19. Planning for an action packed week

19.             Nothing new – just preparing for an action packed week

This week has been a week of finishing off one big stage and preparing for the next.   I’m afraid there are no photos this week, but next week should make up for this as it will be truly action packed. 

Max has completed the last course of blockwork for the high retaining wall to the studio. He’s done an impressive job.  No mean feat.  We’ve got someone to finish off the rest of the stepped wall.  Max has done the tricky part, but has decided that someone else can do the simpler construction, but ‘heavier’ task.  A wise move, we are no longer youngsters after all.

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We had a meeting early in the week with the joiner who is going to build all the timber for the external and internal walls.  We decided it was important to plan the build process together and produce a schedule so that everything is done in the right order.  We discussed the work to make sure he knows exactly what is required – we have supplied him with all the drawings, and asked him to come back with his suggested plan of action, and a realistic timescale in which he thinks he can complete the work.  It is important that we all agree to a schedule at the beginning, so that we keep moving forward at the rate we have planned for.  I am also planning the next 16 week Gantt chart based on our discussion.  This will be adapted to the eventual shared plan of action. I hope to have it posted here in the next week or two.

We have the scaffolding scheduled for this 16 week period (this will include a roof over the two storey section and the living room).  At the end of the16 weeks the house should be weatherproof, with the roof completed, the windows in, and the external cladding all in place.  The scaffolding will then be dismantled, just leaving the internal fit out to do.  We won’t start this 16 week period until we are ahead of the game with everything ready and us in control.  We believe that stopping for a break to prepare for this will pay dividends in the long run. 

Also met the building supplies rep to get prices, know the quality of his materials, ensure he will have them in stock for us so that supplies arrive as per the ‘just in time’ principle.  There’s not much room for storage on site, and having things arrive as they are needed will hopefully minimise damage.  I like a tidy site too, so I try to avoid unnecessary clutter.

Still a lot to do on this, more research on products and more competitive quotes needed.

We are preparing the site ready for Stefan and Jake’s return on Monday 14th.  They will fill the gaps by the walls with hardcore, and level up the ground inside the building so that it is flat and ready to take the slab.  So today we took delivery of 20 tons of 20mm gravel.

On Monday evening the joiner is coming with his laser leveller so that we can mark the line to which the slab will be poured.  We need to get this as accurate as possible as this will provide the final floor zone in which to fit the floor insulation, the screed for the central heating pipes, and the final floor finishes.  There are not many millimetres to play with once one reaches this stage, so levels are critical. 

When this is done they will lay out the damp proof membrane (several large sheets of thick polythene) that cover the floor and up the walls to lap under the damp proof course.   This will probably take most of Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th as it all has to be sealed and taped where the sheets overlap.  The polythene is a higher quality than normal to safeguard against Radon gas!  A Health and Safety requirement. 

The damp proof membrane has to be inspected by Building Control to ensure that it has all been done correctly.  He is scheduled to arrive at 10:00am Thursday morning 17th.  We are doing our best to keep the sheets warm as they tend not to stick in cold weather – so they have been moved to the best position in the site office - by the heaters.  

With the damp proof membrane approved, Max and Jake will spend the rest of Thursday fixing vertical battens to the walls with the bottom of the battens on the horizontal line that was made with the laser leveller indicating where the top of the slab should come to.

With the damp proof membrane in place, and having the line clearly marked we will be ready to pour the slab.

To pour the concrete slab we are hiring a pump as it is impossible to reach everywhere with Stefan’s machines now that blockwork walls surround the house.  The pump has a 30 foot reach so that we can pour it into most areas without difficulty, saving the need to barrow concrete around.  There will be a lot of spade work needed but we are hoping to minimise hard labour!  The secret is to call in as many men as I can muster.  The pump and the concrete are booked for Friday morning 18th.  The pump arrives first – the operator sets it all up to ensure he knows how he can reach all the extremities of the building.  Once satisfied he phones the quarry to send the first load of concrete.  This is then followed half an hour later by the second load, and then if needed, a third load. 

End of Friday 5:00pm – we should have the slab in.  This will be a day that deserves a good celebration.  (Must make a note in the diary to get the bubbles in!)

Next week’s blog should give you the answer whether we managed to pull off these 5 action packed days - or not.  Should be lots of photos too.