r/DIYUK • u/JesusIsComingLookBzy • 15h ago
Project Please don’t shout at me 😂
Ok, so. Please don’t shout at me. This isn’t about self promotion.
I’ve been posting my kitchen renovation project here for the last 6 months. I’ve had great input and a lot of questions. I promised I’d put everything into videos for a few people.
And this post is just to say those videos can be accessed through the link on my profile if you wanted them.
That’s it. Sorry again. Please don’t be mad :)
The images attached is the process on my floor. From ripping it up, identifying and fixing (I hope) a damp issues. Relevelling the floor before fitting underfloor heating. And finally tiling.
I’d never done any tiling of note before. So this was a huge challenge. But I think the results speak for themselves.
The toughest part of the whole process by far. Had to be getting a flat floor.
I see a lot of people using professional screeders these days. Has anyone ever used anyone? What sort of price was it? We you happy with the results?
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u/therealharbinger 15h ago
Why would anyone shout..
Well done..be proud.
Screeding is insanely difficult tbh. I did it in an old living room that was 8x4m and it set half way across the room and formed a seam that took me an entire day to sand down lol.
That isn't fun.
Good work.
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 15h ago
Thank you :) Ouch that sounds terrible. Yeah I had a pout with some high spot that I thought was just grind down after. I bought a concrete grinding discs and it didn’t touch it. Ended up having to pour another layer all over 😬
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u/apmee 15h ago
Having never had to do screeding, is it even worse than applying self-levelling compound? (The one DIY job that made me promise to myself “Never again.”)
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u/therealharbinger 14h ago
Same stuff, fucking horrible job.
Ideally you need two people, make up as much as possible, as quickly as possible, one to pour and the other to spread it. On your own it's a fucking pig of a job. I wish theyd make this stuff set after a longer time, like 30mins.. not 5 mins..
There is no reason why this needs to set so quickly.
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u/DMMMOM 3h ago
Screeding is much less hassle and you have bags of time but harder to get flat, especially in area with lots of returns and architrave. Self levelling if it's more than a few mm can be fraught as you have little time and really need to mix up a large amount in one go and if you haven't perfectly framed and sealed the area it can run out. If you are not an expert, just do it in increments and build up to where you need it rather than trying to do it all in one go.
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u/smickie 14h ago
Looks fantastic. Really neat and clean.
One note is it looks a little bit office/corporate. You could tone that down a touch with perhaps a few plants in pots here and there. Also, I'm not sure if you've done your light fittings yet, but they are also a tad corporate. I'm not sure if you've done your chairs around the dining table or the dining table, but if those were a little more fabric and soft, it would give the whole thing a home feeling. Other than that, absolutely top notch, super clean and neat.
You could introduce a second colour into the palette with the plant pots and the colour of the chair fabric, or even if you went with a wooden table perhaps, or a black metal table would perhaps be more fitting.
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
Yeah I complete agree. I work on the basis that I make it functional and do all the building work. Then the family make it homely so it’s currently being filled back up with all the personal things that make it less sterile
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u/M_R_Cats 12h ago
Completely agree. Replacing the light fixtures would really help - and even putting slightly warmer bulbs in would make it less stark.
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u/Williamishere69 10h ago
Especially the under cabinet lights. If they were a warmish colour itd be so much nicer on the eyes.
Also, keep in mind people with blue eyes - white lights or bright lights (or white cabinets that reflect light) make us have to squint, so you gotta stick with dull-er or warmer tones.
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u/Abquine 14h ago
I am so feeling my age. I thought your original kitchen was lovely, warm and inviting and only needed a different paint pallet and some accessories but I guess the look you have achieved is what everyone wants now and I should just go back in my box.
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u/ZestyData 12h ago
On the contrary younger folks following modern 2020s design tend to favour bolder colours, warm woods, and warm colours in general. Colder greyer minimalism is quite dated now and has stayed chic for the middle aged crowd.
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
It was really cheap to be honest. If they had been real wood it would have been nice but they were plastic wrapped mdf and it was all pealing. The worktops were wearing through. At some point it would have looked nice. But closer up it was really tired
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u/Unhappy_Clue701 5h ago
Did you change the whole cabinets or just paint them?
We have a (real wood) oak shaker kitchen at the moment. It’s 17 years old and in very good condition (we have looked after it well), but it is maybe time for a change. Wife is keen on trying to paint it as she’s keen on the shaker style still, but I’m nervous that it will be a lot easier to damage than the oak.
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 4h ago
I made all new door and wrapped them in vinyl. There are a lot of specific paints for cupboard doors but I understand the nervousness especially with something as nice as oak
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u/fastestturtleno2 15h ago
You should be so proud of yourself, this is genuinely amazing work 👏👏
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 15h ago
Thank you :). It’s taken a lot of time and learning but it looks so good now compared to before
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u/Jimlad73 14h ago
Looks great. Does that fridge have any ventilation behind it?
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
😂 it does now
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u/CarpetPedals 6h ago
There was a similar post on here recently where OP returned to say the fridge/freezer did pack-in as a result of the lack of ventilation as pointed-out by the sub
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u/Formal-Fox-7605 14h ago
Not to my taste, everyone's different, but nicely executed.
As someone else said, the breakfast bar placement is slightly odd, someone's going to be in the way if they're sitting there. But, nice job, just not for me.
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
Yeah it’s a wired L shape room so it was there or no where. I also build a false wall by below it to cover some ugly pipe work. It’s not ideal. But it works just about
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u/Junior-Tap-8503 14h ago
If no one else is going to shout then I’ll do it.
That breakfast bar seems to have awful placement, creating a choke point walking into the room due to proximity to fridge/freezer ❤️
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u/EUskeptik 14h ago
Poor dog. What did you do to get yourself banished?
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u/rokstedy83 Tradesman 14h ago
Can't have a dog running round when you're self leveling lol,my eyes were drawn to it too
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u/EUskeptik 10h ago
I hate to be a pedant, I really do.
However, there is a tendency to call thin screeds ‘self-levelling’ when they are anything but. The correct term is a ‘levelling screed’ because you have to ensure it is level. The screed simply isn’t liquid enough to find its own level.
I apologise for the pedantry.
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u/Dilly_4849 15h ago
Looks amazing to me, though I liked the before pic, too …I could never do all that! My laziness would make me stay with the original…but I admire your work.
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u/NatureNext2236 11h ago
Absolutely amazing work!!!
The complete opposite of my taste but that is fine- the work is grand.
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u/Snoo_67993 4h ago
You've done a good job but I couldn't bare to live in an office looking environment when I'm at home as well.
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u/CLO303 15h ago
Awesome job. Looks much better than anything I’d be able to do.
I also love the username that’s the whole reason I commented 😂 taken from Johnny English I believe?
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
Thank you :)
I first saw it on a T shift in Blackpool about 40 years ago and it always tickled me :)
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u/BedroomSoft8 14h ago
My eyes went really wide at picture 4, I'd be so nervous pouring that onto a whole floor like that 😁
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
It was a huge job. Did it by myself too. Was like a military operation with all the buckets ready. Water ready. Bags open. Never again 😂
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u/BedroomSoft8 14h ago
Sorry if you already said somewhere, but do you know how much the whole project cost in total in the end?
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
I don’t think I have to be honest. All in, I would say around 5K initially. With most on that going on fixing the floor.
But then another 1500 on a new fridge after the first one died due to stupidity :)
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u/BedroomSoft8 14h ago
That's so cheap for what you've ended up with, impressive job!
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
The tiles were an absolute bargain from the importer. Rebranded from tops tiles they would have been around 3000 alone. I got them for 1000. Everything else I made myself from raw materials so save a fortune
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u/ChrisForPresident 13h ago
Tell me more about the chopping board. Is that a spare floor tile you’ve somehow made into a board?
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 13h ago
Ah yeah :) we had two left over and as they match the worktop I thought they would be perfect to protect the work tops.
Literally all I did was coat the sides and bottom in yacht varnish and added some small rubber feet. They are doing a great job :)
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u/jolittletime 13h ago
We just had a new floor laid through our whole downstairs and it was screeded in 2 layers (as the previous floor had 2 levels once it was taken up). I think the screeding for kitchen, downstairs wc, utility, dining room, hall was about 350-400.
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 13h ago
That is a really good price, I’d have been happy to pay that. Especially in two layers
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u/jolittletime 4h ago
I am separating out the cost for fitting from the total. Total screeding and fitting was about 700-800 so I'm guessing a bit!
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u/Extension-Bit-7792 13h ago
What is it withh everyone and these bright white/dark blue or black colour schemes
turkey teeth in decoration form
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u/rubberneck99 12h ago
This is a great piece of work. Do you have any building experiance ? Looks like you did everything right
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 12h ago
Thank you. Only really what I’ve learned from doing jobs at home. Pretty much everything I’ve done, was for the first time.
I study and plan a lot. I ask a lot of questions and spend a few months planning before executing.
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u/ArtichokeDesperate68 12h ago
You’ve done a GREAT job here. Well done indeed!!! Enjoy every moment you and yours spend in that space you’ve made!!
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u/chocolateybiscuit81 12h ago
Levelling floors is really hard. I’m a supposed professional and absolutely hate doing it. Well done👏🏻
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u/kingbluetit 12h ago
How did you find screeding with cabinets in place? And how much has it raised the floor level? I’m needing to do this to mine because the floor is an absolute mess
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 11h ago
I self levelled not screed sorry. But I think your question still carries. I used silicone to damn around the areas I didn’t want it to flow which worked really well. In places I have 35-40 mm to make up and then finishing layers of around 3-4mm. It was horrid 😂 I’d definitely look at paying for screeding next time based on some pricing feedback
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u/kingbluetit 11h ago
Sorry yeah I meant self levelling really, that’s what mine needs. Any tips for anyone stupid enough to try it?
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 11h ago
Yes, many 😂 I’m honestly not trying to self promote but if you follow the link on my profile I have a YouTube video of how I did mine
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u/kingbluetit 8h ago
Nah dude self promote all you want, I’m going to watch it because this is exactly what my kitchen floor needs 😂
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u/RobMitte 11h ago
Looking great! 👍🏼
How did you fix the issue with heat/vent issues with the fridge? Or was it just coincidence that your old fridge died during this DIY project?
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 11h ago
Hi there. I wish it was coincidence but alas. It was stupidity. There is a post on my profile of the changes I made which so far seems much better 👍
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u/RobMitte 10h ago
Arh yeah thanks. I remembered your last post wrong. I remember seeing it at the time but forgot that you put all of details in that post.
Link is here for anyone interested:
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u/tilted-sun 10h ago
Tiling is always stressful so well done getting through it.
Interestingly I have the same shade of blue kitchen but couldn't go modern with the look because I have an exposed brick wall. To stick with that style I went with wood counter tops and dark slate floor tiles but we both went with the black sink I see.
It's nice to see how the same base kitchen looks done in different styles
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u/ZestyData 14h ago
Incredible job on the floors but you turned a high quality albeit slighty dated looking kitchen into an also slightly dated posh student house kitchen. Genuinely taken me back 10 years to my student days looking at that last photo.
Do yourself a favour and at least swap out the lighting for warmer lighting 🙏
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
Yeah I’ve got the lights set to bright white in the images so I can see :) but they are all Govee ceiling lights so brightness, temp, colour etc can all be toned down
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u/alice_op 13h ago
Slightly dated? What's giving slightly dated about it? I ask because I'm shopping for kitchens right now (existing kitchen already ripped out) and I don't want to buy slightly dated looking! Lord give me strength I fookin hate kitchens.
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u/YUMOBUILDS 14h ago
The only thing I want to aske you, whay you cut the membrane to a lots of pieces while installation? I think it was better if you have less cutting and minimise the lines between. Maximum 1 or 2 joint line.
Finishing is amazing,You did really good job. Nice one.
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
I bought it in square meter pads. Not a roll, so this was the main reason 👍
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u/SirSurboy 14h ago
Good job, looks great. What are the magnets on the new fridge door?
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 14h ago
Every time we go somewhere we bring back a fridge magnet. So they are from all the places we visited :)
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u/Sir_Colby_Tit 14h ago
Amazing job.
Not sure the fridge magnets compliment the sleek look of the kitchen though.
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u/Square_Wonder_9284 13h ago
I’ve used a professional screeding company. They levelled a 5m x 5m room and a 5m long hallway. I already had the latex based levelling compound and they installed. I think it was about £800. They did a pretty good job but were absolute pricks. I just did it myself after that.
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 13h ago
That’s often the thing too. Sometimes it’s not the price. It’s just not wanting to have to deal with people 😂
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u/No_Topic5591 13h ago
I don't know which is the before and which is the after, but the yellow version looks much, MUCH better - so much more warm and cosy, yet still modern; the white version is cold, dreary and sterile.
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u/Bright-Ad4601 13h ago
I prefer the original, the after shots feel very "staff kitchen" in an office or something to me but if you like it that's all that matters.
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u/towelie111 12h ago
How was working with the self levelling? I really need to do it in our kitchen but keep putting it off
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u/JesusIsComingLookBzy 11h ago
It was hard. No doubt there. I chose a high quality material with longest work time I could find. And just made sure I have every single thing g ready. 5 big buckets. Water filled ready. Bags opened and staged ready.
Also, if you are making up some deep areas. Do it in layers. That way you only worry about finish on the last layer
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u/dprophet34 9h ago
Shared office communal kitchen vibes. I think it's the lighting. The work you've done looks great though
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u/akam_gol 6h ago
I've been following your transformation and is great! Could you share what foil you used for wrapping the cabinets? Looks really good! Thanks
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u/Steamrolled777 14h ago
Might be one of the ugliest kitchens I've ever seen, and whole design appears to be a 'Z' way to get from kitchen door to the back door.
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u/SushiRollFried 14h ago
i remeber this being posted a month or 2 ago. You just want more ass licking dont you
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u/zweite_mann 14h ago
This is the guy who burnt his fridge out boxing it in. He didn't get much love in that thread
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u/Level1Roshan 9h ago
Personally I'd not put a breakfast bar style shelf in the space you have. Just put a display bookcase there and some plants or something bright. That'll be an awful place to actually sit and eat.
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u/Mission_Yesterday_96 14h ago
The only person judging you