Today I'll try not to make an extra long comment hahaha I'll try.
You talk to me about these topics .... and I have to tell you that my house in Argentina has 140 square meters and almost 4 meters high walls to the ceiling .... at home we bought the materials, but to pay labor was not enough, so I'll tell you about it:
-I changed the kitchen, changed the ceramics of the same, countertop, faucet.
-I sanded the grilles all over the house.
-I changed the gutters, the water tank that is on the roof, the roof braces.
-Sand the walls, paint the walls of the whole house.
-I restored by removing the glazed tiles from the bathroom, I glued them back.
-I changed the whole water installation, (it was made of lead, I changed it for pvc).
-I changed the electricity wiring in the house.
-I restored the garden set.
-Sanded wooden doors and windows and painted them.
-I think I'm missing some things to tell you haha.
I started in 2003, finished in 2018 and came to Spain hahaha.
Of course I had the help of my brother, but we worked together. Only the painting of the walls and the tiles and ceramics were done by myself.
Only the plastering, which I don't know how to do, a family friend, a bricklayer, helped me. The rest was all us, my brother and me.
Your garden set will be beautiful! I think the same as you, if it can be restored... it's better this way!
I imagine that after all that work you stood back and felt pretty satisfied with your efforts; I think that's one of the coolest things about DIY, the satisfaction of having turned one's hand to the task and made some effort.
Absolutely! And you know what? I know how to do everything! I learned by asking and I am very satisfied with my work! The house turned out beautifully. Someone else is enjoying it now, but I'm happy