Cladding

Time to clad the house in its best party frock. We think the two-tone burnt-larch and stone coloured render one will do nicely.

Thanks to Shepley Plastering and Carbon By Design for Mount Pleasant's elegant facade. Obvs the full elegance will happen later, this is work in progress, but nonetheless very exciting.

Plasterboard is also going up on the interior. Oh yes, it's all happening.

In other news, our bug hotel has arrived. Yes bug hotel. Pics when it's been erected. Erected, I say. In the graveyard. Yes in the graveyard. Just wait, you'll love it.

More soon

Pressure test - passed

The house performed well in the first of two pressure tests today, passing with flying colours. 

The result was 0.8 for those taking bets.

Render boards going on from today, so the whole look of the place will change. Pics to follow.

More soon

Polished performance

And here, in full widescreen splendour, is our polished concrete floor being poured and .. polished. A balletic performance with quite a large cast. This leaves it nicely mottled as we requested, but not with its final shine and seal - that comes after the interior is properly finished with plasterboard etc.

We have our first pressure test tomorrow - yes, pressure test. They pump air into the house, and check how long the pressure stays. Basically it tests how good the house is at keeping warmth in in Winter, and out in Summer.

If it loses 0.6 of its volume in an hour, that's considered Passivhaus standard.
If it's around 1.2 it's still ok.
The Architect is hoping for 0.5...

Any predictions from you lot? 

Answer posted here v soon.

Lots happening

It's been ages since I posted and lots has changed. 

Despite the odd bent nail, the roof's all done, with solar panels (this was back in June when the sun shone)

Floor's also done. There'll be video of the concrete pour soon. As I type, the floor is generating, via the concrete going off, more heat than the underfloor heating will ever produce. It really is hot in there. The floor looks lovely (honest) but won't reach final glory until it gets a final polish, near the end of the job.

I will admit, the North Meadow was hard work. I ended up with a very sore back  and I  hope never to do so much rock-shifting, digging and wheel-barrowing again. It's now seeded and with the recent rain it's greening up nicely..

The shrubs will be in a mulched section, we await the bark chippings for it. The plan (probably already mentioned) is for strimmed paths to evolve among the meadow grass and flowers. Imagine it without the scruffy hoardings and with those two trees taken down, giving a proper view up the valley to Kinder. I do all the time.

We spent yesterday choosing bathroom fittings, tiles, carpets and flooring for the whole house, so that's a big chunk of work out of the way.

Rendering starts on Friday and should only take a few days. Soon it will be time to move the scaffolding and have a proper look at the place.

We still think we can be in by late September. Wish us luck :-)

Ground floor glass

Patio doors are in, with a lot of heaving, grunting and groaning. Lyn had to stand outside the chapel and photograph through one of the arches, to fit them in one shot.

Also check out the upstairs bedroom window, with reflection of the three arches it faces. Also the view right through the ground floor to the kitchen, and the building work beyond.

I managed to re-position my video camera to catch the installation of the patio doors, will post it here soon.

They are due to finish the windows tomorrow, and fit the front and back doors. 

Onward.

Still, still digging

Windows and doors are ongoing, but does work stop on the garden? No, never. Our team of spade, rake, barrow and mattock wielders never tires, never flags, never wonders if the job will ever end, never gets fed up and sits drinking tea and taking in the view. Never.

I can announce that the infamous North Meadow is now ready for sowing. It will be a combination of grass and wildflowers, in a design which enables strolling and allows viewing of the remaining headstones.

The North Meadow:

Seen here alongside its prettier sibling, the South Meadow:

Yes we know, it's a graveyard. Doesn't mean it can't have beauty.

More later. Today we think the ground floor windows will be installed, and the doors. Maybe even the patio door? Who knows. Exciting times.

First Floor Windows

Windows are going in. They started on the first floor, and it will take three days. Can't wait to see them manhandle the big patio door into place, it's 4.8 metres long and triple glazed, must weight 300 kg at least.

The pics are not flattering, and they show white frames (it's protective tape, they are black) in a black building (it will be rendered a light grey colour), so you get a sort of photographic negative effect...

We've had a sneaky peek under the protective tape both inside and out, and we're pleased with our choices. The oak frames and brushed steel fittings on the inside are really nice.

Hard to believe that in a few weeks we'll be actually living there.

More soon