Hagg Leys Farm

Month: June 2013 (Page 2 of 4)

Sandblasting – Day 1

June 23, 2013 /

It is going to take a couple of days to sandblast the outside of the property, the fireplaces (x3) and the oak trusses and purlins in the roof.  This work is being done at the weekend, so that it doesn’t interrupt any of the building work – no one can really work on site while the sandblasting is going on due to the noise and dust.

Proceedings didn’t start until just after lunch, but by 4:30pm the rear and one side of the property had been cleaned including one of the fireplaces.  The idea is to gently lighten the stone and remove some of the black grime and soot that has built up over the last couple of hundred years.  This dark outer layer keeps moisture out, so once the stone has been cleaned, it will need to be treated with a sealant.

The stonework to the right has been lightly sandblasted to take some of the black soot and grime off the old stonework. Ironically, it is the grime that makes the stone waterproof, so once it has been sandblasted the stone will be treated with a sealant.

The stonework to the right has been lightly sandblasted to take some of the black soot and grime off the old stonework. Ironically, it is the grime that makes the stone waterproof, so once it has been sandblasted the stone will be treated with a sealant.

This is not a job for the faint hearted

This is not a job for the faint hearted

Yup, he is still there under that plume of sand. It took about 30 - 40 minutes to sandblast the rear of the property once all of the kit was set up.

Yup, he is still there under that plume of sand. It took about 30 – 40 minutes to sandblast the rear of the property once all of the kit was set up.

The rear of the property has been completely sandblasted. Tomorrow, it will be the chimneys, the front, the fireplaces and the oak roof trusses.

The rear of the property has been completely sandblasted. Tomorrow, it will be the chimneys, the front, the fireplaces and the oak roof trusses.

Installing the roof lights

June 21, 2013 /

Unfortunately, the roof lights specified in the drawings are not going to fit – they are just too big for the opening.  We have managed to located an alternative supplier who can provide slightly smaller roof lights.  These are a standard size, so fingers crossed there should be no problems with availability.

There was a slight issue with roof lights as the size specify by the architect was too big to fit. Slight recalculation and a slightly smaller size has been identified. The rafters have now been cut to fit the new size roof lights. These will be the roof lights into Jo's office.

There was a slight issue with roof lights as the size specify by the architect was too big to fit. Slight recalculation and a slightly smaller size has been identified. The rafters have now been cut to fit the new size roof lights. These will be the roof lights into Jo’s office.

First chimney rebuilt

June 21, 2013 /

Using the stone from the old porch, the first of the chimneys has been rebuilt.  It has a string course made from an old flagstone.  The intention is that the string course will throw water clear from the base of the chimney. Work is now commencing on rebuilding the second chimney.  This will match the first one.

Using the stone from the porch, the chimney between number 10 and number 9 has been rebuilt. An old flagstone was cut to make up the string course.

Using the stone from the porch, the chimney between number 10 and number 9 has been rebuilt. An old flagstone was cut to make up the string course.

The first chimney is rebuilt and work is starting on the second one. Andy is putting one of the purlins back in.

The first chimney is rebuilt and work is starting on the second one. Andy is putting one of the purlins back in.

Last section of the orchard wall

June 21, 2013 /

The very far corner of the orchard (where a new gate will be installed) will need to be dug out using an excavator.  The ground here rises up for some reason.  Originally, there was a large wooden shed here and I suspect that waste was deposited behind the shed.

The wall was in pretty bad shape.  I have pulled out as many of the coping stones as possible and then dug the foundations.  Since one side is lower than the other, I can use bricks in the base of one side of the wall base as these will not be seen as they are below soil level.  Using bricks is quicker and also means that they don’t have to be thrown in the skip.

The last section of the orchard wall has been started. A gate will be installed here roughly where the blue trug is.

The last section of the orchard wall has been started. A gate will be installed here roughly where the blue trug is.

Windows removed

June 21, 2013 /

With the sandblasting planned for the weekend, all of the windows are being removed.  This will allow us to sandblast the stone surrounds before re-fitting the new windows. 

All sounds good, but the house is starting to look a bit sorry for itself.  Still, we have re-built one of the chimneys and hopefully today the second chimney will be rebuilt.  Both of these will be sandblasted over the weekend.

Actually, they are sat on the scaffolding removing the last of the pointing.

Actually, they are sat on the scaffolding removing the last of the pointing.

Just a couple of uPVC windows downstairs to be removed.

Just a couple of uPVC windows downstairs to be removed.

With the windows removed, the house is starting to look a bit sorry for itself. You can see the oak roof truss through the window.

With the windows removed, the house is starting to look a bit sorry for itself. You can see the oak roof truss through the window.

Chimney being built

June 19, 2013 /

Both of the chimneys are going to need to be rebuilt before the sandblasters turn up at the weekend.  The weather forecast for the next couple of days isn’t great, so the pressure is on to try and get everything done.  The scaffolding turned up this afternoon for the chimney and the work on rebuilding it started within the hour.

The first few courses (under the roof slates) are built up in brick and then stone (from the old porch) is used to rebuild the chimney.

The telehandler is used to get bricks and mortar up to roof level. Zep is on patrol waiting for any disgarded Jaffa cakes.

The telehandler is used to get bricks and mortar up to roof level. Zep is on patrol waiting for any disgarded Jaffa cakes. But no luck today.

All the windows have to be taken out before the weekend so that the sandblasters can do their work.

All the windows have to be taken out before the weekend so that the sandblasters can do their work.

Mowing the fields

June 18, 2013 /

With all of the nice weather recently, the grass has really started to grow.  When I first got the new mulching lawnmower, I did have a go at mowing the top field.  It took a couple of hours and was quite hard work.  Now the grass is growing so quickly, this is not a sustainable approach.  I would need to be cutting the grass on a weekly basis.  And that is only the top field.

The bottom field has never had the grass cut since we have owned it, so this is a non-starter as far as a “push along” mower is concerned (even if it is a good “push along” mower!). Far to clumpy and lumpy for a mower.

Time to borrow a tractor and a topper (many thanks to Rob North at Pure North Cider for the loan of the tractor).  All in all, it took a couple of hours to cut both fields – probably a couple of hours in total.  It is a flail mower, so you aren’t going to get a “lawn” type finish, but it does do the job.  The bottom field is on quite a slope and it takes a bit of getting used to as the tractor feels as if it is going to roll.  The trick is to mow down the hill rather than trying to mow across the slope.

All in all, my first time using a tractor and I am pretty pleased with the results (even if I say so myself!).

Only half a filed to mow really as the builders are occupying the other half of the top field.

Only half a filed to mow really as the builders are occupying the other half of the top field.

The bottom field with the septic tank, I was super careful not to put the tractor in the tank (no one would rush to fish me out!).

The bottom field with the septic tank, I was super careful not to put the tractor in the tank (no one would rush to fish me out!).

Not quite a stripped lawn (and it doesn't look like much of a slope), but I did it on my own (and I haven't used a tractor before).

Not quite a stripped lawn (and it doesn’t look like much of a slope), but I did it on my own (and I haven’t used a tractor before).

Pointing

June 18, 2013 /

The pointing on the property is what is called “Weatherstruck”.  This is where the pointing is very defined and stands proud of the joint.  Apparently, the belief was that the protruding pointing would throw any rainwater clear of the wall.  However, this style of pointing is not seen as acceptable as it looks unsightly and can damage the masonry.  The pointing is made of a sand and cement mortar. This is also frounded upon these days as it doesn’t breath (allowing moisture out) and is too hard (harder than the actual stone that has been pointed).

All of the existing pointing needs to be chipped out before the masonry can be sandblasted.  This is a very tendency job and we have had a couple of men on this job since last week.  It should be finished in the next day or so.  Much to their relief.

Once the masonry has been sandblasted, a test panel of 1 meter square will be completed using Nosterfield sand and hydraulic lime.  This should breathe and will be much more sympathetic to the look of the property.

Before the outside of the house can be sandblasted, all the old pointing has to be removed. This will then be replaced once the sandblasting has been completed.

Before the outside of the house can be sandblasted, all the old pointing has to be removed. This will then be replaced once the sandblasting has been completed.

Dry stone walling in the orchard

June 17, 2013 /

I am starting to lose track of the days that have been spent on the dry stone wall in the orchard.  I am tending to work on the wall in between doing other things, so very few of the days are dedicated to just building the wall.  It would be misleading to say that this is day 33.

I am just about to start digging out the next 3-5m section.  I doubt that I am going to be able to build much more until the bottom end of the orchard has been dug out.  At the moment, the land rises up and is a good 2ft higher than the road level outside.  No doubt this is the result of years of rubbish and undergrowth behind the shed that used to be here.  The plan is to use a mini digger to reduce the soil level at this end of the garden.  Then we can carry on building the wall.

The builders have offered to show me how to use the mini digger, so this could get interesting!

There is going to be a gate at the far end of the orchard, but I am not going to be able to go much further.

There is going to be a gate at the far end of the orchard, but I am not going to be able to go much further.

Only about another 10m or so to go in the orchard. Over 30m now completed.

Only about another 10m or so to go in the orchard. Over 30m now completed.

Windows and ArtStone being removed

June 17, 2013 /

We need to remove the windows (a mixture of uPVC and softwood) before the sandblasters arrive at the weekend.  We are also taking the opportunity to replace the concrete stone window surrounds.

The downstairs windows and the concrete surround have been removed. So has one of the windows upstairs. The upstairs window to the right is stone (ashlar) and will remain to be sandblasted later in the week.

The downstairs windows and the concrete surround have been removed. So has one of the windows upstairs. The upstairs window to the right is stone (ashlar) and will remain to be sandblasted later in the week.

The two windows above the front door have been bricked up. The ashlar has been salvaged to be used elsewhere. The other windows are in the process of being removed.

The two windows above the front door have been bricked up. The ashlar has been salvaged to be used elsewhere. The other windows are in the process of being removed.

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