling that I lack direction in life lately).

Jenks is indeed in the remod business, but he focusses on kitchens ([url]http://www.contractorkitchens.com/)[/url]. Either way, I'll probably need some tips & tricks at a certain point, so all help and advice is welcome. I'm planning to update this thread as I progress anyway, might be an interesting read for other people thinking of renovating/building...

As for the state the house is in: the biggest damage is due to the weather. When you leave a house empty without heating it during the cold and wet months, it's bound to get affected by humidity at some point.

Apart from that, the squatters/thieves have fucked it up a lot too. Smashed windows, damaged doors, floor and walls here and there, ... You'd be surprised what people steal these days. I mean c'mon, who's going to break in a house to snatch wall closet doors and electrical fuses??? (yes that's right, not a single fuse left in the central electricity unit) :shock:

As for the state for instance the bathroom is in: well, my dad wanted to rent the place, so he upgraded some parts of the house. Good idea, but the problem with my dad is that he has too many good ideas and too little time. In other words: a lot of projects that have been started in the past, but never have been completed. He has done most of the work himself (that's why I know something about diy shit), but the tragedy is that most of the work has never been finished.

My ultimate goal is to get the entire house in a tip top state. I'm not sure that I will stay there permanently, but I see it as an opportunity to live in a place where I can do what I want as well as an investment in the long run. I mean, my parents aren't going to live forever, so in a way it's investing in your own heritage. If it stays empty for another two years, the value will drop to what the land is worth. If I take action now and get it in an even better state than it was in when we left, you'll be seeing me on MTV Cribs within a few years. BALLER YO :lol:

Re: Jan the Renovator

[quote=Lorn;370334]Great looking potential....why was it abandoned?[/quote]my mum owns an incredibly large piece of land which was useless since it was located too far from where we used to live. When the villa next to it was being put on the market, they seized the opportunity.

Re: Jan the Renovator

lots of work, but it looks like a sweet house

Re: Jan the Renovator

indeed, what a fine place for you and your girl.

Re: Jan the Renovator

Looks like a nice project to put your teeth in man, but keep in mind what it will look like when it's fininished...maybe I'll drop by and have a beer with you afterwards ;)

Re: Jan the Renovator

Great house indeed :)

Interior design is my hobby - I designed everything that was done in my flat! My parents just bought a house which is fairly new but the former owner didnt do much on a furnishing design so I'm in for some remodeling myself - at the moment ideas are still on my computer (btw I suck at 3D software - learning how to use 3DMAX :what) My wish is to have my own workshop where I could make my crazy ideas come into shape

Looking forward to see the progres ;)

Re: Jan the Renovator

That looks like some great project man! You'r gonna have your hands full I tell ya!

Re: Jan the Renovator

Yesterday I had a bbq at my parents' place so I didn't have time to continue working at the house. Today I did some hardcore gardening: me armed with a hedge cutter, branch cutter and a mower versus mother nature and her bushes.

Result: from a 2 meter high jungle to "hey we can walk around the house again."

Left everything on the ground to dry so that next weekend I can pile up the branches and cut off bushes and either let it rot to compost or light it up.

I wanted to plow the front and back lawn and sow a new lawn, but I've noticed there's a shitload of weeds that will just grow back. I don't want to use herbicide so I've come up with an alternative solution. I'm gonna plant potatoes all over the place next spring and harvest them at the end of the summer. After that I'll be sowing the lawn. Laugh at all you want, but the potato plants will cover the entire yard and deprive other plants/weed of light and air so that the soil will be spic & span next September. Plus I'll have a nice stash of potatoes: fries ? gogo :lol:

Pics from the backyard and the terrace...

[IMG]http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/944/photo0042ze0.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9333/photo0045dx6.jpg[/IMG]

Btw, little referendum: I'm thinking of painting the outside walls white. Pro: the house will look a little fancier. Con: it's a lot of work and it will require maintanance afterwards. What Would MS Do?

Re: Jan the Renovator

defo wouldn't paint anything outdoors white

Re: Jan the Renovator

that's a lot of brush...I say light it up and have one huge cookout bonfire :D

Re: Jan the Renovator

I usualy dont like brick facade but on this house looks kinda cool. I would still paint it tho and the white would be a good choice! It would make it look like a typical maditerranean summer house - I'm sure you're familliar with the kind! ;)

Re: Jan the Renovator

[quote=FM;373177]that's a lot of brush...I say light it up and have one huge cookout bonfire :D[/quote]Tell me about it. The weed reached up 5 to 6.5 ft (1,5-2m). There were even burr berry bushes which made it all the way up to the roof of the winter garden (the construction with the large windows) :shock:

But resistance is futile when you have one of these puppies:

[IMG]http://www.latugrotech.nl/solo/140.jpg[/IMG]

As for firing it up: that would be the easiest thing to to, but there's a law here against burning garbage in your yard (because of the release of dioxines and other toxins). I'll have to check if that goes for burning organic waste too. If so I'll chop it up and let it rot. Don't feel like wasting time and fuel on a few trips to the container park for that...

[quote=Katkich;373182]I usualy dont like brick facade but on this house looks kinda cool. I would still paint it tho and the white would be a good choice! It would make it look like a typical maditerranean summer house - I'm sure you're familliar with the kind! ;)[/quote]

Like so? 8)

[IMG]http://www.villa-nice.com/images/fotos202.jpg[/IMG]

I'm pretty sure it will look sweet on the house, but just to be sure I think I'm gonna take a pic of the front and back and photoshop it so see the result...

Re: Jan the Renovator

Bonfires are great...let us know if you light one up

Re: Jan the Renovator

I would be inclined to leave off a decision on painting the outside until after you have done everything else. It looks pretty good now. Love renovating!!. I'd be surprised if you are allowed to burn it. We can't here, and we are way behind Europe in environmental matters. Shame you don't have a couple of goats that would solve the problem :lol:

Re: Jan the Renovator

Don't paint it white, i like how it looks with the bricks, same as my parents house.

Re: Jan the Renovator

if you can't light it up, well, instant mulch then for your potatoes! :lol:

Re: Jan the Renovator

You should check for mold and termite stuff, which Im sure the house has. You'll have to knock down walls and replace interior wood framing, not just put on fresh paint in certain areas.

A lot of hard work, but the house itself looks like it has great potential.

Re: Jan the Renovator

[quote=BureOne;373266]You should check for mold and termite stuff, which Im sure the house has. You'll have to knock down walls and replace interior wood framing, not just put on fresh paint in certain areas.

A lot of hard work, but the house itself looks like it has great potential.[/quote]Termites? We don't have that here dude ;) And as for interior woodwork framing: we Europeans build differently. Brick wall, isolation, brick wall... No wooden shit :)

Re: Jan the Renovator

some of those pics reminded me of Iraqi prisons :lol:

have fun with it. better you than me because in a few months from now while you are still working on it, you will get home one day and curse the day you bought it. IMO, pay someone to remodel it.

Renovating a single room is fun, an entire house is a job.

thats just my 2 cents

[IMG]http://www.europschool.net/photos/euro_/pieces/communes/com2cents.jpg[/IMG]

Re: Jan the Renovator

[quote=speciale;373315]Renovating a single room is fun, an entire house is a job.[/quote]

Renovating an entire house is the greatest job you could ask for imo ;)

Re: Jan the Renovator

[quote=Katkich;373632]Renovating an entire house is the greatest job you could ask for imo ;)[/quote]what about a blowjob then? :D

Nah, renovating a house isn't a job, it's great fun imo. Paying someone to remodel it is for pussies if you ask me. :roll:

Re: Jan the Renovator

:lol:

Re: Jan the Renovator

[quote=KinKyJ;373784]what about a blowjob then? :D

Nah, renovating a house isn't a job, it's great fun imo. Paying someone to remodel it is for pussies if you ask me. :roll:[/quote]

paying someone to do it means your rich biatch.

we had to rennovate my current place when we moved in and it was a pain. At first it was exciting and fun, but then there were days you just wanted to come home from work sit down and relax, but you couldn't.

I guess when there is no timeline and you have another residence during the project, it is a whole different ball game. But when you live in the place you are rennovating, it is a living hell.

Re: Jan the Renovator

[quote=speciale;373896]paying someone to do it means your rich biatch.[/quote]nope, it means you've got two left hands and a lot of excuses :roll:

[quote=speciale;373896]we had to rennovate my current place when we moved in and it was a pain. At first it was exciting and fun, but then there were days you just wanted to come home from work sit down and relax, but you couldn't.

I guess when there is no timeline and you have another residence during the project, it is a whole different ball game. But when you live in the place you are rennovating, it is a living hell. [/quote]I do have one: in October the master bedroom, kitchen and bathroom need to be finished cuz I'm moving in then. Continuing one room at a time from then. Ah c'mon Eddie, construction yard camping can be so much fun ;)

Re: Jan the Renovator

Jan, do you actually know how to do all this renovating? Or are you just gonna watch a few episodes of trading spaces? Seriously, if you haven't had practice, speaking from experience, you're bound to mess quite a few things up. Not necessarily because you don't know what you are doing, but after a while you tend to be like "Fuck it, I don't care if its crooked".

And I can't believe your parents just abaondoned a nice house like that? why didn't they rent it out or something?

For the brick outside, I always thought sandblasted brick had a nice look to it.

Re: Jan the Renovator

[quote=threehills;373920]Jan, do you actually know how to do all this renovating? Or are you just gonna watch a few episodes of trading spaces? Seriously, if you haven't had practice, speaking from experience, you're bound to mess quite a few things up. Not necessarily because you don't know what you are doing, but after a while you tend to be like "Fuck it, I don't care if its crooked".[/quote]I was born a tool mang :lol: Nah, seriously I know how to do it yeah. Used to be deep into DIY so it's fun to be picking the stuff up again

[quote=threehills;373920]And I can't believe your parents just abaondoned a nice house like that? why didn't they rent it out or something?[/quote]Cuz my dad is too rich & lazy ;) You should see the place where they live now, it's like a castle :shock:

Re: Jan the Renovator

Like some of the others said, wouldn't paint it either. There's no going back once you paint brick (no easy way that is).

Re: Jan the Renovator

^^^ hmmm, good point you've got there. I guess painting is out of the question. Movin' on :D