Day 16 - 20 - A bigger hole and the wall started

The wall is now being constructed, and it is looking really good.  The design has changed a few times since we first told the contractor to build it, but we are happy with the end result.

Also the hole in the back of the wall has been finished, and the steels have been put in, so it is ready for the sliding folding doors.  The only problem is that the Building Inspector came round and found a problem with the hole and the impact on the wall. 

With the steels in:

The building inspector has said that the corner of the house, because of the hole, is now buckling because it has lost its strength as a corner.  He recommends that we need to strap the wall to the steel frame and then render over it.  Which obviously is more money!! Anyway, its got to be done.  This is the problem corner:

This is what our kitchen looks like at the moment!:The other problem is with the roof, but we are still investigating that.....

Day 13 - 15 - Hole in wall

The builders started to dismantle the rear wall in the kitchen and used acro-props to support the upstairs.

 The concrete foundations for the sliding folding doors leading out from the kitchen onto the garden:

 These are the steels for the frame that is going in the hole in the back of the house, to support the upstairs and provide frame for the sliding folding doors....

Because there is a big hole in the back of the house, the builders every day board up the entrance between the kitchen and the hall.  Although there is nothing in the house but dusty furniture and plasterboards lying about!  The boards mean that we cannot access the kitchen (or rather, what is left of the kitchen i.e. a tap and sink) when we get home, so we are brushing our teeth with a bucket and water from one of the pipes that has already been plumbed in.  Nice! Needless to say, our gym memberships have been paying for themselves.... 

Day 7 - 12 - Progress! and some problems...

Its been a while.  Largely because Mark has been on holiday and I have been avoiding going home.  Even camping at Goodwood at the weekend was a bit of a treat.
Anyway.... progress.


Wall foundations are in.....

New temporary stairs configuration for access to the back/bathroom (yes it is slightly wonky)

False walls are being constructed around the juliet balcony doorway....

Thats all great stuff.  They did forget to put the helifix bars into the wall with the crack (to hold up the back of the house!) but they are just taking off the plasterboard and putting them in.


The joists in the new corridor where the small v-lux windows will go.....Unfortunately Virgus (our foreman)noticed that we had ordered V-lux windows 78cm across and the corridor is actually 71cm across.   So we will have to have new ones delivered.

The holes in the bathroom roof for the big windows, more V-lux's....

The wet-room area in the bathroom......

The new corridor.....

And some pictures of the state of the rest of the house in the meantime....this is where work has not started, or is in early stages. It is v. messy, and v. dusty.

Day 4, 5 & 6 - Internal wall construction and more wall foundations

Its now Monday of the second week of works and I am working at home to meet the chap who is measuring the back wall for the steel square frame for the sliding folding doors. The young lads are still digging the wall foundations so I have just made them a cup of tea!

The lads worked on Saturday over the weekend while I was out on the lash, bless them!  They have put the under-floor down upstairs and begun constructing the walls for the new bathroom. 

And the electrician has begun the wiring in the bathroom floor/kitchen ceiling which is also good progress.

Day 3 - Bath delivered

Maaaaaaaaaaaaasive new cast iron bath with feet....

Errrr.... it might have to go back if it is too heavy for the floor!

Day 2 - Foundations for wall dug and joist project started

So yesterday and today the builders (Get Turner) turned up on time, and seem really nice.  Yesterday we had the issue with the joists and wall that needs strengthening, so they started the joists project today.  They look good and are all perfectly level so we are really happy (apart from the potential cost!).  Photos below:

Also the initial foundations for the boundary wall have been dug, but we need to finalise the design and structure of the wall including number of piers and any patterns or recesses.  There is a slight hold up on this section of the project, but this is our fault for not realising that we needed to design the wall!

Good progress has been made today though... we finally feel like we are getting somewhere.

Day 1 - start of work

I'm working from home this morning to meet the builders and talk to our structural engineer.  The result of the meeting is that our back wall needs strengthening across the lintel where the juliette balcony will be, and along the party wall, the joists across the first floor need to be removed and reinforced and the joists in the roof need to be deepened for the insulation.
Oh, and the sewer drain is blocked so thats another job to add to the list!! 
Still, this was never going to be easy.

Day 0 - demolitions largely completed

Mark spent last week ripping out the inside of the back part of the house with the help of my Dad, Bennyboy and Neil.  Now when you pee you can see the roof from the ground floor.  We discovered a crack running up the back of the left side wall, and some dodgy looking joist work where the chimney breast has been previously removed.  Something for the Structural Engineer Chris to look at tomorrow.

I suspect our budgets overrun already!

Mark spent a happy couple of hours clearing out the muck from the cellar where we think the sewer drain has been leaking... nice.

Builders start tomorrow, all plans drafted, contingency already spent... happy days.