Wires, Pipes and Other Stuff

I can't believe it is 4 weeks since last posting! Time has flown by. We have been working hard  to get things moving, working before and after going to work some days - as well as weekends of course - it has been a hard slog, so no time to update the blog.

Inside has seen the electric first fix complete except some wiring for the burglar alarm which we are fitting ourselves. We have a lot of recessed lighting and a high speed Cat 6 computer network running to all rooms in the house - wires everywhere!

About 50% of the plumbing first fix is done as well - hopefully this will be finished this week. so by next weekend we are hoping to have the electrics, plumbing and we also have a joiner coming to do the window cills and door casings this week. If all goes to plan we are hoping to be ready to plasterbord the place by the weekend, phew!!

Outside the scaffolding is all but ready to come down. We were badly let down by a Upvc guy, we have decided to do the dormer fascias, soffits and guttering in plastic as it is going to be difficult to get to, to paint. he said he would do it - then some time later changed his mind. This has been the biggest problem during the whole build - people letting us down. Building your own home is a bit of a rollercoaster ride, some days it all goes to plan, other days problems and disappointments.

We are making slow but sure progress , we are not going to break any speed records, but we are getting things done how we want and trying to do as much as possible ourselves (within reason) to keep costs down. We can now see a small speck of light at the end of the tunnel...!!

Guttering - Lindab

A busy weekend, saw all the guttering installed (downpipes will be put up after the scaffolding is down). We went for Lindab Galvanised Steel in the end, and very pleased with it - it looks  nice against the white fascia boards - and it is very good quality stuff. We would say it is about 33% more expensive than the plastic stuff, but should last considerably longer and do a much better job. It is obviously more difficult to install - you have to cut it with hacksaw/tin snips, and to be honest it can be a struggle - but it is most definately worth it.

Builders Toilet

It is truly horrendous - the builders toilet. What lurks in there is scary and not for the faint hearted. Watch the Video - If You DARE!!!

Floor Screed + 24 Hours

Just 24 hours later and you can walk on the floor - it will take a little longer to properly cure (1mm per day), so to be safe we will leave it 2 months before firing up the UFH.

Floor Screed

 

Floor screeding done today - this is how it worked out. The concrete pump and Wagon turned up!

The hose from the pump was connected up and fed into the house.

'Sam' the pump driver puts a mesh put over the entry to the pump to stop big bits getting into pump - we want nice smooth screed!

'Jen' the concrete lorry driver pours the screed into the pump.

Mick and terry in action and you can see in the video that this screed is very liquid when poured. This means that there should be no air bubbles in the screed making the EUFH system that much more efficient.

After the pour this is how it looks after it is poured in...

This is the job completed - in all from start to finish took about 45mins! top job.

Thanks to eurostar i made it home sunday - video below is one of the finest sights i have seen for a long time, the eurostar train coming into station to take me home..

Volcanic Ash

Not a lot happened the last 2 weeks - I have been working in Rotterdam, installing MRI scanner into a mobile trailer unit. They are built in Oud-Beijerland, Netherlands in the SMIT factory, which of course means that I am now stuck - thanks to volcanic ash.

I was supposed to be flying home Friday night but I am still in Europe (it is now Sat Night). I am hoping that i may be able to get home tomorrow - thanks to Eurostar.

This is where i've been the last 2 weeks - Hotel Golden Tulip - Rotterdam.

And this is where i am at the moment, Lille - hoping to get on the Eurostar tomorrow to London.

On the road to England

Kingspan and EUFH Installed in Floor

All the floors downstairs have had 80mm Kingspan installed and the joints taped up. Then, as you can see in the pictures, there has been Visqueen put over the top - this is the stuff they use for DPM - it is there because the flow screed that we are using reacts with the Foil backed foam insulation (Kingspan) - so to stop it you use this plastic membrane. Then the Electric Underfloor Heating cables have been put in (red in pics) where required, with floor sensors.

This has taken a bit longer than we thought - we were hoping to have poured the screed by now. Laying the cables right has been the problem, they are of fixed length and cannot be shortened. So if you consider that the cable for the heating in the lounge is about 150 metres long, you need to cover the floor with evenly spaced loops over 20 sq m, it is a bit of a bugger to get this spot on. The fixing strip for the cables has loops to clip the cables to - these have been securly taped to the membrane.

So why use electric UFH when the most popular by far is the hot water pipes UFH you ask. This is the idea - where we live the electric suppliers Scottish Power have an economy tariff (option 14) which gives 14 hours off peak electricity each day. This gives you electricity at about 1/3 of the normal price between 9pm and 8am then again from 1pm and 4pm in the afternoon. So you put a nice 60mm flow screed (much denser then normal screed) on top of the EUFH - and basically 'charge-up' the floor using the off-peak electricity. It then switches off before you go on-peak and the floors act as a 'thermal mass' holding the heat nicely. The MVHR system also helps - it recycles the heat around the house. So we should have a nice warm house for cheap! well thats the theory, we'll tell you if it works when we move in!

Hard At Work

We've been too busy to post just recently - but we're still getting things done on the house. It has mainly been more of the same, so no interesting pictures either. We have finished all the 100mm Kingspan between the rafters upstairs, and as said previously this was a horrible job, so glad that's finished.
A busy weekend coming up - We have got to lay the kingspan in the floors, tape all the joints, and install the Electric Underfloor Heating ready to pour the floor screed next week. This means inside will be off-limits for a few days while it dries out, so we are hoping for some dry weather next week so we can carry on outside. (odds on it will be wet, so we might get a little holiday!)

External Rendering

External rendering completed this week, a nice smooth render was put on by Steve and Gaz, god job! Lindsay has chosen the colour and we will be putting on a Johnstone's Pliolite Trade Paint, which can be mixed to any colour you want. The roof is now 98% completed - just a little lead work/finishing off to do.

More progress upstairs - the only room upstairs without kingspan in the rafters is the bathroom.

Electrician came today and we are hoping to get things moving with him soon.

Doors In - Just!

We now have doors and windows! - we did have a little problem with the patio doors though - the opening in the timber frame wasn't the right hight. Martin did us proud and got it in (just!). Thats the problem with big lead times for window ordering - you have to go from drawing dimensions, and sometimes what you get, isn't quite to the drawing specification. Anyhow problems solved and all's well in the end.

I have spent all weekend on the Fascia/barge boards, sanding/filling and painting. I managed to get one coat of Sadolin Superdec on all round the house. We really like this stuff - it's a lot better than traditional gloss as it doesn't flake or crack and you can just slap some more on top when it's time for a touch-up. We might put uPVC on the front Barge Boards (havn't made up our minds yet), just because the worst weather is at the front of the house.

Also we have managed to get 100mm Celotex/kingspan in between the rafters in 2 bedrooms upstairs. This is a right *%!@ of a job. When you cut the stuff it gives off horrible dust that gets everywhere, so you HAVE to wear a mask etc (very uncomfortable). I think you could say we are about 2/3rds the way through this job - mainly thanks to Jackys help (Lindsays dad).

It has been a good week for progress, with just a little to do on the roof, and the doors and windows installed. The roof will be completed next week and i'm hoping to get the 2nd coat of Sadolin on and the rest of the upstairs insulation completed. Then we can turn our attention to the guttering and get the scaffolding out of the way... that would be nice!

Velfac Windows In - Doors On Monday..

Windows arrived this week (direct from Denmark via Poland!) and were fitted, apart from a little finishing/sealing up they are completed. We are very pleased with them - despite the process being a little stressful - the end result was worth it. I say stressful   because we had to measure up, so if they were the wrong size, tough! - and as you can see from the pictures we have put in brick cills, and to be honest we were not exactly sure how they would look... Now they are in we couldn't have asked for more! 

They really are good quality windows and were fitted by the approved Velfac installer - Martin Moore. Bottom picture shows Martin and Keith the roof having a chin wag on a Friday afternoon before knocking off for the weekend.

Hopefully Martin will be back on Monday to fit the doors and then we will have a nice sealed up structure and we can really get cracking on the internals. We have all the Kingspan for the sloping ceilings and floors arriving Tuesady next week - the last lot of insulation - so that is what we will be concentrating on for the moment.

First Draft For Kitchen Plans.

These are the first drafts of the kitchen design Lindsay has come up with, there will be little changes but this is what the kitchen/dining room will look like. (the stools/seating on the island will be going). We all look forward to sitting down for our first meal!

Brickwork Completed! Vapour Control Layer Installation Ongoing...

Apart from a little pointing the brickwork is done! Keith is doing a fantastic job with the roof and we are back on track. The Genvex MVHRHP and the windows arrive at the end of next week, the windows installation starts the Mon 22nd - hopefully then it will be a little warmer inside! it's been a little cold again recently..

Above is a picture of the mysterious 'Vapour Control Layer', if we can do this right it should help give us a nice 'Airtight' structure. It goes on top of the insulation, then a little batten work, and plasterboard on top of that. The battens give you a void behind the plasterboard for running electricity cables and pipework etc. It's a bit of a pain - but you just have to take your time with it and seal all the joints with tape as you go, you can see in the picture we have had to overlap the sheet in to the ceiling to get a good seal..

Brickwork 95% done and Roof Looking Good

Hi everyone, despite the worst winter we have ever had in Pantymwyn in recent years - work stopped completely for 3 weeks - we have made progress and we are trying hard to move things along. We could not even get to site for 3-4 days!


A couple more days on the bricks and that will be completed - the roof is just starting to shift - of course the snow and ice really put the nail in the coffin of that one! but as you can see from the pic - we have a 'Bumpa Hoist' on the job and are hoping for big things from Keith and Tuber over the next couple of weeks.


Inside is ticking over nicely - All the internal rockwool (100mm RWA45) has been installed as well as the external walls (140 flexi slab). The Mysterious 'Vapour Control Layer' and battens have been put in on all External walls, and 50% of the ceilings upstairs have been insulated with 610mm Loft Roll with the VCL and battens on top of that.


We have a Plumber on the case now - The Genvex MVHR system is due delivery - and someone is working out the staircase. Lindsay is busy trying to spend as much as she can on a Kitchen and is doing a good job of it...


I have numbers for a Sparky,Plasterer and Joiner - all recommended by people we know, and i will be giving them a bell this week.


Its all starting to move again - PHEW!!!

MVHR Ducting Installation

Hello again! Sorry there hasn't been any updates recently but the snow has stopped work for the past 3 weeks - we have done some work inside when we have been able to get to site. All the supply run ductwork has been installed - all the bedrooms and the computer room get a supply feed from the MVHR unit. Just the extract run to do, which is a lot easier as we only need to extract from the 2 bathrooms and the kitchen.

The Rockwool Flexi Slab has all been installed, it took 54 Packs to do all of the external walls of the house. We are 'topping up' this insulation upstairs with some loft roll - you can see it in the ductwork photos.

The snow has gone now and we are hoping to get things moving again on site - We need to have completed all the brickwork by 15th Feb so that the windows can be fitted. The roofer is planning to come to site this week - we really need to get the roof on ASAP.

Rockwool Flexi Slab Installation

Hi Everyone, hope you all had a good Christmas and not too many hangovers.... Work has been limited since last post - everything done on site has been DIY. No sign of the brickies or Keith the roof - but to be fair the weather continues to be a problem, and everyone wants to be at home at Christmas. I have been busy installing the external wall insulation - here you can see the 140mm Rockwool Flexi Slab being installed in between the studs. On top of this will be a Vapour Control Layer, battens and then the plasterboard.

Joyeux Noel - Merry Christmas

A tous nos bloggers francais - Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee!
To all our English Blog Fans - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
A nice Festive scene taken by Lindsay today...

Comments Made Easier

It was brought to our attention that leaving a comment was a labourious process. We have now sorted that out, so leaving a comment/question is a lot easier. If using Anonymous please leave your name in the post so we know who you are!

Freezing Weather Stops Work

Unfortunatley due to snow and freezing weather, we decided that the site was un-safe for work today. Brickies turned up, but we decided that conditions on scaffold were too dangerous. With the Weather forecast set for more of the same, we have stopped work and closed site until after Christmas. Laying brickwork in freezing conditions is not a good idea anyway - if the mortar freezes before going off it crumbles and flakes and will need re-doing.
Bit of a blow but better safe than sorry..
It didn't stop me doing a bit of clearing around the site today - and i hope to get some of the ductwork for MVHR done during the Christmas break - you gotta keep chipping away at the work.. every little bit done means we are a little bit closer to moving in!

Thanks to everyone who voted on the poll - we have no idea when the build will be finished - obviously sooner the better, and were hoping that the poll would give us an idea. Unfortunately all options received the same votes! we do hope to be in before sep/oct - so if you voted for that - thanks a lot!

Battens On, Brickwork Makes Good Progress!

Progress on the brickwork has been good this week - Phil and Kelvin have done us proud. I can't fault the work they are doing and would recommend them without hestitation! so if you are looking for any kind of brickwork give these guys a ring.

Here you can see the blockwork we are going to get rendered. This is the right hand section of the house as you look at it (left hand side is exactly the same), we have put the reclaims around the windows and door openings to give the house a bit of continuity.

If you are interested in looking at Kelvins Website please visit http://www.reillymasonry.com/   His specialty is stonework, and you can see on his website some of the stone houses he has built, they are top of the range stuff. Below is Kelvin hard at work.

Keith The roof has also been to site and all the tiling battens are going on nicely.. Here is keith hard at work on a frozen roof..

Above is a picture taken from the field in front of the house, you can see here the batten work done so far, it is quality work again, and we are lucky to have tradesman who take pride in their work,.. 
We are pleased overall with the progress this week and we are in a good position coming up to crimbo..

Nearly Above Scaffolding

Phil and Kelvin have been there today - two brickie's makes a difference. Weather has been ok too - we are nearly above the scaffolding 1st Lift all the way around the house now. 
I am busy trying to get the Intake and Extract 160mm Ducting for the MVHR System through the walls so we can lay the brickwork around them - saves us smashing big holes afterwards..
Ducting arrived on site today, went for Lindab 'Safe' system in the end, and it worked out a lot cheaper than I thought it would :-) 

Reclaims Looking Good

We have made steady progress and 'Phil the brickie' has been on site all this week, laying as many of the reclaimed bricks from the old house as he can while the weather is good. Tomorrow 'Kelvin the brickie' is also starting, so we will have 2 brickies - and the weather is forecast to remain dry. If we get another week like last week I am hoping that we will be in quite good shape by Friday.

We are very pleased with the brick we reclaimed from the old house - sat there in a pile, they don't look great - but when you lay them properly and the brickie knows what he is doing, they look Fab! I am glad we went to the trouble cleaning them now because i was beginning to wonder if they were worth the effort.

No sign of 'Keith the roof' this week - but we are hoping we might see him on Tuesday - fingers crossed!

Good Weather Continues.......

More Good Weather today - so Phil the Brick did some more facing brick, leaving the block work for when the weather gets worse. No sign of Keith the roof today - but hopefully he is coming again at weekend. I was in work today - so no more insulation inside either. Limited progress but we plod on.... I will be posting more pictures of the interior at the weekend - just to show how the insulation is installed, it continues to dry out nicely inside, and despite the rain last night - no water made it through the roofing felt...Phew!

Blue Skies and Brickies

It's been a busy week - Phil the Brickie has started putting down the reclaimed bricks from the old house, and Keith the roof has put some counter battens on. So it's all starting to come together a bit.
The timber frame is actually finished - Hurray! - I think there was a lot more work in the roof than they thought, after a initial estimate of 5 days to complete the frame - it took 17!! (including a couple of days cancelled due to crane driver not turning up and high winds)
Also taken delivery of the insulation for the external walls - Rockwool Flexi Slab 140mm - and i have started to install this in the walls where possible.