Hagg Leys Farm

Author: stephen (Page 25 of 61)

Date stone

November 26, 2013 /

There is a date stone for 1861 on part of the building.  See this previous blog entry.  We believe that the orignial building dates to around 1700 (or so), so this must have been when some renovation work was done.  In the same spirit, we thought it would be a good idea to put a data stone on the new extension.

The date stone was produced at the same quarry we have been using for the rest of the ashlar in the new extension.  It was sized so that it would fit in one of the upper courses of stone in the end gable.  We wanted it to be low key and out of sight, but felt that it was important to follow in the same tradition as previous owners.

The date stone was made at the same quarry as we acquire all of the ashlar for the extension.

The date stone was made at the same quarry as we acquire all of the ashlar for the extension.

Matt finishing off the last few courses on the end gable - including the new date stone.

Matt finishing off the last few courses on the end gable – including the new date stone.

We have put the date stone on the end gable on the back of the extension. There is a date stone from 1861 on another part of the building. This isn't when it was originally built, but when some major renovation work was done.

We have put the date stone on the end gable on the back of the extension. There is a date stone from 1861 on another part of the building. This isn’t when it was originally built, but when some major renovation work was done.

Bathroom tiles

November 25, 2013 /

I picked up the floor and wall tiles for the bathrooms in the old cottages last week. I only got around to looking at them today.

It would appear that the tiles are slightly different colours. I took some photos from a number of different angles. I was hoping that it was a trick of the light. But it would appear not.

I will have a look at them again in the morning.

Mmmm....the floor tiles are a Matt finish and the polished tiles are for the walls. Unfortunately, they don't match.

Mmmm….the floor tiles are a Matt finish and the polished tiles are for the walls. Unfortunately, they don’t match.

Let's take the photo from another direction and see if the tiles look better. Nope. They still don't match. Maybe they will look better in the morning.

Let’s take the photo from another direction and see if the tiles look better. Nope. They still don’t match. Maybe they will look better in the morning.

Gutters on the rear of the property

November 25, 2013 /

We are installing cast iron gutters on the new extension just as we did on the renovated cottages.  The gutters here sit on an ashlar “shelf”.  The ashlar shelf has a groove underneath to stop water running back towards the building. 

As before, the gutters came from the Longbottom Foundry in Holmfirth.  The gutters are pattern 46 (so called because it was the 46th pattern that the foundry made for gutters). We are using 6×4 on the front (where the elevation is high) and 5×4 on the back (where the elevation is lower).

The gutters have to be assmbled for the entire length and then slide onto the ashlar shelf.  This is awkward, but doable.  We have put plastic underneath the gutters to protect the ashlar while the gutters get a final coat of paint before being slid into postion.  Holes are core drilled in the ashlar to accomodate the down pipes.

We are putting up cast iron gutters on the extension. We are using the same gutters as used previously, however, the lower gutter at the rear of the building is a smaller section - 5x4 rather than 6x4 - this is because the guttering is closer to the ground.

We are putting up cast iron gutters on the extension. We are using the same gutters as used previously, however, the lower gutter at the rear of the building is a smaller section – 5×4 rather than 6×4 – this is because the guttering is closer to the ground.

Lightweight plastic has been put underneath the gutters to protect the ashlar while the gutters are given their final coat of paint.

Lightweight plastic has been put underneath the gutters to protect the ashlar while the gutters are given their final coat of paint.

Here you can see the new cast iron gutters sat on the ashlar shelf. You can see the groove cut underneath the shelf to stop the water from running back towards the building.

Here you can see the new cast iron gutters sat on the ashlar shelf. You can see the groove cut underneath the shelf to stop the water from running back towards the building.

The ashlar shelf has had to be core drilled to accomodate the rain water down pipe.

The ashlar shelf has had to be core drilled to accomodate the rain water down pipe.

 

Walls in the sunken garden

November 25, 2013 /

We are making good progress on the walls in the sunken garden.  There are terraces on two different levels, so there are plenty of walls here.  The walls are built using reclaimed stone that we purchased.  It is relatively flat and uniform so it makes pretty good walling stone.

We have almost finished the wall on the upper terrace.  The coping stones are due to be delivered later this week, so it won’t be long before we get to see what the finished wall will look like.

The top wall in the sunken garden is directly outside the master bedroom. This will be the view through the bi-folding doors (once they are fitted).

The top wall in the sunken garden is directly outside the master bedroom. This will be the view through the bi-folding doors (once they are fitted).

The top wall in the sunken garden is nearing completion. We are expecting the coping stones sometime this week, so it will be good to see them go on.

The top wall in the sunken garden is nearing completion. We are expecting the coping stones sometime this week, so it will be good to see them go on.

It was cold and wet and I was doing the best I could to put a brave face on the situation! In the other photos, I looked like Benny Hill!

It was cold and wet and I was doing the best I could to put a brave face on the situation! In the other photos, I looked like Benny Hill!

Dealing with the Utilities

November 21, 2013 /

This can get pretty frustrating and is something that is often overlooked when planning a renovation.

Are you going to need a new connection? Or moving an existing meter? Or require a new service? Then you had better plan it in and make sure that you investigate any costs involved.  Some activities have no charge (e.g. removing or relocating some types of meters), however, others (e.g. new water connection) come with a significant cost.

First step is to work out who you should be talking to!  For gas and electricity, the carriers (e.g. Northern Power Grid, Northern Gas Networks) are different from the suppliers (e.g. British Gas, Eon).  While the carriers install the pipes and wires to the property, it is the suppliers who provide (and move) the meters.

We had to move the electricity meter as well as changing it to a three phase meter.  Bizarrely, British Gas provide the electricity (and not the gas as we had it disconnected) to the property and I had to arrange for them to move the meter.  The electricity supply to the property was organised via Northern Power Grid.

The main problem with dealing with the utilities is getting through to the right department.  Once you have done this, the rest is usually a breeze and, contrary to public opinion, I have always found the individuals who I deal with as being nothing but very helpful.

Rather than dialling the main number for the Utility (in the case of British Gas 0800 048 0202), search on their website for what you are looking for (e.g. “move a meter”) and see if you can find another number.  Today, the main number said there was a 25 minute wait to talk to the next available operator.  A quick search online revealed another number 0800 691 1701 that got me through to the correct department.  It was answered almost immediately.

Do make sure that you have all of your details to hand.  The MPAN number is critical in identifying which electricity meter is being discussed and which supplier is currently responsible for it.  Most of the suppliers have access to a national database and can look this up for you, if you don’t already have it.  Alternatively, you can contact the carrier for your area and they will be able to supply it (here is the list of the contact numbers for all of the UK carriers).

Extension roof

November 20, 2013 /

Progress has been made today on putting the roof on the new extension.  Although only partly felted, at least the rear and part of the front of the extension is now covered.  We need to sort out the kitchen roof before this can be felted, but that will happen in the next day or two.

This is the view as you come up the road and you can now see the roof going on the new extension. It will be a couple of days before the stone slates go on.

This is the view as you come up the road and you can now see the roof going on the new extension. It will be a couple of days before the stone slates go on.

The roofing felt has been installed on the rear of the extension today. This should keep the worst of the weather out. Shame about the mud!

The roofing felt has been installed on the rear of the extension today. This should keep the worst of the weather out. Shame about the mud!

The extension roof has been felted to keep the worst of the weather out. The mud is even deeper here.

The extension roof has been felted to keep the worst of the weather out. The mud is even deeper here.

Sandblasting the internal kitchen wall

November 20, 2013 /

One of the walls in the kitchen has been built using stone that we reclaimed elsewhere on the property.  Some of the stone had white wash, paint or mortar on them.  This wall was sandblasted at the weekend to remove all of this.  It has come up remarkably well and now is a good match for the ashlar string course (the course at the bottom).

We need to get this done before the roof goes on later this week.

The internal kitchen wall (which is built using reclaimed stone from internal walls that we demolished in the existing cottages) was sandblasted at the weekend. The sandblasted stone is a good match for the ashlar string course.

The internal kitchen wall (which is built using reclaimed stone from internal walls that we demolished in the existing cottages) was sandblasted at the weekend. The sandblasted stone is a good match for the ashlar string course.

New water connection

November 20, 2013 /

Our extension water connection comes across a field and under the road.  The water meter is 200m away and we are responsible for the pipework from the water meter until it enters our property.  The reason for the remote location of the meter is that the water main only came this far up the road when the water was installed in the early 1980’s.  Now the water main runs right past the house.

A new connection cost us around £800, but Yorkshire Water wanted £1,000 to remove the old meter.  The solution was to turn the stop tap off to the old meter and carrying on pay a reduced monthly charge.

It only took a couple of hours to connect it all up.  We had dug the trenches and installed the water pipes into the property.  We are now a two tap family – one next to the polytunnel and one hanging out of the Utility room window!

The new water connection was installed yesterday. This means that we can capped off the old water main that runs across a neighbour's field! Apparently, it will be a couple of days before they return to replace the tarmac.

The new water connection was installed yesterday. This means that we can capped off the old water main that runs across a neighbour’s field! Apparently, it will be a couple of days before they return to replace the tarmac.

We have installed a temporary tap on the end of the new water supply. This means that the builders don't have to tramp in the house to get water.

We have installed a temporary tap on the end of the new water supply. This means that the builders don’t have to tramp in the house to get water.

Extension roof

November 18, 2013 /

All of the major beams are now in place and so are most of the spars.  The spars in the kitchen roof are still to be done, but this will be done this week as the roofers are due in the next couple of days.

You can see the roof in the previous photos, but here are some close-ups taken from the scaffold.

The roof spars on the front of the extension are now ready to be felted. However, the spars are still to be installed on the kitchen roof (seen in the distance).

The roof spars on the front of the extension are now ready to be felted. However, the spars are still to be installed on the kitchen roof (seen in the distance).

There are large rooflights in the kitchen - one front and one back. There are 3m wide - 5 panels, each 600mm. Two on each side are openers (electrically operated). This means that the middle panel and the two end panels in each set are fixed.

There are large rooflights in the kitchen – one front and one back. There are 3m wide – 5 panels, each 600mm. Two on each side are openers (electrically operated). This means that the middle panel and the two end panels in each set are fixed.

There is a lot of wood here even with the openings. There is no difference between the white and yellow wood, just different suppliers.

There is a lot of wood here even with the openings. There is no difference between the white and yellow wood, just different suppliers.

Although all the main beams have been put in the kitchen roof, the spars are still to go on. This should happen this week. We still need to brick up around the openings that were made to carry the new beams on the older property.

Although all the main beams have been put in the kitchen roof, the spars are still to go on. This should happen this week. We still need to brick up around the openings that were made to carry the new beams on the older property.

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