Three weeks of progress

Underfloor heating manifold downstairs

Lots of activity since the last post, much of it hard to capture with a photograph.

The first fix plumbing is complete, including the underfloor heating pipework. The screed for the floor was poured and there is an ongoing discussion about how long it will take to dry sufficiently for tiling to take place.

The remaining external walls of the original structure has been wrapped in 100mm of insulation and sprayed with its acrylic finish. This is supposed to have a permanent colour that will not need repainting, just cleaning. I will believe that when I see it.

The same company is "blowing in" insulation to the cavity walls of the new build extension. This is 200mm of insulation. Combining this with triple glazed windows we should be quite cosy in the wild winters that are no doubt to come.

Kitchen dining area with insulation

Internal insulation is being inserted in the rafters of the roofs (rooves) and is nearly complete. They started this about two weeks ago and I am amazed at how long it is taking to complete. They tell me it is the fiddly bits that take the time.

Last Monday the kitchen company were able to survey the site to get precise measurements to prepare the technical drawings and put the kitchen into production. If things go to plan they will begin the installation on November 11th.

As I may have mentioned before, the height of the vertical walls, in the kitchen dining area, is lower than expected and this has meant a couple of modifications to the kitchen plan and the lighting plan. Still waiting to see the final estimate/sales order from the kitchen company to see if has made any difference to the expected cost.

Position for the consumer board

First fix electrics are all but complete but we need to get things to the position where the electricity can be reconnected so that when the heating system can be finished and commissioned - but then we need the plastering to be done before anything like second fix gets on the way - and the floor tiles need to go down...

So many opportunities for this to grind to a halt.

A glimpse of the "demand control ventilation system"

An unexpected appearance in the utility/plant room is the "demand control ventilation" system venting tubes. This has been much talked about but the reality of it has not been clear until now. There are six pipes, one in the utility room, one in the kitchen, one in the upstairs toilet and, one to each of the three shower rooms. All arrive to a box that is hidden in the space to the left where the blue tubes disappear into the roof void. From the box is a 20cm exhaust that can be seen running across the top of the aperture that will be the door into the upstairs loo. 

Three-way site meeting at 2.30pm today (Thursday 19th September) to resolve an argument about gutters and drainpipes and to try and nail the critical path sequence to get everything lined up to complete by the end of November. I reckon the progress is a week behind but if we can hold it to that I will be happy.