Hagg Leys Farm

Month: July 2013 (Page 4 of 6)

More progress on the extension

July 15, 2013 /

This is turning out to be a lot slower than anyone thought.  This is largely due to every stone having to be cut to make sure that the depth of the stone allows for a cavity in the wall.  There is blockwork on the inside, 100mm of insulation, an air cavity and then stonework on the outside. Each of the stones that makes up the external face of the extension has been cut using a Stihl saw – noisy and dusty work.

Today, the stone ashlar surround was installed.  There are only a few courses left on two sides then the walls are completed.  The rafters are installed.  There is a large green oak beam to be installed (roughly where a thin batten has been fixed) and the holes need to be cut for the two rooflights.  Then we are ready for the roofers to return.

Another view showing the new window and the newly installed roof timbers

Another view showing the new window and the newly installed roof timbers

We have used ashlar that we have salvaged from elsewhere on site to create the new door surround for the re-built extension.

We have used ashlar that we have salvaged from elsewhere on site to create the new door surround for the re-built extension.

The ashlar for this window was salvaged from the front of the property

The ashlar for this window was salvaged from the front of the property

Roof truss

July 15, 2013 /

Although the floorboards are still to be laid upstairs, it is possible to get around on planks (as long as you are very careful).

From upstairs, it is much easier to see the roof detail in the king post trusses.  The oak is pretty much as we found it.  It has been lightly sandblasted to clean it up and a number of the purlins and one of the tie beams had to be replaced.  But other than that (!), it is in good shape.

Once the insulation is installed between the rafters, then these will disappear from sight.  However, you will still be able to see the truss and the purlins.

This is a drawing here showing the makeup of a king post truss as well as an interactive 3D image (courtesy of Microsoft Photosynth) here.

Inside number 9. You can see the King post truss and the tenon joints (with pegs) that join the purlins to the principal rafters.

Inside number 9. You can see the King post truss and the tenon joints (with pegs) that join the purlins to the principal rafters.

Another view of the roof truss in number 9.

Another view of the roof truss in number 9.

Photosynth of the upstairs of number 8

July 14, 2013 /

Well, the floorboards haven’t gone in yet, but that hasn’t stopped me walking across some planks to get a view upstairs. 

I have used Microsoft Photosynth to produce an interactive 3D panorama.  Unfortunately, WordPress doesn’t allow embedding of iFrames. 

So here is the link

Kitchen and lounge floor plan

July 14, 2013 /

With Phase 2 of the construction fast approaching, it is time to start sorting out the details of how the roof trusses and internal windows are going to work.  Phase 2 is the building of an extension onto the existing property and will house the kitchen, lounge, master bedroom, two en suite bathrooms, a boot room and a utility room.

The roof line will be level, but because the ground rises up the inside ceiling height will decrease as you move through the extension.  The kitchen is double height, the lounge one and a half height and the bedroom normal height.  The roof trusses will be exposed as in the existing part of the property and there will be extensive use of roof lights.

The proposal is that the roof trusses will be made of oak and made in the same traditional way (tenon joints with oak pegs) rather than using any metal plates or straps.  There has been some debate about the exact placement of the beams and how “open” the space should be between the kitchen and the lounge.  We have opted for a semi-open approach with a large slot for a door way and another large opening behind the seating area.  The very last 3D drawing in this blog attempts to illustrate this.

The existing cottages are on the left and the new extension with lounge and master bedroom are directly in front of us.

The existing cottages are on the left and the new extension with lounge and master bedroom are directly in front of us.

The kitchen and lounge (but not the hall) are all in the new extension that is being built as part of the Phase 2 construction.

The kitchen and lounge (but not the hall) are all in the new extension that is being built as part of the Phase 2 construction.

Looking from the lounge into the kitchen. The feature wall in the far wall in the kitchen will be built using stone that we have salvaged from demolition work elsewhere on site.

Looking from the lounge into the kitchen. The feature wall in the far wall in the kitchen will be built using stone that we have salvaged from demolition work elsewhere on site.

Traditional king post roof truss

July 13, 2013 /

The existing cottages have three original king post roof trusses that date back to the 1700’s.  We have replaced the tie beam on the middle cottage and then replaced 6 purlins through the 3 cottages (2 were later replacements and 4 were cracked).  We have used reclaimed oak with all the replacements to ensure that it matches the existing timbers. 

In addition, we replaced around 50m of wall plate (this is timber that runs along the top of the wall and carries the ends of the rafters). 

Other than that the existing oaks timbers were simply sandblasted to clean off the years of muck.  They will be treated with a wood preserver later.

A traditional King Post roof truss. This is the configuration that we have in our property. There are three in the existing properties.

A traditional King Post roof truss. This is the configuration that we have in our property. There are three in the existing properties.

More progress on rebuilding the extension

July 13, 2013 /

Despite the really hot weather over the last few days, the rebuilding of the extension is going well. 

The back of every stone has been cut (using a Stihl saw) to ensure that there is a cavity between the outside wall and the internal insulation.  This is a labourious and dusty job.

The rafters have now been installed.  A large oak beam arrives next week which will support the rafters across the mid-section.  This was originally going to be a steel beam that was going to be boxed in and plastered, but given that we haven’t done this anyway else on the property, we have changed this to an oak beam so that it fits in with everything else.

We have also decided to increase the size and number of rooflights in the extension.  We have already double the size of the window that looks out onto the bottom field.  Originally, this was a coal hole and simply putting back the same size windows would not have supplied enough light – particularly, when you consider how light the rest of the property is.

The roadside wall is now up to the right height.

The roadside wall is now up to the right height.

The roadside wall is now full height and the rafters have been installed.

The roadside wall is now full height and the rafters have been installed.

RHI – Update

July 12, 2013 /

The update that we have all been waiting for on RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) has just been published.  You will find the information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-heat-is-on-for-householders

Specific detail on RHI is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/renewable-heat-incentive-proposals-for-a-domestic-scheme

The good news for us is that the scheme appears to be open to all householders, even those who previously had a gas boiler installed.

Starting on Phase 2

July 12, 2013 /

The first phase of construction work (the renovation of the existing cottages) is drawing to a close.  I reckon we will be complete in the next 2-3 weeks.  This means that some of the men are coming free from the existing building work.  Although the architects are still working on the detailed design for phase 2 (the build of the new extension), we have decided that we can start on the demolition of the existing barn and laying down the new concrete base.  This should provide the architects with a little more time to finalise the overall design – the concrete base is not going to change (well, not without having to go back to the Planning department).

The roofline of the new extension will be slightly below the existing roofline.  This means that part of the gable end will be exposed.  This means that we need to hack of the existing render and either re-point the stonework or render the gable end. 

As part of the phase 2 work, the barn will be demolished and rebuilt.

As part of the phase 2 work, the barn will be demolished and rebuilt.

The roof line of the new extension is going to be lower than the existing roofline. This means that part of the gable end (that is currently rendered) is going to be exposed. We need to remove the rendering to check the quality of the underlying stone.

The roof line of the new extension is going to be lower than the existing roofline. This means that part of the gable end (that is currently rendered) is going to be exposed. We need to remove the rendering to check the quality of the underlying stone.

Nearing the end of the dry stone wall in the orchard

July 12, 2013 /

Yesterday we dug out the last section of wall to reach the stone gate post in the adjoining field.  We made good progress building up the wall and I reckon that we will be all finished in the next couple of working days.  The main challenge is that we are likely to run a little short on stone for the wall.  We do have some surplus stone elsewhere on site, so we are going to need to sift through the various piles on site to find suitable stone.

The gatepost for the adjoining field is in the foreground (no idea why there is a letter "D" on the gatepost) and there is probably only a couple of days work left to finish off the wall.

The gatepost for the adjoining field is in the foreground (no idea why there is a letter “D” on the gatepost) and there is probably only a couple of days work left to finish off the wall.

Almost there!

Almost there!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

More progress on the extension

July 11, 2013 /

All of the original stone has to be cut to ensure that there is a consistently size cavity between the stone work and the insulation.  This is a messy and dusty job that isn’t made any more pleasant by searing heat (although it isn’t as hot as it was a couple of days ago.

As the courses get higher, they get shorter. Next couple of days and the stonework will be finished.

As the courses get higher, they get shorter. Next couple of days and the stonework will be finished.

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2025 Hagg Leys Farm

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑