Day 2: All tiles off

I was at work all day and came back home after 9pm. Although it was dark I couldn't resist a quick climb onto the scaffold. After the front loft space was cleared yesterday, today the guys had cleared all the tiles off the rear roof and laid some boards over the joists. The steels will lie on top with insulation followed by more boards to make a good solid floor. The flat is well and truly opened up and I'm glad I opted for the tin roof as it's pouring with rain.

I have moved back in with my mother while the work is done as all the rooms have been emptied ready for internal work but I wanted to squeeze in one more night in the old flat while I still can. I left the sofa bed in place so tonight I'll be camping in my living room.

The start of Day 3 - boarded and opened up

All the original lath and plaster won't be here long

Day 1: Raising the Roof

Ivan and Nick arrived bright and early. Eight hours later my loft had no roof. Tom told me they would work quickly but I didn't really believe him until I saw it. I don't think they even stopped for a cuppa! The transformation is incredible. We're having to replace all the rafters as the old ones aren't quite thick enough, so they have been cut out. It's exciting to see the space opening up. I hadn't got my act together to arrange a skip until next week so all the tiles and timber are piled neatly on the scaffolding ready for when it arrives. Tom asked me the name of the building control officer who had been assigned to the job. I didn't know so called Wandsworth council, only to be told that I needed to apply online for building control and that the process could take up to five weeks. After that we would be able to start work. I looked at the piles of slates and sawn off rafters as Ivan and Nick packed their tools up around me... ooops!

Scaffolding

It's a bit bigger than I expected!

 The scaffolding is up! It's unbelievable how hard the scaffolders worked. Temperatures were hovering barely above zero and they hardly stopped for a break over the two and a half days it took. I opted for a tin roof which is the more expensive option, but allows the builders to work in all weathers, and they don't waste time covering the roof at the end of each day and uncovering it the following morning. Also it will be possible to take the whole roof off in one go rather than small bits at a time to protect against leaks.

View from the roof

 After the scaffolders had left, I climbed up to see the view. Battersea Power Station, the London Eye, the Shard... in fact most of the city is visible over the rooftops. I'm so used to not having a flat with outside space (although Clapham Common is only 100m away), the prospect of a roof terrace is too exciting. I've left the emptying of the flat rather late and whilst I've taken a lot of car loads of belongings to a storage depot in Wimbledon where I'm sharing a shipping container, there was still all the furniture to take. Tom saved the day by suggesting two of his builders Ivan and Nik could come with the van to help me. Most of the things have gone but theres still a lot to sort out and either throw away or take to charity shops.

House of Trouser

In 1997 my brother Tom and I bought a flat just off Clapham Common Northside. A two bedroom Victorian split level conversion, with two bathrooms, it was perfect for sharing. Beyond a lick of paint and a new carpet we did very little to it, and my plans to rip out the avocado-coloured bath and basin in the top bedroom never quite happened. Tom and I lived there for 10 years together and the flat gained the affectionate nickname of "House of Trouser". Nearly 15 years after first moving in, I'm still living there... along with the avocado bath and basin. Just in time for the cold weather, my ancient central heating system died and I've been spending the past couple of months wearing a lot of clothes indoors. The time for change has come. I'm planning a renovation and am determined to drag the House of Trouser into the 21st Century.

The loft nearly cleared out!

The loft space is ideal for a conversion to a bedroom and bathroom, the ancient wiring needs to be redone, the old boiler needs to be replaced, the old carpeted bathrooms will be replaced and the small galley kitchen knocked into the sitting room to form an open plan kitchen/living area. There is even room for a small roof terrace at the back with views towards the city. I had an architect draw up some plans, planning permission has been granted, party wall issues sorted and structural drawings done. It's a big job and I've never done anything like this before but luckily my brother is in the building trade! This blog is the story of the transformation of the House of Trouser.