28th Apr 2013

This bottom right two blocks on this wall had unfortunately dropped a little due whilst the opening down stairs was enlarged where the old back door was. The steel lintel is in place now, has all been bedded down and this wall has been made good. It isn't supporting anything significant above due to the lintels that are already in place above it. However it is good that it has been bricked up and sorted out now. One less thing to worry about.


The area above will eventually be a cupboard with a wall facing the master bedroom with built in shelves for books and a TV. Access to the cupboard will be from the landing with a single door, within the cupboard we are planning on having a small radiator with a thermostatic valve so that we still have a warm area of storage now that the hot water tank has gone.


The first fitment of the shower tray and toilet in the new en-suite has been started by the plumber. Only the toilet is operational at the moment, the rest to be completed later.


The LED down lights have been installed in the office and the bedroom, along with most of the sockets and data points.


The sockets on the wall are for a future planned TV mounting, again data points as most TV's these days have an Ethernet network port on them for streaming and on demand services.




20th Apr 2013

The next stage of work along the landing corridor is underway now, the insulation and plywood is going up on the walls.


The plasters have now done the en-suite, the office and the bedroom. It is still drying out in places so not ready for painting yet.


In the photo above, we have opted to make a feature and use the old window opening and use the space for some built in shelves next to the sink. It has always bugged me when there isn't a level surface somewhere near a shaver socket to put a toothbrush or shaver on whilst charging. We will have one next to the bottom shelf so we won't have to charge things whilst dangling in mid air.


Office is still a store room, but has now been plastered and is drying out well as it catches the sun through the large window.


The new bedroom has also been plastered. and the mains sockets have been installed.

14th Apr 2013

Back on the outside, now the weather has finally picked up, the rendering has been done. Technically this is just the base render coat, but it shows which bits will be rendered and where the brickwork will be left exposed.


8th Apr 2013

The new upstairs rooms are really taking shape now, the office has all the plasterboard installed. It really will be a nice bright room to work in.


Likewise, the back bedroom is really coming together now that the plasterboard is up. Obviously still very much a building site, but all heading in the right direction.


The new en-suite for the master bedroom is at a different phase, having just had the underfloor heating installed.


2nd Apr 2013

I received a phone call today whilst at work from my wife, apparently we have a gateway to Narnia at the top of our stairs.

Opening up the door that once used to hide the hot water cylinder, now reveals the new east wing of the house.


The view above is through what used to be the hot water tank, the old en-suite shower (the fittings are still there on the left). After that, its all the new extension. The photo below, is taken from the extension looking back at the same doorway. The taps that used to be for the en-suite sink are still in place and still dripping, hence the bucket.


In the new bedroom, the various data cables are being boxed in. These will eventually be hidden behind (or within) the wardrobe. We haven't decided exactly what to do yet, as it depends a lot on budgets etc.


The next bunch of 24 cables have been split out into pairs ready to be installed. Whilst we are having all this disruption to our lives, it seems to make sense to put in the structured cabling where possible. We will probably never use all 72 ports, but the flexibility it gives us is enough to justify it in my eyes. No doubt some of you reading this think I'm mad, well you are all entitled to your opinions, no matter how wrong they are. :)