Ill

We're both wiped out today as I think we're coming down with something. So much for the DIY this weekend... Just a few picture updates from this week:

Watertight

Well not quite, but definitely a step in the right direction. We've now got windows installed and a back door. One concern is that the door is currently untreated meaning that if it gets a soaking it might stain it or worse still delaminate! It's currently covered up with some plastic sheeting as best as can be expected. Let's just hope we're lucky with the weather until I get chance to paint it.

Stressful?

Well today was an interesting day. We were supposed to be getting our doors and windows fitted today to hopefully get us closer to being water tight. At 9 o'clock the phone rang and it was the project manager; there's a delay with the door manufacturer and they won't be able to deliver until February!! Three weeks lead time had turned into three months! Not the best start to the day... One problem I remember us having initially with the doors was that there was only one place we'd found that made the doors exactly as we wanted... We've got a few options open to us, but we'll have to wait a few days to see in which direction we go...

The day never really got any better. There was part of the build so far which was concerning Mel the steel that had gone in to support the upstairs will wasn't properly supported. The builders tried to reassure me that it was fine, but I wasn't convinced. I decided to give building control a call and they confirmed my worries. Some patching up work well need to be done, but at least it's still accessible and shouldn't be too much trouble to rectify.

At the end of the day however, the project manager came round and alleviated all our worries. The remedial work will be done (to satisfy building Regs this time), and we discussed what to do with the door. Fingers crossed we'll come to something we're happy with!

Doors

I always thought that if I ever lost my job, I'd be quite happy taking up a trade; a joiner perhaps... If it involved having doors then I think I'll give it a miss! They look so pretty once they're done but they're a pain in the bum to fit!

Floor

We now have a level floor! It's not the finished surface, but it's yet another step closer! We've also had the 'cavity trays' installed at the insistence of building control. It's a good job we're having the back rendered as it's made a mess of the wall!

Underfloor heating

Friday saw the builders digging up the old kitchen floor so that they can eventually re-lay a new, highly insulated floor, with our central heating pipes in it. A muddy hole doesn't really make for an exiting picture... so there isn't one!

Another weekend and another DIY job to do. This weekend we were tackling wall papering for the first time ever! Thankfully we had parents that came over to teach us! They put up the first sheet to show us what to do and then after that it was supposed to be all us! Our first sheet went up reasonably well, despite getting a big crease in it... We managed to remedy it and most of the sheets after that went up without too much fuss (and a little bit of help...). We only had to tear down one sheet; that was due to me catching it with my foot and leaving a huge unsightly scuff all the way across it! Anyway, we learnt a lot and were very pleased with the final results.

Roof tiles

Apparently we've got a fully tiled roof! Sadly the winter nights have thwarted my viewing pleasures yet again though... Up early in the morning for photos it is!
Once the doors and windows go in, we'll be water tight! More importantly, we'll have a fighting chance of retaining some of the heat that the boiler is so desperately trying to give us!!

Picture Update:

Mixed feelings

It's Saturday, and as usual, DIY day... We've spent most of the day putting up plaster board in the upstairs landing. What's really odd is that ever since we moved in, the corridor has been an open stud wall. Now that it's closed it looks good, but the down side is that I've lost all my storage shelves for tools! Where am I going to put my vast amounts of builders caulk?

Gutters

It's something so simple, but putting the gutter on makes it look to much closer to being a real building! The breathable membrane went on today as well as the roof batons, we're ready for the tiles!

Roof

The joiner has been today and we now have a roof structure! Sadly there's no pictures as the nights have started drawing in and it's dark by the time I get home... Hopefully I'll be able to get some in the morning before work. We'll have a tiled roof before we know it; next step is a watertight kitchen!

Picture update: