23rd Feb 2013

The first fix for the underfloor heating is now underway in the two main rooms in the extension upstairs. The photo below is of the back bedroom above the garage, the insulation sheets have already been installed. With the trays arranged to slot between the joists.

Continuing into the front room, which will be the office eventually, the reflective panels are first installed, then the tubes to carry the hot water are laid out.

Another view showing the first fix heating installed in the extension. Also visible in the picture below are the first 24 runs of the Cat 5E data cable, Cat 6 is now readily available, but this cable was very reasonable from a cost perspective and should support Gigabit network speeds. The Electrician has agreed to install the cable runs, and I'll terminate them later.

The block work is still drying out, just shows how wet it all was last year. Roll on summer.

9th Feb 2013

Now that the snow has thawed and the weather has improved a little the roof is nearing completion. The first photo is of the back where we have chosen to use the new tiles.

On the end of the apex we have opted to use these plastic shields to help prevent water damage to the mortar that the tiles are bedded down on. Whilst up close they might not look to great, they do make the finished roof line look smarter in our opinion.

On the front of the property we chose to reuse the tiles from the old garage roof as this will be more obvious from the road hence the initial impressions of the property.

The front roof just needs some final tiles around the roof above the main window. Steve the builder believes we should have enough tiles, I trusted him about the bricks a while back and he was right, so I trust him again with the tiles.

It is getting to the point of needing to do something with the satellite dish again, we seem to be getting a poor signal these days, but we think that might be because someone has built an extension roof near by. Its currently sitting on top of the scaffolding and will be moved to the gable end wall with the cables being run inside the roof rather than externally on the wall.

We have been thinking about using some light tubes to allow natural light through to the landing which has no windows. Unfortunately these have proved to be significantly more expensive than we first thought so we have decided not to use them at present. We may in the future still use them, but it will not be part of this project for the time being.

Whilst the costs and therefore decision were unknown the ridge tiles have not been laid yet as we would have needed to take them up again to install the light units. This isn't that obvious in the photos but when taking a closer look at the roof line, there is a drop about half way where the old and new meet. This will eventually be a straight line all the way across.

I think the photo below is probably the best shot to illustrate the overall look of the extension so far. Overall we are happy with how it is coming together.

3rd Feb 2013

I have some grave news that I must convey today. We have had an event which may derail the entire progress of the extension, it may even lead to the various trades walking off site.

First though, a very quick update. The Electrician has been busy with the first fix, the wall where the consumer unit is to be located is already starting to look like spaghetti. For those familiar with the original house layout, the picture below is of the wall opposite where the original back door is located.

The blue sheet to the right is covering the new kitchen window at the front of the house, with the soil pipe for the front en-suite upstairs.

So, now on to the serious news update. Whilst I was just taking a few pictures I happened across the scene of an accident. No one had alerted me to this accident, which I find a little surprising. It has obviously occurred recently, and has the potential to cause all the trades to down tools and refuse to work until a work around has been identified and put into place.

I would have thought we may have to get the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) or at very least someone with a valid NEBOSH (National Examination Board Occupational Safety and Health) to review the situation, unfortunately my wife's certification has expired. I can only see this adding unforeseen costs to the entire project.

Anyway, to the dire matter at hand. Someone has melted the Kettle, when I queried Steve the builder this evening he alleges that it was someone else. Rather ironically, someone who was not here today to defend themselves. I don't know who to believe, but at least Steve now has something to throw at the next individual we find rummaging through the skip for scrap metal.