Leaving again

Hopefully for the last time.
The flooring firm will be in from Monday. They'll be spending five days sandingand then two days sealing the floors in the living area and the hallway, followed shortly (we hope) by the carpeting. Five days seems a long time to be sanding, but we are assured that it will be pristine when it's finished. Well let's just see about that.
In the meantime, we'll be at Lenny's Mum's house - even the builders aren't allowed in while the flooring is done.

Wetroom oak shelves

Wetroom oak shelves
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

The wetroom is where the most progress has been made this week, with the tiling pretty much finished (again, bar the grouting) and the installation of the oak shelves, which are the same as the ones in the first floor bathroom. The shower head is in and it's really tempting to turn it on. However, much like the bathroom upstairs, we've got to wait until all the joints and corners have been siliconed.

Buffer space tiling begins

Buffer space tiling begins
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

It's actually complete (bar the grouting and matting) and with a coating of sealant it looks fantastic. Can't wait for the outside to be done.

Ashphalt

South side ashphelt
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

The side and the open trenches for the drains and oil pipes are finally covered up and although there is a large scar across the drive at the front of the house, the side looks ver neat. We'll cover the drainage channel with a membrane & some earth and then plant ferns and ivy down the side to give the bank some integrity.

Ventillation grille

Ventillation grid1
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

As a mark of how obsessed we have become by sketchup, here's a design for a ventillation grille to be sunk into the floor of the buffer space to allow cold air to pass into the area. We're looking at oak, as it will go better with grey slate than black plastic will. Meriel has volunteered to drill out the oak in her woodwork class.

Buffer space progress

Living area view
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

All the gubbins in the apex/soffit of the buffer space is now in, the whole area is plastered and the screed is in. The tiler will be putting down a self levelling compound to bring the floor up to the correct level and then he can add the slate flooring. The slate will have areas cut out to take matting to wipe feet on and also two square apertures for grilles to cover th ventillation pipes that terminate in the floor (these will draw cold air from the East side of the house to supply the buffer space).

Round up

The decorating has begun in earnest with Mark, the decorator, being stationed here permanently. When we moved in we found that the paint finish in the bathroom were rushed and a bit sloppy, but it appears that Mark is really good and all the stuff he's done so far is excellent. The first floor bedroom is complete, with the exception of carpets, and decorations are underway in the living room on the first floor. As I type, another decorator is undercoating the buffer space.
The second fix electrics are continuing upstairs and the lights are pretty much all in.
The plumbers are here to continue the second fix and hopefully get the heating working, so that we don't have to use the emersion heater all the time.
The exterior works are reaching their conclusion and the tarmac should be going down sometime in the next two or three days, which will tidy up the outside no end.
One of the major outstanding jobs is the floor finishes, but we don't expect those to be done until the builders have pretty much finished - it'll be nice to get this black cladding off the floor at last.
Finally, we're still waiting for glass of all sorts. We need shower screens for the bathrooms, although only one of them has been ordered because th wetroom isn't finished yet. The big thing we're waiting for here is for the internal suncool glass to be delivered. This has been a real uphill struggle and despite the input and support from Rihoys and also from Pilkingtons in the UK, the local supplier has not been as efficient as we could have hoped (to say the least). It means that we willbe waiting yet another month until it arrive (although we'll believe that when we see it).

Mosaic in place

Mosaic in place
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

After fretting about transporting Meriel's mosaic from the rented property to Saint's View and after fretting some more about how difficult it would be to put on the wall, John the tiler managed it perfectly in what seemed to be around fifteen minutes - unreal. The rest of the tiling is almost complete and it's becoming apparent that the wetroom is going to be quite the opulent retreat.
The stud wall is being built to hold the shower screen and the plumbers are in to fit the loo and basin. The carcasses and worktops are also going in and it's really moving along quite quickly. There's a minor gripe about the lack of provision for the tap fittings that we wanted when the first fix took place, but what will be will be and I'm sure we'll get over it.

Gate posts go in

Gate posts go in
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

And soon we'll be able to relax without the kids running away - or so the theory goes. Both posts are in and the one in this image actually has the gate fitted. One more gate to go and the job's done.

Fossil stone treads

Fossil stone treads
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

The steps from the buffer space now have their treads and although we've deliberated long and hard about what should be stuck underneath them (there's a gap between the treads and the top brick courses which is asking to be filled with shells or something), it may well be that we'll stick with mortar.
The alcoves/niches have worked out really well and as soon as we're out there late enough to use candles, they'll be used.
Now all we have to wait for is the slate tiles to be installed on top and a metal grille to be added to bridge the gap between the house and the steps and it'll be done.

Patio is finished

DSC_5964
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

We LOVE our patio. The stones are beautiful and the laying is perfect. Steps have still to be finished.