Hagg Leys Farm

Month: August 2013 (Page 4 of 5)

Underfloor heating upstairs

August 13, 2013 /

We made a start today on installing the underfloor heating.  We are installing this throughout the building – both upstairs and downstairs. 

The upstairs heating works via a system of metal plates that are fixed to the underside of the floorboards and heated by a set of water pipes.  We left a 25mm gap between the large oak beams and the floor joists to make installing the plates a little easier.  We have also cut out notches in the joists before the floors went down to make it easier to run the pipework.

All in all, it only took a day to install all of the underfloor metal plates.

 

This shows the ceiling from below and shows the metal plates that have been fixed to the underside of the floorboards. The flow and return pipes will be installed later.

This shows the ceiling from below and shows the metal plates that have been fixed to the underside of the floorboards. The flow and return pipes will be installed later.

This shows the metal plate screwed to the underneath of the floorboards. The flow and return pipes get clipped into each side later. After the first fix electrics and plumbing have been installed, insulation will be put between the joists and the ceiling will then be plasterboarded. You can see the 25mm gap we left over the top of the big oak beams to allow the plates to be installed.

This shows the metal plate screwed to the underneath of the floorboards. The flow and return pipes get clipped into each side later. After the first fix electrics and plumbing have been installed, insulation will be put between the joists and the ceiling will then be plasterboarded. You can see the 25mm gap we left over the top of the big oak beams to allow the plates to be installed.

Pouring the footings for the extension and porch

August 10, 2013 /

A big day today – the footings have gone in for the extension and the porch. Around 20 cubic metres of concrete in 3 separate loads.

The steel mesh has been put into the bottom of the trenches to to reinforce the concrete. It is held up off the bottom by putting half bricks under the mesh.

The steel mesh has been put into the bottom of the trenches to to reinforce the concrete. It is held up off the bottom by putting half bricks under the mesh.

 

Ensuring that the steel mesh is not pushed to the bottom when the concrete is poured in.

Ensuring that the steel mesh is not pushed to the bottom when the concrete is poured in.

 

The concreate is added to highest point of the footings and then pushed around by using a spade (ensuring that the concrete doesn't go over the top of your wellies!).

The concreate is added to highest point of the footings and then pushed around by using a spade (ensuring that the concrete doesn’t go over the top of your wellies!).

 

A full mixer holds around 8.5 cubic meters of concrete. This weighs in at around 40 tonnes.

A full mixer holds around 8.5 cubic meters of concrete. This weighs in at around 30 tonnes.

It is going to take three loads to fill the footings.

It is going to take three loads to fill the footings.

Although the concrete flows downhill, it does need a bit of encouragement!

Although the concrete flows downhill, it does need a bit of encouragement!

We couldn't dig the footings for the porch until the first two loads of concrete had been delivered. Otherwise, the cement mixer would have fallen in the hole. So the porch footings have to be dug in an hour (as this is how long it takes the mixer to re-load).

We couldn’t dig the footings for the porch until the first two loads of concrete had been delivered. Otherwise, the cement mixer would have fallen in the hole. So the porch footings have to be dug in an hour (as this is how long it takes the mixer to re-load).

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Matt in action pouring the footings for the porch

Matt in action pouring the footings for the porch

Repairing the dry stone wall adjoing the rebuilt extension

August 10, 2013 /

Part of the dry stone wall adjoining the newly rebuilt extension had to be dismantled while it was being rebuilt.  However, now the building work is complete we can repair the wall.  It also makes the site a little more secure since it was relatively easy to get through the wall from the road side.

I have run a piece of damp course down the wall where the dry stone wall meets the building.  I have only run this above the level of the damp course in the building.  This should help prevent any damp transferring from the dry stone wall to the building above the internal damp course level.

I have tried to use black faced stones wherever I can so that the repair matches the rest of the wall.  We have been largely successful at achieving this except for some of the coping stones.  If I find some black faced coping stones, I might swap these for the ones we installed today.  Since the coping stones are the top course, this is easily done.  For now, the job is complete.

Part of the dry stone wall adjoining the rebuilt extension had to be taken down while it was being rebuilt. Now this corner has been repointed the wall can be rebuilt. First job is to clear the weeds and the loose stone.

Part of the dry stone wall adjoining the rebuilt extension had to be taken down while it was being rebuilt. Now this corner has been repointed the wall can be rebuilt. First job is to clear the weeds and remove the loose stone.

Having clear the weeds low down, the wall is rebuilt. Avoiding taking too much of it apart. I tend to just dismantle the wall until we reach something solid (and flat).

Having cleared the weeds low down, the wall is rebuilt. Avoiding taking too much of it apart. I tend to just dismantle the wall until we reach something solid (and flat).

Almost up to the top course and ready for the coping stones. To reach the top course from this side, it is handy to stand on the back of the pickup.

Almost up to the top course and ready for the coping stones. To reach the top course from this side, it is handy to stand on the back of the pickup.

Now with the coping stones. It only took a couple of hours to complete.

Now with the coping stones. It only took a couple of hours to complete.

Inside finishing on the windows

August 8, 2013 /

Although all the windows are now in, we need to sort out the finishing on the inside of the windows.  These are a bit of mess – they have been altered a number of times over the years and much of the material has either fallen away or never been in place in the first place.

We have decided to box in the windows on the inside, but to used splayed panels just as they would have done originally.  This ensures that the maximum amount of light comes in.  However, since each of the windows is subtly different, each will have to be built by hand.  Before we progress with all the windows we thought we should get one window completed as a sort of prototype.  This would also help us to establish exactly how long it takes to do this job.

The original windows had a splayed finish inside. This ensures that as much light as possible comes in through the windows. We have decided to reinstate this finsih as best we can. Window board has been installed, together with the top and the angled sides. All in waterproof MDF.

The original windows had a splayed finish inside. This ensures that as much light as possible comes in through the windows. We have decided to reinstate this finsih as best we can. Window board has been installed, together with the top and the angled sides. All in waterproof MDF.

The first "prototype" internal window finish complete. We have had to take into account that the walls are going to be insulated and plastered. This why the internal finish seems to stand out from the wall at the moment.

The first “prototype” internal window finish complete. We have had to take into account that the walls are going to be insulated and plastered. This why the internal finish seems to stand out from the wall at the moment.

Now with "panelling" to the splayed sides and mullion covers. The waterproof MDF is a strange sort of green colour that bizarrely matches the window colour. We aren't sure of the finished colour on the inside of the windows.

Now with “panelling” to the splayed sides and mullion covers. The waterproof MDF is a strange sort of green colour that bizarrely matches the window colour. We aren’t sure of the finished colour on the inside of the windows.

Foundations for the new extension

August 8, 2013 /

We have cleared the land and dug the footings and foundations for the new extension.  The intention is that these will be concreted on Saturday morning. 

There is a lot of work that has gone into this and the spoil heap is looking quite impressive.  Fortunately, we are going to spread this onto the back field to bring the soil level up.  This will help with the ground loops for the ground source heat pump as the ground loops need to be 1m under the surface.  In some places, we might have struggled to reach this depth.  Increasing the ground level is only going to help.

Foundations and footings now dug. We have accumulated a lot of subsoil and topsoil in the process.

Foundations and footings now dug. We have accumulated a lot of subsoil and topsoil in the process.

Everyday this area looks different. I daresay that it will look different again once the concrete has been laid. This is due to happen on Saturday.

Everyday this area looks different. I daresay that it will look different again once the concrete has been laid. This is due to happen on Saturday.

The footings are going to be concreted on Saturday morning. Tomorrow we need to cut the steel mesh that goes into the base of the trenches to reinforce the concrete.

The footings are going to be concreted on Saturday morning. Tomorrow we need to cut the steel mesh that goes into the base of the trenches to reinforce the concrete.

It looks very different once the footings are dug. The deep trenches mark on where the internal walls will go.

It looks very different once the footings are dug. The deep trenches mark on where the internal walls will go.

Joey’s staircase

August 8, 2013 /

While we have reinstalled the first floor, we don’t have a staircase yet.  So getting upstairs is via a set of ladders.  Not great, particularly when you are carrying tools/materials.

So we decided to install some temporary stairs.  Since they are going to be there a while, it is probably worth the £150-170 that it would cost. But we would luck and one of the local joiners workshop had some stairs that had been produced for another customer (Joey) and he no longer wanted them.

And all for £50! A bargain.

Two steps too long, but Joey's loss is our gain. These will make a fine temporary staircase and all for £50! It does look like we should be driving around Heathrow airport helping passengers to board a plane.

Two steps too long, but Joey’s loss is our gain. These will make a fine temporary staircase and all for £50! It does look like we should be driving around Heathrow airport helping passengers to board a plane.

It didn't take long to cut off a couple of treads and fit the temporary staircase. Thank you Joey!

It didn’t take long to cut off a couple of treads and fit the temporary staircase. Thank you Joey!

A view down the new stairs. It almost feels like a house!

A view down the new stairs. It almost feels like a house!

Underfloor heating has arrived….

August 6, 2013 /

This is due to be installed next week, but the kit has arrived today.  We are going to be spending the next few days sorting out the existing floor so that the underfloor heating can be installed directly on top of it.

The underfloor heating is going to be fitted next week and the kit has arrived ahead of the installation.

The underfloor heating is going to be fitted next week and the kit has arrived ahead of the installation.

Replacing a fire hydrant sign

August 6, 2013 /

When we first bought the property, there was a fire hydrant sign on a concrete post next to the extension. Unfortunately, when we demolish the extension (to rebuild it), the sign was “collateral damage”.  While we have kept the remains, it isn’t much good.

So who is responsible to replacing this?

It looks like it is the local fire service.  I dropped the local fire service  an email via their website over the weekend and got a phone call yesterday from the “Water Officer”.  He is going to come out and have a look at replacing the sign.

The old fire hydrant sign hidden behind the grass before the extension was rebuilt.

The old fire hydrant sign hidden behind the grass before the extension was rebuilt.

The roof on the newly re-built extension has been completed. The Velux windows finally arrived a couple of days ago which meant that the roofer could get on and finish the job (despite the rain!).

The roof on the newly re-built extension has been completed. The Velux windows finally arrived a couple of days ago which meant that the roofer could get on and finish the job (despite the rain!).

Oops! We need to get this replaced, but we will reattach the plate to the wall once re-built as a temporary measure.

Oops! We need to get this replaced, but we will reattach the plate to the wall once re-built as a temporary measure.

Temporary external doors

August 5, 2013 /

In order to keep the weather out (and make the property more secure), we have fitted some temporary external doors.  I took the opportunity over the weekend to give the doors and boards a couple of coats of the same paint (Sandolin SuperTec) that we used for the windows.

The doors are only temporary as they are likely to get damaged until all the building work is finished.  We will leave this on over the next few months and replace them as the project draws to a completion.

The cill has only got in today on the second set of doors. The rest of the ashlar will go in tomorrow. However, the other set of doors is complete with a temporary door and frame.

The cill has only got in today on the second set of doors. The rest of the ashlar will go in tomorrow. However, the other set of doors is complete with a temporary door and frame.

The old front door to number 8 has now become a window (the black stones underneath the window cill need to be sandblasted). The door to the newly rebuilt extension has a temporary door and frame.

The old front door to number 8 has now become a window (the black stones underneath the window cill need to be sandblasted). The door to the newly rebuilt extension has a temporary door and frame.

Orchard

August 5, 2013 /

A combination of some great weather recently followed by some wet weather has really brought the orchard to life. 

I mow the grass on average around once a week and slowly the quality of the grass seems to be improving. It doesn’t take long.  Around 30 minutes.  Much of this is down to it being a mulching mower so there is no grass to collect.  I try to cut the grass just before it rains as this helps the clippings rot down a little quicker.

The trees are doing well too.  There is a lot of fruit on the trees, particularly those that I pruned back last year.  Surprising since I didn’t really know what I was doing at the time.  Our lone pear tree has no pears.  But there again, it was one of the trees that I didn’t cut back.

A combination of some very hot weather followed by some very wet weather has really brought the orchard to life.

A combination of some very hot weather followed by some very wet weather has really brought the orchard to life.

Bizarrely, the trees that I heavily pruned last year seem to have the most fruit on them. There are mainly apple trees, but lots of different varieties.

Bizarrely, the trees that I heavily pruned last year seem to have the most fruit on them. There are mainly apple trees, but lots of different varieties.

More apples, but from a slightly older tree.

More apples, but from a slightly older tree.

I don't know what it is, but it definitely isn't an apple. And you never realised that I wasn't a gardener! I think it is a damson. But it could be a plum.

I don’t know what it is, but it definitely isn’t an apple. And you never realised that I wasn’t a gardener! I think it is a damson. But it could be a plum.

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