25/04/20
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Definitely hit that part of the build that requires lots of deep breaths and a level head. All front window openings are now complete including the one for the first floor central study/office. Side kitchen windows both complete. Extension topping out. Beams about to go in any minute. Despite looking like the Somme the garden grading has improved a lot over the past week. We had to rush in last weekend and attack the Hedge of Despair, removing the lowest 2m high x 2m deep as the digger was struggling and just piling up rubble against it. It still looks beyond hope but the levels are kind of sorta there - if you squint and a think positively anyway. We’re thinking the only path forward is to buy a proverbial shit tonne of topsoil, lug it down there by hand and then pin down in place using biodegradable hessian/jute fabric. Oh, and before that we’ll have to hand pick visible rubble/hardcore out and dispose of this..... somewhere.... The soil can then be pinned tightly down to stop erosion whilst any seeds take root. Sounds easy :) Not much to show inside the house this week. The carpenter has been busy leveling the first floor ceiling as surprise surprise it was woefully unlevel.
Hoping by the next update the digger is offsite, the grading at the side of the house well underway or complete, the extension beams and roof in, and the new scaffolding up around the house. Think positive.
Definitely hit that part of the build that requires lots of deep breaths and a level head. All front window openings are now complete including the one for the first floor central study/office. Side kitchen windows both complete. Extension topping out. Beams about to go in any minute. Despite looking like the Somme the garden grading has improved a lot over the past week. We had to rush in last weekend and attack the Hedge of Despair, removing the lowest 2m high x 2m deep as the digger was struggling and just piling up rubble against it. It still looks beyond hope but the levels are kind of sorta there - if you squint and a think positively anyway. We’re thinking the only path forward is to buy a proverbial shit tonne of topsoil, lug it down there by hand and then pin down in place using biodegradable hessian/jute fabric. Oh, and before that we’ll have to hand pick visible rubble/hardcore out and dispose of this..... somewhere.... The soil can then be pinned tightly down to stop erosion whilst any seeds take root. Sounds easy :) Not much to show inside the house this week. The carpenter has been busy leveling the first floor ceiling as surprise surprise it was woefully unlevel.
Hoping by the next update the digger is offsite, the grading at the side of the house well underway or complete, the extension beams and roof in, and the new scaffolding up around the house. Think positive.
25/04/10
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Extension walls are going up fast and about at the top now. The three rooms are now visible. Second bathroom feeling very small at 3m x 1.5m, but put in context of our last house (2.5 x 1.5m per bathroom) doesn’t seem so bad. Work has begun on the internal rear entrance into the extension.
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The grading of the garden spoils is well underway but needs some work. The backfill up to the rear of the extension is done to around 3m out, and possibly needs a bit more. The plan is to let it settle over the course of a year and then attempt to lay a deck over it. Hoping we can bury as much rubble as possible over the next week or so and create some more formed levels, as at present it doesn’t look so hot. Some of the hedging on the inside has to go this weekend to allow the digger to access as close to the boundary as possible.
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Out front, the glulam beams are on site which will provide the basis for the flat roof and also be exposed within the living area of the extension. Will keep these raw for the time being as we’re unsure how we’ll finish them - either a lacquer or paint white. The central ground floor front door/window opening is now complete and they’re moving onto the first floor one above it that will run in line with it.
Extension walls are going up fast and about at the top now. The three rooms are now visible. Second bathroom feeling very small at 3m x 1.5m, but put in context of our last house (2.5 x 1.5m per bathroom) doesn’t seem so bad. Work has begun on the internal rear entrance into the extension.
The grading of the garden spoils is well underway but needs some work. The backfill up to the rear of the extension is done to around 3m out, and possibly needs a bit more. The plan is to let it settle over the course of a year and then attempt to lay a deck over it. Hoping we can bury as much rubble as possible over the next week or so and create some more formed levels, as at present it doesn’t look so hot. Some of the hedging on the inside has to go this weekend to allow the digger to access as close to the boundary as possible.
Out front, the glulam beams are on site which will provide the basis for the flat roof and also be exposed within the living area of the extension. Will keep these raw for the time being as we’re unsure how we’ll finish them - either a lacquer or paint white. The central ground floor front door/window opening is now complete and they’re moving onto the first floor one above it that will run in line with it.
25/03/23
Mini update today. Short walkthrough of the upstairs layout now the partition wall between the bathroom and bed 2 is in. The study is boarded up in preparation for the window opening to be worked on. Lobby area looks cool. Can’t wait for that wall to be opened up and the steels put in. Outside the extension floor is now done.
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Mini update today. Short walkthrough of the upstairs layout now the partition wall between the bathroom and bed 2 is in. The study is boarded up in preparation for the window opening to be worked on. Lobby area looks cool. Can’t wait for that wall to be opened up and the steels put in. Outside the extension floor is now done.
25/03/23
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The extension beam and block floor is well underway now which is encouraging. Once that’s in, and the garden mudslide is taken care of, the digger can go and main house scaffolding erected. The big boy concrete filled retaining wall on the West side is making good progress, it’s strength being needed to stop the force of the backfill and hill behind it. New soil pipe exiting the existing house had to exit above extension floor level meaning we’ll have to either make a feature of it, or likely hide it behind cabinetry, which thankfully was planned to be there anyway.
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At the front, the new ground floor front door opening is underway. The arch doesn’t have much time left before it’s gone. Inside, the old stairs have gone into the skip and the last of the new first floor joists are in - these will form the small landing and front office. We’re finally able to get a sense of what things will look like when coming through the front foor i.e. how far the ceiling above will extend in front of the stairwell. The dotted lines represents the new window openings. Rear one starting to look intimidating. It’s always hard to visualise in 3D or on a drawing so nice to see.
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The extension beam and block floor is well underway now which is encouraging. Once that’s in, and the garden mudslide is taken care of, the digger can go and main house scaffolding erected. The big boy concrete filled retaining wall on the West side is making good progress, it’s strength being needed to stop the force of the backfill and hill behind it. New soil pipe exiting the existing house had to exit above extension floor level meaning we’ll have to either make a feature of it, or likely hide it behind cabinetry, which thankfully was planned to be there anyway.
At the front, the new ground floor front door opening is underway. The arch doesn’t have much time left before it’s gone. Inside, the old stairs have gone into the skip and the last of the new first floor joists are in - these will form the small landing and front office. We’re finally able to get a sense of what things will look like when coming through the front foor i.e. how far the ceiling above will extend in front of the stairwell. The dotted lines represents the new window openings. Rear one starting to look intimidating. It’s always hard to visualise in 3D or on a drawing so nice to see.
25/03/16
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