Finished Battens

Rang again about the door, definately ready next week! Oh, Where I have heard this before!!
Dad was over doing the insulation of the floors, he manged to get the landing completed.
I started the battens and completed the bathroom and ensuite, have to avoid the toilets and shower areas.
I ordered another load of Lacken stone, 1100 euro more, stone is costings are rocketing!
Talked to Jonny, seems we are off to Dublin next Monday to seal the deal and pick out the floors.

Pics below:

Batten Landing

Late at the house, I only managed to batten the landing, Dad and Gerry gave me a hand.
Defiantely considering the flooring, all legit.

Insulation Of Floor

We insulated the main bedroomand battened the front bedroom. Fireplace is now finished, pics below, it looks well.
I took a spin to N17 to see if they had anything we might like, looks good. Will have to get Siobhan to visit.
Got an email from a lad on boards who is selling a voucher for wooden flooring he is selling. Worth 2500, looking for 1500. Sounds good but have to investigate.
His buyer feel through, so it is still open.

Plumber & Fireplace

Rang the plumber, he is due in next Monday.
Fireplace almost completed,keystone and mantle carriers in.
Dad was still cleaning the facia and soffit and windows, some pain in the ass!
Started the battens in the main room, had to work out exactly how they would fit to achieve a 6" gap between pipe runs, made our timber guides and set off. Of course this is a slow job and has to be done right.
We made the guide 270mm to get the gap, also have to leave a 75mm gap at the walls to get the loop and feed run around the room! Such fun!
Got the large room, Gerry stuck at it to give us a hand, many hands!

Anniversary today, 1 year married, flew by big time! Only seems like yesterday it happened!!

Pics of fireplace

Furniture

We left Donegal at about 20 past 10, arrived in Galway after 12.30p, no traffic so it was grand. We looked in about 6 shops at furniture, beds, paint, curtins etc, got some paint and brushes, rollers etc. Cannot believe we are at this stage already!

Bon Anniversaire

In Donegal, no work!! Dad was over alright cleaning.

Off to Donegal

Headed to Donegal at about six, herself thought we were off to Carrick, good suprise when she realised we were not!
Dad continued the cleaning.

Battens Down

Battens upstairs started tonite, we have a batten that is 2" by 1.5 inches. I have 70mm screws to hold them in place on the OSB.
We then used the strips of insulation, 25mm thick to put between the battens.
Gerry gave me a few hours, appreciated.

No work done

I got back form Manchester about 1.30pm and returned to work. Was there until near 8pm, up the walls totally so forsee little time for the house!
Stone masons working away.

Goods gone awol!

Delivery from Heitons due yesterday still had not arrived by 1pm! I rang and they said it left at 8am! For the love of god what are they at!
I headed off to Old Trafford for the Benfica match, we won, made my debut on MUTV (the official

Stone Matters

Stone masons due to start today but the stone never arrived, I rang lacken but they said it would be Tuesday. I actually arrived in the afternoon!
Delivery from Heitons due today.
The mason arrived for 2 hours and started the hearth. Myself and dad cleared out the rooms upstairs.

Ready For Stone

I finished off outside, more rain!! I also cleaned up old slate and blocks from around the windows and scaffolding.

Miserable weather

Spent the day outside myself and dad, needed to clear the front of the house for the stone as it is arriving on Monday.
Got drown! Bags and bags of rubbish.
In the evening we went to Skye Furniture to look at some stuff.

Cills Near Finished

Dad was on site, he lift 2 of the cills into place, I was not happy as he could have hurt himself, will not listen.
Plastered in around them, took 5 buckets, a lot more than I expected!

Advice on Boards.ie

I talked to a few lads on www.boards.ie and the assured me that the big lights will always show up the plastering, I agree with them but at the same time it is crap work.
I will have to have words and spend hours sanding

Plastering Nightmare

Got the 1000w spots on today to clean up and then began examing the plastering, all I can say is that I walked out in disgust, it is a fkn joke and words will have to be had with my "plasterer".

Picked The Stone Mason

We decided we are going to go with Barry and the lads with the stone, they are top notch so expecting a good job. They hope to start next Monday so off we go to organise materials. The stone for 25 ton is nearly 1k.

Plasterers Gone

The lads are gone now so the clean up begins. The power is gone from the lead sean gave us so have to fgure out why. Dad found the nick and taped it.
We did a bit of brushing up but we are still a bit wrecked after the slabbing!!

Few Pics Below of what it looks like now.

Weekend Away

Went up to my nieces baptism in Kildare and then onto the David Gray concert in the Olympia, excellent weekend.

Plastering Continues

We cannot really do a lot as the lads are still inside and we cannot clean up until they are gone, I paid John his money, think it will be grand.

Stone Mason Quotes

I met with Barry the stone mason and gave him our camera to take pics of the fireplace, we will make a decision on who gets the job this weekend.
The lads finished off the external of the house, just about 2 days to finish off the inside now.

Nite Off

United on the TV tonite, no work done. The front door is still an issue, due for next Tuesday. Wrecking my head this now, it better be right or I will not be a happy camper.
The lads have now plastered all the back of the house and they skimmed the kitchen and hall.

Scratch Coat Done

Arrived on site this evening, was very suprised to see the whole outside scratch coated, did not take them long and it changes the whole house!
We took off the casing on the cill on the gable and it looks spot on.

Dark Work!!

The gable cill had to be put in place, we managed this and then I decided that even though it was dark to use a torch and point the rest of the cills!! I think the neighbours believe i am mental at this stage!!
We also cased off the other gable cill and filled it with cement to shape it correctly.
At least we are in a situtation for the lads to head outside later on in the week

Pointing

Match at 12pm against Swinford, we won 6-0, season over no silverware, sin é!
Got back to the site at 4pm and dad was there, we got the bedroom cill in place and then levelled it off.
We then got Emmet and Gerry to give us a lift with the kitchen cill, a lot of weight in these guys!!

One point to note, something we did not realise until we near finished, the bottom lip of these windows could have been clipped off and this would have saved us the need to cock up the cill to slide it in, time and effort!! Lesson learned!!!

We decided to start pointing the cills with a good strong mix of cement, mixed four buckets a stuffed it in around and under the cills, slow job but at least another job is getting done!

Cills

I had Damien with me today for the work with the cills. We started grand, proped the cills with slate so that they fitted nicely to the bottom of window.
There is a 3" lip is left either side to the window opening for the overhang.
We managed to get the sun room, 4 windows on the gable and the bathroom cills in, not as quick as we expected but the weight of the large cills, especially the 5ft and 6ft cills in big and it nearly bursted the 2 of us to lift them round the back of the house.
On the "railway" gable there was an issue with one of the cills where when the pitch of the roof had to be changed it meant the roof was going to encrouch on the window cill.
This meant we needed to shape the cill to take the plinth on the gable, we managed this with the angle grinder and hoofing and poofing to get the cill into place.

End Of Season

I had training today, the last one with our manager Briano who is leaving at the end of the season. Cannot say I am sorry that the season is over, or will be Sunday, house and football are taking its toll!
I went back to the house after training and finished off the clearout of downstairs.
Dad had built up all the areas where the cills would rest with either cement or brick to allow us to cover the back of the cill with mastic and then slip them in behind the window.
We made a timber guide to ensure we had the correct room left to lift them into place.
Tomorrow the cills outside have to be done, not looking forward to it at all.

Clean Up

I decided to do a final run through the downstairs screws and make sure that they are all in. Slow job but has to be done.
We then started to clear the downstairs, again more slabs and dirt, all this again takes time and is another necessary job so that the lads can setup their scaffolding correctly.

Ireland V France

Today was day relax!

I rang the lads about the front door, it will definately next Wednesday!! It better be!!

I also called into the stone mason who were working on a house on the West road in Westport, Duffy lad, said about 100e per sq metre. Good price.

I also got a call from Barry who came out and measured with his mate. Quote next week.

Dad did all the window boards, they look well.

headed off to see Ireland getting beat!!! First even off from doing anything in a long while!!

Howdi to my cousin and mates Peter and Mary who visit for the updates!

Facia + Soffit

I picked Damo and Adam for 8am, there job was to finish the sun room and check all screws are in corretly and clean up the house.

No sign of John today, his 2 mates were there but enjoyed sitting in the cars instead of working!!!

The guttering company arrived today, they have all the soffit on, the facia on 2 gables and on the back, they also completed the whole of the 2 dormers, looks well!!

When I arrived for 6.30 dad was finishing the hall and Adam was finishing the sun room, it seems the sun louge took much longer than expected, whats new!!!

We set at it and got all the slabbing pulled downstairs, there is a strip to go all along the top of the stairs, around the landing.

I started to wheel out the rubbish slabs into a bunch, I also took the tools upstairs and filled the wardrobe with them!

The 2 lads headed off at about 9pm, it took me another 30 minutes or so to complete the stairs and clean up again.

It is excellent that there will be no more slabbing or insulation, good ridince!!!!!

Nearly There

Today the facia and soffit was meant to be installed, but by 1pm there was no sign, I rang Eamon and they had forgot, he guranteed they would start tomorrow!
The lads were over and finished the sitting room and dining room. Only the sun room left to do, in here we decided to install the insulation and plastic it. At least all insulation and plasticing is now finished!!
The place looks so bright!

I stayed until 9.30 and went through each of the rooms to ensure all screws are put in correctly and that there are none lose.

The plasterers have the 2 bedrooms, the ensuite and bathroom skimmed. They are moving fast!!!

Struggling Now!

Today Mick said he would finish off putting the lath up for the soffit to be attached to, he was out last nite so is not feeling the fred west!
Took him maybe an hour or so to it, I was there for about 9am, motivation levels are at an all time low but I get stuck into the sitting room. I had a match today in Charlestown, if we win we gurantee 2nd place. I had to head off for one.
I arrived back from the match, we lost 2-1, fkn ref was a joke, if I did want to rip his head off the fool, he has cost us dearly in the league!!
Had a serious migraine and was tempted to head off but when dad arrived I said I would wait.

There were 2 blocks missing at the back of the house, one over the door and the other at the gable so we mixed a bit of cement and put them both in.

Then we set to doing the "TV" wall, this is where I have 7 double and one single box, for TV, phone, network and power, and two double for future proofing!!!
took a good while but we got them done, we headed off at about 9pm, with only around the bay window to slab.

Many hands Make light work

Today is going to be busy, a hell of a lot of work to do, so if today goes well I will be happy if it does, if not then we are in big bother.

Myself and damo had to go to Sam Hire for a hilti gun and Heitons for more staples, a stanley knife and measuring tape, the feckers don't last long!
Arrived at heitons for 8.20am and nearly dropped when they don't until 9am!! sitting around.
Eventually we got the hilti gun (90 euro) and all the other stuff, arrived out for 9.20am, Mick was there and was making the boxes.
It was a great relief for him to be there, a bit of know how would get them done fast.

John was there also plastering the landing.

Myself and damo started to do the closet, again it was slow but we got it done. John Grady arrived also out of the blue and he did the window surrounds.

Dad and John started out doing the sitting room and we then followed up with the hall.

Today seems to have flew, but at least there is excellent progress. Mick had done well outside, 6 boxes done and gables and back are also done.

Good Progress

I picked the 2 lads at 8am and they worked away to get the back bedroom and kitchen completed, they did 1/2 of the utility room

Dad was there when I arrived at 5.30 and he said they would head off after the utility room.

I had training to had to head off.

Siobhan and myself went to Alpha kitchens in Claremorris to get a better idea of the doors and style we are looking at and were happy with what we saw.

I headed to the house after training for about 9pm, Damo decided to bring all coffee and sandwiches with him so I was left with 2 bars of chocolate to eat,

I worked on the utility room and finished it, in between talking to my sister Noreen who is also building a timber frame in Kildare, except they are using a builder,

Headed off at about 12.30am.

Another long day tomorrow!!!

Plasteres Arrive

On cue and for what must be the 1st time on record a tradesman arrived on time to a site!!!

He moved in upstairs.

I can honestly say that my body was the sorest and stiffest I have ever been, luckily I could sit down at work, the lads don't have the oppurtunity!

We arranged that Dad would collect Adam about 3pm and they would complete the insulation in the bathroom and plastic the same, then "green" slab the toilet,

Dad also went to Heitons to get a 7" window board, red deal, look well.

When I arrived dad headed upstairs to install the boards but nearly hit the roof when he discovered that the 16ft * 7" boards he bought were in actual fact 15ft * 6.25" wide!! So he had to cut a strip and screw it together with a full window board to make it fit perfectly. Another pain in the arse!!

When we had finished dad headed off and myself and Adam plasticed the back bedroom and did 2 of the 4 walls, progress is definately much faster, thank god!!

We stayed until 1am, both were wrecked and enough was enough!!

Upstairs slabbed!

Today the pressure was on, John was due in tomorrow so we really had to choice but to have completed the upstairs and all tools, slabs, timber, insulation and other stuff all downstairs!!

We pulled into the site at 8am, myself Damo and Adam. Around the windows, the walls of the walk in wardrobe, the walls of the main bathroom, a piece of the ceiling and a wall on the landing and the dividing wall in the ensuite/wardrobe and main bedroom, also the 2 windows in this bedroom , the velux on the landing and velux in the bathroom, so as you can imagine the blue arsed fly was employed all day!!!!

Dad arrived over about 11am and we were honestly no where near as far on as I had hoped, he set to on the vertical timbers to hold the glass blocks and then onto the dividing walls which did all the windows and the veluxs.

The 2 lads completed the wardrobe and moved to the bathroom. As has been the complete trend in this house EVERYTHING has taken twice the time to complete, I don't know why, maybe because this is a dormer you have so many angle pieces to cut.

I was beginning to wonder if the price of 3k euro was a good price, maybe not!!!

At about 8.30pm with 2 walls and about 10 pieces to be put in I began to panic, we still had at least 90 minutes of tidiying to complete, there was also the small factor of doing all 4 boxes in the ensuite and bathroom, these took at least 20 minutes each,

We ploughed, slogged, huffed and puffed and wore it all down, Siobhan arrived at about 9pm, and even though she knew the dust would drive her allergies mental she gladly set to cleaning up the large bits of rubbish and bagging these.

At about 11.30 we completed all slabbing and Siobhan brought Damo and Adam home while myself and dad completed any cleaning up that needed to be done, it took us to near on 1am before all had been cleaned up and moved, we sat for 15 minutes to get our breath and headed off home, a long long day, it was alright for me I had 6.5 hours sleep ahead, dad only had maybe 4.5 before he started work, not a situation I envisaged him to be in and definately did not want him in again!

Slabbing Away - Pics Attached

Picked the lads up at 7.45, we started on the hall, again more recess lights (5), it took a while, then onto the sitting rooms, 9 recess and a bay window meant it took us 2.5 hours!!
We then moved to the bedroom, was a flier, rapped it in an hour, then onto the dining room, six recess and 1 main light and a bay window killed us, spent literally all day doing the ceilings!!
Lads headed off at 7, I waited and finished the ensuite, totally finished now, have to complete the upstairs tomorrow regardless. Left at 11pm,
My dad installed the noggings for the manifold, 21 inches above the FFL.

Have to earn the bread to make the house!!

Had to go to work today, the project has to be continued and I need to get the others enough of work to do while I am off.
I rang John G, my plasterer. He wants to arrive on Wed, he can if he wants but he may have to wait a day or two.
Left Adam and Damien there at 8 and went to Heitons to get more nails and a saw.

I rang the guttering lads in North west, Eamon said he will come next Monday and clear off the whole house.

I also rang a lad about doing stone, he said he was off for 2 weeks and would come back to me then.

I arrived on site at 7ish, the lads were still there, dad was with them, they had the bathroom, utility and kitchen done, with 10 recess lights and socket for the hood there was a lot of cutting!!
I went upstairs and started to finish around the doors and bathroom on the landing, battery went in the screw gun which was a pain and then the bulb blew!
Headed home at 12.15am, buckled tired!

TV in the house!!

this feels like pre season traing, all day every day, my legs barely fell out of the bed and my body told me to stay there!! I picked up Adam at about 8am, he too is
feeling the strain but does not complain. We started to finish off the main bedroom, it took much longer than we expected, John arrived at 9am, totally unexpected buy really appreciated, great to have mates like him, he
set to on the sitting room wall and got the ply finished off and it slabbed.
He headed off at one pm to watch Kerry and COrk.

Dad arrived about 10, he got stuck into putting in the extra piece of studding to facilitate the glass blocks in the ensuite/bedroom.

we set ourselves the goal of getting all upstairs ceilings and diagonals. the akward spots!!!
Dad trotted off about 5pm, he is putting in savage hours and with him starting his own job at 5.30am each morning the days are long!

We completed all ceilings upstairs, delighted with progress. We both decided at 7.30pm that we had enough, great to get home early.

Continue slabbing

Picked up Adam at 7.45am, we set to straight away on back bedroom to get the walls done, the angles in a dormer is some pain in the ass, drive you mad to be truthful, my dad and John were there and they completed the sheeting of ply onto the walls in the landing, now it was left to us to slab it, very difficult, so we set into it.
It took us up to 2 hours to get it done with setting up scaffoling and that, but now it is done, it makes the landing huge.
MYself and dad finished off the landing ceiling, great to get that done.

The lads headed off aboout six, I started again into the small cuts around the doors, at the top of walls, in other words the small bits one person can do!!

I got a nice bit done, place looks more like a house by the hour!

I rang around without any success for a carpenter to get the gable ends done.
I went across to my new neighbour, Mick to ask if there was someone he knew and he did alright, himself!!! So next Saturday he will do it all,, I will get him a Hilti gun to aid in putting up the lath for the beading.

I headed off at 11pm, about to keel over now!! Still have to get it done!!

God said let there be light and there was

have to get a lot done, with both the work in IT and the work in the house and training, feck the football, has to wait!!
I got my dad to head to CT Electrice to cable to make up and extension lead to get power from Sean next door.

I rang the lad who is making our door, it was due this week, but to be honest I am not ready for it yet!!, rang him, he did not remember me or the door!! another headache, said to ring him at the beginning of next week!!

I Got stuck into the first bedroom and managed to get the walls completed, at least it is one room down, 17 "rooms" to go!!!! Moved onto the next bedoom, it will be an early start in the morning and it was after 11pm when I turned off the light in the house, but it surely taking shape, a big echo now in the room!

1st day of slabbing

got Adam for the day, a great help and a savage worker.
We started at 7.30am and got stuck into the slabbing, doing the roofs while dad and John worked on the walls.
Talk about a slow and very tough job, but after a lot of huffing and puffing we managed to get the ceilings in the 3 bedrooms and landing completed, the landing is really the hardest as you are on temporary scaffolding.
The lads headed off at 6pm and I waited until 9.30 and filled in the easier work.

The underfloor heating gear arrived today, did not get a chance to look at it.

Near the end of the day I was finishing off a bit of slabbing when my plasterer John arrived. I thought grand we can sort out a date to start, but just not yet!!
Little did I know, he has 6 house lined up to do so unless I wanted to wait until the end of Oct, then i had to be ready for Thursday!! I near had a heart attack

We have 240 sheet of 8ft * 4ft (the are actually shorter) plasterboard to put up, have 11 windows cills to install, have 6 gable boxes to make and a lath to run the whole lenght of the house and 3 gables and then get the guttering guys to install the strip for the soffit, also the downstairs needs the vapour barrier installed.

On top of all that we are MENTAL busy at work!!

God where to next, will I get it done. I don't want to lose the plasterer but if I cannot get 3 days off next week it will not be done.

Have to organise some lights for here, long hours ahead.

Got a quote for the stone mason, 6.5k euro cash, nearly dropped dead!!

Upstairs is getting head wrecking

More plastic, another job that is taking more longer than expected!!!! The upstairs is a nightmare!!!

Plastic Walls

Dad got extra rolls of plastic, 500g but to be honest it seems very light, I should have got maybe a 750g. I manged to get the wardrobe and ensuite plasticed.
Another day of plastic!!

Loads of slabs

My dad and his mate John were on site today, the took in a total of 80 sheets of 8ft*4ft of plasterboard, some carry but it has to be done, 240 sheets of plasterboard delivered altogether.
Some of it got wet with little tears on the plastic but we lost about 3 sheets, not too bad!! the sheets are actually not 8*4, they are 240mm * 120mm, which does not suit the height of our ceilings!!

Bit of progress!

Started at 7am, Began to plastic the bathroom.

I also put up the insulation on the living room walls and I put fibre glass in the whole of the ceiling space. I had to plastic 2 meters in from the external walls.
In order to "future proof" the house I decided to put in extra empty conjude and sockets in the walls near the TV in the living room. At least I can then drop cables down the conjude in the future.
I had to add in extra noggings into the living room wall at the stairs to carry the plywood.
I put in the extra box in the bathroom upstairs.
The book case in the wall in the main bedroom also had to be secured and insulated at the back.

We also ran out of plastic today, not sure why the quantities were got so wrong but will have to get some tomorrow.

Don't drink and build!!

Totally hangover day, not used to the drink, killed me until 3pm, was some struggle to move, this was a totally waste of a day!!!
Siobhan said she would give me a hand to put up some plastic on the walls, we managed to get 2 of the bedrooms done upstairs.

Stone masons were also meant to call today, no sign, shock horror!!

Day off

Today was a day off for me, we had our annual soccer dinner so I went on the beer for the night, great to get the night off!
My dad was working alright, he insulated the internal walls of the dining room/
He also had to put up some strips of ply to strenghten the wall of the kitchen and also on the living room wall along the stairs to give it strenght. Still full sheets of ply to go on this wall at a later stage.

Insulation on Externals done

We completed the insulation of the external walls downstairs, at least there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Also there was a double socket, a network box and phone socket to be installed in the wall, the noggings for these site about 25mm back from the face of the studding. Nearly took the head off myself when the blade of the reciprocating saw snapped and went flying!
The walls between the kitchen and utility needed to be tied to the floor joists for the strenght, managed to get this done also.

Insulation

Again we continued with the insulation, taking so long it is not funny!!

Insulate downstairs

I decided to be lazy and leave the small jobs up stairs and rip into the insulation downstairs.

Easy as in you can use up a full roll of 150mm rockwool on 3 lenghts of stud space. I manged to get the external walls on the bedroom, toilet, utility and 1/2 of the kitchen done.

I also completed the 100mm insulation in the dividing wall between the sitting room and bedroom.

Getting dark very fast these days. Sean offered my a lead for light so I must take him up on it.

Rang 2 lads to come out and quote us on the stone frontage and fireplace.

Hot house!

Arrived on site for 7.30am, and got stuck into putting the plastic in the hall roof.
I then installed the fibre glass for the hall and dining room and did the 100mm rockwool in the vertical walls.

My dad arrived over and once he had finished his bit of work we decided to tackle the ceiling space with the fibre glass.
We decided to cut all the fibre glass into the correct widths and lengths before I went up.

Cut up about 30 rolls altogether and up I headed.

The heat was a killer, slim fast plan my ar*e, get up into ceiling space for a hour!!! ;)

Took us most of the evening to complete this.

I headed off to Hursts heating and meet with Wes, I got the glass blocks for the dividing walls between the ensuite and bedroom. A fiver each.

Also got the quadrant 900mm shower tray and waste, 125 euro.

I also got the dry lining screws (35mm) for the Senco gun I got the loan of. They cost 22 euro per 1000. It is estimated to take up to 9000 screws to do ours.

I got the load of about 10k screws from my mate (32mm) which I will fill into catridges when I get time. But I want to use the 35mm on the ceiling slabs to give them extra strength.
Also picked up 2 good masks (3m brand) for 6 euro each as the ones we had were crap.

Decided to call it a day about about 7.30pm - Good progress

Split day

Arrived on site for 7.30, we have a match at 2.30 so I had to leave for a while.

The last place to rigid board was the landing but I had to setup a scaffold of sorts with planks to get up to it.
Again a very slow task and it took me up to 1pm before I go it finished.

We won the match 5-2 which was good, no goals for me today though!! shame!!

Got back on site a little worse for wear and my enthusism low but knew I still had to plod along.
At least no more rigid board to be done!

I put the plastic up in the dining room, I also had to drill down holes in the dividing walls for the cables.
The plastic was akward as there are bay windows which angle out, you also have to put fibre glass in the space in front of the dormers and roof space as you cannot get access to here from upstairs.

Left at 7.30, badly sore!

Good Progress

Today the pressure had to be stepped up and the intention was to try and get the upstairs completed! I wish!

I arrived on site for just after 7am, lovely day so easy to work in it, even though the temperature was not long rising!

I started to rip through the upstairs with the rigid board and completed the bedroom and landing before I got an SOS call from my da was running 2 hours late with his deliveries so I had to change my clothes and head off with him, was gone about 1.5 hrs.
Sean was there doing the bay windows when I arrived, it looks well now with the ridges on them.

The vapour barrier has to be also installed downstairs about 2m from the outside walls on the back and front.
I started this and got the back of the house done, a slow job again especially with recess light cables to be also cut out.
The barries is staples to the joists, I have a staple hammer and this makes life very easy.



Then you have to go upstairs and stuff 200mm fibre glass in the roof space behind the walls leaving room for air to get in at the eaves.
Again a cramped job! I managed to get the back completed.





My dad was there and he was tying up the loose ends of the rigid board and doing any strenghtening. His hip is still at him and I am not happy he is putting weight on it, only the landing to do with rigid board now.

When the fibre glass is installed you then have to install 100mm rockwoo the vertical wall space. Again this has to be stapled into position to avoid sagging in the future.



Headed off at 7pm after a long hot day, but things are going well now.

More Rigid board

This rigid board is getting to be a killer, taking much much long than expected. Have to keep going with it though.

Putting rockwool in the tight spots though as you would be all day trying to put rigid board in.

No Work - Match day

Had a match today so nothing done. Not a great result of 2-2 which killed any hopes of winning the league now.
But I scored from a kickout which was funny!

Rigid Board

The Rigid board arrived today, 12 sheets of 8*4.

To be honest this is taking way longer than I thought it would take, has to be cut correctly.

I was talking to my mate and he had a nice stone fireplace built with the same Lacken stone we are using on the front of ours.

Pic below



Also my roofer came back and tidied up the roof, just the ridge on the bay windows to do now.

Training day off, appliance, bills!

Training day today, did not go near the house as United were on the box also and the appliances arrived so I needed to check them out and move them out of the way into the shed.
Booked off next Monday, I have 2 matches this week so it will fragment the insulation and slabbing process so Monday will sort that out.
I think the Gothic front door must be near ready now, will not contact him until he rings me first! I don't want to see it yet.

Got the bills for the roof, slates, trim, ridges and lead, must be about 2k over what I expected, the price of ridge caps and lead are crazy high, but what you gain in some spots u lose in others!!

Have the guts of 15k euro to pay out now for the roof, plumbing and misc! The joy off!

Questions From SelfBuilders

I got a few emails from a couple of lads and ladies as regards what way I did or inteneded to setup different parts of the build.

I really should have this information up on the blogs but I sometimes forget to actually post up the questions I have to ask others myself!

So sin é!

1.The foundation , did you go with insulated slab or insulated over slab
Insulation is over the raft, will be put down when the final floor goes in expected to be min 50mm of kingspan.

2.I think you said you are putting down your UFH yourself, will this work ok with Climate control Heatpump which operates at 35 degrees c
Yes, I talked to Climate Control and to UnderfloorDirect and we have worked the pipes closer together so that the temp operates lower than "standard" UFH.

3.How are you heating up stairs , is it UFH or over sized rads
UFH - 50mm battens laid at 12 inches apart (might reconsider this), there is 25mm of insulation, the pipes laid on top of this, then screed in the hall and bathroom and ensuite, not screeding the rooms due to them be very warm and also this would turn the concrete into a slab and would leave heating and cooling responses very slow.

4.How much room have you left for the 500l thank and the heatpump in the utility room and is this going to be your hot press as well
2m footprint for the tank and geo, not going to be a hotpress but will be a possible storage area, will definately be closed in when all installed.

5.and finally the screed for the floor's , how are you putting this into each room . I'm thinking the UFH has not gone down yet ,so is it pumped in to each room or is it hard labor with a wheel barrow .
I will be doing the molly malone on this one!!

6.How are you regulating the temperature in each room
I have thermostats in the sitting room and bedrooms, the main living areas as far as I see it.

7.Trissa said...
Hi Aidan-
Great site. We're putting in radiant floor heating during our renovation- are you putting tubing in with concrete? Are you doing the entire system yourself? It would be great to see some pictures-

Trissa, thanks, we are putting the single under floor heating, we will be doing ourselves, I would say it will be at least 5-6 weeks before I start.


Sian, "what are soap,why do need to use then? how build getting on "

Sian, things are going well thanks, Soap , are soap bars, these I have used to attach the sole plate to using express nails so that the timber frame can be nailed down onto the sole plate.
Soap bars are like mini-blocks, where a 4" solid block is 9" wide and 4" deep, the soap bars can be got in 4" * 4" and 6" * 6"/.
Have a look at www.roadstone.ie for a product guid.


if there are any questions please post a comment or email me on aidangill@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer and post up the q/a here

Lagging the house!

Appliances due tomorrow, on a side note almost sealed a deal on a lovely 01 Audi A4 TDI, a nice car but it was sold over the weekend, will probably wait until end of year and sell the Focus, petrol too dear now and with the 80 odd miles a day I am doing it is costing me!

Dad arrived over, still badly effected with his ankle and hip, it is definately ligaments he has done.
We completed the bathroom, landing, hotpress, ensuite and walk-in wardrobe but ran out of light at 10.15pm so had to pack it in, the heat upstairs is a killer even with the windows open, I think I will be sleeping in the garden!!
Bought surgical gloves so this will saves the prickly hands, killer with the rockwool even!!
Have to get an idea of the glass blocks for the single wall in the ensuite, I want to stream sun from the velux straight in front of the glass blocks into the bedroom using the blocks.

Early Mornings

Couple of GAA matches on today, including Mayo V Kerry so I decided to head to the site again for 7.30am. I was going to finish off putting in the boxes in the studding but decided against hammering at 7.30am!
I then said I would start the insulation, so off I set. Progress again is slower than I expected, 150mm rockwool on the external walls and 100mm on the internal walls, all insulation has then to be stapled onto the studding to stop it from sagging in the future.
All studs do not have all the same widths between them and the windows, noggings and sockets make it akward to insulate.
The heat was a killer and even with long sleeves I was still itching, forgot my face mask so that did not help but periodically stuck my head out the windows to breath air!
It makes the rooms more like rooms now with the insulation in, if that makes sense!!!
Progress was good, spent 5 hours at it and got 2 rooms completed and one wall of the bathroom done.
The roof space and ceiling has yet to be completed, waiting for the rigid board to arrive, all the areas have to be covered with plastic also.

Good Progress

Nice sunny morning so the trawl of getting out of the cot at 7am was not too bad, was on site for 7.30 and decided to finish the corner pieces over the landing. I then started work on the bookshelf in our bedroom.
Siobhan wanted a bookshelf built into the dormer roof space beside the bed, it will make good use of the free space.
There are also boxes to go into the walls in the bathroom (3) and one in the ensuite. These are just a backless box which will be slabbed and plastered and can be used to store maybe toothbrush holders or god knows what else, again uses the space.
You cannot put any of these boxes on external walls though as there will be no insulation behind them.

When hop along daddily arrived we decided to put up the 2 dividing walls between the hall and sitting room and hall and dining room. Thought it would take us about 2 hours, took us the guts of 3.5, one wall was too long so I had to get the circular saw out, set the dept, cut the extra plywood off the face of the stud and move back the upright so make the wall fit,
Then you have to plumb and screw/nail in each wall. Pain in the head!!

There was also a strip of timber to be put in over the landing so that the plasterboard on the ceiling and on the vertical wall would meet at a strong point, one of those hidden jobs!

My mate Vinny called out this evening to give me his staple hammer, he also noted that I should have been sent rigid board insulation for the roof space and was not delivered so he said he would deal with it on Monday.

Headed off at about 8pm, long day!

Training

Today was a dead day, we had training so I called out to check out what the roofers had done before I went training, the capping is now completed, the house looks well with the roof done!

Stunt Man On Site

Our new neighbours have started a kitchen company in Claremorris so I decided that I would drop in my plans, we have a great quote from WoodStyle in Donegal and I could not see it been beat so I said it would only be fair to give them a chance to quote us.

Went up to Milltown to pick up the 32mm slabbing screws off my mate Gibbo, he had 10k to spare, should do a bit!
I was up there about 10 minutes when I got a call from my Dad, he had fell off a ladder inside the house, with the brutal weather and traffic it was going to be at least 50 minutes until I was at the house, so he decided to hobble in next door, so much for not doing anything risky, he was up on a ladder, about 15 foot, grabbed a piece of timber which he thought was screwed in, it was not so he came down on his back, catching the stairs on the way down and the piece of timber landing on his face.
He busted his ankle, his hip caught his back and busted his nose, to say he was lucky would be an understatement.

I sent him home when I got to the house, he reluctantly went!

Regina from Alpha Kitchens called over with the plans and a price, to be honest I was delighted with their design and price, both to be confirmed, we have to go to their showroom and view the doors and confirm the price but if all stays the same we will definately be going with them. An the IROKO worktop.

I also rang the plumber to tell him about the lack of lagging, how there was electrical cables running over the hot pipes and that some of the drilling in the joists left a lot to be desired. He came out again today to "relag!"

Appliances + Ebay

As you may not know I work in IT, programmer in a software house to be precise, so I know my way around the net,

I have been trying a lot of on-line appliances, some ship to Ireland, some do not. But to be honest they were all better than anything I could find here.

I stumbled across a shop on Ebay, SecondTec who sell "seconds" appliances, these seconds have scratches, when you are putting in integrated products this is not an issue,

As of today I have now won, all baumatic gear, the good stuff!!
Double Oven, Washing machine, dishwasher, under counter fridge and glass island hood. The hood alone, I got a price here for 799, on ebay I paid 490 odd. Some saving!!

I am getting 2 pallets of gear delivered, costing me 240 euro for shipping.

All in all we have saved for sure, especially with the brands we have!!

Off to find a larder frigde, 5 ring gas hob and dryer.

Another clean up!

This evening we inteneded to put the boxes into the walls but we looked at the mess in the rooms and reckoned we would sweep it up, clear up the bits of wood, slate, cardboard, piping etc!! Some bleeding messing goes on!!


The roofers will be finshed tomorrow, plumbers not sure, have to get back on them, too many wires touching the pipes and feck all laging, not very happy with the work.

Roofers are also messing a bit, there are some edge trims not meeting up, will have to get this sorted.

Roofers + plumbers

The roofers have returned, excellent, have the back and dormers totally finsihed, it looks well!

Plumbers were also in, to be honest looking at their pipes runs in the joists they are as rough as hell.

I also got a price for the Shower/Bath with 12 whirlpool jets, 1500 euro, may have to rethink ourselves!!

Bit of sore head

Think I enjoyed the pints too much last nite, only had about 5 and I still felt the effects this morn!

So I arrived on site for about 9am, started in to completed the strips along the walls for the platerboard and also the straps to hold down the roof on both gables.

The 3 access doors into the area between the rooms and the roof needed doors made, we did the frames for them, will finish them again
The list of things to do before we insulate is rapidly dying!

Day off!!

Today was my grans anniversary mass, it was on at 11:30am and afterwards we headed to my mams for a bite to eat, we sat and talked etc until about 2pm, I then decided that fek it, lets not go to the house!!

So I had my first day off since May 15th, just sitting there and not having to move to go to either football or house was a strange feeling, but hell did I enjoy it!!!

We even went into Westport on Sunday nite for few pints, and I also enjoyed these!!

Back to the house tomorrow!

Progressive day

Today tured out to be a very progressive day, was on the road for 8am, headed to Heiton Buckleys to get my screw bits, screws and new tape.

Then over to Hursts to get the shower valves, there were about 10 of them, actually spent more time checking all their show rooms than looking at showers!!

When I finally coped on I talked to Mr Hurst (yes thats his name ;) ) and he recommended a brand to me, in the end they cost me 270 euro a piece, steep but he swore to me that they would not fail or leak!
I trust him on this to be honest.

No roofer today!!

Bank holiday Monday so he will not be there until Tuesday at least!!


Today I put in timber ties into the chimney, then I had to strap the roof ladder to the timber frame, each screwed in at right angles, once again time consuming!!


I also added the edging along the ceilings and around the dormer!! every where I seem to look I can see edging needed!!!

Short day

Today seemed to fly, expected to get a lot done but the motiviation levels are low! Great fun now!!

I got a labeling machine from the lads at work for labeling the NW cables.

I managed to put the timber strips on the 2 bedrooms for the plasterboard, had a visitor so that took up some time!

Also was totally fked off, when I arrived my tape and screw driver bits were gone, plumbers must have swipped them, not a happy camper!

Aldi strikes again!

Aldi did an 18V cordless drill for 30 notes, not bad at all, will do the job for the plasterboard.!
Also 2 batteries, great since I seem to using 2 batteries a day at this stage ramming in them 80mm screws.

Ta da!! Plumber arrived today, well his lads arrived, not sure about them, time will tell!!

Back to the NW

Installed the boxes for the NW and also installed the noggings in the walls for these.

First 5 litres of petrol I got for the genie only ran out today, some going!

I got my price off Eamo my blocklayer, was very happy, 2200 euro for 2190 blocks/soapbars.

Today I also won an undercounter freezer on Ebay. Now we have the freezer, dishwasher, cordless phone, all on Ebay.


Finally got a hold of my roofer, he said he should be out on Thursday or Friday.

More timber work

Today all plumbing is now completed, something I have also noticed is that these little jobs seem to take a hell of a lot more time, when I leave work it is about 6:15 then get to the site for a quarter to 7, by the time I change my clothes and get my tool box and tools to the place I start working it is up on 7, this leaves you with 2-3 hours of work for the nite.
If someone arrives then another 1/2 hour is gone, by that stage tiredness and hunger has set in so you have to get your mind and enthusiasm back on track!!

The hotpress we had cut on and resized had to be completed, my dad took this on today and finished it nicely.

Again neither roofer or plumber answering the phones, to be totally honest I am not overly bothered as we have loads to do, but the minute we are been held up I will be flaming down the phone.!!!!

Continue the NW

I completed the runs for the CAT6 cabling to the 2nd bedroom and the bedroom downstairs.

I also continued with plumbing of the walls, screwing up into the ceiling joists.

NO sign of the tradesmen today so no plumbing (with pipes) and no slates.

The insulation arrived today also, rockwool and fibre glass, filled the sitting room, wall to wall and floor to roof, we will have some fun!!

Also a point to note for timber framers imparticular is that there seems to be a lot of noggings to put in, also what i was finding that I had to add timber strips or lathes along the tops of the studding so that when you put the plasterboarding up it had something to screw into, also the back of the studding needed the same strips.

Cabling and Plumbing (not the piping type!)

I finished off the CAT6 cabling, finishing the runs to the bedroom downstairs and the 2nd bedroom upstairs.

I then decided to plumb the studded walls upstairs, each had to be plumbed and lathes run between them and the rafters to strenghten them, then screwed together, slow bleeding job!!

Insulation arrived today, sitting room is now filled to the hilt with rolls of rockwool for the walls and fibreglass for the roofspace.

I decided to source a mantlepiece and I think I have found what I am looking for, now to get a price!

Found http://www.wilsonsyard.com/ and this mantlepiece, and it sanded and waxed.

The also do a lovely gothic door, shame I did not spot these guys when we were looking!

Sunday Nogging

Another day another nogging! Well thats what it feels like, going to Mass on a Sunday is now a thing of the past, the house has taken over, taken over by material things and all that ;)

Continued with the noggings, also did the noggings in the utility room, closet (for the manifold) and lounge for the TV, wall units.

I then decided to run the CAT6 cable, I managed to complete 2 points in the sitting room, 2 in the main bedroom and 1 in the dining room.

No football today except for listen to Micháel O Mhuirahertic (spelling!) on the radio

Noggings

Today I made a work bench, got sick of using temp stands, so made up a rough bench.

Today I also started the noggings in the house, I got onto the kitchen company and asked them for the height of the wall and floor units so that we could put in the correct positions.

This I thought would be a quick job. This quick job is a feature I am beginning to notice which is not associated with self build, every thing takes a hell of a lot more time that what I have budgeted!!

All in all there was a requirement for nearly 85 noggings to be cut and nailed in.

Did about 2/3 of them today, thank god for the old aldi generator!! (250 euro!)

BLocks finished

Blocks are completed, at least the place is closed in now!

The door had to be put into the attic also, got this done.

Had training tonite so night is gone!

I rang back the facia and soffit crowd to get them to finish the job, said it would be start of week.


Ordered the insulation for the house, will be beginning of next week.

Finished the clean up of the house, some amount of rubbish!! Must be 20 bags at this stage!

General tidy up

Decided to clean up the inside of the house today, also took plastice pieces off the dormer windows.

The gables are now finised and there is one line of blocks on the front.

No show from the plumber

Home Network

I decided that since the walls were open that I would run network cables and install the boxes.

CAT5E is the standard that is used but I went for the extra bandwidt with CAT6, 100mhz as opposed to 1000mhz. I know it maybe over kill but at least it is future proofing the house and if it ever comes to it we can stream video or tv over the house.

I purchased the box of 200m in CT electric for 69 euro EX VAT, not bad price. Got the steel boxes and punch down tool for the same.

I also got some conjude, the way I look at it is that IF we need to add more sat cables near the TV then if I put the conjude in place it will make it easier.

The dormers were plastered today, excellent to see them finished, look well now!

Gables are almost finished also.

Still going

BLocks arrived today as did the sand, got another 10 bags of cement for the lads so that will keep them busy.
Eamo back on site, he has help now so no more block lifting!

We did some patching up of the felt where they tears, also cleaned up around the house.

Did up a list of what we need to do before we start plasterboarding. Loads to do.

No site today!!!

Had to finish the turf for my dad today, was in the bog for 9am, got it all finished, house must be lonely without us!! ;)

Filling the chimney

Had to fill the chimney with sand and lime mix today, took 30 buckets, was expecting it to take 10!!!

No sign of Eamo for the blocks either, must be on holidays!!

Got bill for the raft and groundworks, loads of money!!

Had to go to the bog and put out turf with my dad, wheel our wheel barrows etc!

Had my nieces birthday also. good to have some time off!

Lack of Materials

I talked to John my plasterer and we agreed to plough ahead with a 20 ton of plastering sand.
I rang Roadstone and was told it would be god knows when I got sand as they had none!!!!

I rang Corcorans and they said that due to other commitments that they would not be able to deliver for 2 weeks!!

Then rang Harringtons and was quoted 390 for the sand, delivered, dear but I had no choice!

I also ordered a full load of 4" solids, I would use them for the walls and other uses so good to have them.

Strip was put on the dormers, ready for plastering now. I decided that I would wash them.... I know but them stickers they put on them are hard to take off!

Settled up 1st fix bill with Brian my spark

Guttering + Facia + Soffit

Initially we were going to do our own guttering and facia and soffit, I could source the gear locally for a great price.
Then we started to consider the amount of work we had on and that there was a few complicated parts to the house so I said that I would tender it out to see what sort of quotes,

The quote I got were all cash prices of 3000, 2100 and 1700 euro. Some differences again!

In the end I decided to go with NorthWest Guttering in Castlebar. They agreed to come tomorrow and to put on the strip on the dormer to allow them to be plastered.

Also decided to give Eamo a hand with the blocks, put 200 up on the 3rd level of the scaffolding and 150 on the 1st level, will keep him busy!!!

Plumber on site

We not quite on site but at least he knows what has to be done, told me he would not be about but his understudy would start on Wed week, great not!!

Had to get 2 lintels for Eamo, don't ask me how I forgot them!!!
Cheap too, 8 euro for two 850mm lintels

In the sun lounge I decided to put in a V bead, this was in the same shape as the apex of the roof but was about 8 inches lower down the wall than the rafters, it was covered in DPC and screwed onto the timber frame and it runs along the wall and hangs outside the timber frame into the cavity by about 10".
What it is for is that if a drop gets down from outside then if it flows down the wall at least it will hit the DPC on the bead and be directed down the bead and into the cavity outside.

Loaded up more blocks for Eamo, he is getting on well now, back is finished and he has started the gable

And on and on

Rang my plumber today to try and get him organised for start first fixing, he is slow at this stage and I would prefer to get him in and out.

He arranged to meet me on site tomorrow, don't know really why but sure why not!!!

Had soccer training, have to keep the fitness *cough cough* level up!!


I got back onto CLimate Control to get a quote for the UFH off them, 29 per m sq inclusive of 33mm of insulation, quote was excellent, to good to be true!

Organise The troops

Was on the road for 7.30am to get Eamon the extra flues for the chimeny so that he could take it through the roof and finish it off!

Got onto my plasterer to get him to plaster the dormers, said it would be done by the end of the week.

Rang Sean and told him to leave me until the weekend as dormers were not completed.

I also rang to tell them to redo the drawings so that the UFH would run at 35 deg C and to make sure that there would be less work on the HP.
Said they would come back to me by end of week.

Loaded blocks up for Eamon since he still has no helper.

Chimney now finished!

Day Off !!

Today we decided to head to Clane to my sister who just had a baby girl.

Really could not have picked a hotter day, head out the window job and the air was hot!!

Good old drive up and down in the one day but it was strange with the need not to go near the house!!

Cutting the Cills

We had to complete the DPC on 2 windows, this we did first, then I decided to make a start on cutting back the lip on the cills for the stone on the front.
I have eventually gone with the 18" standard cills and decided to get an angle grinder and cut the back lip to be the same size as that on timber frame cill,

With the intense heat and dust from the grinder it was not a plesant job at all.
It was mad slow but luckily Eamo had a con saw and when I used it I ripped through them, I then had to cut the horizontal section of the cill with the grinder which is not easy.

I managed to get 7 of the 9 cills completed and the two 5ft cills left to finish.

Eamo has the chimeny out the top of the roof, he will complete this on Monday and a chimney cap will go on it.

Had to head off to a match at 5,30pm, could have done without especially since we lost!

I wandered about the house today taking pics of the inside, hard to figure out some of them!

Block

Eamon my blocklayer started today, he is to concentrate on the gable to get it up and ready for plastering and get the roofer in to slate it.

I also needed the chimney started as I needed to get it plastered.

I had training this evening so all I have was 1 hour to get him 100 blocks inside and upstairs so that he could bring the chimeny up.

Facia + Soffit

In order to finish the dormers they needed to have the facia and soffit fitted before the slating was started, also before the plastering was done we needed to fit the beading on the sides.

I rang around 4 companies and asked for quotes.

Today the electrician started, good to see a bit of work going on inside.

DPC - Part 2 & Appliances

Today my dad had started before me, he had done 5 windows when I arrived in the evening so that was a great help.
Brian the spark also was due as he is starting tomorrow, we went through all the rooms again and agreed on the points so that is good.
We finished off most of the windows bar 2 which are out of reach until we setup the scaffolding correctly.
I also decided to start pricing the appliances for the house on the net, I got a number of place who would deliver to Ireland and then I remembered Ebay and am I lucky I did!!
I found a site who do appliance which they rate as seconds, in other words they have a small dent or mark on them, 100% working order and almost new. For example a Baumatic Island hood, 799 euro here, on that site it was sold for 300 euro! Some difference!
I will give more details later on!

DPC on the Opes

Cills arrived today, not correct quantities to I will have to get onto them tomorrow morning.

Got onto the plumber and beat him down in price, he will start next week.

I decided to start DPC around each window and door. What you have to do is cut a strip above the opening about ½ inch above, then slip your DPC in under the breather membrane and staple them together onto the timber frame.
Then you fold the DPC down over the top of the window and staple in onto the batten.
You also do the same with the vertical battens, but you do not cut the membrane.
The vertical DPC is slipped under the horizontal DPC and stapled.

I thought I would fly this but due to the crap weather, rain rain rain, it was really slow. Only got 6 windows and 2 doors done!
Back tomorrow!

Slater, dormer etc

Today Sean, my slate/roofer arrived.
He came to lead the 2 dormer windows so that we could install the actual PVC windows in the dormers and finish off putting on the expanded metal.

He hopes to return on Wednesday or Thursday when the slates arrived to slate the house.

Myself and my dad decided to install the dormer in the evening. Each window had to have its PVC cill cut and shaped and then screwed onto the window.
The window was then set on a bead of silicon and we then plumbed the windows before screwing the brackets to the timber frame.
It took a bit longer than expected.
Then it was a case of completing the expanded metal on the 2 dormers.

I also rang Mahon Windows to tell them about the 2 doors which were not closing correctly, they told me to wait until most work is done and they will come back and check everything.

I rang the last plumber to get a quote, have almost decided on who I am going with but I wanted to check to see what sort of prices the other lads would come in at and the final lad said to me he could not do it, should have told me that 2 weeks ago!

Dormers in with expanded metal on them now.

Getting There

Woke this morning at 8am, these long days are taking there toll, the prospect of another 12 hour day with a match in the middle of it was not appealing, the fact it was pissing it down also did not help me to jump out of the cot!!

I started the 2nd dormer at about 9.30am, I think the neighbours are beginning to wonder if I ever go home, I would say to them I am there day and night, actually I am beginning to feel the same way myself ;)

Only messing, practice makes perfect and the mistakes I made on the first dormer were learned from and not repeated, I managed to get the expanded metal cut and fixed into place along with the timber for the soffit before I headed off to the match at 1pm, less blood and skin lost this time in the exercise of cutting the metal.

Got over the match, we won 3-1, good win, now with 2 points of leaders, playing them next week for an almost title decider.

Got back on site at about 5, two separate batches of visitors and guided tours ensued, lost about 1 hour all in all, so completed the nailing of the expanded metal, and did a final check on the 2 dormers.

There was a load of battens on the ground all around the house, decided to tidy the place up and remove all the nails that were sticking out of them.

Also moved some of the blocks out of the way of the sand, Roadstone made the delivery on Friday and for some unknown reason decided that they would place 900 blocks plonk in front of the sand, blocking access to the sand and around the house!! Don’t ask!!!!

Eight bells arrived and the smell of food hit me, time for a shower and a feed!
Another weekend gone! The move in for October 2005 moves closer and closer, with weekends now a thing of the past the weeks of work, as in the 7 day weeks of work are running out!

Blue Arsed Fly Day!!

Today is a big day; there is so much to do to be ready for the block layer and the roofer. Sean said he might come out today and install the lead on the dormers so that we can put in the dormer windows.

With my brother Damien with me we headed to Heitons Buckley for 9am.
On the list was:

Lead 18” – 3 rolls
Lead 6” – 2 rolls
Slab nails – 1 box
Crampions – 3 boxes
2 A06 veluxes + flashing
2 A08 Veluxes + flashing
Masonry angling grinding disk * 2
4 rolls of 4” DPC
ESB Metre box
Phone Box
Staples for the gun
Hockey stick

We got all our stuff; lead is heavy in the back of a focus!! But we got it to site and unloaded the lot.

The wind was fairly picking up as promised, I am not sure if the wind + rain knows that it should be down under in Oz not up here in our “Summer”

The list of items which had to be done for before the tradesmen arrived was as follows:
Install the hockey stick
Put expanded metal on both dormers so that they can be plastered before the slating starts!
Put in lath along top of dormer to install the soffit
Run the DPC over the battens on the windows.
Put a “V” lathe and DPC run just under the apex of the sun room so that if water does get down inside the flashing on the gable that is will first hit this V lathe, flow along the DPC and be escorted outside the sunroom and into the cavity.



We setup the generator to get the 1st task out of the way and get the hockey stick moved and re-installed.
Some fun cutting it out, but after about an hour of huffing and puffing we have now installed the hockey stick within the 2m requirement from the front of the house, hope the ESB will be happy now!!
The next task was the lathes on the dormer to carry the soffit.
We started with one dormer and installed the lathe no issue, then the expanded metal took a hell of a lot longer than expected. The measuring and cutting was a painful task in getting precision and also getting the hands cut off us!

Six bells came on us in no time and we decided to call it a day. At least the hockey stick was in and one of the dormers ready for plastering. I will attack the 2nd one in the morning but I have a match at 2.30pm so I will return after it and finish it off.

Monday and Tuesday are going to be busy evenings. Have to get the DPC on them window and the V lathes installed
Cills are also due Tuesday and the 9 Cills on the front need to be cut with the angle grinder to fit! Busy times!!!

Getting Ready For Blocks

Blocks arrived today so Eamon has all the materials at him disposal, they were actually meant to arrive tomorrow and this meant that he could not get around the back but we will move the block around for him.
Myself and my dad installed the steel beam on the roof of the sun room, it will over hang the sun room by 3 inches on each side, and will rest on the block outside not the timber frame.

I took a few pics of around the house: