Hagg Leys Farm

Author: stephen (Page 19 of 61)

The first of the log stoves installed

January 25, 2014 /

Although we are still missing a crucial part for the Spartherm unit, we have taken the time to get the Firebelly stove that we bought a few months ago installed.  It is a FB1 stove in pewter with a matching stove pipe.  Other colours are available.

These stoves are made in Elland (just outside Halifax), so are very local to us.  You will find more information here.

The stove is exceptionally well made and we are really pleased with it.  The glass front provides a great view onto the logs inside.  It burns very cleanly and the glass stays clean while in use, even when the air supply is turned down to slow the burn rate.  It is easy to light and the combustion seems super efficient leaving the minimum of ash.

While we are still missing a crucial part of the Sparthem unit, we have installed the Firebelly stove in the snug. I am really impressed with this unit - it is easy to light, the glass keeps clean and it pumps out the heat. It is a big hit with the builders!

While we are still missing a crucial part of the Sparthem unit, we have installed the Firebelly stove in the snug. I am really impressed with this unit – it is easy to light, the glass keeps clean and it pumps out the heat. It is a big hit with the builders!

Why do WiFi access points look awful?

January 23, 2014 /

Answer: Because no one in the design process cares what they look like.

Having spent a fortune renovating (including re-wiring) a property, I need to install a couple of WiFi access points to make sure that WiFi is accessible in all parts of the building.

Trouble is they all look awful – most are white/grey plastic boxes with one or more aerials.  They are plenty of examples to choose from, but few, if any, that look half decent.

Their design seems to be a hang-up from corporate offices rather than something than anyone would want on display in their home.  As a result, most of these access points end up getting hidden away in cupboards, under the stairs, or anywhere else that they won’t be seen.  Ironically, these positions don’t really help propagate the signal, they perform better out in the open.

Isn’t it about time that designers had an input into the appearance of the technology that is fast becoming part of our everyday world?

Who would want to stick this on their wall and look at it everyday? And if that wasn't bad enough, there are some flashing lights on it to make sure that you don't miss it!

Who would want to stick this on their wall and look at it everyday? And if that wasn’t bad enough, there are some flashing lights on it to make sure that you don’t miss it!

OK, so this one looks like a smoke alarm. It is one method of disguising it, but it isn't exactly attractive.

OK, so this one looks like a smoke alarm. It is one method of disguising it, but it isn’t exactly attractive.

Probably the best we are going to find. I will strip it apart and spray the outside case so that it matches the wall colour. It will be a bit like the pottery uplighters that you can paint the same colour as your walls.

Probably the best we are going to find. I will strip it apart and spray the outside case so that it matches the wall colour. It will be a bit like the pottery uplighters that you can paint the same colour as your walls.

Firebox for the lounge

January 23, 2014 /

The firebox for the lounge arrived yesterday.  We have a slight problem in that the baffle (butterfly) for the flue seems to be missing.  However, we should be able to get the unit into position and build the stone fireplace around it. There will be some “fine tuning” required, but nothing that the builder can’t deal with. The design of the fireplace is covered here.  However, re-looking at the pictures, we have significantly changed the design – we are now using a firebox with 3 sides of glass rather than 2.  We have also gone for a design that is a little more symmetrical.

We are going to have to wait for the missing flue part before using it, however, we can get on with the job of installing it into the fireplace.

The installers are also going to install the Firebelly stove that we bought a few months ago.  So although the Spartherm unit might not be operational this weekend, the Firebelly should be!

It doesn't look very impressive, does it? But over the next few days the fire place will be built around this Spartherm fire box. This is an Arte 3RL 100h (if anyone is interested!). It weighs in at a massive 300kgs!

It doesn’t look very impressive, does it? But over the next few days the fire place will be built around this Spartherm fire box. This is an Arte 3RL 100h (if anyone is interested!). It weighs in at a massive 300kgs!

And here is what the firebox looks like once it is in position!

And here is what the firebox looks like once it is in position!

 

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.

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