Weekly update 14.02.2016

Picking up where we left off last week, I continued work on the door for bedroom 3. The latch requires a rebate for the faceplate and a deep hole for the backset. It's easier to make the rebate first, but, before doing so, I drilled a small pilot hole to mark the centre point of the backset. This just makes it easier to locate the drill bit later on.

I set the router depth to the thickness of the faceplate and used the guide fence to keep it parallel to the door edge.

Having routed channels from either side of the door, I used a chisel to square off the corners.

For the backset hole, a 25mm flat bit was used, centred on the pilot hole that I drilled earlier.

The latch could then be inserted into the door frame and the two screw holes marked and drilled. The distance from the faceplate to the centre of the spindle was measured and transferred to surface of the door. A 13mm flat bit was then used to drill the spindle hole. For accuracy, I drilled this from both sides.

After checking that the latch was fitted round the right way, I installed the square spindle and could then position the handles, mark and drill the screw holes. The handles are the originals which we are re-using so have been spruced up using a spot of Brasso... good as new!!

Now, with the door furniture fitted, the door could be hung and the position of the latch plate marked on the door frame. I stitch drilled the hole for the latch before chiselling away the rebate for the latch plate.

The latch recess was then chiselled out and the latch plate fitted.

With the door furniture removed, the door and frame could be painted. All sharp edges were chamfered with sandpaper, then a coat of acrylic primer/undercoat was applied. Once dry, a couple of coats of quick dry satinwood finished off the door nicely.

In the meantime, I've continued to emulsion the walls and have given the skirtings another topcoat of quick dry satinwood. The window frame has now had another coat of satinwood too, but I've used the oil based variant for this.

To finish off the window, I decided that these old fitch fasteners weren't quite up to the job. Not only do they look a bit grotty, but they are not particularly effective.

These Brighton sash fasteners from Screwfix are much better... When tightened, they pull the two sashes together, reducing the likelihood of the sashes rattling, reducing draughts and they effectively lock the window. They also match the door furniture.

So, with bedroom 3 almost done, I've made a start on the preparations for the lounge curtains. These will go straight across the front of the bay window so the pole requires a support. For this, I've sourced a 2.4 metre length of 21mm x 70mm Richard Burbidge planed pine.

I've drilled and screwed this to the wall at either side of the bay and will add a stretcher bracket to the centre which will attach to a plasterboard fixing in the ceiling.