31st December 2010

Thankfully virtually all the snow has now disappeared and I'm not freezing my gentleman's bits while trying to do things.  Also on a bonus side; my sister, Les (chief brew maker); her husband, Al (plumber & all-rounder) are here to help all the way from Australia.

As far as the footings are concerned, they are all now completely dug out on the final bit of digging I did hit a snag which was a concrete slab which took some time to break through using and Screwfix special SDS drill (and broke the handle and bit while doing it).  With a bit of perseverance and manly muscle power it has now gone.  While I was getting stuck into that Al mixed and poured about 2 tonne of cement into the footings.  As well as making some fine brews and snacks, Les managed to clean 3 old bricks ready to re-use.  Here is a pic of the site at the moment.

Also this morning, to make it easier for water and to get the new 25mm mains sorted - Al connected it up.  It did take a hell of a lot of rooting around and digging to find the pipes etc but he sorted it all.  We have taken note of the meter and will check tomorrow - if the last two digits on the water meter isn’t 85 we have a leak somewhere.  Below is a pic of his connection.

7th December 2010

Been braving the cold and doing some digging but haven't lasted long - it was meant to be -5c today and thats during the day.

I think a wooly hat is about to go on the shopping list....

3rd December 2010

Not much to update you folks with - been snowed in completely now for a whole week, I can't really do anything in this weather.

30th November 2010

Sorry I havent updated this for quite some time.  As all you UK residents know, we have had some dreadful weather and at the moment I am completely snowed in.

Following on from my last entry, I have completely taken down the rest of the old bungalow.  More of the trenches of the foundations have been dug and the base walls for the long section (bottom of plan) have been laid.

Despite the snow and cold I am determined to carry on regardless

17th October 2010

Generally, just to keep you informed, just been continuing digging the footing.  Its hard going as the section I am on now has been the most used so it has concrete, tiles etc to get through before I hit the soil - but it is progressing

13th October 2010

Not much really to update - been digging out more footings and finished off the long wall.  Will add more when I get a big leap forward

27th September 2010

Back to very very boring digging again.  Decided to start at the hardest end where I am more likely to encounter roots, rubble etc.  I didnt see much point of posting a pic of a hole (well, not one in the ground) but its coming along.

Only bit of bad luck was the delivery of materials.  The only place they could put them is right at the other end of the grounds which is going to make it very difficult to move but these things are here to test us.

21st September 2010

Quite a constructive (or destructive) day as you can see from the photo below.  I have got as much of the old section down as I can for now and apart from the little bit of brickwork to remove from an old chimney and cupboard I am ready to set out for the next lot of footings to go in.

Apologies if this is brief but I am ******!

18th September 2010

As you all know, the weather has been dreadful this week but I have been up to bits between the weather.

As there are some 'valuable' bits still in the old section I am trying to clear as much out as possible so I can just level the entire site and get cracking - time is running out.

Bonfire time today and have got a lot incinerated but it has been chucking it down since 2pm.  Now it is 6.30 and it is still burning strong (just dont ask what went on it!)

14th Spetember 2010

Not really much to report with the rain and high winds we have had over the past couple of days.


I was woken this morning at 2.30am to a hell of a noise (might have just dreamt it) but in the back of my mind I was dreading that the gales had caused all sorts of mayhem at the bungalow so off I went (put some pants on this time) to check it out.  There I was at silly o'clock in the pitch dark trying to see if everything was OK.  Tried to go back to sleep but couldnt.  Luckily at daybreak everything is fine over there but I am bloody knackered from having hardly any sleep!

9th September 2010

Its all going along at a good speed but not that much to report - taken down the chimney to the left of the pictures (you can just see the top of the chimney pot) and exposed more of the roof.  The felt is really annoying because the bit I am ripping off now has full exposure to the sun so its coming off in tiny pieces!

Chainsaw time today to continue to take down the old part of the bungalow - got loads done today and tomorrow looks good to get it all finished.  I had my super helper with me today, my mum.  I did give the super important job of cleaning the old bricks (I will be reusing them) but after 20 mins I think she realised I had given her the worse job in the world!  She has been a huge help today moving the timber and bricks as I am taking them down.

Pics tomorrow

8th September 2010

Very boring stuff going on - just taking down the rest of the bungalow - tackling the roof first (start at the top then nothing can fall on you!)

The massive pain in the butt is the felt on the roof.  Currently there is torch on felt which has also been nailed on.  Usually I would just use a shovel to take it off but I cant with the nails so its just a case of hacking it off (nightmare!)

The whole thing should be down by the weekend (apart from one little room that still has stuff in it.

In the pic, ignore the Goliath looming from the background....

1st September 2010

Absolute disaster!!!  Hit my thumb twice with the hammer this morning! 

Finally managed to sort out the roof-line yesterday.  What had happened is that I had put in temporary plumb timbers to hold the ridge board then put in the rafters, securing them at the birds mouth.  Trouble was that one of the plumb timbers bent which was a nightmare to straighten up the ridge board and settle the rafters properly but it has been done (that took all of yesterday to sort that out).  I have machined all the rest of the noggins for the ceiling rafters and supporting timbers for the rafters.  I have put all the nail brackets onto the supporting timbers (hence my throbbing thumb) and have installed half of them.

Decided today I am going to have an early day and splint my thumb up with a frozen sausage.

29th August 2010

Typical British weather - it began by raining this morning but I just carried on through that - began getting the rafters up.  Just as I climbed up on to the top of the frame it began to blow a gale - how typical, sunny blue sky but the wind is horrendous. 


So far I have got all the rafter up on one side of the frame which are resting on the ridge board and one rafter on the other side.  I am just praying that the wind doesnt get any worse today but its too bad for me to get up there to secure it.

Here is a pic of how it is so far (for some reason it looks a bit squashed) but it give you an idea of where I am.

27th August 2010

The first sunny day we have had during the week.  The internal stud wall has now been squared off, plumb and is now fixed into place.  More noggins have gone in (just have to mention noggins to keep my mum amused).

Started getting the rafters ready.  Since its a timber frame the bottom of the frame is exactly the same width as the ceiling height (if not I have cocked up massively somewhere!) so instead of messing about up high working out the rafters I can do them on the ground using the wall plates above the breeze block base as the widths.

This section of the roof will have 45 degree rafters so its really simple, mark the centre point, cut a 45 degree cut into two lengths of timber then then using clamps (since the internal frame is up) adjust until you get them spot on including a cut off for the ridge.

After marking off the edge of the wall plate on these rafters I added an extra 100mm overlap then marked the birds mouth.  These timbers were cut and put back into position - then I noticed I had put the birds mouth on the top edge of the timber and not the bottom!  Yes, I have called myself all the names under the sun after doing that.

Top tip - dont listen to the wireless singing like a nutter when trying to work out these things

24th August 2010

It has been one of those frustrating days.  Because I want to use off-cuts of timber for the noggins I am trying to cut all the long sections of timber first so I decided to make a start of the roof.  Managed to cut a couple of rafters ready but as soon at I would get to the top of the ladder it would blow a gale.  So I decided to build the internal stud wall to separate the kitchen from the lounge (the open area closest to the camera in the picture), then it would chuck it down with rain.  To make matters worse some little invisible monster would sneak around and move tools that I am using (that where within reach) bloody miles away!  Glad to have called it quits for the day.

So my progress today is that the internal stud wall is built and in place (not yet fixed), the noggins in the ceiling are gradually going in and I have made a template and cut a few rafters as well as being very windswept and wet!

22nd August 2010

Finally I have managed to get some picture up - see below of my progress.

So far the kitchen area is nearly finished.  The new mains water pipe is where I need it.  All the external walls are up, the windows are in and the ceiling joists are there.

To finish this area (before I start digging again) is to put a couple of studs up, put more noggings in the gable end and then get the frame for the roof up.

My highlight of the day was to see how many times my mum would bang her head on the temporary timber running across the open end of the U (in the pic the ladder is resting on it.

18th August 2010

An early update today.  Generally I have just been continuing adding the studs and the ceiling joists.  Because it is a big U at the moment I have started at the bottom of the U and working towards the gap.  I have to do one stud on either side then add the ceiling joist rather than put all the studs in one side at a time - this is because the gap of the U wont be strong enough to hold my weight.  Because we haven't bought one of the windows for one side I am having to temporary install a stud to lean the ladder against to install the ceiling joist for that run - its a bit dodgy climbing a ladder knowing it is resting on a bit of timber held in place by a couple of clamps!

I have also dug out a tree that had managed to grow up in one of the inside corners (yes - the old building was really that rotten)

Today has been cut short because God's love juice decided to rain down on me

17th August 2010

Just to keep you all update on progress so far on the section I have taken down.

All the blockwork has been completed despite all the rain!  I have then bedded a damp proof course (DPC) over the blocks and then bedded a timber wall straps on top of that secured by tension straps.

Before proceeding any further I had to install all the joists hangers in that section.  Because I want the timber frame to sit tight on the wall plate and I will be top wrapping the joist hangers I had to chisel out small sections (only a couple of mm deep) to accept the top wrap of the joist hangers.

Once all this had been done I began to create the timber frames of the walls.  I would prefer to make all the stud walls first then move them into situ but because it is only me I have had to make a very basic frame (just the sides, top and bottom) then move it into position.  Luckily I had my mum to help me with this so once they were in position and plumb I quickly screwed temporary sections of timber to brace it all together.

Once all the 3 of the frames are up (the section I am doing is a big U shape so there are two side walls and one gable end) I began to add the rest of the studs.  Since I am putting them in after the frames are up I cant screw through the bottom rail so the studs have to be dovetail screwed into position with some waterproof flue applied first.  The top of the studs are easy, they can be screwed straight through the top rail (even if it is a bit dicey going up their on a ladder).

So this is where I am up to now - I have the rest of the studs to fit around the circumference.  The ceiling joists (which are held by joist hangers) and once of the windows to put it.  Once I get all the ceiling joists in it will hold the frame solid.

Sorry peeps but no piccies yet - still looking for software for my phone to upload them.  So if you know of any Linux software for a Samsung DHG900 - let me know.

6th August 2010

The weather hasn't been very kind to me over the last couple of days but I have started the blockwork on the base - I am only on the second course but it is coming along a treat.

At the moment I cant unpload any pics because the broadband is running very slow (15kbs) but as soon as it's fixed I will upload pics so you can all see how I am getting on.

3rd August 2010

Just to update you all on my progress so far:


The sections that I needed to dig out for the footings have been done and it was very hard work.  The depth of foundations vary depending on the soil that is there but as a general rule of thumb the hole needs to be at least 350mm (14") and the foundations need to be a minimum of 150mm (6").

The new mains water pipe has been put into situ.  To make it easier for me I buried it below the bottom of the footings and fed it through some old guttering so it can slide just in case I need to adjust length.

The concrete has been laid for the foundations but unfortunatly I am a couple of wheelbarrows short of what I had planned.  This isn't much of a problem because I am doing the footings in sections (as I take the sections of the bungalow down) so I can just carry on where I finished.

I would have put up some photos today but I am abolsutely cream crackered and just cant be bothered going now to take a photo.

My top tip has to be that if your digging footings yourself, try and find the local village idiot and pay him £20 to do it - its very hard work

28 July 2010

Blimey - how quick did that rain come down - still digging away and hoping to get more done this afternoon if it brightens up.

A neighbour has been around today to collect some of the old timber that I have ripped down (proves that one man's trash is another's treasure).  Its nice to see it going to use rather than ending up in a landfill - even if she only used it as firewood.

27 July 2010

Yesterday was pretty wet but I still beavered on and did manage to get some more digging done.  I have been more productive today (I know its 3pm and I have finished) but I am buggered after all the digging.

Here is a picture of a suprise visitor the must have fallen into the trench last night.

I am not sure if its a mouse or a vole but it was tiny, about half the size of a Zippo lighter.  For all you animal lovers I did get him out of the trench and release him back into the wild (after I waited for my phone to charge to take its picture!).

My trench digging is about ¾ there - just got one more section to dig (which happens to have concrete paths running through the middle and a mains water pipe to put in then its all ready for the concrete on Thursday (which is meant to be the nicest day of the week).

And here is a picture of the trench showing where I have smashed through the old soil pipe (it isnt needed now since I will be putting in a new sewage system.

Datum (Level) Line

Because I have not knocked the entire bungalow down and that I am starting at the lowest level of the plot I need to find the highest floor level so I can set it out properly.  This has many advantages but mainly that I dont end up having the highest corner edge of the bungalow underground.

You can use a datum line for loads of things like setting out kitchens, bathrooms etc and it is very easy to do.  Virtually all floors arent completely level so its not a good idea to use them as a level line so here is how to do your datum:

Measure a distance from the floor vertically to whatever height you want - I use 1500mm because I am short and its easier for me but you just pick your own.  Once you have made a mark you can throw your tape measure back in the tool box and grab a spirit level.  Using the mark and your spirit level draw a level line around the room or building (in my case).

This can be invaluable because if I hadnt marked the datum I would not have known that the bunglow rises by 30mm in the middle and drops about 75mm at the edge of the section I am working on - if I hadnt done this step then entire bungalow would be around 3" lower than where it should be.  It doesnt sound much but do you fancy digging out 3" from 12 square metres all because you didnt follow this simple step?

See my posts later (much much later) about using a dutum for installing kitchen unitts)

24 July 2010

My mum has been over today to help me while I am digging the footings - need someone to man (or woman) the wheelbarrow!

As a measurement guide I am going to be using a single skim of 100mm (4") blocks as a base for the bungalow and as a general rule of thumb when your setting out footings allow 100mm to either side of your planned building materials - for me its 100mm for the blocks plus 100mm either side so the footings need to be 300mm width in total - thats 12" (and I mean a proper 12" and not what I tell the ladies)

The governement have guidelines on depths of footings - for some reason they never seem deep enough so I always add a third (just to allow for fluctuations in depth as its being hand dug) - the recommeneded depth is 300mm so I will be laying them around 450mm (18")


More digging tomorrow - yipppeeeee

Rebuilding a Timber Bungalow: 21 July 2010

Rebuilding a Timber Bungalow: 21 July 2010: "Absolutely bloody soaked - got everything set up to get started but torrential rain has put a stop to that. Tip of the day - its best to lo..."

21 July 2010

Absolutely bloody soaked - got everything set up to get started but torrential rain has put a stop to that.

Tip of the day - its best to lose a day to torrential rain than spend a day pumping out and re-digging collapsed footings

20 July 2010

Like they say in cricket - rain has stopped play - it has been chucking it down all.

So my only tip of the day is to either get a sex mad partner or an Xbox 360 to keep you occupied on rainy days (rechargeable batteries are more economical for the 360 controller)

19 July 2010

Today, despite the rain, has been pretty produce. As you can see from the picture that it still looks like a bomb has hit it but I can clear all that while I am waiting for the footings to go off - as long as where I need to dig the footings are clear for me to work.

Apart from semi-leveling the area I have been setting out where the footings are going to go. This has been a major headache because around two thirds of the bungalow is still standing and I have to keep to the same footplate and eventually meet with two chimneys. Since I have to knock these two chimneys down and rebuild them I do have some leeway. Even though, it took ages to mark it out because the part of the bungalow that is still standing doesn't have true corners. If I had knocked the whole lot down in one go it would have saved a lot of head scratching and swearing today!

Another little job I have been doing today it removing some of the outer brick pillars that the original structure stood on) - you can still see some in the picture. Little tip - I have been cleaning the mortar off these bricks and stacking them for future projects because its a thankless task facing a huge pile of bricks and doing them all in once go.

16 July 2010

Today I have decided to start a blog on me rebuilding a Timber Framed Bungalow from scratch through to the finished article. I hope you will find this helpful and will avoid the snags I am bound to come across.

I haven't completely taken down the entire existing bungalow but instead I am doing it in stages. I have taken down the back section as that was completely rotten. This week, though, it has rained non-stop so I haven't been able to do a thing (I don't work in heavy rain!).

I intend to update this blog every day with my progress so that you can follow too. If you have any questions or would like to offer advice I am hear to listen and help