In this video I show you a real life view of renovating a countryside house in Italy. This is the first time that I attempt to capture how much DIY I can do over a single weekend. I work on the window opening and need to make the house secure quite quickly so this is one project from start to (nearly) the finish.
This episode sees me tackle the opening of the side structural brick wall and prepare the opening so that it is ready to receive the new, very large, picture window. Removing a small window and adding a new lintel plus some structural support to the old Italian walls is a first for me.Some roof tiles moves and one or two fall off as I smash through the wall!
The old brickwork came out well but it created an almighty mess as the bricks break up. The challenge of where to dump the old brick continues as I hit more delays on the landscaping part of the project. More news on that to come.The results on the new window are great. Another new skill learnt as I go – things in Le Marche are coming on well.
I hope you enjoy the video and leave a comment – it is always great to hear from where you are watching in the world. Thank you for the subscriptions and support. 🙏
Richard. 😊
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Early Saturday Morning
01:52 Planning the task
02:34 Props and tools
03:42 Remove the old window lintle
08:12 New support beams
08:45 Lunch in the sunshine and rain
11:48 6pm Saturday
13:42 Best wine review ever !
15:50 Early Sunday morning
18:34 This bit is harder than I thought
21:21 What to do with this stuff ?
23:37 Top Tip & Framing
28:43 This will be amazing
29:29 Filling the frame
31:57 Corinaldo – what a view !
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Welcome to my channel about my big plans to renovate an old disused rustic farmhouse that I purchased for a bargain price in rural Italy. I don’t live in Italy full time, which adds a layer of complexity to the Italian lifestyel! I show you why I chose to buy a house in Italy and why I chose the Marche region over places such as Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo and Puglia. For those that like @NickiPositano @WildWonderfulOffGrid @MartijnDoolaard or @escapetoruralfrance I hope you feel in the right place here also.
PS: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links that I may get a small kickback from. 😊
38 Comments
Bravo, getting her done with time left for a glass of vino, watching the sunset! Been waiting for your next video, they are always so enjoyable to watch.
Holy cow, I would have shat myself for fear of the roof coming down, Richard. But: no risk, no Italian paradise. 👍
That was the shortest Brunello wine review ever😂 When original one of the best wines Italy produces…..It might have deserved some pecorino or a regular steak with pasta😇. No' Conero head' this time…….? Appreciate the authenticity
Wow loads of work there plus videoing it all too! Thanks Richard look forward to seeing the window going in soon
Wish I'd been there as the builders mate to clear up after you. Great natural video, it takes a lot of energy in that heat to work that hard. Another step forward on your journey, your smashing this😂
Best wine review I have ever seen! 🍷
Hi from Oz🦘👋 enjoy this reno and reminded of working with my brother years ago doing all the boring bits he didnt want to do like chipping off old plaster etc😅miss him now he is gone. Cheers to you👏
Nothing wrong with man boobs AT ALL!
I would like to do this one day. Always fancied Piemont but Marche sure does look nice and probably a lot warmer esp in the winter months.
I just did an indoor tile and drywall demolition job in my home where there was a lot of resulting dust. Might be worth investing an hour and $100 in a Corsi-Rosenthal box (there's tons of videos on how to make one). Works at least as well as some industrial air and dust cleaners.
Hey, we watch your videos since the start,, we are about to buy a house in Abruzzo, I'm Lucio, Italian, she is Henrietta, Hungarian and we lived 17 years in uk, now in Belgium. I have a silly question: where the hell you bought Brunello di Montalcino for 3 eur??. When we come to Italy we would love to meet!
Can't believe what you achieve all by yourself. Very impressive.
That wine review was amazing.
You can get that Brunello di Montalcino for £16.76
What a stunning view you'll have. But what an earth do you do by profession, that you are able to do all this?! Still loving your channel.
I've never thought of the wheelbarrow suggested here below, but we've always used a tarpaulin. Wheelbarrow would save one's back.
Marche tourism region authorities (in the hundreds?) ought to pay you for promoting its beauty! Congrats on the big window–have all the wine & ice cream you want. ❤🎉
I thoroughly enjoy every one of these posts, Richard. Great to see you sweating away in Italy while autumn is coming on strong here in Norway– I'm a bit jealous of those outdoor showers if I'm honest. …And all the cheap wine.
Morning Richard from sunny Mexico. You need a better corkscrew – one with a blade so you don't poke your thumb trying to get the foil off.
Plus a dual lever action so you don't have to pull that hard on the cork. You're pretty pooped when it's time for the vino reward – so less struggle and save yourself an injury.
Loving all your videos, the pace is very relaxing. One little tip for the next windows and doors is to do the outline of your window and doors with a diamond tipped masonry disk on your angle grinder. Work it in as deep as you can both sides of the wall and when you break out you'll have lovely straight edges. Keep up the great work.
So glad to see you again. I miss your videos but happy to know your still around!! 🇺🇸
I wonder if using a piping bag would work better/easier when trying to fill the holes in the bricks.
Another great video of your continuing efforts. Love watching your videos, keep up the good work. Can't wait to see that window in place, the view will be breathtaking. Good luck,
Isn't there a foil cutting disc on the end of the corkscrew?
Richard if you’re planning on installing anymore windows I’d either buy or hire an angle grinder with a stone cutting disc, it would save a lot of effort holding the jack hammer, dip your bread is definitely a Manchester thing 😂😂
Some of the larger rubble could be used for outside new door and for a pathway
Hey Richard, what about the two houses possibly for sale?
Another enjoyable video. Regarding the landscaping, have you considered buying an old, 2nd hand tractor with front loader ? I have a few acres and man, my tractor has paid for it self many times over in terms of lifting, building , digging my pool , drilling footing holes for a deck (using an auger/post hole digger). It would also be a lot hardier in terms of mowing the brush around your 3acres , scooping up the rubble and relocating it. Loving the progress on your place.
Great job so far 👍
I admire your motivation and "can do" attitude. Do you plan to insulate? I'm looking at Italian townhomes, and I keep hearing it's a must do. Keep up the good work.
Really enjoy your videos mate. This one particularly. I don’t know better, but if you have to do this again then i wonder if drilling a series of holes into the brick first would a) make the breaker work a tad easier as you’ve already reduced the brick’s integrity, and b) encourage everything to break in the shape / places you want? Keep it up buddy. I’m envious!
A couple of pointers.
First, wood and bricks/mortar should preferably not be in contact.
The mortar sucks up moist from the air, the wood then sucks up the moisture from the mortar and wood and moisture is a bad combo.
I hope you placed a separator between the wall and the beam.
It is basically a thin rubber mat.
Then, when you fill the holes flip the tool in your left hand "upside-down".
That way your left hand is not in the way when working.
To load the tool, use the other tool to scoop up mortar and scrape it off on the big tool.
If you plan to put the same type of spray insulation around the window frame then there is no need to fasten the windows particularly hard; just enough so the window has the right position when you spray.
When that insulation hardens it sticks like rock.
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.
If you use this insulation around the windows, make sure to cover the frames properly!!!
Once that stuff hardens you will NOT get it off.
And for the same reason, buy some thin plastic gloves for when you spray it.
Watching a show on HGTV in the US called Maine Cabin Builders restoring a house in Italy, they had an Italian company come in and grind up the debris and used to make cement for their basement. Not sure if that can help!
Thank you for another great video, we watch every episode now, we are hooked
Another entertaining video 😅. It's a shame you have been let down regarding the mound that needs moving 😮, as that will open up the side of the house to lovely views. My hubby says little by little & the rewards will be Hugh 😊😃
Keep plodding on, you are doing a great job 👏
Signs of dehydration he says… and pops open a bottle of wine hahahahahah love it!
Hi man. My wife and I really look forward to you posting a new video of your progress. I know exactly what you mean about your problem with the rubble. I hate to have to do a job twice, and with that in mind I was wondering if you have a tow bar on your car.? If you had a trailer you could fill it with the rubble and then leave it somewhere until you need it. I come from a farming background and I know farming in Italy is a bit different but they will have trailers that are only really useful for harvesting, so would be redundant for long periods of the year, and depending on how good your relationship is with your neighbouring farmers, and how good your Italian is, you might be able to come to some sort of arrangement. One other thing, get yourself a proper sledge hammer. You hinted that you've had, some negative posts. I think they are born of jealousy. Good luck.
Just awesome!!!