The Transformation - Week 10

This week has started with lots more activity and many trades back on site so you will see changes abound this week.  The weather has been reasonably kind to us and as there is work to do on the roof this week that's a good thing

 Floorboards are now being replaced as the electricians have laid the miles of wiring under them and plumbers have completed laying pipes.

  The plumbers are back and the radiators which were taken off the walls to allow easier painting have been put back in place.  Electricians are also on second-fix as you can just see the double-socket on the other wall.

 

Vinyl laid in thebathroom - difficult to see the pattern in the evening light.  The bathpanel and unit kickboards were removed to allow the fitter to get all it laid under them for a good seal on the floor.

 Tiling has started in the bathroom and .................

 in the shower Room too - the black tiles are a perfect match for the units in this room - deliberately of course!

 Vinyl has also been fitted in the Shower Room and again units dis-mantled to ensure a good seal on the floor.

The radiator in the guest bedroom is back on the wall...............

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and on the landing................. we haven't quite managed to get around to painting the remainder of the hall stairs and landing yet so the 'blue' is still evident.

 We have a boiler in Mission Control even if we haven't yet achieved a Gas supply to allow commissioning of it etc - that's scheduled for 21st August.

 As you can see the scaffolding is still on the front of the house including the chimney scaffolds which will opefully come down this week once the chimney pots have been fitted and the jackdaws evicted for good!

In preparation for the winter our neighbour has very kindly started the log cutting as we now have fireplaces ready to use as well.

Evidence of activity on the roof today.  there was a man on this ladder when Susan went past at lunchtime but didn't have time to stop and capture it for the blog!

 Project creep!!  We have decided to do the utility room basics rather than try and live with the 'original' room.  We removed all of the old shelving and cupboards which as usual were thoroughly nailed to the walls - more wood for the fires!

 The final coat of latex on the dining room floor - it's beautifully smooth.

The roofer had quite a job with the ridge tiles as they were all cemented on very securely and of course the building surveyor recommendation was to put vented ridge tiles in.  Our compromise as suggested by roofing supplier was to lift all of them and put a membrane under them and re-bed to allow some ventilation along the whole ridge.  We had the roofer for company all weekend as he needed to get the job finished to keep on schedule and before the scaffolders come back to take it all away!  He also fixed the flashing around the chimneys and managed to put the TV aerial into the roofspace without having to cut the roofing felt.  It was fascinating to watch him work and sing - not that well (his view not ours) as he lay on the roof ladder on a sunny afternoon in August!  Not sure his wife was that please at him having to work Saturday and Sunday to get it all finished.

The shower room nearing completion.

 Shower controls in place - tiling will need to be complete before the doors are fitted!

 The plumber got this far and then realised that he had a sink with two tap holes in it BUT he had a mixer tap in his hand so the question was asked and the answer was clear - they supplied the wrong sink!  Thankfully it had not been sealed in situ!

 Bathroom shower controls also in place with the cardboard from the towel radiator shielding the bath from potential damage!

After various conversations with Wales and West the builders brief was clear - dig a trench 18'' deep and then wait on the 'man from wales and west' to come and inspect it and confirm that he is happy before the gas pipe is laid and the trench back-filled ready for the supply!  We took the opportunity to have them back-fill with a drainage element under the archway as we have discovered that the water 'pools' outside the front door and we can't have our guests arriving in their finery only to wade through a pool of water to come for dinner!

The utility room is taking shape.  The 'hole' in the back wall will be a vent to the outside - we had originally considered a port-hole window but have gone for a borrowed light above the door given  hat this room will also house the ground floor toilet!

 This will be the entrance from the kitchen to the utility and we will 'improve' the look of the wall to the left where there is a window and at this end where initially it will be 'boarded up' to make it lockfast as we go along.  In the first instance we will just put in a fixed pane double-glazed plain window and then re-fit it in a more contemporary style in Phase 2.

 We had another laugh at the expense of one of the guys on site the day this downpipe went in!  The original cast iron down pipe was in two sections with a hopper and lower section that was taken out last.  As it was removed from the ground it became clear that it was full of stagnant water and he was soaked and somewhat 'fragrant' for the rest of the day.  Not amused in the slightest but much to the amusement of the rest of the guys who were in fits of laughter and he didn't get a lot of sympathy from Susan either!  However, he did a good job and we tested it at the weekend and have discovered that the rainwater from this down pipe and the other one that is further up the bakehouse wall both empty into the rainwater cistern - unlike the cart shed down pipe which simply pours out onto the ground!

 Shot of the dressing room from the en-suite bedroom. radiator now on the wall and 'new' skirting board fitted.