Week 11 - 1st week August out of the ground

Week 11 - August

Time rushes by when work cranks up and then you've also got lots of ringing around to for the house thus the last thing on my list is to actually record what has been going on!

In a month things are looking really positive having now poured a considerable amount of concrete and the weather for a short spell decided to clear up with a week of sun.

Concrete piles being delivered - early July

17th July after considerable amount of rain the cellar still looks good - had to be pumped out again

Looking at the wood store & utility room then the trench foundations for the kitchen and dining room

27th July - all the concrete has finally been poured!  Aircrete blocks can start to be laid.

South west corner of the house showing the monks stair indent

1st August it's starting to look more like a house!

a)  Things that I've just completed and feel considerably more relieved by finally doing so: -

1) Gas application - this shouldn't be too bad considering Dave thought (as did everyone else) that the large concrete bollard thing next to the site was water when in fact it's mains gas!

2) Electricity - day after I posted the application they've already contacted Garry so I'm impressed but we're see.

3) Water application was a pain in the arse asking for schematic which yours truly attempted to do and come up with a simplified version.  They've also made contact.

b)  Things to do.

1)  Windows - Having been badgered by Flora who is understandably apprehensive about the cost of triple glazing I finally got ringing the various other companies.  Having sent a few emails about 5 weeks ago and received nothing telephoning is certainly the more effective way.  Two alternative companies we going to obtain quotes for are the Passivehaus Stove in Devon and Rawlinton in Bristol.  We're going to do a whirl wind tour at some point in the next few weeks to see the actual windows.  I can't decided whether having aluminium powder coated is better than painted.  Essentially the former doesn't need any maintenance which sounds great but it may only last 30 / 40 years where as the painted wood version needs reapplying every 5 years but may last considerably longer.

2)  Heating systems - Stovesonline have been really useful talking about installing a double insert stove with back boiler. I hoping they're be able to recommend a plumber who might be able to design and commission the heating system.  I've had a quote from Celic Solar who seem pretty expensive but they may be in the end the ones to go for.  Passivehaus Store also have a non anti freeze system which apparently makes a low maintenance opinion.

3) Flora is researching the kitchen having gone to Howdens and spoken to Andrew about other ideas.  She's come up with the good idea of making the kitchen range area more interesting looking by adding a fire place / kink to hide the extractor fan.  The range / induction cooker has so far been sourced.

4) Lighting - we were recommended to look at http://www.lightingmatters.co.uk which for the first time I've actually come across a lighting website that I thought had some wonderful ideas.  It actually got me excited rather than down hearted to think we might be able to have some of these in our house.  We both agree that we're spend our money on the main communal areas with ordinary lighting upstairs.