February Update

Since our last monthly update things are yet again moving at a pace. We've now got 7 guys on site, (still under the masterful direction of Dave the artisan builder) as I've got two of my guys gain, and Paul is employing his brother Matt and his extremely likable builder John. To try and make progress as fair and even as possible Dave has gone through to work with Matt and John, leaving Mick, Adam, Mark and the other Dave (landscaper) in our barn.


Since the steels went in the lads have put the majority of the 1st floor joists up which is fantastic as yet again we have an even better idea of how the rooms will feel. As the scaffolding was imminent we've had to take the roof off the lean to to allow the scaffold to go across the end gables. Once this was off the lads have brought the brickwork down to the new roof level, and lowered the window sills to the planned elevation. After speaking to my planning officer Paul Taylor this week about our application and how it is going, and was assured enough about progress and the likely outcome that we have made both the french window openings, and in the case of the side elevation (lean to) Mick has skillfully re-bricked the edges of the new opening.

Finally the scaffold has been put up, which means the race is on to get the spline wall up, the roof off, and the new wall plates in to accept the timber roof trusses. Also today (Saturday 23rd February) we've had the vast majority of our spoil taken away (deja vous) so we have again a clean yard, now the 60 tonnes of rubble have been removed.

Cutting out the old steelwork.
Steelwork from lean to roof coming down.
Steels just prior to joists being fitted.

Kate and the kids having a first walk around the scaffold.
Some of the first floor joists.
Tony and Keith removing our rubble.
A clean yard, and a full scaffold.

Planning and Suchlike

In case anyone is interested, you can look at our plans etc on the Harborough District Councils planning portal. The plans and supporting documents are downloadable for those who want a look. for those that don't know we are currently working on a validated Building Control application, but because of ideas we have had as the project has moved along, only applied for a new planning application this year. Luckily (I hope) we have had so many pre-app meetings with the planners, we are hoping all the changes will be approved.

Click the link to view our application.

http://pa.harborough.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=JV7HLGHW0DL00

Services?

OK, so our days of rusty brown water out of the ground are nearly over. I say rusty brown water, but in reality I'm sure it starts off as Evian in an aquifer right below where I now sit, but by the time its been through a few ferrous pipes and an old oil drum it surprises you once a day by coming out the colour of a nice cup of Earl Grey.

Anyway, less of that and more of the fact that Tony, Keith, Chris and all the other guys at DTM have been digging a ditch between us and civilization so we can have mains water. I know this pains me to be paying Severn Trent for water, but if we do install (as I hope) a rainwater harvesting tank then we have reached an acceptable compromise.

With any luck we should be getting a connection first week in March.

More walls, and more importantly; STEELS

Having had an email from our 'official' architect (approved and chartered, who will cut the mustard with building control, rather than me, bloke who loves to pretend he's an architect) suggesting politely that we update the blog more regularly.

I say 'we' because I think Kate should be typing this stuff, so I'm going to hand over to her now:

Ok, fabulous news the beam and block floor has been completed and Dave's guys have assembled walls that have created rooms for us !! ; loo, laundry, workshop, hall and children's snug and a defined kitchen space.

This week has been so exciting as the steels went in - we can now see where our ceilings will be and the joists will be laid in the next week or so and the first floors floor can be laid and internal supporting walls continued up the roof line. In addition, window openings are appearing and light is starting to flood into the right places. The building scale is becoming more 'human' day by day and it is suddenly easier to imagine living in the space.

Facade now that the doors and the supporting beam are removed.

Some on site fabrication.

We have been so lucky with the weather this week, crisp, but sunny, its better than we could have ever expected. Also Mark and Dave (Rob's landscapers) are back, which is great, we've told them that as long as Dave (Artisan Head Builder) is happy they can work here until July if they want to!