Day 163 - Slow Progress

I haven't updated the blog for a while as there has been a bit of slow progress.

I have been working on the ground floor applestone tiles, which are now complete and awaiting grouting this Thursday, but I've had a bit of a problem with the plumber and decorator both of whom were on haitus last week.

Work is back underway now, and the painting is coming along nicely, with the tiles starting to go on in the en suite.

We're getting there. Water and electricity should be online within the week and I've ordered all the sockets and switches ready to go on once the decorating is complete.

    

Day 158 - Kitchen Floor Underway

I made a start on the applestone floor this weekend. Its an enormous area so its taking me a while but its definitely looking good so far!

  

Day 156 - Stone Delivery

The natural stone tiles arrived this Thursday. A wonderful limestone from Turkey called Applestone for the kitchen, sunroom, utility and lobby, and a variety of slates from China and Brazil for the bathroom floors and walls.

With a full pallet of adhesive, grout and sealant the whole delivery weighed in at around 3,700Kg, all of which I had to move into the house.

That's my workout for the week!

    

Day 154 - We have stairs!

After the carpenter cried off from tackling the stair case, I dragged Andy down for the weekend and together we took on the challenge.

Armed with school boy carpentry and the vague memory of an engineering degree we made a start. Three hours in and we were confident enough to start cutting, glueing and screwing, and by the end of the day we had it pretty much done. I popped down on Sunday morning to finish off the details and voila: one staircase!

Next up: natural stone flooring. How hard can that be?

    

Day 153 - Plaster Complete

The new plaster work is all complete now and we've made a start on the huge job of painting. We're using a microporous paint - Dulux Supermatt - that allows the new plaster to breath and continue to dry even after it has been painted.

The second fix carpentry is also underway with the door architrave and doors themselves being put up.

Lots more painting, staircase assembly and stone floors next on the list.

    

Day 143 - Plasterboard continues

The plaster boarding has continued at pace this week. Nearly all the ceilings and walls are done now, and the skim finish has begun upstairs. Next week sees completion of all the plaster work and hopefully delivery of the staircase.

    

Day 136 - Plasterboard on the first floor

The plasterers started on Tuesday this week on the first floor. The internal walls are being insulated with a thermal and accoustic fireproof material and then covered with 15mm, screw-fixed SoundBloc plasterboard. The same board is also used for the ceilings. You can also see the green moisture-proof board going into the bathrooms.

The effect is amazing! Having spent so long seeing the house without walls it completely changes the space. It feels huge!

The ground floor work will start next week while the first floor gets its pink plaster skim finish.

   

Day 133 - Ready for plasterboard

Some general house keeping this weekend ahead of the plasterboard which starts first thing tomorrow.

Martha and I gave the whole place a good tidy and I took out the safety deck in the stair well which allows us to, for the first time, get a real feel for the light in the hallway.

I did my final checks this morning, taking pictures of all the walls and ceilings so I have a record of the location of all of the services just in case we lose anything.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow - the walls are on their way!

    

Day 131 - Satellite Cables & Meter Boxes

I was busy on the plot this weekend fixing the cables for the Sky dish and a few final touches before the plasterboard goes on next Monday.

I have discovered to my horror though that the ventilation installers have punched a hole through my soffit board for their drain pipe. Shirty email on its way now!

    

Day 130 - First Fix Complete

Well, almost.

The wiring for the security system is now in place, and the plumbing and electrics are all in. The remaining carpentry work will be done next week, including door linings, thresholds and a few bits of external joinery.

I have ordered the staircase which should be arriving in a week or so and the tree surgeons were onsite today trimming up all of the remaining greenery.

I'll be installing the electrical meter box this weekend together with the coaxial cable for the Sky TV feed. That should just about do it!

    

There is also a new addition to the Cannon family; Mr Volvo's front wheel drive was starting to grate, so when I came accross this little chap I couldn't resist the swap. I definitely think I got the better half of the deal!

Day 125 - Bath & Showers

We had a week off last week while the plumbers and electricians were elsewhere, but we were back on this week.

The electrics are now complete and the plumbing is moving slowly forwards. The new shower doors arrived in enormous boxes from the supplier and take up almost all of the dining room! We now have the heated towel rails for the bathrooms and the bath on site.

I am making final decisions on the stairs, drylining, insulation, carpentry and lighting this week so work will be carrying on at pace now for the next few weeks right up to the start of the second fix.

Not long until we get walls!