Renovation
Building progress report
Sunday 26 September, 2010
Before I wrote this, I thought I'd review the last post on this subject. The steel for the barn didn't arrive but should this week.
The upstairs is now pretty much all plasterboarded. The electricians have been putting in sockets and light switches, and the outdoor lights at the front door - they look very posh with the new door. The plumber was here yesterday and fitted the shower and the shower tray.
Planning permision granted
Tuesday 21 September, 2010
We received notification today that our planning application for the ground source heat pump and PV array has been approved without conditions. Dan's been in touch with the two installers and I've let the contractor who's doing the ground works know.
This is really good news - getting the heating on will dry out the floor more quickly, which means the wood and tiles can be laid sooner. The joiners have been here today plasterboarding - most of upstairs is done - and they are back tomorrow.
Building progress report
Wednesday 15 September, 2010
Joiners have been busy today. Most of the framing and insulation is done and all the ceilings are up apart from the kitchen. They aren't here tomorrow - steel for the other job is being delivered tomorrow. The electricians will be here though, and I think some of the joiners will be back on Friday.
The Ames taper has been here; he is also doing the external painterwork. Since he will be here anyway, he's giving us a price for the internal painting. Hope he likes Magnolia.
The lights for the dining room and living room were delivered today.
Building progress report
Tuesday 14 September, 2010
It's been a good week. We've had electricians, joiners, the plasterer (who's also the brickie, slater and all round star) and, yesterday and today, the blokes to install the plant for the heat pump. It all looks very complicated and there is a huge pile of technical manuals - I won't be reading them.
The week after next, the ground works for the heat pump loop will be done and a new mains water pipe installed - then the heat pump and plumbing can be commissioned. We've decided to run water into the West range at the same time - seems daft not too.
Building progress report
Tuesday 14 September, 2010
It's glorious here today, but breezy - a good drying day, so the washing is done and out.
The ewes are still bawling at having no grass - so much so, I gave them a leaf of hay to shut them up. Dickie is back with the boys - they absconded yesterday to find him and spring him from wherever he'd been imprisoned. The joiner came and asked if three sheep should be wandering about. Actually there were four, so I let Dickie out to join them and they all followed me back to the field. I must have left the gate ajar.
Building progress report
Saturday 4 September, 2010
After our little glitch, the floor has been successfully poured and it's set. The joiners and the plumber were here last week, so we're back to where we were two weeks ago. Well, that's not strictly true - the builders have been here and have put in the roof vents, tidied up any loose slates and have sarted work on the guttering and downpipes.
Next week, we should have the plumber and the electrician, then the plasterboarding will start on the 13th September.
"Fired Earth", from whom we are getting the tiles for the kitchen and hall, want us to check the measurements - they think we need more tiles than are ordered. The cynic in me says this has something to do with the fact that we're not using their installation service. If you do, they're on sale or return; if you use your own tiler, as we are, you can't return any surplus. I may be doing them a disservice but we'll measure carefully tomorrow.
A bit of a glitch
Friday 27 August, 2010
Last Saturday, the screed in the ground floor was poured - 4 cubic metres or 8 tonnes of self-levelling liquid screed. The plan was to allow it to cure for four days, with the plumber and electrician arranged for today. The screed would take a few weeks to be completely dry, but would be firm enough to walk on within 24 - 36 hours.
On Sunday, it looked exactly the same as when it was poured. On Monday, it looked exactly the same as it did when it was poured. Today it looked exactly the same as it did when it was poured. And tomorrow, the contractor will be back to sook it back out, take out the pipes for the underfloor heating and scrap the underfloor insulation.
Building progress report
Tuesday 10 August, 2010
The plumbers have been getting on today - bathroom wastes all cut, first pipes in, "stuff" in the kitchen. And the new upstairs windows are in and they look fabulous! They feel really robust, with solid brass fittings. I don't think the joiners will be back this week, because they have to wait on the plumber finishing some of his work.
So pleased with the windows!
Building progress report
Sunday 1 August, 2010
We've seen a bit of activity this week as the tradesmen returned from their holidays.
The electricians, Harry and Kevin (who are my cousin and his son) arrived at Dalmore last Saturday, (with their own caravan so that they could get an early start on Sunday) raring to go. Over the two days, they put in most of the first fix cabling. They couldn't do it all because the downstairs floors weren't in. We went up on Sunday, to answer a few questions that they had.
The builders have now put in the concrete downstairs ready for the underfloor heating, and they've also put in the pipes to carry the cables and stuff for the ground source heat pump from the underground coil to the old dairy, where the plant will be. We've just had confirmation that we're getting a grant for the heat pump and an interest-free loan for the pump and the PV installation, which is good news.
Building progress report
Friday 9 July, 2010
It's been a pretty quiet week. The joiners have finished removing the floors and external wall linings. They have managed to work around the staircase and the cornice in the hall, for which we are grateful.
The upstairs is framed and ready for the first fix electrical then the insulation, which is being delivered next Wednesday.
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Today, Gav and Mark, the joiners, demolished the front porch. What an improvement! When they took it down, we could see the inscription in the stonework above the door confirming that the house was built in 1887.
