Author: stephen (Page 26 of 61)

Over the past 2-3 weeks, we have made significant progress on the extension.

The main roof beams are in, as are most of the roof spars.  Almost all of the ashlar stone surrounds are in place – particularly the really large pieces.  Most of the block work is up and the external stone work is catching up.  The roof will start to go on next week.  Exciting times.

Although the scaffolding obscures much of the new extension at the front, you can we the progress that has been made in the last couple of weeks.

Most of the roof spars are now in place. There are a number of rooflight on this elevation and you can see where the gaps have been left in the roof timbers.

There is still quite a bit of stone work to go up on the end gable of the extension. The roof beams sit on the inner blockwork and this is where we have concentrated our efforts.

The new doors have been installed in the existing cottages and the roof timbers are largely ready for the roof to go on (hopefully, next week).

This is the elevation faces into the sunken garden. There are two sets of bifolding doors separated by a large square oak window.

We have had a couple of fine days already this week and that means that most of the roof spars have been installed.  This is a bit of a slow job since there are so many rooflights – standard patent glazing in the lounge and kitchen (together with electric openers) and pairs of Veluxes elsewhere.  There are a total of 6 pairs of Velux windows to be installed throughout the extension.

More of the roof joists have been installed. There is still quite a bit of work to do around the rooflights – you can see the gap in the roof spars about the lounge 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!

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.