Hagg Leys Farm

Month: August 2013 (Page 3 of 5)

Digging to install the ground loops

August 20, 2013 /

There is 1533m of plastic pipe to be buried in the top field for the ground source heat pump.  Spaced 0.75m apart, this means we require around 1100 sqm of ground. 

Rather than digging trenches, we are removing all of the top soil and sub-soil to a depth of 1m.  This should be quick.  The top soil and subsoil is put into different piles so that when the ground is reinstated the top soil is on (yer) top.

We haven’t got enough space to store all of the soil in one go, so we are installing the ground loops in sections – digging a section, installing the pipework and the back filling the section, before moving on and digging the next section.

While this is a lot of work, it is quicker than trying to dig 1m deep trenches.

We were a dumper driver down on Monday afternoon, so I stood in for a couple of hours.

This is a big dumper and takes 10 tonnes of soil at a time!

This is a big dumper and takes 10 tonnes of soil at a time!

The view from a 10 tonne dumper as the topsoil is being removed.

The view from a 10 tonne dumper as the topsoil is being removed.

How much does it hold? mmm......

How much does it hold? mmm……

We were a labourer short on Monday afternoon and I got the (dubious) honour of standing in - 3 hours driving a 10 tonne dumper! I am the Stig!

We were a labourer short on Monday afternoon and I got the (dubious) honour of standing in – 3 hours driving a 10 tonne dumper! I am the Stig!

Preparing for the ground loops

August 17, 2013 /

Now that all the pipework has been installed, the screed is going to be laid next Tuesday.  Until this point, the house is out-of-bounds otherwise the pipeworks may get damaged.

So we are going to take the opportunity to install the ground loops in the top field.  There is around 1533m of plastic pipe to bury in the ground – about 1 meter deep.  If we have got our calculations right, this means digging up about 1,100 sq m of the top field. The ground loops are a fundamental part of the ground source heat pump.  This will extract the heat out of the ground and provide all of the heating and hot water for the property.

The pipes need to be installed as loops where the pipes are around one meter deep and one metre apart.  Rather than digging trenches we are going to remove all of the topsoil and subsoil from the field.  We will then install the ground loops and replace the subsoil and topsoil.  We will do it in sections.  By installing the ground loops at this time of the year, there is half a chance that the grass will re-establish before the winter sets in.

We order a 30 ton excavator, but unfortunately we couldn't get it up the road to the farm. Our plan B is this 8 ton ecavator. It is smaller and will take longer to move the soil, but at least we can get started on Monday.

We order a 30 ton excavator, but unfortunately we couldn’t get it up the road to the farm. Our plan B is this 8 ton ecavator. It is smaller and will take longer to move the soil, but at least we can get started on Monday.

This carries a 10 tonne load and should make quick work of moving the soil for the ground loops.

This carries a 10 tonne load and should make quick work of moving the soil for the ground loops.

Downstairs underfloor heating

August 17, 2013 /

All the downstairs pipework for the underfloor heating has been installed today.  Just over 700m.  The floors will be screeded next Tuesday.

There is over 700m of pipework on the ground floor alone.

There is over 700m of pipework on the ground floor alone.

The pipework downstairs was all installed in a day. The piperwork is cliped into a holding strip that ensures that the pipes are evenly distributed.

The pipework downstairs was all installed in a day. The piperwork is cliped into a holding strip that ensures that the pipes are evenly distributed.

The spacing of the pipework varies room by room depending on the heat loss. This has been calculated in advance using the architect's drawings.

The spacing of the pipework varies room by room depending on the heat loss. This has been calculated in advance using the architect’s drawings.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Progress on the underfloor heating

August 17, 2013 /

The underfloor heating is now installed upstairs together with the first fix plumbing for the bathrooms.  The insulation has been installed downstairs.  The insulation consists of large slabs of expanded high density polystyrene that is foil backed.  It is 50mm thick and is cut to size using a wood saw.  Once it is down, it can be walked on.

A strip of expanded plastic is put all around the edge of the room.  This forms a gap between the edge of the screed and the wall.  This allows the screed floor to expand and contract as it heats up and cools down.  Without this, there is a possibility that the screed would expand with the heat, push against the walls and crack.

The screeders are booked for Tuesday morning.  By then all of the pipework needs to be clipped to the insulation, so that 70mm of screed can be laid on the floor.  It will take a day or so for the screed to go hard.  During this time, no one will be allowed inside the house.

While the house is out of bounds, we will install the ground loops for the ground source heat pump in the field.

The underfloor heating has been installed upstairs together with the "first fix" plumbing. This means that all the hot and cold water pipes have been run to each of the bathrooms as well as all the drainage. We have used the same installer for the underfloor heating and the first fix plumbing to make life easier.

The underfloor heating has been installed upstairs together with the “first fix” plumbing. This means that all the hot and cold water pipes have been run to each of the bathrooms as well as all the drainage. We have used the same installer for the underfloor heating and the first fix plumbing to make life easier.

The insulation is down and we have put a damproof membrane on the inside of the walls. This end of the building has had some damp problems in the past so we want to be a 100% sure these problems are fixed moving forward. The white pipe is the main water supply for the property and we have temporarily located it to a tap outside while this work is going on.

The insulation is down and we have put a damproof membrane on the inside of the walls. This end of the building has had some damp problems in the past so we want to be a 100% sure these problems are fixed moving forward. The white pipe is the main water supply for the property and we have temporarily located it to a tap outside while this work is going on.

Just the pipes to be installed downstairs before the screed can go down on Tuesday.

Just the pipes to be installed downstairs before the screed can go down on Tuesday.

The insulation is down on the floor. The damproof membrane has been fixed to the walls. There will be two large doors here that open on to the courtyard, but for now we have boarded one up and put a temporary door on the other. If we put the "real" doors on now, they would only get damaged during the building work.

The insulation is down on the floor. The damproof membrane has been fixed to the walls. There will be two large doors here that open on to the courtyard, but for now we have boarded one up and put a temporary door on the other. If we put the “real” doors on now, they would only get damaged during the building work.

More blockwork

August 16, 2013 /

Despite the weather first thing this morning, we have managed to get a lot more blockwork finished today……

We have just taken delivery of our third wagon load of blocks!

We have just taken delivery of our third wagon load of blocks!

Sample door has arrived

August 14, 2013 /

A sample door arrived today.  It was ordered a couple of weeks ago.  It is an oak Mexicano door.  6ft 6 x 2ft 9.  It is a fire door – even though we don’t need to use fire doors the extra weight makes them look and feel great.

The only problem is that 6ft 8in doors are specified in the layouts.  This size seems much harder to find.  Oakwood doors who supplied this door, do not produce a taller door.  So this will require further investigation.

Sample door sample door

The blockwork carries on….

August 14, 2013 /

Another good day on the blockwork, but at least another 4-5 days to go before it is all up to the level of the new concrete slab. I reck0n it will be next week before we are in a position to pour the concrete slab.

Nice weather today. Hence the shorts. Rain tomorrow.

Nice weather today. Hence the shorts. Rain tomorrow.

A good day on the blockwork

August 13, 2013 /

We have put quite a bit of manpower onto building up the blockwork – 2 brickies, one apprentice and a labourer (in addition we have had 3 underfloor heating engineers and a carpenter on site).  So today has been busy.

The cement mixer has been going all day trying to keep up with the blockwork.  Even so, it is going to take at least a week before we are ready to lay the concrete base.

The mass of blocks is starting to diminish as the walls for the base are built up.

The mass of blocks is starting to diminish as the walls for the base are built up.

We have made some good progress on the block work today. With have had 2 brickies, one apprentice and a labourer working on this all day (in between the rain showers). You can see the block work for the porch has been completed in the background (including the drain for the downstairs cloakroom).

We have made some good progress on the block work today. With have had 2 brickies, one apprentice and a labourer working on this all day (in between the rain showers). You can see the block work for the porch has been completed in the background (including the drain for the downstairs cloakroom).

Progress on the underfloor heating

August 13, 2013 /

The pipework has been installed in the underfloor plates that were installed.  It seems strange to think that this is going to heat the upstairs of the house.  It hardly seems enough, but when you think about it, these plates are really just a massive radiator – albeit installed under the carpet.

The first floor bedrooms will have carpet and it is possible to install “low tog” underlay and carpet that will help transmit the heat through the floor.  Often underfloor heating is associated with solid floors, however, I am assured that it works well with both timber and carpet. We will just have to see how it works.

Pipework in the underfloor heating upstairs

All of the pipework for the underfloor heating upstairs has now been installed. Tomorrow our attention will turn to the underfloor heating downstairs.

All of the pipework for the underfloor heating upstairs has now been installed. Tomorrow our attention will turn to the underfloor heating downstairs.

This has been installed on a temporary piece of plywood since the cupboard that will hold this manifold still has to be built.

This has been installed on a temporary piece of plywood since the cupboard that will hold this manifold still has to be built.

If you think this looks like a lot of pipe, it is just for the downstairs (the upstairs is already installed) and in only half of the property.

If you think this looks like a lot of pipe, it is just for the downstairs (the upstairs is already installed) and in only half of the property.

Blockwork starting to go up

August 13, 2013 /

With the footings sorted out at the weekend, we can now move on to starting on the blockwork.

It took most of the day to do the marking out and check all of the levels.  The blockwork will be brought up to the specified height.  The outside of the trench will then be back filled with subsoil.  The inside will be levelled, stone added and then steel mesh will be installed before the concrete base of the building is then laid.  The level of the floor is level with the top of the block work.  I reckon we will be in a position to lay the floor in the next 10-14 days.  There is quite a bit of work here (as you can see from the amount of concrete blocks) plus there are quite a few changes in floor level.

It took most of the day just to mark out where all the walls are going to go, but by the end of the day a row of blocks has gone up along the line of the new kitchen.

It took most of the day just to mark out where all the walls are going to go, but by the end of the day a row of blocks has gone up along the line of the new kitchen.

All of these blcoks will be used to build up to the floor level of the new extension.

All of these blcoks will be used to build up to the floor level of the new extension.

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