Can I say weeks gone by rather than months .. just about. Also we’ve managed a few weeks away in the van and on the motorbike thru scotland.
The house looks very different as the landscaping has been done by ‘t ‘uddersfield builder Alex, Tom and their lads. It took them 3 wks with a digger, dumper and spades to move 60ton gravel, 20ton sand and 30 ton graded soil. I sketched a design that has used gravel on matting through the driveway and paths, with a stroke of genius (if I say so) of turning the old tarmac drive at the front (or rear) of the house into a grass-garden. We also opened up the entrance to the house from the long drive. Other touch was to use the reclaimed floor joists from the old house as path-edging which has softened the path-garden borders. The minute we had a space Ang went nuts buying plants (grasses) to fill it, and of course the weeds are quickly filling all the gaps. Only another 3 (0) years to sort the patio and garden out.
The Kitchen fossilised worktop from Mandale quarry has been installed. An indulgence and it looks a treat, including a sharks tooth embedded in the worktop. With Andy wiring up and myself finishing the plumbing its now all running. ‘t modern kitchen technology has moved on. Venting hob, a dishwasher ! and I can turn the oven on with my phone (er, wow).
The wood flooring has been put down in the utility/kitchen, snug and living area, some 50sqm.
We’ve moved in !! after 18months in the static. Running out of gas forced the move and we’re living in the snug, kitchen and bedroom while we continue with the house. As of 7pm last night just as temps were plummeting we even have hot radiators. Eleven rads installed with only one forgotten joint and one leak although a lot of faffing under the house with pipework. Now I’ve got the winter evenings to sort out the home automation system.
Gavin has started the joinery work with the oak door frames. I’ve gotta admit I’ve mucked him about with supply problems of wood, doors and ironmongery but he seems a chilled chap and we’ll crack on later in the month.
QSP had a few days on site finishing the window reveals (we could not get the accoya in the lockdown) and snagging. To their huge credit we’ve only had one build issue that needed some visqueen and concete and is now sorted.
We had Jim and son screed the lower ground floor, 3 days of prep (insulation) for 3 hrs of pouring the screed. Gawd knows how much water was hard in a couple of days when we moved all the work tools and stock to leave the upper ground floor bedrooms to be fitted out. Floors is as smooth as a baby’s bum .. now we leave it a month or two and cover it up.
The only major outstanding item is now the staircase .. which .. who knows.