Monday 15 - Tuesday 16 November
I returned home on Monday evening after a long weekend away in the Lake District with good friends who listened patiently to tales of the build. I admit it, I was a bit concerned about what I would find when I arrived back at the house.
In the gloom, it took a while to spot the difference downstairs but then I noticed more lighting cables hanging from the ceiling in what will be the new kitchen and downstairs toilet/utility room.
I tried to look upstairs in the loft, but the power has been switched off up there, so I had to wait until the following morning to see what had been going on.
The replacement purlin which had been put in place too low, has now been raised so that it fits more comfortably (in visual terms) between the upper and lower Velux windows. In this new position, it will be easier for me to access things stored under the eaves without having to bend double, aggravating my back problems. Have to find a creative solution for the ensuite toilet where head room will be restricted, but I think that a short projection pan will do the trick - just enough space for people to use the loo without bumping their heads when sitting down.
I spent the afternoon trying to sort out building control issues arising from the architect's failure to pay a fee sufficient to cover not just the ground floor extension but all the other work too, including works in the loft. By close of business, I'd had confirmation of the correct fee for the rest of the works, completed a Building Notice form and taken it along with a cheque for the appropriate amount into the Council offices. So that ball is rolling again, after a hiatus of 17 days when the Building Inspector dropped his bombshell that not all the works had been approved.
Wednesday 17 October
Apart from going to the GP for a flu jab in the morning, I've had a very quiet day, recharging the batteries after walks in the Lake District and not doing too much in the hope that an incipient cold will get better rather than worse.
I could hear work going on downstairs and in the loft....
By the close of business, the ceiling in the old kitchen (soon to be dining area) had been insulated and battened ready to take ceiling panels. There was no insulation in the original ceiling, so this will make quite a difference I imagine, both upstairs and downstairs in terms of noise transference as well as heat.
I also spotted that the water pipe has been rerouted with an upstand where the new kitchen sink will be before snaking around the external wall of the extension to where the new boiler and manifold for the underfloor heating will be installed in a purpose built cupboard.
Up in the loft, the new purlin has been fixed in place. I guess the builder assumed that as I had said nothing, its new location was OK. Here's hoping that the Building Inspector will feel likewise!
Thursday 18 October
Another day of activity upstairs and downstairs. Up in the loft, the old purlin and stud partition below have both been removed opening up sight lines into what had been enclosed under eaves storage cupboards. Access to the space will be so much easier now that I don't have to crawl into the cupboards on my hands and knees via that tight little gap directly below the roof lights!
The debris has been piled up waiting to go downstairs - time for another skip changeover I think...maybe the last one?
The partition to the existing WC cubicle in the loft is now also largely removed, ready to modify the sloping floor to increase the flat area while still leaving enough headroom over the stairs below. Everything will then be shifted a little to the right (when looking at the photo below) so that you don't bump your head on the new purlin when using the loo under the sloping ceiling.
What had been a solid wall to the right of the white door in the photo above will soon be a toughened glass panel forming one side of the new (yet to be installed) shower cubicle. This glazing will let borrowed light into the shower cubicle from the Velux in the loo. Even though the shower itself won't be large, the natural light streaming in through this glazed panel will make it much more pleasant to use than if this side of the cubicle was solid.
Downstairs, the last of the old maple floating floor has been taken up and some of the original floorboards and a joist have been removed to install water pipes serving the downstairs toilet, wash basin and washing machine in the new ground floor WC/utility room.
This may not look much to you, but it's another step forward in the process of reconfiguring the ground floor to future proof the house for me. The (temporary) downside of this step forward is that all the materials which had been stored neatly against this wall and under the stairs are now piled up in the middle of the old dining room and the whole space is mightily cluttered once again.
In amongst this clutter, I eventually found the original kitchen door which was returned to the house last night stripped of multiple layers of paint, ready to reinstall in the new WC/utility room. It took me ages to find it...I even looked in the skip to see if it had been thrown out by mistake. But I eventually spotted it, piled up with the wall boards on the lower level, hidden behind a sheet of ply. Big sigh of relief...
Friday 19 October - Saturday 20 October
The guys have been working overtime, I assume to make up some of the time lost over the last few months now that deadlines are looming.
The skip is full (in fact more stuff has gone in since the photo below was taken). The next skip changeover will be on Tuesday...
Most of the stuff in the skip has come out of the loft, where the old stud partitions which once formed under eaves storage cupboards that I had to crawl into on my hands and knees have now been fully removed. Also removed are a couple of studs where the new shower cubicle will be installed.
The good news is that Building Control have acknowledged the Building Notice relating to these and other works shown on the approved plans but not covered by the original fee.
Downstairs, a small forest of cables has appeared under the stairs where the new consumer unit will be installed...
...the rest of the ceiling has been insulated, ceiling panels have gone up in the old kitchen and a start has been made on paneling the ceiling in the old dining room.
On Saturday, I met a flooring contractor who is experienced at laying the floor finish I'm using in the open plan kitchen/diner (most contractors haven't heard of it as its usually used in commercial and leisure buildings). The quote came through for installing the flooring in the kitchen area (the rest will have to wait until the insulation, underfloor hearting and screed have been installed and dried out). I was delighted to see that it's very reasonable and he can do it in time for the kitchen to be installed. One more quote due in on Monday, but it's good to know I've got a good contender lined up whatever happens...
So here we are, at the end of week 20 of what was supposed to be a 10 week build. There's still a long way to go. However, there's been good progress recently and now there are dates for installing the new garden doors and window (14 November) and the kitchen (starting week commencing 12 November) and floor finish + start decorating in the kitchen (week commencing 5 November). Those deadlines are a real incentive for the builder to get on with the stuff that needs to be completed in the next fortnight!
And also an incentive for me to tie up some more loose ends ....I've sent the kitchen fitter details of sinks and taps I'd like to see if he has any advice about which would be best; I've sent the builder details of the bathroom cabinet I'd like in the downstairs loo as well as a small selection of short projection toilet pans suitable for the loft. Also marked out where the bed will go in the loft - although its a good space, options are restricted by doors, a post supporting the roof and areas of restricted headroom - but I've found a position that will work without conflicting with any of these restrictions and still leave space for a small sofa and lots of storage. Now that's what I call progress....I hope!
I returned home on Monday evening after a long weekend away in the Lake District with good friends who listened patiently to tales of the build. I admit it, I was a bit concerned about what I would find when I arrived back at the house.
In the gloom, it took a while to spot the difference downstairs but then I noticed more lighting cables hanging from the ceiling in what will be the new kitchen and downstairs toilet/utility room.
I tried to look upstairs in the loft, but the power has been switched off up there, so I had to wait until the following morning to see what had been going on.
The replacement purlin which had been put in place too low, has now been raised so that it fits more comfortably (in visual terms) between the upper and lower Velux windows. In this new position, it will be easier for me to access things stored under the eaves without having to bend double, aggravating my back problems. Have to find a creative solution for the ensuite toilet where head room will be restricted, but I think that a short projection pan will do the trick - just enough space for people to use the loo without bumping their heads when sitting down.
I spent the afternoon trying to sort out building control issues arising from the architect's failure to pay a fee sufficient to cover not just the ground floor extension but all the other work too, including works in the loft. By close of business, I'd had confirmation of the correct fee for the rest of the works, completed a Building Notice form and taken it along with a cheque for the appropriate amount into the Council offices. So that ball is rolling again, after a hiatus of 17 days when the Building Inspector dropped his bombshell that not all the works had been approved.
Wednesday 17 October
Apart from going to the GP for a flu jab in the morning, I've had a very quiet day, recharging the batteries after walks in the Lake District and not doing too much in the hope that an incipient cold will get better rather than worse.
I could hear work going on downstairs and in the loft....
By the close of business, the ceiling in the old kitchen (soon to be dining area) had been insulated and battened ready to take ceiling panels. There was no insulation in the original ceiling, so this will make quite a difference I imagine, both upstairs and downstairs in terms of noise transference as well as heat.
I also spotted that the water pipe has been rerouted with an upstand where the new kitchen sink will be before snaking around the external wall of the extension to where the new boiler and manifold for the underfloor heating will be installed in a purpose built cupboard.
Up in the loft, the new purlin has been fixed in place. I guess the builder assumed that as I had said nothing, its new location was OK. Here's hoping that the Building Inspector will feel likewise!
Thursday 18 October
Another day of activity upstairs and downstairs. Up in the loft, the old purlin and stud partition below have both been removed opening up sight lines into what had been enclosed under eaves storage cupboards. Access to the space will be so much easier now that I don't have to crawl into the cupboards on my hands and knees via that tight little gap directly below the roof lights!
The debris has been piled up waiting to go downstairs - time for another skip changeover I think...maybe the last one?
The partition to the existing WC cubicle in the loft is now also largely removed, ready to modify the sloping floor to increase the flat area while still leaving enough headroom over the stairs below. Everything will then be shifted a little to the right (when looking at the photo below) so that you don't bump your head on the new purlin when using the loo under the sloping ceiling.
What had been a solid wall to the right of the white door in the photo above will soon be a toughened glass panel forming one side of the new (yet to be installed) shower cubicle. This glazing will let borrowed light into the shower cubicle from the Velux in the loo. Even though the shower itself won't be large, the natural light streaming in through this glazed panel will make it much more pleasant to use than if this side of the cubicle was solid.
Downstairs, the last of the old maple floating floor has been taken up and some of the original floorboards and a joist have been removed to install water pipes serving the downstairs toilet, wash basin and washing machine in the new ground floor WC/utility room.
This may not look much to you, but it's another step forward in the process of reconfiguring the ground floor to future proof the house for me. The (temporary) downside of this step forward is that all the materials which had been stored neatly against this wall and under the stairs are now piled up in the middle of the old dining room and the whole space is mightily cluttered once again.
In amongst this clutter, I eventually found the original kitchen door which was returned to the house last night stripped of multiple layers of paint, ready to reinstall in the new WC/utility room. It took me ages to find it...I even looked in the skip to see if it had been thrown out by mistake. But I eventually spotted it, piled up with the wall boards on the lower level, hidden behind a sheet of ply. Big sigh of relief...
Friday 19 October - Saturday 20 October
The guys have been working overtime, I assume to make up some of the time lost over the last few months now that deadlines are looming.
The skip is full (in fact more stuff has gone in since the photo below was taken). The next skip changeover will be on Tuesday...
Most of the stuff in the skip has come out of the loft, where the old stud partitions which once formed under eaves storage cupboards that I had to crawl into on my hands and knees have now been fully removed. Also removed are a couple of studs where the new shower cubicle will be installed.
The good news is that Building Control have acknowledged the Building Notice relating to these and other works shown on the approved plans but not covered by the original fee.
Downstairs, a small forest of cables has appeared under the stairs where the new consumer unit will be installed...
...the rest of the ceiling has been insulated, ceiling panels have gone up in the old kitchen and a start has been made on paneling the ceiling in the old dining room.
On Saturday, I met a flooring contractor who is experienced at laying the floor finish I'm using in the open plan kitchen/diner (most contractors haven't heard of it as its usually used in commercial and leisure buildings). The quote came through for installing the flooring in the kitchen area (the rest will have to wait until the insulation, underfloor hearting and screed have been installed and dried out). I was delighted to see that it's very reasonable and he can do it in time for the kitchen to be installed. One more quote due in on Monday, but it's good to know I've got a good contender lined up whatever happens...
So here we are, at the end of week 20 of what was supposed to be a 10 week build. There's still a long way to go. However, there's been good progress recently and now there are dates for installing the new garden doors and window (14 November) and the kitchen (starting week commencing 12 November) and floor finish + start decorating in the kitchen (week commencing 5 November). Those deadlines are a real incentive for the builder to get on with the stuff that needs to be completed in the next fortnight!
And also an incentive for me to tie up some more loose ends ....I've sent the kitchen fitter details of sinks and taps I'd like to see if he has any advice about which would be best; I've sent the builder details of the bathroom cabinet I'd like in the downstairs loo as well as a small selection of short projection toilet pans suitable for the loft. Also marked out where the bed will go in the loft - although its a good space, options are restricted by doors, a post supporting the roof and areas of restricted headroom - but I've found a position that will work without conflicting with any of these restrictions and still leave space for a small sofa and lots of storage. Now that's what I call progress....I hope!
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