29 We're back in the frame - apologies for the pause

After a short period away from the site I am back in the frame and taking up the reins again of writing this blog.  I'm not back on site yet but expect to be by the end of April.

I have been supplied with photos whilst I have been away, which I will try and make sense of and explain.  Progress has been amazing in that the external walls and roofs have now got all their layers on prior to the final cladding.

This is about the stage we were at mid March, with the timber frame in but still open to the elements.  Since then the various layers have been added to provide a solid timber sheet to the back of the wall, insulation within the timber framework, insulation outside the solid back, a breather membrane, and a vapour barrier.  The next photos will try to show the materials and the process by which this has been achieved.

These are the OSB (oriented strand board) sheets that are fixed to the external side of the timber frame giving a solid sheet against which the internal soft insulation can be fitted between all the timbers. The OSB also provides a strong backing for the large thick sheets of polyurethane insulation that are fixed to its external side.

These are the first couple of sheets of the Celotex polyurethane insulation having been fitted.  Each joint is taped  to close up any gaps to help with the air-tightness of the building.  Air-tightness and insulation are the essential combination to create the most effective 'energy efficient' house, so it is important to ensure as many gaps as possible are well sealed.

You can see an aluminium z-section on the right of the right hand panel.  Max has included this detail as a means of fixing the final strips of timber cladding back to the timber frame.  Without the z sections, the fixings would bear too much weight  from the hardwood timber on the insulation, and would be liable to sag.  This in future years could look awful.  So he has taken this extra precaution to help the hardwood cladding maintain its alignment and sturdiness.

Inside, the timber frame is filled with this soft  'earthwool' insulation

Insulation is in the walls, and ceilings throughout the house.

Once all the earthwool insulation is in place the breather membrane is attached to line all the walls.  Again all the joints have to be taped to keep everything as airtight as possible.
This is then horizontally battened out fixing it to the vertical studs behind the breather membrane.  This allows the electrician to feed wires behind the horizontal battens because there is a bit of give between them and the breather membrane covering the insulation.

Meanwhile, on the exterior of the walls, once all the celotex insulation has been fixed, the insulation is covered with a Tyvek vapour barrier, and  battened vertically to keep everything in place
As well as all the walls being layered up in this way inside and out, the ceilings and roofs undergo similar treatment.

Here they are putting the OSB on the living room roof prior to filling the gaps between the timbers underneath with the earthwool insulation.
You can also see the snug chimney from the open fireplace being constructed.  This is the one that Max constructed with great accuracy ensuring that all these parts meet exactly!  As the circular liner is extended upwards at the same time as the outer blockwork, vermicullite insulation is poured between the two to fill the cavity.

More of the OSB boards going down, with the insulation in every space possible.

This is the woodburning stove, installed in its position, (now fully boarded up to protect it from all the future building work).
Once we reach the point of fitting out and finishing off, the stove will be inset into a chimney breast and have a hearth fitted 450mm above the floor level, just under the glass box area that you can see, and hiding the supporting legs.

Max's studio has the timber framework ready for layering like the rest of the house.

To the left of the previous picture is this large window area for a sliding patio door .

Looking from the inside, this timber framed area is for cupboards, before entering Max's studio.  At present the large window looks out at our site office, (the old garage), but shortly this will be demolished, and the proper view will be exposed.

So that is the work that has happened whilst I have been away. Pretty solid progress I should say, all credit to Max for keeping it on track and without major problems.

The next week will show further progress, with the electricians on site doing the first fix, the floor insulation being laid, closely followed by the under floor heating pipes (Wednesday and Thursday) and the screed to cover them all up on Friday.

After that the windows start being installed and the roofing specialists come to lay the rubber sheeting and aluminium coping to finish off the parapets. By that time I should be back and taking a gentle position at my desk.