Click here to see March's pictures
I have added some thoughts on solar water heating panels. See the Technology page.
April 2007
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Click here to see March's pictures
I have added some thoughts on solar water heating panels. See the Technology page. |
This is about where we are now at the Easter break - except they guys are working though the long weekend.
Still awaiting the front door. There are two pillars to go up to support a section of roof to make an open porch for the main entrance.
Then the final section of roof can done. The Velux rooflight in the garage roof is now in, just needs the flashing sections fixing.
Rear elevation without the scaffolding.
And now the big ditch.
This is 1.2 metres wide by 1 metre deep and started off at a mere 146 metres long.......
One of the first problems was pulling up a gas main :-(
A bit of a fright for Melvin (our Kubota virtuoso) I scurried off to look for the deeds and prayers were said in all local churches ;-)
Turned out to be a water pipe from the spring just up the hill - but yellow!?!?!?!?!?
We had already managed to break a land drain by sheer weight of vehicles, this is after the trench has been back filled showing our new swimming pool.
My mission is to pump this out so it can be fixed on Monday.
As I said - 146 metres - its not enough I tell you!!
This is the far end of the paddock with a lot more tubing still to be buried.
Meanwhile at the house end I had a little panic when I realised the trench headed for the house, but the heat pump is meant to be in the workshop.
It looks like we should be able to run the pipe in the cavity between the extension and the garage block.
Kids' bedroom window between out and in.
By the 21st April things have moved on on several fronts...
Outside the drain age for the extension to the main drains has been done. A 3 metre deep trench was dug right across the courtyard and the small lawn.
On the way all sorts of foundations and bits were found. There used to be a barn 40 by 20 foot in the courtyard. The wall which has 5 course above ground has no less than 9 below!!
Clearly the ground level has risen a lot over the years.
Also there was a layer of red bricks laid herringbone style, I presume this was the floor of the old barn. (See the picture above, they were about 18 inches down.)
The new porch has been built and as of yesterday the roofing is nearing completion.
We had a most useful visit from the ground source heat pump people a few days ago (the MD no less). We made some revisions to the siting of the pump and the water tank. They will now both go in the workshop and the external pipe has already been brought into there with no problems at all.
Meanwhile the other main development inside is the installation of the underfloor heating pipes.
This the lounge with four sets of pipe and to the right is the master bedroom. The concrete screed should start to go down on Monday 23rd.
This is the 10-way manifold for the ground floor and upstairs there is a five-way job tucked away in a wardrobe.
Smiling Neil!
We have agreed a contract for the kitchen and here is my attempt at a photo of the designer's drawing.
Next things. The big window is due today and should go straight in, then a bit more glazing and we should be weather tight.
I have made some progress on the plans for the observatory with a prototype floor and rails made up. I need now to find someone who will supply a shed with delivery but no assembly or floor!!
The greenhouse is set to move to the paddock and it is now glass-free and unbolted from its concrete base. I just need 6 strong men!!
The lounge French window has been opened out and the frame is in.
The underfloor heating pipes on the new ground floor before the screed went on.
That is all done now and we are about to purchase the floor tiles and are almost ready for the heat pump to arrive.
Kitchen installation starts in 3 weeks.
Most of the new guttering went up yesterday - the long run at the back of the house is still to go - it will need 4 men.
I've been busy as well - I decided to take out the large sycamore at the end of the paddock.
It was crowding the far oak tree which had ended up with a hemispherical crown.
We are going to try and pull a few branches round towards the new gap to encourage it to get back in shape.
I think in another life I could have been a tree surgeon. It was quite a challenge with three trunks going I guess to about 50 or 60 foot. One overhung the boundary fence so that section had to come down piecemeal with each bit falling onto a rope so it could then be lowered down under control. Only one went seriously off (rope to short) and smacked me in the leg with a moment's "I'm 30 foot up a tree hanging on a rope, if that's broken its going to be a bit painful getting down and back to the house". In the event just cut and bruised. We now have enough firewood for next winter (if we get one).
Current action is the footings for the patios, a lot of plastering and finalising our bathroom stuff.