House build

[Colin Grigson]

A busy few days have seen me putting a mist coat on the new plaster downstairs … I used to enjoy painting the odd room but this is on a scale I’m unfamiliar with - I ache everywhere after 3 days so far … I’ve calculated I’ll need 30 x 20kg buckets of paint at the current usage - that’s a lot of paint to stick up there !
The plaster boarders have started with the first layer (180mm thick) insulation between the beams, 220mm still to go up (at 90’ to existing) in 1 x layer of 160mm and the last of 60mm at 90’ to the second layer - the idea of that being that there will be almost no joints on top of each other … first disaster today - the wall cupboard above the sink in my daughter‘s bathroom has been ordered too wide now the construction for the ceiling is in place - just been back to the bathroom people (cap in hand) to return the 1200mm one and order an 800mm in its place - I suspect there’s more of these minor issues to come before the house is finished

 

[Mr Celine]

The fireplace is being fitted this week - the design has changed a little from the original due to a change in cladding material around the sides of the fire … the choice was stone or plastered but with a fire resistant ‘spacer’ to absorb any fluctuations due to expansion once the fire was hot - having seen the ‘spacer’ material we’ve opted for stone at the sides … I haven’t described it well but it should become evident once the stone is applied … in the meantime the 14.5kw fire is being built in … it draws cold air from outside via a trunking run under the floor - this will chuck out more heat than your average ‘tea-light’

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14.5 KW fire? Where in Antarctica is your new house?

 

[Colin Grigson]

14.5 KW fire? Where in Antarctica is your new house?

… whilst we’re not in Antarctica it’s fair to say we can experience some pretty extreme temperatures, down to minus 20’C in Winter and up to 40’C in summer - real seasons. We ordered the fire for its proportions without thinking about the heat output - design over function … hopefully we can control the heat with the amount and size of wood we burn …

 

[Colin Grigson]

A picture or two of the layered insulation above the plasterboard ceilings upstairs .. there’s 180mm + 160mm + 60mm which totals 400mm/40cm or nearly 16’’ in old money.
The tilers have visited for a couple of days to complete the utility room and garage floor so the boiler can be installed - we had a major ‘hiccup’ in that they laid the floor tiles beautifully in the utility room - shame they’d used the bathroom wall tiles, they all had to come back up the next day which wasn’t too difficult, but removing the (now solid) adhesive was a different matter altogether ... I’ll post a couple of pics once it’s finished …

 

[Milkfloat]

Now that is what I call insulation! It's a shame about the tiles.

 

[Colin Grigson]

Now that is what I call insulation! It's a shame about the tiles.

Thanks Milkfloat .. it’s discernibly cooler upstairs already unless it’s my imagination or my subconscious trying to substantiate the cost
We managed to salvage most of the tiles - at least for using as ’cuts’ - unfortunately the tiler‘s sense of humour was not so easily salvaged

 

[Colin Grigson]

A little more progress from last week :- firstly we’re finally running the pipes for rainwater away from the house to their relevant soakaways which are massive 2m x 2m x 4m deep - huge capacity but , again, I’m not sure why they have to be so large - we’ll have 3 x these at the finish.
Secondly the pool is taking shape nicely, we’re just applying the high density polystyrene to the inner walls whilst we wait for the pool people to connect their pipes and cables, once that’s complete we can back fill the hole to the pool walls with ballast.

 

[T4tomo]

… whilst we’re not in Antarctica it’s fair to say we can experience some pretty extreme temperatures, down to minus 20’C in Winter and up to 40’C in summer - real seasons. We ordered the fire for its proportions without thinking about the heat output - design over function … hopefully we can control the heat with the amount and size of wood we burn …

I love those traditional tiles stove thingies you get in Slovenia, I've come across them in mountain huts / restaurants when skiing. Very good for drying out your gloves over lunch etc.

 

[Colin Grigson]

I love those traditional tiles stove thingies you get in Slovenia, I've come across them in mountain huts / restaurants when skiing. Very good for drying out your gloves over lunch etc.

They’re called ‘Pec’ - we had three in our old house, you’re right in that they’re the traditional heating method for houses here prior to central heating. The heat from the fire itself (at around 600’C) enters a complex labyrinth of firebrick to extract as much heat as possible before the waste enters the chimney at around 200’C - that’s why they’re so large. They’re very efficient though and hold the heat for up to 2 days unlit. Great for drying stuff on as you say

 

[alicat]

I love those steps in your pool - what a pleasant and easy way to get in and out.

 

[Colin Grigson]

I love those steps in your pool - what a pleasant and easy way to get in and out.

Thank you alicat

 

[Colin Grigson]

Apologies for the lack of updates .. we’ve been on holiday amongst other things
There‘s been a lot of progress in the last couple of weeks. The facade of the house is coming along nicely. The interior has had 2 x coats of paint with a third planned after the tilers have done their bit. We also have a boiler fitted and heating system filled. All the rainwater downpipes are now connected to their relevant soak-aways too. The large A/C unit at the top of the stairs is fitted and the decoration panel to finish it is planned for Thursday - the scaffold can come out of the stairwell then,

after 1 x light is fitted at the highest point.
Really pleased so far … starting to take shape nicely but still lots of work and materials to go …

 

[jowwy]

Apologies for the lack of updates .. we’ve been on holiday amongst other things
There‘s been a lot of progress in the last couple of weeks. The facade of the house is coming along nicely. The interior has had 2 x coats of paint with a third planned after the tilers have done their bit. We also have a boiler fitted and heating system filled. All the rainwater downpipes are now connected to their relevant soak-aways too. The large A/C unit at the top of the stairs is fitted and the decoration panel to finish it is planned for Thursday - the scaffold can come out of the stairwell then,

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View attachment 653452 after 1 x light is fitted at the highest point.
Really pleased so far … starting to take shape nicely but still lots of work and materials to go …

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looking mighty good is that........im onmy way to jump in your pool, its rostio here in south wales

 

[Colin Grigson]

looking mighty good is that........im onmy way to jump in your pool, its rostio here in south wales

Thank you Jowwy - no good jumping in the pool, it’s dryer than a moth sandwich - next year maybe

 

[jowwy]

Thank you Jowwy - no good jumping in the pool, it’s dryer than a moth sandwich - next year maybe

i got ice cream now as i work.....lifes a lil cooler lol