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