Hagg Leys Farm

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A busy day

December 18, 2013 /

We have 14 workmen onsite today – 2 plumbers, 3 builders, 2 heating engineers, 2 plasterers, 3 electricians, 1 joiner and 1 roofer.  And me.

Trying to make sure that everyone has enough space to work is the main problem, but everyone seems to be getting along (just).  The car (or van) parking situation is causing a little bit of a problem, but with the wet weather recently, it is jsut to muddy to get vehicles into the back field.

However, it does mean that we are making a lot of progress.

Only the ridge tiles to go on the kitchen roof and some lead flashings, then the roof is all done. Even as it is, it is water-tight.

Only the ridge tiles to go on the kitchen roof and some lead flashings, then the roof is all done. Even as it is, it is water-tight.

Progress

December 17, 2013 /

We have made quite a bit of progress this week:

  • The ground source heat pump arrived on Monday and, fingers crossed, we hope to have it up and running by the end of the week.  It will be good to get some heat in the house to start drying out the walls and floors;
  • The plasterers are back.  We need to get the old part of the building finished off so that the decorators can start after Christmas;
  • We have started pointing the stonework.  We are going to have to pick the days carefully as this can only be done in dry weather (otherwise, the rain will wash the pointing out);
  • We have almost finished the upstairs bathroom.  It will be good to get this one put to bed before Christmas.  If the ground source heat pump is turned on at the end of the week, we may have some hot and cold water in the old house.
The roof is nearing completion and by the end of the day, there is only two courses of slates plus the ridge tiles left to do. We should have this all sorted before the end of the week.

The roof is nearing completion and by the end of the day, there is only two courses of slates plus the ridge tiles left to do. We should have this all sorted before the end of the week.

Now the stonework has been sandblasted, we can start on the pointing. This is a slow process. We are using a lime based render. It will probably take a couple of weeks to get all the pointing done.

Now the stonework has been sandblasted, we can start on the pointing. This is a slow process. We are using a lime based render. It will probably take a couple of weeks to get all the pointing done.

New bath

December 14, 2013 /

Although there is still some way to go to finish off the upstairs bathroom, the bath is finally in position.  It arrived about 10 days ago and has been downstairs waiting for the tiling to be ready.  It is a StoneKast bath that is made from limestone resin.  It is heavy – very heavy – 170kgs.  It took 5 plumbers to get it into its final resting place.  There were smiles all round once it was in position.

The bath is finally in place in the upstairs bathroom. It weighs over 170kgs and it took 5 plumbers to get it up the stairs and into position. I think there was a lot of relief all round once this was in position and still in one place.

The bath is finally in place in the upstairs bathroom. It weighs over 170kgs and it took 5 plumbers to get it up the stairs and into position. I think there was a lot of relief all round once this was in position and still in one place.

Sandblasting the new extension

December 14, 2013 /

Now the scaffolding has been removed, we can sandblast the stonework on the new extension.  We tend to do the sandblasting at the weekend because it is so noisy and messy.  It just makes it to difficult to work on the site while the sandblasting is going on.

The next stage will be to point the stonework. We will be using the same lime and Nosterfield River sand mortar that we used on the original part of the property.

All of this stone has been brought in from offsite and is the closest match the we could find.  The one exception are the quoins (the large corner stones) on the porch.  These originally form part of the barn that was where the kitchen is now.

This is the back of the porch. The small window is for the downstairs cloakroom.

This is the back of the porch. The small window is for the downstairs cloakroom.

 

Although the roof is still to go on, serious progress has been made on the porch this week. The canopy is built using oak similar to the internal roof trusses.

Although the roof is still to go on, serious progress has been made on the porch this week. The canopy is built using oak similar to the internal roof trusses.

 

The stonework on the new extension and porch were sandblasted today. This effectively removes a loose dirt or paint from the surface of the stone. By the time that it is pointed, it will be close match to the existing cottages. The roof of the porch and kitchen will be finished off next week.

The stonework on the new extension and porch were sandblasted today. This effectively removes a loose dirt or paint from the surface of the stone. By the time that it is pointed, it will be close match to the existing cottages. The roof of the porch and kitchen will be finished off next week.

The rear of the extension has also been sandblasted. Even the small gable end in the kitchen has been cleaned. The white box next to the utility window houses the new (three phase) electricity meter. I do wish they came in colours other than white!

The rear of the extension has also been sandblasted. Even the small gable end in the kitchen has been cleaned. The white box next to the utility window houses the new (three phase) electricity meter. I do wish they came in colours other than white!

Yup. This is the compressor that is used to clean the stone. It is a pretty noisy and sandy business. Definitely not for the faint hearted!

Yup. This is the compressor that is used to clean the stone. It is a pretty noisy and sandy business. Definitely not for the faint hearted!

All of the exterior stonework on the extension has been sandblasted so that it matches the existing cottages. There is a lot of stonework here, but it is easily cleaned in a day. The hessian cloth on the ridge of the roof is to prevent the mortar being washed away on the new ridge tiles.

All of the exterior stonework on the extension has been sandblasted so that it matches the existing cottages. There is a lot of stonework here, but it is easily cleaned in a day. The hessian cloth on the ridge of the roof is to prevent the mortar being washed away on the new ridge tiles.

There isn't much stonework on this elevation, however, the small areas that are here have been sandblasted so that it matches the rest of the property. Unfortunately, we are going to have to wait until the new year for the bi-folding doors to be fitted in the master bedroom.

There isn’t much stonework on this elevation, however, the small areas that are here have been sandblasted so that it matches the rest of the property. Unfortunately, we are going to have to wait until the new year for the bi-folding doors to be fitted in the master bedroom. You can see the strip of hessian placed on the ridge tiles to protect the mortar from the wet weather.

 

Progress on the extension

December 12, 2013 /

We have started to remove the scaffolding from the extension.  There is still some work to be completed on the porch, but most of the external building work is drawing to a close.

Taking the scaffolding down has made a tremendous difference to the overall appearance of the property – it is starting to feel like a real house now!

Zep on the hunt for a cornish pasty. None here. In the background is the half truss that will form part of the canopy for the porch. The new kitchen wall is revealed now the scafffolding is down.

Zep on the hunt for a cornish pasty. None here. In the background is the half truss that will form part of the canopy for the porch. The new kitchen wall is revealed now the scafffolding is down.

The sunken garden has becoming a bit of a dumping ground for scaffolding and other items. The stones wrapped in cling film are the coping stones for the garden wall. I haven't got around to sorting them out yet!

The sunken garden has becoming a bit of a dumping ground for scaffolding and other items. The stones wrapped in cling film are the coping stones for the garden wall. I haven’t got around to sorting them out yet!

Not such a nice day today as it was yesterday. Today, it was warm and wet. Very little sun, but mild for this time of the year.

Not such a nice day today as it was yesterday. Today, it was warm and wet. Very little sun, but mild for this time of the year.

Now the front elevation of the extension roof is nearing completion, you can see how well it matches the existing stone slate roof. It is a shame that the bi-folding doors in the master bedroom were the wrong size, however, these should be fitted early in the new year. There is an oak beam and canopy to be built over the master bedroom.

Now the front elevation of the extension roof is nearing completion, you can see how well it matches the existing stone slate roof. It is a shame that the bi-folding doors in the master bedroom were the wrong size, however, these should be fitted early in the new year. There is an oak beam and canopy to be built over the master bedroom.

Well, if you have reclaimed stone slates on the roof, it seems only right that the ridge tiles should also be reclaimed. This ridge tiles are hacked out of solid pieces of stone and probably (at least) a couple of hundred years old.

Well, if you have reclaimed stone slates on the roof, it seems only right that the ridge tiles should also be reclaimed. This ridge tiles are hacked out of solid pieces of stone and probably (at least) a couple of hundred years old.

More progress on the extension

December 11, 2013 /

We have had another fine day here in West Yorkshire.  This has allowed the roofers to get on with their job.  We have definitely passed the half way mark on the extension roof. 

While the rear elevation of the extension roof nears completion, the front elevation is still only half slated. The roof should be finished in the next week or so, but enough has now been done that the scaffolding can be removed.

While the rear elevation of the extension roof nears completion, the front elevation is still only half slated. The roof should be finished in the next week or so, but enough has now been done that the scaffolding can be removed.

Another beautiful day in Yorkshire. Bright sunshine. And it is December. Let's hope there are lots more days to like this to come.

Another beautiful day in Yorkshire. Bright sunshine. And it is December. Let’s hope there are lots more days to like this to come.

The roof on the rear elevation of the extension is now complete. Attention is now turning to the rear elevation of the kitchen roof. The scaffolding should be taken down by the weekend. This will allow the stonework to be sandblasted over the weekend.

The roof on the rear elevation of the extension is now complete. Attention is now turning to the rear elevation of the kitchen roof. The scaffolding should be taken down by the weekend. This will allow the stonework to be sandblasted over the weekend.

The rear roof elevation is nearing completion and there is only a few odd bits of ashlar left to install.

The rear roof elevation is nearing completion and there is only a few odd bits of ashlar left to install.

Progress on the extension roof

December 10, 2013 /

We are making some good progress on the extension roof.  All of the Velux lights in the rear elevation have now been installed. This includes an additional pair that we put into the master bedroom.  The master bedroom has bi-folding doors, but no other windows.  If you want to sleep with the window open at night, the only option would have been to leave the bi-folding doors open.  Probably not a good option on the ground floor.

So we decided to add a pair of Velux lights.  We have put them on the rear elevation since most of the bad weather hits the property from the front.  We were concerned about the amount of noise that rain would make on these windows in bad weather (not that we get bad weather in Yorkshire!).  We will have to get some electric blinds fitted to these as there are about 4m above the bed!

We are using reclaimed stone slates on the new extension roof.  These are fairly common in this area on properties on this age.  By using reclaimed slates, this roof should match the roof on the existing property.  Just because these slates are reclaimed, don’t think that they are cheap.  They aren’t!  They can also be quite difficult to get hold of, particularly if you are after a reasonable quantity.  We were lucky and came across some a couple of months ago.  We bought them and stored them offsite on pallets until we needed them.

Probably another day or so on the rear elevation and this part of the roof will be finished.

Probably another day or so on the rear elevation and this part of the roof will be finished.

Porch

December 10, 2013 /

We have made quite a bit of progress on the porch in the last week or so.  The roof joists went in today.  There are a pair of Veluxes in the front of the porch roof. 

The porch extends with a canopy that covers the front door.  However, we won’t be able to finish this until the scaffolding is removed.  And we can’t do that until the main roof is finished – probably in about a week’s time.

The stone in the porch needs to be sand-blasted before it can be pointed.  At which point, it should be a pretty close match to the existing property.

The roof finally went on the porch today. This is Andy the Joiner doing a fine impression of a tank commander while have a cup of coffee!

The roof finally went on the porch today. This is Andy the Joiner doing a fine impression of a tank commander while have a cup of coffee!

This oak half truss supports the canopy over the front door. This has been assembled on the ground to sort out the overall measurements.

This oak half truss supports the canopy over the front door. This has been assembled on the ground to sort out the overall measurements.

Installing the bi-folding doors

December 9, 2013 /

There were two sets of bi-folding doors to be installed at the weekend.  One set in the lounge and the other in the master bedroom.  Both of them open out onto the sunken garden.

The first set went in without any hitches.  However, the second set (the ones in the master bedroom) were 300mm too long.  Argh.  This is very frustrating as the company supplying the doors came out and measured the openings themselves.  But this all happened over the weekend, so there was nothing for it, but to wait and sort it out on Monday morning.

We aren’t quite sure what went wrong here.  However, we weren’t set the final measurements from the site survey and we weren’t asked to sign off the measurements.  So the supplier has agreed to supply a new set of doors at their cost.  The main issue is that this cannot now be completed until after Christmas, but hopefully it isn’t going to hold anything up.

We have boarded up the opening in the master bedroom. Unfortunately, it will be the new year before the second set of bi-folding doors are fitted.

We have boarded up the opening in the master bedroom. Unfortunately, it will be the new year before the second set of bi-folding doors are fitted.

The doors are colour matched to the same colour as the internal patent glazing. It is a toned down version of the green that we have used on the external hardwood windows. For those interested, it is RAL7038.

The doors are colour matched to the same colour as the internal patent glazing. It is a toned down version of the green that we have used on the external hardwood windows. For those interested, it is RAL7038.

There will be a set of stone steps outside these doors that will take you into the sunken garden. We are concentrating on getting the house finished first before working on the sunken garden. At the moment, it is a bit of a mess.

There will be a set of stone steps outside these doors that will take you into the sunken garden. We are concentrating on getting the house finished first before working on the sunken garden. At the moment, it is a bit of a mess.

Progress on the extension

December 6, 2013 /

We have taken down the scaffolding at the front of the extension.  This will allow the bi-folding doors to be fitted.  This is planned for first thing tomorrow morning. 

The sunken garden could also do with a bit of a tidy-up!

We have taken down the scaffolding at the front of the extension. Two sets of bi-folding doors are due to be installed tomorrow morning.

We have taken down the scaffolding at the front of the extension. Two sets of bi-folding doors are due to be installed tomorrow morning.

The sunken garden needs a bit of tidying up and the garden wall needs finishing off, but it is starting to take shape.

The sunken garden needs a bit of tidying up and the garden wall needs finishing off, but it is starting to take shape.

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