Outside Steps, SVP

Though not complete, the weather was so good over the weekend that staying inside was a non-starter. So the outside steps were begun. These are using up the old and original lintels from the cottage, which we quite like the idea of.

The SVP or Soil Vent Pipe is an evil necessity for Building Control. Looking much like an anaconda being electrocuted, it is not invisible but is necessary. But, at least it's done.

Hedge protection, Rainwater Drain, Kitchen Drain, Kitchen Tiles

To help the hedges grow faster and be less subject to the wind in our exposed location, Wilbur suggested hedge protection mesh, which was instantly accepted as a good idea and installed.

There was 1 gutter which was draining to the septic tank. This was diverted to the rainwater soakaway, with some good digging from Jaimin.

The kitchen drain was also connected, using a 40mm to 110m boss adapter, and laid at the magincal 1:40 gradient. More re-digging....

The kitchen tiles were a good team effort from Lucy and Jaimin and came up well.

Landscaping, Fencing, Driveway, Hedges

As promised in the last post, there is progress to share especially outside. We had some serious machines on site, and managed to source our own weathered rock from the field in front of the steading, the hole from which we back filled with tuft grass.

We added 2 risers to the septic tank inlets and used them as a rough guide to level the cottage garden, and created a slope up to the front door.

The driveway was also laid, with the weathered rock forming the base, and then 40mm and 20mm chuckies being spread over that and rolled.

A land drain was then laid from the low point out in to the field.

The fencer then came on site to renew the fences the north and south boundaries. Lucy then set about planting around 250 bare root hedge plants, including hawthorn, rose (2 types), blackthorn, hazel ...
Thanks to Heidi and Douglas for their help with this.

Fire, Toilet, Shower, Upstairs Wardrobe, Painting, Lights.

As the title suggests, lots to bring you up to date on, as it seems this is becoming a monthly update...
The departure of the joiner was followed by a couple of weeks of low action as Jaimin was busy with work.

Excitingly, especially in the middle of winter, the plumbing was brought to a point where the water could be filled in to the thermal store. Here is the overflow tank filling up.

This meant that the fire could finally be lit! And after a bit of air-block sorting, the famous copper towel radiator even started to work. Result!

With a little help from James, Jaimin managed to install the toilet, box it off, and paint the surround. Finn and Jack were particulary pleased.

 The arrival of Liz (daycare) and Blair (extra pair of hands with experience) meant that some real progress could be made all over the place. The first thing was the shower. The sequence of photos shows the screeding, laying the tray, building the step, waterproofing with liquid plastic and tape (tanking), tiling, and finally grouting.

While this was ongoing, the upstairs wardrobes were also started. These are a partition between the bedrooms, shelving space for the children, clothes storage for us, and a doorway. They frame and the partition section are complete, but the shelves and doors are still on the list.

Also ongoing was the Great LED Experiment. Due to the lack of head height, and the absolute conviction (from Bumpy) that no lighting should allow the viewing of the point source of light (it's a good point...), we designed the upstairs lighting system with LED strips to be stuck to custom made battens, and covered with coverboards. Mr DeWalt, our new friend on site courtesy of our kind neighbour Pete, enabled us to rip 12mm lining boards in to 12x12mm battens, and also make 45degree mitre cuts along the edges of the 12mm boards to create covers. The battens were fixed at 300mm centers with 30mm crews (pilot holes used, obvs) onto which Everbuild Mammoth Double Sided Tape was fixed (if you ever need really good sticky tape...). The LED strips were then fitted, and the cover boards fixed over the top... The results are really pleasing, but hard to photograph well... 

The final thing to update is also lighting related, but is the fabrication of the "pan rack" to go above the island. This was the subject of many design iterations but was agreed to be made as per the photos. Basically, make a ladder, drill some holes, fit some broom handles, and route out a strip all around it in which to stick LED strip lights to light the island...!

There was also painting going on, as Lucy had time to attend the cottage as opposed to being a carer... Liz took on that role very nicely. Here is proof:

(The electrician has also made a brief appearance but not enough to make anyone excited. Next week there should be more on this, and the landscaping...)