Lots of Colour

COLOUR PREJUDICED? 
by Phil Wagg

The sky is painted in amazing hues,
contrasting grey, magnificent blues.
Deep red sunsets widen many eyes,
Golden yellows of early sunrise.
Mother Nature, learned with age,
As did I, we don't do Beige.

Grasses, coloured forty shades
of green and gold on many blades.
Leafs that grow above my head
are green and brown and golden red.
Mother Nature, learned with age,
As did I, we don't do Beige.

Butterflies, there's nothing lovelier
than Red Admirals on purple buddleia.
Blackbird, Green Finch, Red Robin too,
Yellow Hammers and Tits so Blue.
Mother Nature, learned with age,
As did I, we don't do Beige.  


Ann Maurice wouldn't dare
paint her walls "Coral Flair"
She would say "oh what a mistake"
to use "Blue Reflection" and "Lost Lake"
Thankfully "House Doctor" has had it's run
So Paint real colours, Have some fun.  

Second Fix

So the plasterers have been and gone, leaving only beautiful walls and lots of plaster dust! Next, the second fix for the plumbers, electricians and joiners. The kitchen arrived and in no time the joiners had the units in place. Never a happier chef - Phil, on the arrival of his new kitchen. 
The joiners also quickly fitted skirting architrave and doors. However they are not happy with the door suppliers, Howdens. Mark chased all over the Midlands for doors supposedly in stock at other depots, only to find on arrival, they were damaged. 
The electricians have made a start fitting sockets, switches and down-lighters.

Our Walls turn Pink

The platerers moved in on Thursday and have started skimming the plasterboard. Dirty job but someone has to do it! Once this is complete early next week 2nd fix will be able to start for the joiners, electricians plumbers and kitchen fitters!

Meanwhile the plasters are chasing the joiners and window fitters. Final windows need to fitted so that the reveals can be can have plaster boarding and insulating added ready for the platers.

Window Week!

              


Our window suppliers turned up on schedule Monday morning. The Stormclad team Ian and Keith started with the bedroom french doors and windows.

Ian and Keith removing the old inner porch door. A couple of hours later walks through our new door!

Cosy and Warm

The slog that is insulating the house starts this week. Starting with the gaps between the rafters 100mm of Celotex then a further 400 over the top of that. All of the outer walls will have 40mm insulated plasterboard.

Works Continue Inside

 In the space of a week the work inside has moved from an empty shell, top left. To all of the inside stud wall being created, below right. 

In the space of a two and half days all of the wood work to create the stud walls were erected. And the battening of the outer-walls to take the insulated plasterboard.

 On Friday the electricians arrived en masse. In the space of one day Rob and the team from  Trent Electricals  had completed 90% of their first fix. It seemed that miles and miles of cables has been strung around the new stud work like a spiders web!

Whilst all this was going on I was starting my part of the project, The MVHR  ( Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery) System. This weeks task is to install the insulated ducting . 

  The purpose of the system is control extraction of stale air and the introduction of fresh air to our home to minimise energy loss but insure fresh air is delivered through out. Air is extracted from the kitchen, wetroom, utility cupboard.  Fresh air is supplied to the bedrooms and living space. The air flow in and out is measured and balanced. The air flows are completely separated and filtered. The energy of the discharge air is transferred to the fresh and supposedly with an efficiency as high as 91%, I'll let you know how it works out.  Condensation from the discharged air is the main bi-product and is drained away. through the waste water drain. The product used is the Itho ECO4 continually runs 24 hours a day 365 days a year. 

New Floor and No Scaffolding

On Friday of Week 4 the newly laid pipework for the Under Floor Heating (UFH) was covered in concrete. Now up to date I thought a screeded floor was wet and sloppy cement bought to site in a big cement truck and piped in to the house. No, this was laid as a dry mix by two chaps who'd been doing it for years. A 4:1 mix with added glass fibers to add strength was tipped on a tarpaulin, on the road outside Number 1.  The mix was barrowed in to the bungalow and the guys produced a fab new floor. By the following morning the floor was rock hard. Also by the following morning the scaffolding round the bungalow came down.

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