First Fix
05 June 08
Well things are progressing fine and although first fix is well under way before and during the windows fitting, it now gets a page all to itself...As the plumber and electrician work their way through it all, other things are happening... The gutter arrived for our roof. This will be supplied by Northern Tectonics of Forfar. Its a one piece unit - 16 metres long! We have had a few bad showers and the roof has not leaked so far even without a gutter. Jimmy loves Roofshield - it works!
So we are bashing on with the plastic pipework instead of copper. Its just too pricey and does it really offer any advantages??? I don't think so, so plastic pipes it is...lots and lots of lovely fittings! Jimmy continues to dwang and strap walls. Ground floor is almost done - soon be time to head upstairs...
Meanwhile the McGregors house is ready for its roof! These panels are built on the ground and lifted up by crane...just as they did on mine a few weeks ago!
Strapping and dwanging the ceiling upstairs has now started...photos to follow of course!
A special mention for our fans at George Stubbs Insurance in Perth. Ian's wife Anita works there and managed to organise our site insurance cover.... so big hello to you all in Perth. Don't hide away leave some comments ............ :o)
08 June 2008
A busy weekend... a temporary staircase is fitted...bit easier than a ladder. First up is our Dog!!
A false floor is added to the study to create a different room within the living room...
Then time for a cup of tea and a glass of wine in the kitchen...minimalistic look !
Okay back to work and we get on with the living room ceiling. We need to drop the ceiling by 90mm for design purposes, to get some more insulation in and ducting for a heat recovery and ventilation system....but first a bit of finalising of the kit...Not strictly my job but happy to do it...
Job Done! A whole weekend spend on the living room ceiling.....It's been screwed, nailed and glued into place...so it should be up to the job...
Not everyone needs scaffolding to reach the living room ceiling!
Electrician roughs out upper level...kitchen electrics added.
Another little point...Last Friday afternoon we had an ad hoc visit from a member of Perth & Kinross District Council, very interested in the design and SIPs construction...our fame is spreading :o)
09 June 2008
A day I was dreading...delivery of plasterboard. 210 sheets in total to be handled and moved...lots of heavy lifting...but in the end it was a doddle thanks to Ian McG, Ian M, and Dave W...what a difference support makes. Lets hope Jimmy hasn't got too much! Quickest way upstairs is on the telehandler... That lorry load is all for Jimmy!!
A day I was dreading...delivery of plasterboard. 210 sheets in total to be handled and moved...lots of heavy lifting...but in the end it was a doddle thanks to Ian McG, Ian M, and Dave W...what a difference support makes. Lets hope Jimmy hasn't got too much! Quickest way upstairs is on the telehandler... That lorry load is all for Jimmy!!
I am also adding acoustic insulation to the midfloor- since the house is upside down the children should be able to sleep whilst I party, or is it the other way round???...so there are bales and bales of it in every room...46 in total...
12 June 2008
Well progress has been a little slow this week. Lots of fiddly jobs that get in the way of making any real big steps forward...its time well spent though so that hopefully plasterboarding will be a doddle! The hole up in the roof space is to take the heat recovery ductwork which is due tomorrow...
Look what I found on my camera...the crazy plumber has been tampering with it without my knowledge...here is his work! Next time use flash!... It could have been worse he might have taken a photo of his arse !!!
Builder is back! He is setting out the concrete pads which will support the canopy.
15 June 2008
Its been a busy weekend with a full nights work on Friday , a mega session on Saturday and a full day on Sunday...so where are we up to I hear you ask???
Work continues on the upstairs ceilings.. concentration on the kitchen. Wendy is let loose with a screwdriver...powertools ! Next stage is to let her loose with the nail gun!!! Plumber has been to continue roughing out and the radiators for upstairs have been ordered!
Kitchens done! Beam needs to be covered and ductwork for Heat Recovery and Ventilation System is yet to be fitted..but we are getting there!
Onto the dining room.. progress. This was the target for the weekend... finish kitchen and dining room...
But we have achieved so much more! The front hall is done...and we have been insulating the glulam beam to cover up the steel.....are we wasting our time??? I don't think so ...spending lots of time covering up every area where air can enter the building...I really don't know if its worth all the effort but I sincerely hope so. Its more cans of expanding foam, kingspan etc etc...
Its nearly midnight and time to put the nail gun down.....Time for a few bottles of wine with our friends...the first "party" in our house! You all missed it! Wine, food and a blast of Green Day!
Sunday morning...bright and early, the scaffolder arrived to drop the back scaffolding...why? To allow access for the builder. He is about to start work on the driveway / garage / underbuild... Its all happening!
19 June 2008
A few days since the last update I know...but its been a busy time..lots of late nights...at last! The final ceiling upstairs has been strapped...two weeks to complete!!!! Now its on to the MHRVS and the built in vac system..
The builder is back and laying out blocks for the walls to support the driveway! Its the next big stage..
12 June 2008
Well progress has been a little slow this week. Lots of fiddly jobs that get in the way of making any real big steps forward...its time well spent though so that hopefully plasterboarding will be a doddle! The hole up in the roof space is to take the heat recovery ductwork which is due tomorrow...
Look what I found on my camera...the crazy plumber has been tampering with it without my knowledge...here is his work! Next time use flash!... It could have been worse he might have taken a photo of his arse !!!
Builder is back! He is setting out the concrete pads which will support the canopy.
15 June 2008
Its been a busy weekend with a full nights work on Friday , a mega session on Saturday and a full day on Sunday...so where are we up to I hear you ask???
Work continues on the upstairs ceilings.. concentration on the kitchen. Wendy is let loose with a screwdriver...powertools ! Next stage is to let her loose with the nail gun!!! Plumber has been to continue roughing out and the radiators for upstairs have been ordered!
Kitchens done! Beam needs to be covered and ductwork for Heat Recovery and Ventilation System is yet to be fitted..but we are getting there!
Onto the dining room.. progress. This was the target for the weekend... finish kitchen and dining room...
But we have achieved so much more! The front hall is done...and we have been insulating the glulam beam to cover up the steel.....are we wasting our time??? I don't think so ...spending lots of time covering up every area where air can enter the building...I really don't know if its worth all the effort but I sincerely hope so. Its more cans of expanding foam, kingspan etc etc...
Its nearly midnight and time to put the nail gun down.....Time for a few bottles of wine with our friends...the first "party" in our house! You all missed it! Wine, food and a blast of Green Day!
Sunday morning...bright and early, the scaffolder arrived to drop the back scaffolding...why? To allow access for the builder. He is about to start work on the driveway / garage / underbuild... Its all happening!
19 June 2008
A few days since the last update I know...but its been a busy time..lots of late nights...at last! The final ceiling upstairs has been strapped...two weeks to complete!!!! Now its on to the MHRVS and the built in vac system..
The builder is back and laying out blocks for the walls to support the driveway! Its the next big stage..
22 June 2008
The weekend is spent on Ian's house as we start to build the canopy..interrupted by rain, rain and more rain...Its lots of planning, checking and little action but progress is good and we start to see it take shape! Its hard to see in amongst all that scaffolding!
The weekend is spent on Ian's house as we start to build the canopy..interrupted by rain, rain and more rain...Its lots of planning, checking and little action but progress is good and we start to see it take shape! Its hard to see in amongst all that scaffolding!
23 June 2008
Builder is back building the driveway. Jimmy was not prepared and had to fit firestops very quickly tonight with technical support from Ian! Also it was the last chance to tape the joints in the breather paper..not really necessary but Jimmy likes the detail..........seemingly it keeps the air pressure balanced...don't know if its correct or not but hey Jimmy will try anything !!! You can see the blocks against the house, the central support for the driveway and finally the wall which has the steel pins which will be double block either side of the pins and filled with concrete...soon Jimmy will be driving his car on this !!!!
01 July 2008
Not updated for a while..bad Jimmy...but been very busy working on Ian's Canopy and filling in odd jobs as time allows on my house so progress slower than normal but the hours on the job remain high!!!
Builder continues on with the driveway walls.. some major engineering ahead!
On rainy days the ducting goes in and is finalised for the heat recovery system...
The one piece roof gutter is installed !.. By Jimmy and his apprentice Wendy ! And we begin strapping the roof...
You can't see the rain from this picture but believe me it is wet! Strapping the roof is abandoned for the evening....
Builder is back building the driveway. Jimmy was not prepared and had to fit firestops very quickly tonight with technical support from Ian! Also it was the last chance to tape the joints in the breather paper..not really necessary but Jimmy likes the detail..........seemingly it keeps the air pressure balanced...don't know if its correct or not but hey Jimmy will try anything !!! You can see the blocks against the house, the central support for the driveway and finally the wall which has the steel pins which will be double block either side of the pins and filled with concrete...soon Jimmy will be driving his car on this !!!!
01 July 2008
Not updated for a while..bad Jimmy...but been very busy working on Ian's Canopy and filling in odd jobs as time allows on my house so progress slower than normal but the hours on the job remain high!!!
Builder continues on with the driveway walls.. some major engineering ahead!
On rainy days the ducting goes in and is finalised for the heat recovery system...
The one piece roof gutter is installed !.. By Jimmy and his apprentice Wendy ! And we begin strapping the roof...
You can't see the rain from this picture but believe me it is wet! Strapping the roof is abandoned for the evening....
03 July 2008
Thought I had better update again after getting into trouble from our friends, Melinda and Xavier who live in Vienna ( see guest book ) ... See Jimmy's fame knows no geographical boundaries!!!
Well its monsoon season again - sorry a typical Scottish summer....rains most days at the moment which is hampering outside progress.. but Ian's canopy is nearing completion... Its hard to see behind the scaffolding but I'm sure you get the idea...
Meanwhile on Jimmy's build...blocks are being laid to build the driveway and the spec has been upped by the structural engineer ... I think someone has suggested that we are building a multistorey car park here!!! I don't think its going to fall down !
Ducts added for services into the house...water, electric & telephone...no gas because us tree huggers are having a pellet boiler....
Finally, its good to see lots of comments coming in to the guestbook...keep it going even if it is cheeky! It helps give us a boost and makes the time to keep the site going worthwhile!
Thought I had better update again after getting into trouble from our friends, Melinda and Xavier who live in Vienna ( see guest book ) ... See Jimmy's fame knows no geographical boundaries!!!
Well its monsoon season again - sorry a typical Scottish summer....rains most days at the moment which is hampering outside progress.. but Ian's canopy is nearing completion... Its hard to see behind the scaffolding but I'm sure you get the idea...
Meanwhile on Jimmy's build...blocks are being laid to build the driveway and the spec has been upped by the structural engineer ... I think someone has suggested that we are building a multistorey car park here!!! I don't think its going to fall down !
Ducts added for services into the house...water, electric & telephone...no gas because us tree huggers are having a pellet boiler....
Finally, its good to see lots of comments coming in to the guestbook...keep it going even if it is cheeky! It helps give us a boost and makes the time to keep the site going worthwhile!
This page is on hold until we finish the canopy!
Jimmy gets a new gadget for the build... a plasterboard lift...takes up to 3 metre sheets and copes with sloping ceilings.. Plasterboarding becomes a one man job! Thanks to Ebay!!! We are not far away from using this in anger...then the house will start to take shape....
24 July 2008
Day 4 of Jimmy's holiday and in the sunshine the day is spent on the roof painting the rafters with a second coat and fixing on the facing board. Took all day to get it straight and true... then in the evening a move inside. Kitchen is prepared for plasterboard...all acoustic insulation is now fitted...no more excuses its time for plasterboard Jimmy...
17 July 2008
Jimmy gets a new gadget for the build... a plasterboard lift...takes up to 3 metre sheets and copes with sloping ceilings.. Plasterboarding becomes a one man job! Thanks to Ebay!!! We are not far away from using this in anger...then the house will start to take shape....
20 July 2008
Its a special day today...why I hear you all ask??? We have now been living in a rented flat for exactly one year today! So have a look back to where we started and you will see that we have been stuck in our flat for a long time waiting for permission to get going!!! Anyway Jimmy is now on holiday for 2 weeks! So expect updates galore and rapid ( hopefully) progress !
We continue strapping the walls upstairs and adding foil to the walls behind every radiator position to reflect all heat back into the room..lots of time spent fitting little packers to get things nice and straight for when I get the plasterboard machine in operation!
Its a special day today...why I hear you all ask??? We have now been living in a rented flat for exactly one year today! So have a look back to where we started and you will see that we have been stuck in our flat for a long time waiting for permission to get going!!! Anyway Jimmy is now on holiday for 2 weeks! So expect updates galore and rapid ( hopefully) progress !
We continue strapping the walls upstairs and adding foil to the walls behind every radiator position to reflect all heat back into the room..lots of time spent fitting little packers to get things nice and straight for when I get the plasterboard machine in operation!
Also added plywood for secure mounting of the radiators and a big tv on the wall...
22 July 2008
Day two of Jimmy's holiday and did we achieve anything? Day started at 7.15am with a timber delivery and I've just got home and its now 10.15pm as I type this...so it was the usual 15 hour day! The joys of self build....But I'm still enjoying it :o)
Later in the day the acoustic insulation for the roof space arrived - 150 square metres of RWA45 for those interested..will it work? ...Jimmy will have to wait until it rains next!...wasn't expected until later in the week and the electrician was back to run the lighting circuits...
Timber is already getting the fake tan treatment..
Day two of Jimmy's holiday and did we achieve anything? Day started at 7.15am with a timber delivery and I've just got home and its now 10.15pm as I type this...so it was the usual 15 hour day! The joys of self build....But I'm still enjoying it :o)
Later in the day the acoustic insulation for the roof space arrived - 150 square metres of RWA45 for those interested..will it work? ...Jimmy will have to wait until it rains next!...wasn't expected until later in the week and the electrician was back to run the lighting circuits...
Timber is already getting the fake tan treatment..
Start fitting the insulation in the kitchen ceiling space..
And finally after having it here for almost a month Jimmy starts first fix of the built in vaccum system.....dust removal extreme!!! This is the plate that goes in the wall - a final face plate goes on after plasterboard...connected to a network of pipes and a low voltage cable...all dust and debris is sucked all the way out to the garage!!! Jimmy likes his gadgets..
23 July 2008
Day three of Jimmy's holiday... strapping the study is completed, running the wiring for the built in vaccum is completed, the guest bedroom is strapped also...so its almost time for plasterboard...but first it was such a sunny day that Jimmy decided to go out and fit the purlins to the roof ahead of the final install..... slow progress but getting there. decision made on timber cladding at last. Have chosen Siberian Larch and ordered enough to roof the canopy at the moment.
Support from everyone! My mum puts on a nail bag and picks up a screwdriver! Emma cuts straps for Jimmy to fit...
She wishes she could !
A view from the main road, the house merges in well I think...
And finally after having it here for almost a month Jimmy starts first fix of the built in vaccum system.....dust removal extreme!!! This is the plate that goes in the wall - a final face plate goes on after plasterboard...connected to a network of pipes and a low voltage cable...all dust and debris is sucked all the way out to the garage!!! Jimmy likes his gadgets..
23 July 2008
Day three of Jimmy's holiday... strapping the study is completed, running the wiring for the built in vaccum is completed, the guest bedroom is strapped also...so its almost time for plasterboard...but first it was such a sunny day that Jimmy decided to go out and fit the purlins to the roof ahead of the final install..... slow progress but getting there. decision made on timber cladding at last. Have chosen Siberian Larch and ordered enough to roof the canopy at the moment.
Support from everyone! My mum puts on a nail bag and picks up a screwdriver! Emma cuts straps for Jimmy to fit...
She wishes she could !
A view from the main road, the house merges in well I think...
24 July 2008
Day 4 of Jimmy's holiday and in the sunshine the day is spent on the roof painting the rafters with a second coat and fixing on the facing board. Took all day to get it straight and true... then in the evening a move inside. Kitchen is prepared for plasterboard...all acoustic insulation is now fitted...no more excuses its time for plasterboard Jimmy...