Hagg Leys Farm

Month: January 2014 (Page 3 of 4)

Second set of bi-folding doors fitted

January 14, 2014 /

We have two sets of bi-folding doors and they were met to be fitted before Christmas.  The first set were installed fine.  The second set unfortunately had been mis-measured and were 300mm too big.  There was no alternative, they needed to be re-made.  The mistake (fortunately) was down to the supplier and after a brief discussion they agreed to re-make the doors at their cost.

The re-made doors were installed (very successfully) today. It only took a couple of hours and we are really impressed with the results.  The front elevation of the new extension certainly looks a lot better!

Here's the opening in the master bedroom before the bifolding doors are installed. Ignore the fact that the back garden looks like a building site - the views are great.

Here’s the opening in the master bedroom before the bifolding doors are installed. Ignore the fact that the back garden looks like a building site – the views are great.

The builders are finishing off the pointing on this elevation of the extension while the frames for the bi-folding doors are being installed.

The builders are finishing off the pointing on this elevation of the extension while the frames for the bi-folding doors are being installed.

The bi-folding doors certainly improve the appearance of the front elevation of the new extension.

The bi-folding doors certainly improve the appearance of the front elevation of the new extension.

Carbon monoxide detectors

January 14, 2014 /

The building inspector came around yesterday and everything went well.  We have one more visit due.  This is when the building work is all finished. Usually before moving in.

On his way out, he mentioned that one of the things that they would check on final completion would be the carbon monoxide detectors.  Apparently, we need a carbon monoxide detector in every room where there is a solid fuel stove.  It can’t be a standalone one (those cheap battery operated units), but must be connected into the same circuit as the smoke detectors.

This is a bit of problem since some of the ceilings have now been plastered.  The electricians have had to cut a couple of holes in the ceiling to pull a new set of cables through.  It could have been worse – the rooms could have been decorated!

Progress with home automation

January 14, 2014 /

Well, we have the Loxone system installed.  There is power to the units in the older part of the building. This will be only half of the system as the other half will be installed in the plant room in the new extension.  But with this half of the system powered up, we can get the system configured.

The configuration was done over the weekend. The electrician has connected each of the lighting circuits to the Loxone system.  I then mapped all of the lighting circuits against the rooms in which there are installed.  The lighting circuits do not have any power to them and the light switches haven’t been installed.  However, we can use the interface on the iPad to turn the lighting circuits on and off.  Although there is no power to the circuits, you can hear the relays (the electronic switches) clicking on and off.

Using the interface on the iPad helps to confirm that the configuration is correct.  It also helps highlight any lighting circuits that haven’t been assigned to a room.

The next stage is to connect the light fittings and then we will be able to turn lights on and off using the iPad.  Then we can get the light switches installed.

Here are all of the rooms configured for the lights in the older part of the property. You can see there are two lighting circuits in Bedroom 2 (shown on the right) - beam spots and bedside lamps. These can be turned on and off using the web interface. The iPad interface is identical.

Here are all of the rooms configured for the lights in the older part of the property. You can see there are two lighting circuits in Bedroom 2 (shown on the right) – beam spots and bedside lamps. These can be turned on and off using the web interface. The iPad interface is identical.

First fix in the extension

January 14, 2014 /

The first fix plumbing and electrics are now complete in the new extension.  This means that we can start on the plastering in this part of the building.  While we haven’t quite finished in the older part of the property, we have gone as far as we can for the time being.  We need to install more of the metal work in the hallway so that the plaster boards can be fixed.  This system of metal work is something that is seen more in the retail industry (used by shop fitters in retail units) than in domestic properties.  However, it is a good way of both straightening up the walls as well as provide insulation (on a wall without a cavity).  We are using a system called GypLyner.

We had another pallet of plaster boards delivered yesterday.  One pallet = 72 sheets of plaster board.  I daresay that we will need more before we are finished.  We had another 50 bags of plaster delivered too.  It is amazing where all these materials go – they arrive in a massive pile, but then they just seem to disappear inside the building!

This is the GypLyner metal frame system. You can see the old (solid) wall behind. Insulated plasterboard is screwed to the metal framework. The plasterboard is then plastered. Here we are using plasterboard that has 50mm of insulation attached to the back.

This is the GypLyner metal frame system. You can see the old (solid) wall behind. Insulated plasterboard is screwed to the metal framework. The plasterboard is then plastered. Here we are using plasterboard that has 50mm of insulation attached to the back.

Balcony into the kitchen

January 13, 2014 /
All of the three openings have been created into the kitchen - the doorway from the hall, the internal window from the hall and the upper balcony from Jo's office.

All of the three openings have been created into the kitchen – the doorway from the hall, the internal window from the hall and the upper balcony from Jo’s office.

The first floor opening into the kitchen had been created.  We have now fixed the two pieces of oak in place that make up the balcony.  These have been made from spare pieces of oak that we had on site.  There are grooves in the oak top and bottom. This is to hold the toughened 10mm glass in place.  All of this wall will be boarded and plastered.  Only the two pieces of oak will be left showing.

 

Scaffolding has gone

January 9, 2014 /

Despite the mud and poor weather, we managed to get a large truck on site today to pick up the scaffolding.  We took this down before Christmas and we have been tripping over it ever since!  There was a lot of it and now that it has gone you can start to see a difference in the overall site.  It won’t be long and the back field will start looking like a field again!

We are now in the final stages of the outside work. There really is only pointing left to do. Today, the scaffolding was collected and this has cleaned up the site tremendously. We still have so cleaning up to do, but there was a awful lot of scaffolding piled up in the back field.

We are now in the final stages of the outside work. There really is only pointing left to do. Today, the scaffolding was collected and this has cleaned up the site tremendously. We still have so cleaning up to do, but there was a awful lot of scaffolding piled up in the back field.

Leak found in the underfloor

January 9, 2014 /

We have found the leak under the floor in one of the downstairs bathrooms.  This has entailed digging up some of the newly laid screed, but it is better to find it now than after the floor has been tiled.

The floor in one of the sownstairs bathrooms did not dry out over the Christmas period despite the underfloor heathing being on. We suspected that there might have been a leak in the underfloor pipework. This week we have had to dig out the area of floor screed to find the leak.

The floor in one of the sownstairs bathrooms did not dry out over the Christmas period despite the underfloor heathing being on. We suspected that there might have been a leak in the underfloor pipework. This week we have had to dig out the area of floor screed to find the leak.

The pressure in the underfloor heating had remained constant over the Christmas period, so we concluded that it was unlikely to be the cause of the leak. As soon as we turn off the water, the floor started to dry out. The leak had to be on one of the hot or cold feeds. Turns out it was the hot feed (the pipe on the left) to the hand basin. Both the T joint and a section of pipe were replaced.

The pressure in the underfloor heating had remained constant over the Christmas period, so we concluded that it was unlikely to be the cause of the leak. As soon as we turn off the water, the floor started to dry out. The leak had to be on one of the hot or cold feeds. Turns out it was the hot feed (the pipe on the left) to the hand basin. Both the T joint and a section of pipe were replaced.

Plastering

January 7, 2014 /

We resumed plastering in the older part of the building just before Christmas and I think by the end of this week we should be ready to make a start on the extension.  Fingers crossed the electricians should have finished the first fix electrics by then.

All of the walls and ceilings are (plaster) boarded and then plastered.  The ceilings are a bit of a challenge since all the old roof trusses are old and bent.  It makes cutting the boards difficult and then plastering around them in more difficult.  Particularly when you consider this all has to be done off tower scaffold as ladders would not reach.  The ceilings in the new extension are easier as the timber is a little straighter, however, the increased ceiling height will make things a little more interesting!

Ian and Mark (the plasterers) are making some great progress.  However, it is difficult to do it justice in photos.  And here is one photo to prove it!

This is Jo's study with the balcony into the kitchen and the parapet wall overlooking the stairs. Most of the ceiling and half of the walls have been boarded. They will be plastered before the end of the week.

This is Jo’s study with the balcony into the kitchen and the parapet wall overlooking the stairs. Most of the ceiling and half of the walls have been boarded. They will be plastered before the end of the week.

Progress on the home automation

January 7, 2014 /

While work is progressing on the first fix electrics in the extension, we are starting to terminate the cables for the lighting switches.  All of the cables of the lighting and data will terminate in patch panel.  This allows us to easily test all of the connectivity as well as being able to reconfigure the cabling at a later data.

There are 19 lighting switches in the older part of the building.  The cables will terminate in a single 24 port patch panel.  Patch leads will then connect the relevant port to the correct connection on the lighting computer.

The data connections will terminate in two 24 port patch panels since there are more than 24 data connections in this part of the building.  These will be connected to a Netgear network switch that will be connected to the broadband route to provide wired Internet access into each of the rooms.  There will be a second Netgear switch in the extension and the two switches will be connected together.

It will probably take a few days to get all of this connectivity working!

The top two consumer units house the Loxone kit - a server, 2 extensions and a dimmer unti. The bottom consumer unit contains the breakers and RCD. Underneath this there is a small data comms cabinet.

The top two consumer units house the Loxone kit – a server, 2 extensions and a dimmer unti. The bottom consumer unit contains the breakers and RCD. Underneath this there is a small data comms cabinet.

All of the Cat5 cables from the lighting switches terminate in this patch panel. There are 19 in this half of the building. There will then be a lead from the patch panel to the Loxone lighting computer which is housed above.

All of the Cat5 cables from the lighting switches terminate in this patch panel. There are 19 in this half of the building. There will then be a lead from the patch panel to the Loxone lighting computer which is housed above.

First fix electrics in the extension

January 7, 2014 /

We are progressing well with the first fix electrics in the new extension.  These will need to be completed before the plasterers can start in this part of the building.  I reckon the first fix will be finished by the end of the week, leaving the building clear for the plasterers to start next week.

Although it was only a couple of months ago that we did the first fix on the older part of the building, I had forgotten exactly how much cabling is involved.  The answer? Lots and lots.  I was going to start counting exactly how much, but it was just too difficult.

There is Cat5 cabling for all the light switches, mains cabling for the sockets and power to the lights, cabling for the alarm PIR sensors, Cat5 (again) for the telephone and data points, co-axial for the TV and some Cat6 for satellite.  There are also some odd cables around the place for things such as electric door latches, luminence sensors, temperature sensors (both indoor and outdoor) and some cables for thermostats (one in every room).  Phew!  That is a lot!

The other half of the lighting computer will be in the plant room along with the ground source heating pump. Hence all of the wires end up terminating here.

The other half of the lighting computer will be in the plant room along with the ground source heating pump. Hence all of the wires end up terminating here.

Bundles of wires waiting to be connected. Cat5 for all the light switches, mains cables for sockets and power to the lights, cabling for the PIR sensors for the alarms, Cat5 (again) for the telephone and ethernet. We haven't pulled through the co-axial for the TV and the CAT6 for the satellite yet. It all adds up to a lot of cable.

Bundles of wires waiting to be connected. Cat5 for all the light switches, mains cables for sockets and power to the lights, cabling for the PIR sensors for the alarms, Cat5 (again) for the telephone and ethernet. We haven’t pulled through the co-axial for the TV and the CAT6 for the satellite yet. It all adds up to a lot of cable.

These cables are waiting to be pulled through into the plant room and connected to the main distribution boards and the lighting computer.

These cables are waiting to be pulled through into the plant room and connected to the main distribution boards and the lighting computer.

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