We have an apex to the dormer roof! The idea is that the apex of the dormer roof follows the original roof ridge. It’s looking quite good, I think!




Our side dormer is taking shape. The tiles are off on that side of the roof, and we can start to see the inside space.

BREAKOUT DAY!

Today is the day they will break out through the roof for the side dormer. At the same time, they will strip off all the tiles (we’re renewing them anyway). Under the tiles will be Triso-Super 10 insulation, and a breathable waterproof membrane.

Of course, it being Shrove Tuesday, we needed pancakes. Annie made pancakes for us and the builders, and had to feed them through the hole in the roof.

Downstairs, Dave was back on the bathroom (after first re-installing our toilet!). The adhesive for the floor tiles had dried.

Dave began putting tiles on the walls. The mosaic border came, and the “bumpy white” wall tiles built up really quickly.

The end wall is starting to look really good, and Dave’s idea for putting the mosaic border at waist height (so it runs fully around the room, under the window sill) was very good. We really like Dave’s design ideas.

Big day today

Dave got our outside tap re-installed, so now we have an outside hot and cold shower for Tess, and a separate cold tap for watering the garden and filling the motorhome fresh water tank. We also had the pipes boxed in, which will also provide the base for the side wall of the shower.

And now we have some tiles! They look really good, and we’re pleased we chose the “abstract sand” colour. Dave said he’s choosing a limestone grout, which we think sounds good.

The walls have been prepared for the “bumpy white” wall tiles. We confirmed the border mosaic tiles too.

Although we had the timber delivered for the side dormer, the steels were too long, and needed to be cut down, which means they lost too much time to break out through the roof today. Tomorrow

Irish Dave came in, finished the waste pipework and then laid plywood on top of the floorboards to provide a base for the tiles. It’s nice to see that we have such conscientious builders working on our house.

Interesting that when he left, he put the yellow tools on one side, and the blue stuff on the other. A man after my own heart

More pipework going into the downstairs bathroom. Still not quite finished – just the wastes for the shower and basin to do. But we do have a dog shower!

We’ve reused the old human bath taps and shower attachment, and Adam will fit a shower tray he has lying around onto a layer of bricks.

All the loft decking is done, and a load of timber is arriving on Monday morning. Hopefully, some tiles and roof waterproof membrane too.

Well, we have a toilet, at least. Irish Dave worked really hard to get all the pipework below the tiling level, and worked until well after 6pm to get our water back on and the toilet connected. Shaun got more of the upper decking down. They should be breaking out for the side dormer early next week.

NO BATHROOM
We have no bathroom. “Irish Dave” has a big contract coming up, so wanted to get the downstairs bathroom done before he went off. Lots of noise (Tess was fine, although Stella once more hid away in the spare bedroom until all the builders had gone). We’re having the soil pipe removed and new ones put in a lined up properly which involved much work with a Kango hammer. Sorry, neighbours!

SAGGY CEILING
I asked Adam about the insulation in the old kitchen extension, and with a quick prod, we found our there was none. Also, the walls are part brick, part wood, with probably little insulation in them either. To cut a long story short, we’re having the old extension partly taken down and rebuilt in brick with proper insulation and a new roof.

Before that, however, we need a steel-reinforced beam above the kitchen. The small section piece of wood that is holding the ceiling up is just not strong enough. The worst part about it is that there is a delay in the loft conversion whilst calculations are carried out and the steel for the reinforcement is ordered. Sigh.

Errk! Where have we been? Since the last blog post, most of the work has been done in the joists and decking for the loft conversion.

John the sparkie has been adding new cables for the downstairs (extra sockets, sockets moved and all wiring going to be channelled into the walls properly).

Most of the roof struts are out, and the roof is being supported by new struts which will form the walls. About half of the loft has been insulated and decked.

Yesterday, we had the plumbers in, and the old boiler has been disconnected,and the new one installed, although it’s not commissioned yet, so we have no hot water or central heating. Sometime today, they confidently expect. Again, the plumbers (Lee and his plumber’s mate, Ben) are courteous, and clean up pretty well after them.

Later this week, they should be “breaking out” through the roof to form the side dormer, and next week the roof is being replaced. That’ll be fun.