Hagg Leys Farm

Category: extension (Page 2 of 4)

Insulating in the extension

December 4, 2013 /

I have started installing the insulation in the extension.  There is 130mm of insulation being installed in the roof (100mm between the rafters and 30mm on the back of the plasterboard).  There is 75mm of insulation going underneath the floor.  The underfloor heating is clipped to this and then 75mm of screed goes on top.  This insulation is in addition to the 100mm of insulation that has gone into the wall cavities.  Current building regulations require 50mm, so we are well above the current specification.

The insulation comes in large sheets (1.2m 2.4m) of foil backed high density polystrene.  Kingspan is the most well known make, but there are others that are just as good and half the price.  The sheets are cut to length with a hand saw.  It isn’t a difficult job, but it is messy and the bits of polystrene get everywhere.

The complication with the extension is that the rooms have high ceilings and you have to use tower scaffold to reach the ceiling.  You can’t do this off a set of ladders. 

By my reckoning, it will take about 41 sheets to do the floors and 48 for the ceilings.  We have order 30 sheets of each (75mm for the floor and 100mm for the ceiling).  Once these are installed, we will order a top up.  It only takes a couple of days to arrive.  The sheets are around £30 each, so this part order is £1,800.  Insulation isn’t cheap.

We are putting 100mm insulated boards between the rafters in the new extension. This is then covered with insulated plasterboard. This will leave the oak trusses exposed. Because the ceiling is so high, this has to be completed using tower scaffold inside the building as ladders will not reach.

We are putting 100mm insulated boards between the rafters in the new extension. This is then covered with insulated plasterboard. This will leave the oak trusses exposed. Because the ceiling is so high, this has to be completed using tower scaffold inside the building as ladders will not reach.

It starts to get dark at this time of the year by about 4pm. We are using lights indoors from about 3:30pm and here you can see the inside of the kitchen ceiling.

It starts to get dark at this time of the year by about 4pm. We are using lights indoors from about 3:30pm and here you can see the inside of the kitchen ceiling.

Rooflights

November 28, 2013 /

The rooflights were installed today.  There are three sets.  Two in the lounge and one in the kitchen.  Each set is identical.  5 panes 600mm wide.  Originally, we were going to install 6 panes 500mm, but this increase the amount of frame in the unit and reduced the amount of glass.  5 panes 600mm wide was about the same price as 6 panes 500mm wide.

Each set has two openers.  These are electrically operated.  The electrical unit has to be the ugliest thing ever.  And the rocker switches that came with it are even worse!  I am less worried by the switches as we will use the Loxone system to control the opening and closing of these windows.  This means that when we set the alarm, the windows can be closed automatically. The motor units are more of a problem.  I thought there were covers to go on them, but alas no – they are meant to look like this!

The installation was very quick – around 2 hours to get all three banks of rooflights installed.  The frames and the glass are shipped separately and the team from Standard Patent Glazing assemble them on site.  Unfortunately, one of the panes bumped into the scaffold when being brought into the extension.  When it comes to glass versus scaffold, the scaffold is always going to win. The broken unit has been fitted temporarily, but a new unit has been ordered and should be installed next week.

There are three sets of rooflights in the extension. Two in the lounge and one set in the kitchen. All have electrically operated opening panes - 2 in each set.

There are three sets of rooflights in the extension. Two in the lounge and one set in the kitchen. All have electrically operated opening panes – 2 in each set.

This is the rooflight in the rear of the lounge. You can see the lead underneath the window. More lead will be fitted when the roof is slated - this is due to happen next week.

This is the rooflight in the rear of the lounge. You can see the lead underneath the window. More lead will be fitted when the roof is slated – this is due to happen next week.

These are the rooflights in the rear of the lounge. Nick and Dan are working on the stonework in the small gable in the end of the kitchen.

These are the rooflights in the rear of the lounge. Nick and Dan are working on the stonework in the small gable in the end of the kitchen.

This happened when the panes of glass were being carried in. One of them just caught the edge of a scaffolding pole. A replacement was already on order by the time the installers had left. It will be replaced next week (at their cost).

This happened when the panes of glass were being carried in. One of them just caught the edge of a scaffolding pole. A replacement was already on order by the time the installers had left. It will be replaced next week (at their cost).

Lifting the last of the large pieces of stone into place

November 26, 2013 /

We brought in a crane this morning to lift into place a large piece of ashlar. It was only with us for a couple of hours, but there was no other way to get the stone into position.  It never ceases to amaze me how large these cranes are.  This has to be the biggest one that we have used to date.  We may need to use a crane to lift the stone into position of the steps in the garden, but that is a while away yet.

The easiest way of lifting the stone into position is to use a (very) large crane to reach over the house and pick up the stone that was already in the rear garden. Communication with the crane driver can be difficult, but this is achieved by Nicky standing on the roof and using hand signals with the driver. It only took a couple of hours.

The easiest way of lifting the stone into position is to use a (very) large crane to reach over the house and pick up the stone that was already in the rear garden. Communication with the crane driver can be difficult, but this is achieved by Nicky standing on the roof and using hand signals with the driver. It only took a couple of hours.

This is the piece of stone (or rather three pieces of stone bolted to a steel beam) that goes across the opening of the bi-folding doors in the lounge. It probably weighs around a tonne, so it isn't possible to lift this one by hand.

This is the piece of stone (or rather three pieces of stone bolted to a steel beam) that goes across the opening of the bi-folding doors in the lounge. It probably weighs around a tonne, so it isn’t possible to lift this one by hand.

The most amazing thing about this crane is the fact that it actually fits on the drive! This is the largest crane that we have had on site during the renovation.

The most amazing thing about this crane is the fact that it actually fits on the drive! This is the largest crane that we have had on site during the renovation.

Upper terrace wall

November 26, 2013 /

I have just about finished the wall in the upper terrace in the sunken garden.  There are just the coping stones to go on.  These are being produced in a local quarry and with any luck should arrive this week.  It will be good to get this wall finished.  I still have the lower wall to complete and there is probably 2-3 days left on it before the coping stones can go on that too.

With the weather closing in, it will be good to get on with the next task (insulating the rafters in the extension) which is an indoor job!

Despite some pretty wet and muddy conditions, the upper terrace wall is now ready for coping stones.

Despite some pretty wet and muddy conditions, the upper terrace wall is now ready for coping stones.

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.

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.

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.

Progress on the extension

November 17, 2013 /

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

Progress on the extension roof

November 13, 2013 /

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.

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.

The hearth in the lounge

November 13, 2013 /

We are trying to sort out the arrangement of the hearth in the lounge.  We need to settle on an arrangement fairly quickly as the roof starts to go on next and we need to know where the flue is going to go.

The challenge here is that this end wall is very tall.

We are considering internal windows from the lounge into the master bedroom – high up so privacy isn’t an issue, but it does connect the master bedroom with the other spaces.

We are also looking at corner log stoves (although not shown in these pictures).

While this arrangement isn’t exactly right yet, we are starting to get there (I think!).

20131112 hearth view 41 20131112 hearth view 3 20131112 hearth view 1 20131112 hearth view 2

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2024 Hagg Leys Farm

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑