Day 43 - More roof facings go on

The warped plywood panels have ben replaced (or at least fixed !), and the softwood facings have started to go onto the pyramid roof. Looking good.
Further work completed on boarding out the rest of the roof, and the rear door roof (North) has now been completed, along with most of upstairs. Still some membrane to lay & facings to go on, but we should see it all completed before the Aberdeen fortnight.

Day 42 - Roof Continues

Although visually things don't look much different from yesterday, there's quite a lot happened ! The boards have been fixed along the South facing roof, ready for the membrane cover to go on, and there's been further work at the East side, with that area nearing completion. At the new rear doorway, the rafters have been installed (following re-shaping of the entrance, which had to be heightened).
Some more plywood facings were also installed, however I've a concern that a couple of these are visibly warped - may be due to the wet weather we've been having so may dry out ok, but to be checked further all the same.

Day 41 - More roof membrane fitted

The slaters didn't come today after all - apparently they are delayed until Wednesday as the facings have taken longer than expected (there's still a way to go with them). However progress made on the roof all the same with membrane now fitted over the rest of the garage roof & the workshop. Also most of the rear roof section has now been boarded over and membrane layed over.
Weather today has been great, so the frame dried out for working on today (after the monsoon that was Sunday evening !). Hopefully the weather will continue to hold to let the roof get done.

Day 40 - Workshop roof completed

A couple of the joiners were back this morning for a bit of overtime, and managed to completed the workshop roof - now fully boarded over. There was also some further work on the roof at the rear of the building, so now about 50% of the rear section is complete.
Still planned for the slaters to come on Monday, so whilst they're working on the pyramid, the joiners can complete the remaining roof sections. Looking favourable to getting the roof water tight before the Aberdeen fortnight (starts 9th July).

Day 39 - Rear workshop roof on

Today saw the rafters installed above the outside rear workshop, and the back boards fitted. Really great to see this being done as it joins the extension to the garage properly now.
As well as the workshop, wooden batons have been installed to the front of the garage roof to provide support for the facing boards, which will form the base for the larch when it goes on later.

Day 38 - Pyramid Part Boarded

Most of the pyramid section of the roof was boarded over today, and it looks really great ! Only a small section to go in this area, and things will move along to the larger section to the South side of the extension. Things are looking good for the slaters coming on Monday to get the pyramid tiled over & water tight. Following that some of the facings will be installed, and some painting done (which will let us check our paint colour).

Day 37 - Garage Roof Almost Done

Just as hoped, the wooden boards were fitted to the North side of the garage roof, and the membrane sheet has also been fitted. Once the sheeting is on the South side of the roof, that'll be it complete until the roof tilers get here next week - although we've still to tie in the roof above the workshop, so a wee bit more to do there.
Further work also done on the pyramid roof section, and it's getting bigger (and better) by the day.
Weather has been baking hot today, which is ok if you're not doing heavy manual work, so hats of the lads for what they got through !

Day 36 - Roof Work & Oil Tank Tie-In

Weather has been really hot today, which although great did make it hard going for the lads working on the roof. They've got on well today though, with the timber planks fitted to most of the South side of the garage roof. Should get the other side complete tomorrow, and look to get the membrane & batons installed Wednesday(ish). Still need to dovetail the workshop roof into this though.
Work also continued on the 'pyramid' roof above what will be the lounge. The rafters were completed pretty much at the front of the extension, but more work to do at the rear. Quite a bit involved here. Once completed, this too will be boarded up (though there's insulation to go in there first), then it'll get tiled next week (the first water-tight bit !).
Heating Eng was also round today & got the new oil tank hooked up & filled. There was quite a bit of kero to decant from the old tank, but was ready to go bay the back of lunchtime. Once a sizeable air lock was removed from the oil pipework we got the AGA re-lit & the boiler working again. That's it for the heating now until August, when the new boiler fitting begins (funs & games then !).

Day 35 - Scaffolding Up

Couple of the lads came out today to get the scaffolding erected in order to get a quick start on Monday for the roof building. Looking to get the slaters here a week Monday, so not long now till we're water proof ! The scaff is the click together stuff, so went up pretty fast.
The plinth for the oil tank was also completed and the empty tank landed safely on it. Heating engineer out on Monday to pipe things into the existing system, then we'll get the tank filled. Looks pretty massive mind!

Day 34 - The Garage Roof

Just as we hoped, the rafters were fitted to the garage today - it looks huge compared to previously !! Unfortunately the design of the rafters means there limited scope to get much use out the space above, but maybe we can do something about that later. Enough room to store junk at least ! Some of the roof boards have also been fitted across the rafters at the rear of the extension, so things moving on there fine.
Some further block work at the oil tank area too, so that it'll be raised off the ground enough to supply enough head to the AGA. We're going to need some fencing round this, as it won't look that great. Probably put some bamboo round there too along with some climbers....
Next week should see all the roof complete !

Day 33 - More rafters fitted

A lot of wood work done today, though it's not as obvious a leap as we've seen in the past few days ! Rafters have been fitted now right along the South side, and a start has been made to joining up the new extension roof with the existing house. There's also been a bit of work involved in matching up the lengths of the rafters with the existing house roof-line, so they match.
The base foundation has also been poured for the heating oil tank. Not sure what happens with the bunding on this, though I suspect that tank is double skinned. Will need to find out a bit more there I think.

Day 32 - More work on the 1st floor

Work continued on the roof & now the steel beam & roof trusses have been installed over the family room upstairs. Looking fine & big despite the roof sloping at either side. Also a better idea now of how large the window will be in the family room, which looks South over the garden & into the woods beyond.
Work was also done in the garage to level off the walls in preparation for setting the roof trusses there. We're going to get some decent storage space up there (as well as a proper roof at last that won't leak !).

Day 31 - We've got a 1st floor !

Just as we hoped yesterday, the lads made great progress today & the first floor is starting to take shape. We were up there 'on the rafters' this evening to take in the view & it's fantastic :-) Really think that the positions of the windows will work very well.
Work tomorrow will continue on the 1st floor & hopefully see the remaining rafters installed, and then the work will transfer over to the garage roof (though there's still some brickwork to complete there).

Day 30 - Rest of the kit arrives

Lots of work done today with the rest of the 'rafters' being installed and the steel beams secured. The final wall-panel was also fitted which joins the extension to the garage - although we'll need to get the height of the window dropped as it's too high (due to the change in the foundation brickwork last week).
As well as the joinery thats been done, the roof has been removed from the garage, and a start made to levelling off the garage walls before fitting the new roof. A fine handy scaffold was there to get a good view over the house from height - gives an idea of what it'll be like with a first floor !
Hopefully tomorrow we'll see a start to the 1st floor being formed :-)
Scottish Water were also back on site again today to increase the mains pressure a bit more. We're now registering 5 barg at the outside tap, so definitely enough for the pressurised heating & water system to operate without additional pumps.

Day 29 - Further ground floor work

Work today has centred around getting the 'I' beams installed properly, and setting the joists in place ready for the balance of the kit arriving on Monday (which will bring the first floor & the roof sections). House is really starting to take shape now, and it's great being able to walk through the rooms & get a feel for what it'll be like. Loving the red oxide primer too :-)
The foundation wall was also built between the extension & the garage - this wasn't the original design, but I think it's well worthwhile getting done. As well as matching in with the house, it also removes the worry that we could have got water ingress into the connecting hall/workshop area if the weather was poor.
The garage wall has also had the 'door shape' cut into it (although boarded up for now).
The new oil tank has arrived (GRP type rather than the rusty steel one that we've currently got). Intention is for this to sit at the side of the garage, and we'll put some sort of fence round it towards the end of the build.

Day 28 - The ground floor takes shape

Fantastic progress today, with the timber frame sections being put in place on the ground floor. We can now see the full form of the ground floor, with the load bearing partitions also installed (& 'I' beams also in place above to support the upper floor). Looks really good, and I was initially amazed at the large size of the windows - will look really good once glazed. Timber frame has also come with silver reflective insulation on the outside, which is a new thing and looks suitably space age !
Doug was round this evening too, which was handy for discussing a few things. Bathroom doorway needs to move a bit to the right (the frame hasn't accounted for the additional 250mm we claimed back from the existing house). In addition, the partition panel between Jenny's & the guest room is in the wrong way round, so this needs turned (so the wardrobes are on the expected side).

Day 27 - The timber frame starts to arrive

After what seems like an age, the first consignment of the timber frame arrived late this afternoon (a bit later than initially expected). Looks good quality (and smells great !). Different squad of lads for this bit of the job - armed with nail guns !
We've also got a big JCB forklift beast here too (like a Manitou), so that should be able to lift the panels in no problems.

Day 26 - Rendering & tidy up

The final render was completed on the external foundation walls. All looking pretty neat now. The area was also tidied up a fair bit, and all that's left to do before the kit arrives is to place some heavy duty polythene at the front before backfilling & forming the 'ramp' entrance. That should take about half a day tomorrow, then it'll be all stop until next Wednesday.
Seems like an age, but I'm sure it'll be pretty quick in passing.

Day 25 - Floor is complete

That's the concrete floor complete now & the heating pipes have been covered up (with the exception of the wet room tray areas - for later). The weather stayed pretty fair today so the lads managed to get all the concrete filled in fine & polished up by teatime. Drying off as I type.
As well as the floor, further rendering work was completed, including the front of the extension (which is unfortunately going to be obscured by the 'access ramp'). Need to see about that.
The kit delivery is now pegged at 9th June, so there's going to be a few days downtime unfortunately. Work to do tomorrow & Thursday to complete the rendering & to tidy the area up, then it will likely be a break until next Wednesday. Pity, but at least the timber frame has been made to fit & engineered, so it should go up pretty fast.