Hagg Leys Farm

Page 10 of 67

New stone steps

October 8, 2014 /

We are getting prepared to lower some of the large stone steps into place outside the lounge.  Just the sheer weight of these steps make them a major challenge.  To make life a little easier, the steps themselves are being preformed using concrete blocks and concrete.  The ashlar steps should then just sit on top of these preformed steps.  Well that is the theory anyway!  With some of the stone weighing more than half a tonne, this is not going to be easy.

The steps into the sunken garden have been pre-formed using concrete blocks and bricks. The wires running through the steps are for an external power socket and for the lights in the sunken garden. I am not sure where the little knitted Santa came from!

The steps into the sunken garden have been pre-formed using concrete blocks and bricks. The wires running through the steps are for an external power socket and for the lights in the sunken garden. I am not sure where the little knitted Santa came from!

 

Wall lights

October 7, 2014 /

As well as installing the carbon monoxide detectors, we have also installed some new lights. Until now, we have had some bare wires sticking out of the wall (safely terminated, of course).  We had been waiting to find the right lights and we struck lucky a couple of weeks ago in John Lewis.  We bought a couple of Tessa uplighters for the lounge and a small waterproof bulkhead light for above the shower cubicle upstairs.

Two of these have just been installed in the lounge. These are Tessa plaster wall lights from John Lewis. They can be painted, but these are left just as they came out of the box.

Two of these have just been installed in the lounge. These are Tessa plaster wall lights from John Lewis. They can be painted, but these are left just as they came out of the box.

I don't really like this photo much, but if you turn the flash on it doesn't help and if you take the photo with the lights off, that doesn't work either. Anyway, hope you get the idea! Tessa plaster wall uplighters from John Lewis.

I don’t really like this photo much, but if you turn the flash on it doesn’t help and if you take the photo with the lights off, that doesn’t work either. Anyway, hope you get the idea! Tessa plaster wall uplighters from John Lewis.

 

Carbon monoxide detectors

October 7, 2014 /

We fitted the carbon monoxide detectors today.  These were installed into each of the rooms where there is a solid fuel (i.e. log burning) stove.  The units have to be main powered and linked into the same circuit as the heat and smoke alarms elsewhere in the building.  We took quite a bit of time looking for half decent units – a number of the units were large and chunky.

These units from Kidde just look like a smoke detector.  They were around £40 each and were supplied by www.discounthomelighting.co.uk.

If one of the heat or smoke detectors is activated, all of the connected alarms will go off.  These CO alarms will display “FiRe” on their LED display.  If one of the CO alarms detects carbon monoxide, all of the connected CO alarms will be activated.

To comply with the latest building regulations, carbon monoxide detectors need to be fitted in rooms where there are solid fuel stoves. With three log burning stoves, this means three detectors. They also need to be hardwired into the heat and smoke detectors in the rest of the building.

To comply with the latest building regulations, carbon monoxide detectors need to be fitted in rooms where there are solid fuel stoves. With three log burning stoves, this means three detectors. They also need to be hardwired into the heat and smoke detectors in the rest of the building.

One of the three carbon monoxide detectors that have been installed today. This one is in the snug. The log stove is a Firebelly FB1.

One of the three carbon monoxide detectors that have been installed today. This one is in the snug. The log stove is a Firebelly FB1.

Viewed from underneath there is a red LED display that shows the parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide. Unsurprisingly, it has a reading of zero.

Viewed from underneath there is a red LED display that shows the parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide. Unsurprisingly, it has a reading of zero.

The work on the garden continues…

October 6, 2014 /
Well, the gardening continues. Apparently, they didn't have a smaller digger, so we ended up with a big one. They also didn't have a smaller telehandler (it was stolen), so we ended up with a big one of those too! Mmm....this isn't helping the state of the grass.

Well, the gardening continues. Apparently, they didn’t have a smaller digger, so we ended up with a big one. They also didn’t have a smaller telehandler (it was stolen), so we ended up with a big one of those too! Mmm….this isn’t helping the state of the grass.

Within a couple of days, this will look a lot better. But right now, it is a bit of a mess.

Within a couple of days, this will look a lot better. But right now, it is a bit of a mess.

Work on the sunken garden starts

October 6, 2014 /

Despite the rather wet weather, the work has commenced on the sunken garden at the rear of the property.  The garden is going to be split into two terraces laid with reclaimed Yorkshire flagstones.  There will be access from the lounge, hall, snug and master bedroom.  Wherever possible, the level of the patio will be level with the floors inside.  This will make down the delineation between the inside and outside spaces.  It will also make the inside spaces feel bigger than there currently are.

Today, a lot of the materials were delivered (I suspect there is a lot more to come) and the work has started on levelling out the garden area. We have modified the design slightly, so are waiting on some newly drawn up plans from the architects.  Although, this adds cost to the project, doing the work without a plan comes with it’s own risks – one mis-ordered piece of ashlar would potentially cost as much as having the plans drawn up in the first place.  So not having the drawings could potentially work out to be a false economy.

One tonne bags of crushed stone, concrete blocks and bricks plus a pallet of cement - it is what every gardener requires!

One tonne bags of crushed stone, concrete blocks and bricks plus a pallet of cement – it is what every gardener requires!

There were a few lumps and bumps that needed to be levelled out before the crushed stone can go down.

There were a few lumps and bumps that needed to be levelled out before the crushed stone can go down.

The far end of the sunken garden levelled out. There will need to be some work to sort out access to the inspection chambers for the drains.

The far end of the sunken garden levelled out. There will need to be some work to sort out access to the inspection chambers for the drains.

 

Belzona 5122: Does it work?

October 6, 2014 /

Back in February this year we applied a couple of coats of Belzona 5122 (otherwise known as “Clear Cladding”) to the south west gable and above one of the rear patio doors.  These areas were particularly prone to the south westerly weather and we felt we needed to treat the stonework to prevent any water ingress.  We put a couple of coats of Belzona on these areas, but I was never quite sure how effective it was going to be.

Well, today, with some very wet weather, we have the clearest indication ever that the Belzona is doing what it is meant to do.  Just take a look at the photos below.

The area above these patio doors was treated with Belzona 5122 in February this year. Here you can see on a particularly wet October day, the effect that it has had. Just compare it to the stonework above the patio doors on the right. You can even see where the Belzona has dripped onto the jambs and the step below.

The area above these patio doors was treated with Belzona 5122 in February this year. Here you can see on a particularly wet October day, the effect that it has had. Just compare it to the stonework above the patio doors on the right. You can even see where the Belzona has dripped onto the jambs and the step below.

Here you can see the impact that the Belzona has had on the way the stonework is absorbing the rain water. I hadn't really noticed this before as there is no impact on the colour of the stonework when it is dry.

Here you can see the impact that the Belzona has had on the way the stonework is absorbing the rain water. I hadn’t really noticed this before as there is no impact on the colour of the stonework when it is dry.

The left hand side of this south west gable was treated with Belzona 5122. On this particularly wet day, you can see the difference it is making to the way the stonework is absorbing the water.

The left hand side of this south west gable was treated with Belzona 5122. On this particularly wet day, you can see the difference it is making to the way the stonework is absorbing the water.

Dog shower

October 4, 2014 /

Although we installed this a few months ago, we have only just got around to installed the glass side to the dog shower.  The shower is in the boot room and intended for washing the dog and boots when the occasion calls.  It is a normal shower with a shower tray that has a silt trap. This is intended to stop the shower outlet from getting blocked up with mud off the dog or any wellies that get washed here.

The challenge was the glass side that was required for the side.  We didn’t want (or need) a screen that was full height.  However, we do need a screen to keep the water from the electric sockets that are close by.  The answer was to order some glass specifically for the job.  Probably is, it isn’t cheap.  We used 10mm glass that is tempered with polished edges and also has a radius on the top outer corner.  All of this pushes up the price.  This single piece of glass was around £150.  To make sure that the size was exactly right, we cut a template out of cardboard.  This enabled us to get the fit exactly right (as it turned out, the glass needed to be about 2mm out of square.  Because the glass is tempered, it cannot be cut locally.  It was ordered through Huddersfield Plate Glass who have provided us with our other glass and mirrors in the property.

To attached the glass to the wall, we used some specialist “U” channel.  This came with silicone seals and is made to fit 10mm glass. We had to cut it to length, but it does the job.  The metal strip is screwed to the wall and the glass simply pushes in.  The back of the “U” channel has clear silicone applied to it and there is also a layer of clear silicone holding the bottom of the glass against the shower tray.  The “U” channel had to be ordered.  It was supplied by Kudos shower accessories.  Cost was about £30.

The glass side has finally been installed. The red patches need to be cleaned off once the silicone sealant has set.

The glass side has finally been installed. The red patches need to be cleaned off once the silicone sealant has set.

Here is a close of the "U" channel that has been used to attach the glass securely to the wall. This was supplied by Kudos shower accessories. The channel comes with silicone seals that help firmly hold the glass in place.

Here is a close of the “U” channel that has been used to attach the glass securely to the wall. This was supplied by Kudos shower accessories. The channel comes with silicone seals that help firmly hold the glass in place.

Badger digs out wasps nest

October 3, 2014 /

We have had a wasp nest in the bottom field for the past couple of months.  It is a hole a couple of inches across in the grass.  I suspect that they used a old rabbit hole that was in the bank.

About a week ago, it looked as if something had tried to dig it out.  A couple of days later, the wasp nest was completely decimated.  This looks like the work of a badger.  Apparently, they dig into the wasp nest and eat the larvae.  There are still some wasps loitering around the nest, but I suspect that they will disappear in the next few weeks as the weather turns colder.

There used to be just a small 2 inch wide hole where the wasps when in and out. Then one morning this massive hole appeared. Apparently, it is the work of badgers who dig out the nest to eat the larvae.

There used to be just a small 2 inch wide hole where the wasps when in and out. Then one morning this massive hole appeared. Apparently, it is the work of badgers who dig out the nest to eat the larvae.

There are still plenty of wasps in here, so I don't want to get too close. The cold weather will kill them off in the next few weeks.

There are still plenty of wasps in here, so I don’t want to get too close. The cold weather will kill them off in the next few weeks.

Doors finished

September 30, 2014 /

The doors to the outbuilding are finally finished (although they still probably need one more coat of paint).  The lock arrived this morning and was fitted straight away.  It is a van lock intended for use on the rear doors of vans (you have probably seen while waiting behind a van at traffic lights).  The hasp is circular, as is the padlock itself, and this produces a neat looking solution.  I wasn’t expecting the lock to be quite as big, but then that is one of the dangers of buying things online. At least it was quick to fit!

The doors have now had a couple of coats of Sandolin and match the window frames in the house. They still need another coat, but I am going to let them fully dry first.

The doors have now had a couple of coats of Sandolin and match the window frames in the house. They still need another coat, but I am going to let them fully dry first.

These locks are intended for the rear doors on vans, however, they are a neat solution for a shed door. This one looks a little over sized for this door, but it does the trick.

These locks are intended for the rear doors on vans, however, they are a neat solution for a shed door. This one looks a little over sized for this door, but it does the trick.

This is actually a van lock, but I thought it would look like a neater solution than a traditional clasp and hasp. I hadn't quite realised that it was going to look so "serious"!

This is actually a van lock, but I thought it would look like a neater solution than a traditional clasp and hasp. I hadn’t quite realised that it was going to look so “serious”!

 

New doors for the outbuilding

September 29, 2014 /

We are almost there in terms of finishing the new home for the mower.  Over the weekend, we made some doors and got them installed.  They made using 165mm wide tongue and groove floorboards.  The original doors (which are probably more than 100 years old) were made the same way but using much bigger boards (some of them well over 300mm wide).  You just can’t get these size boards anymore, so we decided to use the smaller equivalent.  It is a shame as I would have loved to have kept the old doors, but there are just too far gone to go back on (plus they don’t fit the wider opening).

The boards in the new doors are held together using strips of 18mm plywood.  This should resist any twisting and help the doors remain straight as the wooded boards dries.

They just need a bit more paint and a lock!

A quick coat of the paint - the same paint that was used on the window frames - and the outbuilding is starting to look a lot tidier.

A quick coat of the paint – the same paint that was used on the window frames – and the outbuilding is starting to look a lot tidier.

 

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