I was holding out for as long as I could but I needed a proper builder come in to plasterboard out the RSJ, smash out and make safe my fireplaces and then to plaster the whole room (including ceilings).
Well, Mario is in! Has been here 3 days (including today) and he is brilliant. He has sorted out the wiring so i now have more control over the lighting of the room. This was an issue because as I knocked down 3 walls and made two rooms and a corridor into one big room, I had light switches controlling different lights all over the place which are now all the same room. this is now sorted.
He has ripped down the farcical boxing that the earlier ‘builder’ put up when they installed the RSJ and he build a frame from 2×2 strips and covered in plaster board. He has also (and is actually still in the process of as I type) smashed out the first fireplace, taken up the floorboards and is preparing a hearth that will sit at least 125mm thick (Building regulations J) and will be covered (eventually) by nice tiles that I haven’t bought yet. This fireplace will never be in use but I want it to be the same as the other side so he is going through exactly the same process for both fireplaces, just in case future owners want an extra stove put in. At least they will know it is safe and adheres to planning regulations.
Here are the photos so far. The fireplace picture was actually sent to me by Mario on his new HTC phone, and then he phoned me to warm me that it ‘will eventually look nicer’, I bloody hope so! 
