Month: November 2013 (Page 3 of 3)

Getting the new stonework into position

There is a large square picture window in the new extension.  It is big.  Very picture.  You step up into it to get from the lounge into the master bedroom.

The ashlar blocks (three of them) that form the window will were heavy enough.  But the ashlar jambs (the bits that go up the sides) are enormous and weigh in at 640kgs – far too heavy to be lifted by hand.  But to use a crane, you have to be able to attach (safely) the stone to the lifting hook.  The builders had a metal plate made with an eyelet.  This was then bolted and glued to the back of the stone work.  This allowed the stone to be attached without leaving any marks on the outside faces.

There were smiles around once these pieces reach their final resting place.

The large pieces of ashlar are on the telehandler lying on their backs.  The crane will lift these up one by one using the metal plate that has been fixed to the back of the stone.

The large pieces of ashlar are on the telehandler lying on their backs. The crane will lift these up one by one using the metal plate that has been fixed to the back of the stone.

A metal plate with an eyelet has been bolted and glued to the back of the stone.  This will be left in place as it is behind all the stonework and will not be seen.

A metal plate with an eyelet has been bolted and glued to the back of the stone. This will be left in place as it is behind all the stonework and will not be seen.

Once roughly in position, the column is nudged into it's final location while most of the weight is still being held by the crane.  No one wants this to topple over as they will be no stopping it once it starts to go.

Once roughly in position, the column is nudged into it’s final location while most of the weight is still being held by the crane. No one wants this to topple over as they will be no stopping it once it starts to go.

This peices of ashlar weigh in at around 640kgs (according to the crane operator).  They are far too heavy to be lifted by hand and they are still a challenge even with a crane to get into exact position.

This peices of ashlar weigh in at around 640kgs (according to the crane operator). They are far too heavy to be lifted by hand and they are still a challenge even with a crane to get into exact position.

The head is fairly easy to get into position with a couple of straps around it.

The head is fairly easy to get into position with a couple of straps around it.

 

 

Progress on the extension

We are now starting to put the spars on the roof.   If the weather is kind to us this week, we should be able to get going on the roof next week.  It will be good to get this part of the building watertight as the inside is like a paddling pool!  And that is not to mention the mud!

Tomorrow we have a crane arriving to help position some of the larger pieces of ashlar.  It will be good to see these in position.

All of the main roof beams are in and we are now putting in the spars.  This will enable us to start to get the roof on next week.

All of the main roof beams are in and we are now putting in the spars. This will enable us to start to get the roof on next week.

 

 

Rear doors

Both pairs of rear doors have now been installed.  They are big and let a lot of light into the building.  It is good to have the temporary boarding removed.  It gives a much better impression of what these rooms will be like when finished.

They are 2 locks on each door, so a total of 8 across all of the doors.  The joinery arranged for the locks to be “suited” so the same key is used on all 8 locks. It just makes life a lot easier!

The second pair of rear doors were installed yesterday.  The doors on the left are into the snug and the doors on the right are into the hall.

The second pair of rear doors were installed yesterday. The doors on the left are into the snug and the doors on the right are into the hall.

This is the view from inside the hall.  There is now a lot light inside the hall.

This is the view from inside the hall. There is now a lot light inside the hall.

The steel post between the two doors will be covered in plasterboard and then plastered.

The steel post between the two doors will be covered in plasterboard and then plastered.

Roof truss detail

Most of the oak beams are now in place in the roof of the extension.  There is still some work to be done on the valleys (where the two roofs of the extension meet).  However, there was a bit of confusion about how this was meant to be built.  The upshot was that a piece of oak timber was missed off the order and we now need to wait for it to be delivered next week. 

In the meantime, we have pushed ahead with adding the spars to the rest of the roof.

Just in case you thought it was easy to build a roof!  All of these peices of oak are cut by hand and manhandled into position.  This drawing makes it look too easy!

Just in case you thought it was easy to build a roof! All of these peices of oak are cut by hand and manhandled into position. This drawing makes it look too easy!

There is a temporary prop in place, but this is looking very similar to the 3D roof truss detail.  The purlins for the valleys are currently missing.

There is a temporary prop in place, but this is looking very similar to the 3D roof truss detail. The purlins for the valleys are currently missing.

All the main beams are now in place and work has started on installing the spars.  Hopefully, by the middle of next week, the roof will be on.

All the main beams are now in place and work has started on installing the spars. Hopefully, by the middle of next week, the roof will be on.

New doors installed in the rear of the cottage

The first pair of doors has been installed in the rear of the existing cottages.  Now the temporary boardings have been removed and the new doors installed, there is a lot more light inside.

The second pair of doors will be installed tomorrow.

One pair of rear doors fitted in the existing cottages.  You can also see the progress on the roof trusses in the new extension.

One pair of rear doors fitted in the existing cottages. You can also see the progress on the roof trusses in the new extension.

The new rear doors really do let a lot of light into the building.  The second pair of doors will be installed on Friday.

The new rear doors really do let a lot of light into the building. The second pair of doors will be installed on Friday.

Progress on the roof

I have been on a course this week (the Loxone training course – more later) which has meant that I haven’t been on site much.  With so much going on, it is a meant of a shame not to be here, but the training course has been a welcome break.  I do go first thing in the morning (once it is light!).  There is little point in going in the evenings as it is dark by the time I get back.

This week the builders have been concentrating on getting the roof up with the hope that we can get it covered over early next week.  However, it is a constant battle with the weather at the moment.  Even so, they are making good progress.

The roof is relatively complex as you can see from the architects diagram and notes.  However, it all seems to be going according to plan.

All three trusses are now in position.  The purlins between the trusses have been installed and the “free ends” have been propped up in position while the blockwork is built up to support them.  Hopefully all the major woodwork for the roof will be in place by the end of the week.

Just in case you thought it was easy to build a roof!  All of these peices of oak are cut by hand and manhandled into position.  This drawing makes it look too easy!

Just in case you thought it was easy to build a roof! All of these peices of oak are cut by hand and manhandled into position. This drawing makes it look too easy!

This is first thing in the morning before I go off to my Loxone training course.  You can see all of the three trusses are now in position - 2 running one way and a third (in the kitchen) running at 90 degrees.

This is first thing in the morning before I go off to my Loxone training course. You can see all of the three trusses are now in position – 2 running one way and a third (in the kitchen) running at 90 degrees.

The majority of the beams went in yesterday.  Today the builders have been concentrating on building up the blockwork to support the ends of the beams.  You can see in this photo that some of the beams (look to camera right) are propped up at the moment waiting for the blockwork to be built up around them.

The majority of the beams went in yesterday. Today the builders have been concentrating on building up the blockwork to support the ends of the beams. You can see in this photo that some of the beams (look to camera right) are propped up at the moment waiting for the blockwork to be built up around them.

Ashlar blocks

We tried to install one of the large ashlar blocks in the new extension on Friday.  Although we could get it fairly close by using the telehandler, we couldn’t then get it off the telehandler and into position.  It was simply too heavy.

That was Friday.  On Saturday, following some advice from the quarry, the builders used some lifting straps around the blocks and lifted them into position. 

There are some even larger blocks of ashlar to be moved later in the build, but I suspect that the builders were relieved when these three stones went in undamaged.

There are three large pieces of ashlar that make up the base of the custom window in the extension.  This one peice must weigh 300 - 400 kg.  Getting it into position is not easy, particularly without damanging it.  In the end we had to give up.  We could get it so far on the telehandler, but then we couldn't get it off and into position.  It needs a re-think.

There are three large pieces of ashlar that make up the base of the custom window in the extension. This one peice must weigh 300 – 400 kg. Getting it into position is not easy, particularly without damanging it. In the end we had to give up. We could get it so far on the telehandler, but then we couldn’t get it off and into position. It needs a re-think.

The ashlar blocks and the oak trusses are now in position in the new extension.

The ashlar blocks and the oak trusses are now in position in the new extension.

This took 2 attempts, but the builders finally worked out how to get these three large blocks of ashlar into positioin.  There are steps butting up to this part of the building, hence, the use of blocks to the rifht.  The six inch plastic pipe is for the air intake for the log burning stove in the lounge.

This took 2 attempts, but the builders finally worked out how to get these three large blocks of ashlar into positioin. There are steps butting up to this part of the building, hence, the use of blocks to the rifht. The six inch plastic pipe is for the air intake for the log burning stove in the lounge.

Assembling the oak trusses

This should be a fairly simple task given that we know that the pieces already fit together.  However, the sheer weight of the oak pieces plus the fact that this is now being done off scaffolding while it is raining, just makes the job a little more challenging.

However, by the close of play on Friday, two out of three of the trusses has been assembled.  The third truss (the one in the kitchen) will be assembled on Monday morning.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

You can see the oak pegs that secure the purlins in position.  The tie beam for the kitchen truss is now in position, but the rest of the truss will be assembled on Monday.

You can see the oak pegs that secure the purlins in position. The tie beam for the kitchen truss is now in position, but the rest of the truss will be assembled on Monday.

The two oak trusses in the lounge in position.  The ridge beam needs to be added to the top, but this is essentially now complete.  Built using traditional techniques with no nails or screws holding it together.

The two oak trusses in the lounge in position. The ridge beam needs to be added to the top, but this is essentially now complete. Built using traditional techniques with no nails or screws holding it together.

Getting the new tie beams into position

The tie beams are the large horizontal beams that form the base of the truss (the bottom of the triangle).  We have three to get into position.  Each probably weighs around 500 kgs, so they take some moving.

The first one is lifted into position above the kitchen using the telehandler.  No such luck with the other two.  We have to use a mechanical winch to lift these into position. 

In all three cases, the final positioning is done using brute force (and a sledgehammer).

This is the large tie beam (the horizontal beam on the bottom of the truss) for the kitchen.  This one we managed to get in position using the telehandler.  Unfortunately, the telehandler would not reach for the ones in the lounge.

This is the large tie beam (the horizontal beam on the bottom of the truss) for the kitchen. This one we managed to get in position using the telehandler. Unfortunately, the telehandler would not reach for the ones in the lounge.

A mechanical winch is used to lift the tie beam for the lounge truss into position.  Once at the right height, the beam can be wheeled into position.  Winches similar to these are used for removing engines from cars.

A mechanical winch is used to lift the tie beam for the lounge truss into position. Once at the right height, the beam can be wheeled into position. Winches similar to these are used for removing engines from cars.

The beam is now at the right height and is ready to be manhandled into position.  The weather isn't helping.

The beam is now at the right height and is ready to be manhandled into position. The weather isn’t helping.

Installing the oak trusses

The first thing to do is take apart and number the parts for the trusses.  They have been built off site and have started to arrive on Friday.  We were hoping to start on the assembly of this earlier in the week, but we were defeated by the weather.

All of the oak has been treated with Osmo UV Protection Oil to prevent the weather damaging or marking the wood.  This also added to the time required.

The oak trusses have been built off site in an industrial unit. Today they arrived on site.

The oak trusses have been built off site in an industrial unit. Today they arrived on site.

As well as the three large tie beams, there are a number of other oak pieces that make up the trusses.  All of these bits were made in an industrial unit and then numbered and taken apart.  We will reassemble on site in their final position.

As well as the three large tie beams, there are a number of other oak pieces that make up the trusses. All of these bits were made in an industrial unit and then numbered and taken apart. We will reassemble on site in their final position.

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