Stairs

Kitchen stairs are now complete as well as two newel posts

Base for stairs is ready for making stairs. American Ash will be delivered by Lallows at the end of this month and John R will be making them on site. Going up and down ladder is getting a bit tiresome

Mechanical heat recovery ventilation

MHRV (outgoing warm air warming incoming cool air) has been a project in itself! In October we were still waiting for the main unit (even though we paid Allergy Plus in full at the end of June). John threaded the pipes with Alec in September

And connected the supply and extract ductwork to the plenums with Patrick. It was like a jigsaw puzzle where all the bits had to fit exactly as well as avoid the posi floor joists

External grilles and the internal ductwork still need to be connected to the unit in service void in the cloakroom (we have now the unit!)

Plumbing

Upstairs we measured carefully space for bath, WC, bidet, wash basin and towel rail

Hot water cylinder fits nicely in the airing cupboard

Downstairs, between the dining room and the stairs we have an impressive collection of pipes:

Primary flow and return to cylinder

Heating flow and return to towel rail 

Rising cold water main

Hot draw off to cloakroom 

Soil pipe

Most importantly we have water in the kitchen!

Electrical wiring

Giles started first fix

Upstairs

And downstairs

Plasterboard is 3/4 complete but we keep having to to take it off: first we realised we had forgotten the plug for the dishwasher...and we have altered the position of the fridge-freezer, washing machine and cupboard at least 3 times! That means taking the plasterboard off and making new holes to change the position of electrical plugs.

Roof updates

The chimney is now up

John R rendered it with lime mortar mix

And was able at last to lay the remainder of the slates

John learnt to lead burn the chimney flashings 

He also decided the lime mortar mix on the ridge tiles needed a bit of alteration

...and we have now a Beautiful Roof!

Even more beautiful now that the scaffolding is down.

2014

Starting wet (extremely) and windy (very). Don't feel like going anywhere or doing anything. Anyway, unusually high tide (again) means water has gone over pontoon and we need wellies to leave the boat. I am sure the rest of the year will be sunnier, more peaceful and joyful!

The chimney is up!