Our Project
Thursday July 22nd - work started, and has been under way days so far....
Build Diary
Week 31:
The days are getting longer here now, and we are excited to see progress once more! The windowsills have been fitted, and the rendering will be finished this week. Suddenly the house feels 'bigger'!
Weeks 26 to 30:
Things have been pretty much stopped for the last month. We have had the first real hassle of the project, with some difficulties with prices of tiles. I won't go into details, lets hope we can see some good progress again soon. In the meantime the plaster has been drying out nicely, despite some awful weather. We have also been out choosing flooring and doors, along with the the colour of the external rendering last week...
go to topWeeks 23, 24 & 25:
The plastering was completed during the last three weeks, and the difference is amazing. Having been away from the house for a couple of weeks during the Christmas holiday the change was dramatic. The house now feels incredibly real and almost finished! We have also been busy choosing bathroom tiles so that the decorating of the bathrooms can be started.
Weeks 21 & 22:
The last fornight has seen a lot of smaller details going on before the plastering work began towards the end of the week. The 'pre-frames' for the windows have been fitted, along with the finishing up of most of the plumbing. The outstanding bits and pieces of brickwork have been tidied up, such as the front of the chimney - we now have a working fireplace! The plastering is something to behold. From what I can gather without seeing them doing it, the huge container out the front holds the plaster as powder, which is pumped to a mixing machine, and the results 'sprayed' on! Theory deduced from the results splashed everywhere! As you can imagine, it doesn't take them long! Updates to follow....
Week 19:
As predicted the dividing walls have almost been completed upstairs. We asked to make use of the space over the kitchen so as not to waste it, almost doubling the size of the bathroom! This required the anchouring and welding of some RSJs which will support some concrete 'planking' which was also done this week.
Week 18:
The roof is finished for all but the chimnies, and the brickwork has continued to fly up. The two 'skins' are all but finished downstairs, complete with the insulation. The downstairs distribution has also been completed, so we really have a good idea of the space of the rooms. The upstairs has also been started and won't be far behind.
Week 17:
This week has seen the start of the tiles being laid on the roof, and the outer brickwork. Progress is quick, and the house again feels much nearer completion.
Weeks 15 & 16:
A couple of slower weeks in terms of major progress, although plenty of preparation for the next stages of the project. All the bricks have been delivered and the walls started. The holes in the roof and floor for the chimney have been made, and the insulation foam applied to the roof, which is now ready for the tiles.
Week 14:
The main retaining wall built from special concrete blocks is built. Just in time as the first bad weather for a while turns things a little muddy! The house is cleared of all the supports, making it feel much bigger and somehow more real.
Week 13:
The retaining wall and the concrete walls are finished, and all the wooden casing cleared away. The blocks to build the main retaining wall are delivered. Some general site-tidying takes place.
Week 12:
The earth-moving continues, with a lot more coming out than planned! The foundations for the retaining wall and the concrete walls are constructed.
Week 11:
The cement is laid for the roof, and once dry the casing removed. The required supports are left, and will remain for between 3 and 4 weeks. The excavation behind the house begins, in order for us to create a useable space behind the house.
Weeks 9 & 10:
The wooden casing to hold the roof is begun. During the week it becomes more 'roof-like' as the preparations are made for the structure to be laid out. During the latter half of week 10 the blocks and reinforcing are put into place and all is ready for the concrete to be laid early next week.
Week 8:
The concrete is laid for the first floor. The wooden casing for the stairway upstairs is built and all the remaining RSJs are welded into place. We can really get a good feel of the aspect of the house now that we have a good idea where the roof will be!
Week 7:
The remaining RSJs are welded into place, and the first floor is started. The same process is followed; a wooden shell is built to support the main concrete beams, the concrete blocks are laid along with the iron mesh reinforcing, and the base-plates for the RSJs put into place. The stairs between the garage and ground floor are prepared.
Week 6:
Another busy week! The whole of the ground floor was laid. This consisted of basically propping up a floor of special concrete blocks, and then filling it with concrete. As you can see, the first RSJs forming the main structure of the house were welded onto their base-plates.
Weeks 4 & 5:
A lot happened during these two weeks, while we were in the south of Spain on holiday. The carcass to contain the concrete was finished, with the iron reinforcing located inside. It was then filled with concrete. A day or two later the wooden casing was removed and the RSJs located. The second set of footings at a higher level for the back of the house were then prepared and laid.
