Acceleration

With only just over 4 weeks to go until the end July completion date, things are really picking up pace on site. The living room will have its first coat of paint tomorrow, the flooring starts to get fitted on monday and the kitchen arrives (ready to be fitted in just under 2 weeks).
The downstairs is 90% plasterboarded and the tiler is now on site "for good". He has started with putting all the wedi board in the upstairs bathroom (which is also a wetroom).
The new front door is made and on site.
The living room shelves are starting to be made in the Rihoys joinery.
A few issues remain with the HRVS - but we believe they are resolvable without major impact. The whole HRVS issue deserves its own post at some point.
Upstairs is ready for plasterboarding - it has its many layers of battening and insulation.

The house will certainly not be done by the completion date - the major question is will it be livable in? That will be answered on tuesday. We want to be able to move in before the end of July because our last date in La Margion (our rented house) is July 31st.

...and to add to the excitement - we're now leaving site each time with loads of strawberries, new potatoes, spinach, lettuce, mizuna, rocket, peas, summer purple sprouting - and the courgettes are going to be starting next week I reckon.

Last chance to see...

The AV ducting
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

As the plasterboarding is going up fast now - it's the last chance to get things like these AV ducts in place. Skinny ones are for speakers, fat one is for TV / DVD player etc.

Completed roof

Completed roof
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

The roof was officially completed on monday 26th June. Pheww! It's now only 4 days old and has been blessed by a few birds - so that's nice.

Our stove and more

Our stove
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

We've had a few issues with the items we've ordered recently. Thankfully I believe they are all resolved now.

The long lost washing machine which was due from Buyers and Sellers has finally arrived from AEG and is being shipped to us next week. Buyers and Sellers have been excellent throughout in keeping us informed, patiently storing our other items and offering pretty much unbeatable prices.

2/3 of the bathroom taps etc were lost courtesy of TNT. The supplier was Aquabrand (Aquabrand.co.uk). I haven't a bad word to say about their customer service - they have been extemely knowledgable throughout, offer great prices and have handled this lost shipment most excellently - having now removed even the shipping costs from our orer and reordering all the lost items before the dispute with TNT is resolved (they claim we signed for the goods).

As you can see from this picture we have the stove on site aswell. It's pretty heavy so I've no idea how it'll be carried upstairs. Still - I'm sure someone will!

The famous internal glazing is now nearly ready for order once the final measurements are available - and Pilkingtons have finally accepted that they CAN supply it for us! What a palava that has been.

Ventilation monster

Ventilation monster
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

The heat recovery ventilation system is a really important part of this functionality of this house. It's a Ubbink system which is supposed to be good - we believe it will be once fitted. However - it has caused many headaches along the way. The level of customer service from Ubbink - although OK at presale stage (they came over to Guernsey to talk to us twice), was pretty bad during design of the system (read almost nonexistant) - and the parts they've supplied are confusing to say the least - and possibly inadequate. Its partly because we're not using the system in the traditional way (if such a thing exists). Integrating it with the buffer zone to make use of the heat collected there has been very interesting to work out.

We're now at the stage when most of the ducting is either fitted or on course to be fitted (awaiting more duct insulation). The problem is the clever stuff around the buffer zone which consists of a pair of thermostatic dampers. AFM (local company fitting it) and ourselves are both trying to work out the best way of making it work to create a controllable, automatic and adaptable system which delivers maximum benefits in terms space heating / cooling. Ubbink have been asked to explain their thoughts and the parts they supplied for the purpose - but first reaction is that the parts simply will not deliver to our requirements.

This must be sorted asap because plasterboarding is waiting for ducting to be finalised.

We're plastering!

Plastering!
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

The living area has to make fast progress in order to get the kitchen in on time. Major things which need to happen are plastering (to be finished tonight), 1 coat paint, underfloor heaitng running, floor laid THEN kitchen laid, then floor finished. All this means that this part of the house is a few steps ahead of everywhere else.
The wierd thing about this is that the roof still isn't finished and yet the house is almost fully plasterboarded on the ground floor. The gable has yet to be tiled and so the ridge tiles aren't all on. We can't see any reason why this is apart from the fact that the roofers haven't been around all the time. The chimney was completed in plenty of time for them to tile around it, which was good, as it was initally a concern of ours that the flue parts wouldn't reach the site in time. Anyway it seems that the HRVS is holding up the plasterboarding upstairs, and it's probably safer to plasterboard, render & plaster downstairs, where damp is less likely to penetrate.

Virtually moving in

Virtually moving in
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

We were designing the shelves in the living area (in sketchup) and decided to virtually move in.

It's taking quite a while and as you can see, we haven't finished unpacking yet.

Progress report

Things have really picked up pace on site now that we are virtually wind and watertight. There's a far more positive vibe around and ETC is currently end July (which is really handy given that we're off on a short holiday on the 2nd August - Duh!) . That's a grand total of 9 weeks late. I wouldn't mind so much if I didn't need to keep running up there every day to water my veg. My plan had been to be there at the time when everything was thirsty and wander out into the garden of an evening.

There are a range of opinions with regard to the reasons for the delay. Regular readers of this blog may realize some of the reasons. The builders have applied for an extension - and cited their opinions for the delay. Suffice it to say there will be some further discussion around this. We have to find a home come end June through until end July as our tenancy here ends.

So what's happening on site:

• All the windows and doors are in except the new front door and the kitchen door. The internal skin of the gable will follow on much later.
  
• The roof is fully tiled at the front and probably 30% tiled at the back.
• The house has ply flooring in both upstairs and down - that's not finished flooring - I mean its all walkable on.
• All the underfloor heating panels are fitted - plumbing first fix is nearly done.
• The electrics are nearly 1st fixed - only the living area to go.
• All the sanitaryware is now on site (bath, loos, basins) and awaiting a chance to be fitted. They came from a compbination of B&Q and Quayside (local dept. store).
  
• We have some of the taps etc at home. The rest arrive early next week. I highly recommend Aquabrand who have been immensely patient, helpful and good value.
  
• The stove is on its way - it left Derbyshire today. We bought it from a shop called Robeys who have been very helpful.
• The ventilation ducting proved too complex for the builders to work out (not their fault I hasten to add - we blame Ubbink for a distinct lack of instructions / help through the design process). So local air conditioning experts are coming in next week to make it work - yes we know its not an air conditioning system but they will be able to apply themselves to the challenge.

What are we thinking about now?

• This week we finally (we hope) solved the glazing dilemma (several posts below) . We have managed to identify a way to source the glass we want at the size we want. I'm more than a little familiar now with the workings of the glass industry.
• We're gathering tenders for the external work - 4 in total.
• We considering audiovisual stuff so that ducting can be found and placed in the right place. Current confusion is around the completely incomprehensible range of LCD flatscreen TV's which Sony make. Trying to see through the marketing hype is nigh on impossible.
• We're answering lots of small (but important) questions from people like the electrician. E.g. Where should we put the isolation spurs for the hob, cooker and fridge freezer?
• We're still awaiting a final appliance from Buyers and Sellers - the washing machine. Its an AEG one which seems to provide everything we want (AAA rated and large) and matches the (A rated and large) dryer which we already have in Catherine's greenhouse. Problem is that AEG had some serious industrial action earlier in the year and they've been playing catchup ever since. Everything else has come through in dribs and drabs - this final piece seems to be taking a very long time. We don't need it until end July so there's still a while to go.
• Front doors - we've found doors we're happy enough with, and locks we like the look of. Problem is they don't appear to be fully compatible. One must change.
• Making the money work - a constant ponderance.
  

Plastic Spaghetti

Underfloor heating 2
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

Who would be a plumber! Are plumbers glad for the recent interest in underfloor heating - or does it drive them as nuts as it would me?
This lot will all be combined into a manifold unit which sits neatly on the wall in the coat cupboard. One day I hope to post up a picture just to prove it.

There's another one of these for upstairs.

Our first strawberries

Our first strawberries - Mmmmmm yummmm!
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

Loads more to come.

Mmmmmm yummmm!

New tiles

New tiles
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

... and a better view of the new glazed gable.

There's been fun this week trying to make sense of the random collection of bits which apparently make up the heat recovery ventilation system. Ubbink may have a good product (we hope) but their support through the ordering and installation is pretty bad (I'm being generous). Our builders were defeated - and we can see why. We're going to get in some local air conditioning specialists to install it. At least they can source any additional parts which are required.

Roof!

Roof!
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

I think the old tiles look all the better for being all mixed up and replaced. It's a shame we won't have enough for the back of the house.

Must also mark the occasion of the original completion date

Brian and the chimney
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

We were supposed to be moving in to the house now. Completion date was officially yesterday! Hmmm - perhaps we should not start packing quite yet.
Here's a pic of the growing chimney (and Brian the foreman).

Lots of progress now

First floor from SE corner
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

Things are coming on leaps and bounds now which is a relief (together with the fact that the sun is shining and the winds are light which makes everyone except Lenny happy).
1. Underfloor heating is largely laid and downstairs the 18mm thick ply on top is probably 50% done. Relevent plumbing is doing well.
2. The first fix electrics are also doing well. The electrician on the job is being very helpful and suggesting minor changes which do seem to mostly make sense.
3. The chimney has raised its head out of the roof void and is climbing upwards. The chimney breast inside has taken shape (behind Brian in this photo).
4. The tiles are perhaps 60% replaced on the roof at the front - they look really nice (they are the reclaimed ones). Let's hope the new ones for the other side also look good.
5. All the doors / windows are now fitted except the 2 front doors which have to be made.
6. All the ducting for the heat recovery stystem is on site. The boxes are taking up half of Cara's bedroom. Once this is in place they will be able to start plasterboarding.
7. The new oil tank is on site but not in position

Primary concern right now is the logistics of fitting the kitchen. It's a dependency thing which makes it hard to squeeze into a shorter time than scheduled. The issue is that in order to fit the wooden flooring the underfloor heating has to be working and on at 20 degrees for 48 hours. Then it has to be turned down and the flooring fitted. Then the kitchen can be fitted on top. That all sounds fine except that it means that the electrics have to be up and running for the boiler to work, the oil tank and water tank must be connected in their new situation to feed the boiler, the underfloor heating must be finished. Then in order to fit the kitchen the living area must be virtually finished in terms of wall finishes / ceiling finishes (bar decoration). The last available dates within our program for the kitchen fitters is the week of the 10th July. Eeeek. Rihoys are working out the answer.