October's Here - Check out the Tiles!

With the roof up, the plan for the short term was to lay the tiles and complete the two gable ends (that's builder-speak for the walls with the sloping roof edges - ok, the front and back then).

We've been very lucky with the weather so far, it's hardly meant many days rained off, and if it continues as-is for a few more weeks, then we should be working on the inside comfortably by the end of October. Finger's crossed!

In the beginning ...

... and lots of other stuff ...

...there were tiles ....

A big thanks to Martin for the tiling and fitting the roof-windows (veluxes - is that a real word?).

"Ehh"

Alfresco

Franky getting high

Ere, wot you looking at?

This view from the other side of the railway shows that because the inner block-walls are built from the inside, then it was a case of using simple trestle arrangements within the building to go higher. But the brickwork for the outer walls then, needed external scaffolding. We used the towers for the front gable but they wouldn't fit in the space available for the rear - so we had to build it all to suit.

Closing the ends up

You can see the tiles and some of the roof-windows here, but even though the tiles may look very "new" when compared to the main house, I guess that within a couple of years they should become more weathered and match a whole lot better. There's a lot of big trees around which should help. 

While it doesn't appear very high when looking "up", believe me, that when you're up there, simply reaching out to get something or just changing your position slightly, takes on a whole new level of balance that you take for granted when you're standing on the old terra firma. The guys that do this stuff everyday have my utmost respect.

The brickwork around all the new windows has been built to exactly match the same style as on the main house. This is also true of the concrete ledges which have been poured to include an underneath ridge which prevents water from running back towards the wall.

So, right now, it looks like an almost standalone orange building. When it's painted in the same style, the overall effect should be of having one complete house, end to end. Oh yes.

Now that, is looking good .....

Meanwhile, the Brosteel Ultra 60 was taking a well earned rest enjoying a spot of fishing, and some general horsing around ....... ney worries!

The rest of September: The Roof

Sorry folks, this latest post has been a long time in the works. The waiting's over, the job is done - we bring you the Roof!

"Ehh"

Work started early and it wasn't long before the roofers were up and running (under strict supervision from Franco of course).

The Last Beam

The Two Towers, 'Fredo

The speed with which the guys worked was amazing, and it wasn't long before it all started to take shape.

Glad it's not me

Nosey Neighbour View

Close-Up 1

Bear in mind that there was no permanent flooring upstairs - just the beams (and of course the noggins) - so there were plenty of gaps and it's a long way down when you are standing on scaffolding .......

Close-Up 2

Close-Up 3

Lucia a lot taller than I remember

Hmm, nice soffits

The Porch bit

Proper arty that pic mate

Overall, the job is going well and we are making great progress, but the question still remains:

"what is it actually going to look like, especially when we have no plans and when Franco isn't letting on?" 

So .....we contacted Farah-from-across-the-road - a well respected local developer - and we asked for her professional opinion:

Artist's Impression

A few more windows than I was expecting, but it has a certain symmetry to it that I like ...... love the landscaping .....

The building Inspector was having a day off. True to form, only doing what he wants to do:

By the way, succumbing to popular demand, watch this space for more exclusive photos of our old favourite, the can of Brosteel Ultra 60 - locations and poses like you'd never thought possible, no expense spared, coming to a blogsite near you ....oh, and a few tiles too.

Sunday 18th August - Sunday 15th September: Noggins & Joists

Here's some advice for any wannabe builders - if you're ever asked to help with noggins and joists, run a mile ........or at least be prepared to get your fingers trapped and your shoulders & back aching for days on end as you work at a stretch screwing and nailing fiddly bits of wood!!

Great Picture huh?

Zigs, stop snoring

With the steel beams up and painted with fireproofing (Brosteel Ultra 60), next job on the agenda was to add all the floor/ceiling joists. Lots of sawing and cutting to shape so that they fit "into" and between the beams, and then held rigid by noggins. 

Not sure where 'Fredo was when you needed him, probably catching up on some sleep between killing all his mates on CoD.

Firstly though, a bit of early morning brickwork:

Yes, it is England :O)

Followed by the joists:

That straight?

Fred wakes up to make lunch

You sure this is safe?

And of course, there was a bit of free time to enjoy a sunny day out on the Test:

Grayling

Then back to work:

Eh! No pictures till we're finished

View from below

View from above

 The Building Inspector was impressed:

Stay tuned folks because the roof's going up next - and that is serious.........!! 
Cheers

Saturday 17th August - Steel Beam Day

We're alive and no injuries either!

The hardest part was taking each beam from the driveway and moving them through the "window" so they could sit on the genie-lift, inside. We marked each beam's middle point so that once on the lift, they would be stable and balanced (well, in so much that a steel beam weighing a million tonnes can be balanced on a set of forks a foot-and-a-half apart!)

First one done - piece of cake!

Then, the beams had to be jacked up above the level of the walls, guided all the way up and then turned so that they could be lowered onto the padstones.

Special thanks to "Iron-Man" Alex from across the road, for helping with "Beam D"

Serious concentration

Mind your fingers Franco

Easy does it

X marks the spot!

6x beams in total, with a bit of fiddly bolting.

That look square to you?

When Franco's happy, we're all happy!

All done

And the very best thing? We finished at lunchtime :O)

In the afternoon we cut a few joists:

The beams need to be painted with fire protection paint, there's plenty more brickwork to do, lots of joists to be cut and fitted (with noggins (what a great word eh!)) and at some point we'll have to think about putting the roof on.

So plenty more to come folks.

Oh, and I got stung in the neck by a wasp.

What a great holiday - back to work Monday!