Catching Up!

Due to a heavy workload recently, I'm a little behind with my blogging - sorry folks!

In an attempt to put matters right, I'll write about progress made over the last couple of weeks, so bear with me if you will, till I get to present day.

21st January:






Scaffolding around the chimneys now struck and we are able to see them clearly from the ground.  The combination of the brickwork corbel detail designed by the architect and the handmade Old Clamp brick looks really good.  Thought went into the style of chimney pot and the stone band around the top, resulting in chimneys that match perfectly with the house.

The roof tilers have begun fixing the slates.  They started with the garage and will be continuing on to the main roof next week.  They now have a clear run and are eager to finish the slating in one hit.

Inside the house, we spent the week ensuring everything is where it should be before the plasterers begin.  First fix on the top floor is complete and the plasterers have started to fit all the rigid insulation to the underside of the rafters.  They are also fitting the metal framed sacrificial ceiling on all floors.  Tacking and plastering won't begin until we are confident that the roof is dry and we are safe from the elements.

My heart missed a beat the other day when I walked into the kitchen to find that the studwork that had just been built to house the refrigerator and larder, was not where it was supposed to be!  I was faced with a brick wall when I tried to enter the larder!  Due to a misunderstanding, Jamie had taken his measurements from the ties in the blockwork and hadn't checked the plan for the correct positioning, so the larder was farther back than it should have been.  Poor Paul, who had just finished the work, had to redo it, but I'm happy to report that it now looks fab!  Disaster averted - in the nick of time!


Insulation - How Thick Can You Get?!



There are still electricians and carpenters completing the first fix on the floors below and once done, we will ensure that all sockets, switches and lighting are where we want them to be. 

The staircase will be finished and poured very soon.  At the moment, the staircase is covered in all the timber shuttering, so it is difficult to get an overall feel for the actual size and shape of it.  Once the timber is struck out, we can begin to finalise the detail on the cladding, balustrading, and handrail.

Jon said that the home-made chocolate muffins handed out to the trades midway through the week were a welcome sight and a highlight for those having to work in close to freezing temperatures all winter long! 


28th January:

The slating on the roof went well this week.  Despite rain, wind and low temperatures, the roof tilers made better progress that we were expecting.  The majority of the slates are now fixed.  Once they are all on, the hips and ridge tiles will be fitted and pointed in.



The boys have also been working on the gable at the front of the property.  The brickwork is up to height, ready to carry the large stone copings.  Due to the weight and design of these stones, the builders asked for input from the structural engineer as to how they should be fixing the stone in place.  He has specified a number of different straps and reinforcement, from the stone through the brickwork and blockwork, fixing into the second floor slab.  They will be working on the stone to the gable next week.

They have also finished pouring the concrete to the primary staircase and we now have a feel for the size and how it will eventually look. 

The metal grid on the ceilings is ongoing and all the first fix is complete, barring a few areas the builders are awaiting information on, namely kitchen and bathrooms.

Looks like the roof is doing its job and keeping the rain out, so the plasterers have the go-ahead to start tacking on the second floor during the early part of next week.