Hagg Leys Farm

Month: January 2014 (Page 2 of 4)

Boarding in the kitchen

January 23, 2014 /

We have started to put the plasterboards up in the kitchen.  All the walls are dri lined (plasterboards are stuck to the walls using dri wall adhesive and then plastered) and insulated plasterboards are put on the ceiling.  In the extension, there is 100mm of insulation between the rafters and then plasterboard with an additional 25mm of insulation.

With the boards on the walls and ceiling, this space starts to feel a lot lighter as well as the oak becoming more prominent.

We need to get the kitchen plastered and decorated before the kitchen is installed next month.  There is a lot to do still.

This is the balcony and the doorway into the ktichen from the hall. It is now all boarded ready to be plastered. We have put some plastic over the oak on the balcony to avoid getting any plaster on it.

This is the balcony and the doorway into the ktichen from the hall. It is now all boarded ready to be plastered. We have put some plastic over the oak on the balcony to avoid getting any plaster on it.

With any luck the ktichen should be completely plastered by the end of the week. However, the boards have already transformed this space and the oak beams stand out even more than before.

With any luck the ktichen should be completely plastered by the end of the week. However, the boards have already transformed this space and the oak beams stand out even more than before.

The oak beams in the kitchen really stand out now that the ceiling has been board. With a bit of luck, this should all be plastered by the end of the week.

The oak beams in the kitchen really stand out now that the ceiling has been board. With a bit of luck, this should all be plastered by the end of the week.

Bat boxes

January 22, 2014 /

One of the recommendations in our planning permission was that we should make a provision for bat habitat.  A conversation in the local pub led to us acquiring a couple of bat boxes from a local RSPB group (thanks to Dave Hardwick).  The boxes are made from offcuts of softwood from a local furniture factory.

We aren’t quite sure where to locate them yet, but the most likely location is in the larger trees in the bottom field. But more of an update on this once we have done a bit of research.

These are made by a local RSPB group from offcuts of timber from a furniture factory. We need to work out exactly where to locate them, probably in some of the larger trees on the property rather than being attached to the house or outbuildings.

These are made by a local RSPB group from offcuts of timber from a furniture factory. We need to work out exactly where to locate them, probably in some of the larger trees on the property rather than being attached to the house or outbuildings.

Lights in the older part of the property

January 21, 2014 /

We now have lights in the older part of the property.  We have had them for a week or so, but now we have light switches to turn them on!  Previously, we had to revert to using an iPad to turn the lights on and off.  Bizarrely, I could turn the lights on and off anywhere in the world – except (apparently) the room that I was in as there was no light switch. It doesn’t take long for the novelty of having to use an iPad all the time to wear off.  And before you ask, yes, you can use an iPhone too!  See previous post for information on the web interface.

In this part of the building alone, there are around 20 lighting circuits (a lighting circuit is a group of lights controlled by a switch) and about the same number of light switches.

Today we have installed all of the light switches and, after a bit of messing about, the switches do seem to control the right lights (most of the time).  Since the mapping between lights and switches is done in software, we can always modify the arrangement later on (unlike in a conventional system).  We had to reprogram a few of the switches, but all in all, it went pretty well. We have removed the stainless steel front plates from the switches.  This allows the rooms to be decorated without getting paint on the switches (and still being able to turn the lights on and off).  For more information, see previous post on light switches.

As well as the lights, the bathroom extractor fans are also controlled by the lighting computer.  This means that we can configure the system so that the extractor fans do not come on after midnight (say) as this might disturb others in the house.

In the upstairs bathroom, there are two lighting circuits.  One controls that main lights (and turns on the fan).  The other controls the LED lights in the shelf and along the plinth for the bath.  This circuit does not turn the fan on.  This means that you can have a bath and just turn the LED lights on without having the fan running.

This is one of the switches with the stainless steel face plate removed. We will put the face plates on once the rooms have been decorated. This is a Schneider GET Ultimate two gang switch.

This is one of the switches with the stainless steel face plate removed. We will put the face plates on once the rooms have been decorated. This is a Schneider GET Ultimate two gang switch.

ignore the cardboard box over the toilet and the board over the bath. This is the upstairs bathroom with the main lights and LEDs turned on. The extractor fan is running. This is controlled by the left button.

ignore the cardboard box over the toilet and the board over the bath. This is the upstairs bathroom with the main lights and LEDs turned on. The extractor fan is running. This is controlled by the left button.

And now with the main lights off and just the LED lights on. These are only 1W put these LED lights put out a lot of light.

And now with the main lights off and just the LED lights on. These are only 1W put these LED lights put out a lot of light.

The builder’s cabin is gone

January 21, 2014 /

The builders have had a cabin and storage unit on site for the past 6 months.  Today, we reached another major milestone and the cabins were removed.

Initially, we thought we might have had a problem since we had built a porch since the units were delivered.  However, the drivers managed to squeeze their lorries and the content through the gap!

When the builder's cabin and storage unit were delivered, the porch had not been built. Now with the porch in place, it is a really tight squeeze!

When the builder’s cabin and storage unit were delivered, the porch had not been built. Now with the porch in place, it is a really tight squeeze!

The trucks arrived late in the afternoon and it was starting to get dark by the time the wagons were loaded. However, everything went without a hitch and neither the house or the outbuildings suffered any damage. Phew.

The trucks arrived late in the afternoon and it was starting to get dark by the time the wagons were loaded. However, everything went without a hitch and neither the house or the outbuildings suffered any damage. Phew.

There is quite a bit of tidying up to do, but within the next couple of days this building site will be returned to being a field. The cabins had been in place for around 6 months.

There is quite a bit of tidying up to do, but within the next couple of days this building site will be returned to being a field. The cabins had been in place for around 6 months.

Ground source heat pump

January 19, 2014 /

We finally got the ground source heat pump up and running on Thursday.  The commissioning took most of the day with the majority of the time taken up getting the antifreeze into the ground loops (the pipes that run underneath the field).  There is around 125 gallons of antifreeze (glycol) in the 1800m of ground loops.

The ground source heat pump was powered up around 4pm on Thursday.  It took around an hour to heat up the hot water tank (500l).  Once the hot water tank was up to temperature, we turned on the underfloor heating.  It will probably take until next week before the building is up to full temperature (21c), but the building felt warmer the next morning.

With 125 gallons of anti-freeze installed in the ground loops, we have around 30-35 gallons left over. Not sure what to do with this. Maybe ebay?

With 125 gallons of anti-freeze installed in the ground loops, we have around 30-35 gallons left over. Not sure what to do with this. Maybe ebay?

Apparently this anti freeze will detriorate if left in the sun for a significant period of time. If you are going to store it outdoors, do make sure that it is under cover.

Apparently this anti freeze will detriorate if left in the sun for a significant period of time. If you are going to store it outdoors, do make sure that it is under cover.

Update on plastering

January 19, 2014 /

We have plastered about 75% of the older part of the property and have started plastering the new extension.  This week we have plastered the two ensuites, the dressing room and the master bedroom.  With this much plastering, the building can get damp very quickly – plastering the walls in wet plaster introduces a lot of water in the building.  Although the ground source heat pump is up and running, we have also left a dehumidifer running to accelerate the drying process.

Next week we will make a start on plastering the kitchen.  My guess is that it will take most of the week to get the ktichen plastered.

The plasterers have made good progress this week. The two ensuites, dressing room and the master bedroom have been completely plastered. With the ground source heat pump running, the plaster is drying out fairly quickly. To accelerate the drying process we are using a dehumidifer.

The plasterers have made good progress this week. The two ensuites, dressing room and the master bedroom have been completely plastered. With the ground source heat pump running, the plaster is drying out fairly quickly. To accelerate the drying process we are using a dehumidifer.

Balcony in the kitchen

January 16, 2014 /

The oak timber for the balcony was installed earlier in the week.  We hope to start plastering the kitchen next week.  Once the timbers were in place, we could measure the size of the glass required.  It needed to be 10mm toughened glass with polished edges. TThe glass was ordered last week.  I picked it up today.  The glass was supplied by Huddersfield Plate Glass.

We slid it into position today to make sure the size was correct.  We have now removed it and will keep it somewhere safe until the redecorating has been finished.

The toughened glass for the blacony in the kitchen arrived today. This is 10mm toughened glass fitted into slots routed in the oak.

The toughened glass for the blacony in the kitchen arrived today. This is 10mm toughened glass fitted into slots routed in the oak.

Removing the traces of the old conservatory

January 16, 2014 /

There was a white uPVC conservatory on the back of the building when we bought it.  There was a lead flashing along the edge of the roofline that had been cut into the original stonework.  Unfortunately, this left an upside down “V” cut into the stonework.  We had a go at pointing the grooves, but they were still very obvious.

We decided to replaced the marked stones with spare ones that we had sandblasted recently. By the time, these new stones have been pointed in, it will be hard to tell where these stones have been replaced.

Just the brick base of the conservatory remains. The outside wall had not been plastered, but plasterboard had been attached. This is a result as it is easily removed and should leave little trace.

Just the brick base of the conservatory remains, but you can see the outline of where the roof had been.

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 conservatory is now all gone, however, you can the marks left along the old roofline of the conservatory..

There was a uPVC conservatory on this part of the building and the lead flashing had been fitted into the stonework. Unfortunately, this had left an upside down "V" shape cut into the stone. We have replaced each of the stones with ones without the groove cut in them.

There was a uPVC conservatory on this part of the building and the lead flashing had been fitted into the stonework. Unfortunately, this had left an upside down “V” shape cut into the stone. We have replaced each of the stones with ones without the groove cut in them.

Spring has arrived early

January 16, 2014 /

It has been very mild (and wet) over the past month or so.

The result?  Some of the plants think that it is spring already!

Spring seems to have arrived early this year. Jo planted this last year after we had finished this section of dry stone wall.

Spring seems to have arrived early this year. Jo planted this last year after we had finished this section of dry stone wall.

First milestone with home automation

January 14, 2014 /

Yep, we managed to turn our first set of lights on today.  We have installed around 25 lighting circuits in the older part of the property and today we managed to use the Loxone kit to power up the lights.

It was right at the end of a long day, so we only had 10-15 minutes to try it out.  But we had 80% of the lighting circuits working in our first attempt!  We haven’t got any of the light switches installed, so we were using an iPad to wander around the building turning the different lights on and off.  I know it sounds trivial, but this is a major step forward!

Tomorrow we will try to get the rest of the lights working in this part of the building.

Ignore the ladder! This is a major milestone - the lights in Jo's office turned on via an iPad. We haven't installed any light switches yet, but the Loxone system allows us to turn the lights on in the old part of the building.

Ignore the ladder! This is a major milestone – the lights in Jo’s office turned on via an iPad. We haven’t installed any light switches yet, but the Loxone system allows us to turn the lights on in the old part of the building.

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