23rd August 2011

Been a busy boy over the last month.  As I might have mentioned before all the external walls have been done bar one which needs a window.

I have also finished off installing all the ceiling joists and have now begun to get the chimneys up.

As soon as they are done pics will be going up!

29th July 2011

It was chucking it down when I woke up but I still thought I would try and light a small fire.  Someone must be smiling down on me because it actually lit.  So i started chopping up the stuff that was cut down yesterday and because it was wet it was smoking like mad.  My neighbour had her conservatory cleaner people turn up so I thought it would be a good idea to stop the fire (I don't want to be blamed for ash flying over it) so filled up my green recycle bin and now its raining - feet up for me now

28th July 2011

Can't believe I forgot my password to update this blog and it has just popped into my head now!

Here we go for a little update on how things are going.

The kitchen and lounge area are done and just waiting for the roof to go on.

The small bedroom by the lounge is very nearly done with windows in, completely framed.  All I need to do there is pop in the floor joists and put some exterior ply on one wall.


Next to the external doors I have added some small fixed windows (about 150mm wide) for some extra natural light.

The main window in the master bedroom is in and that wall has been framed and ready to for the ply.  I have the other window for that room but I haven't put it in just yet.

I still need to put in the ceiling joists for the master bedroom/bathroom areas and then all that is done (not to myself - I need to get more joist hangers!)

I have been trying to get the area cleared ready for the septic tank to be installed That might sound quite easy but this time a few days ago there was just a small path and I have had to clear it for a JCB to fit through.  Whilst clearing the brambles, cutting the hedges back, etc I discovered four trees I didn't even know were there (thats how bad it was).  Just need to build a massive bonfire now to get rid of it all.

I think that’s about it for now.

Did I mention the massive wasps nest....

8th June 2011

Well, the roof is on, all the walls are on.  All I need to do now is give it a couple of licks of paint and install a front door and its all done.

Sorry peeps - not the bungalow but my chicken coop!  Still digging at the bungalow and moving stuff to make way for the earth I am digging (nothing hugely exciting)

3rd June 2011

It has been a long, long time I have update this - sorry folks!!

Kitchen area :-

• All noggins around the side frame have been put in.
• The whole external walls have had waterproof structure ply board screwed to the area (with a small exception to a small bit between two windows - waiting for offcuts)

Lounge are :-

• Noggins again have been put in.
• Patio doors are now installed.
• Whole ground area here has been levelled out.
• Floor joists have been laid but ran out of cut offs for noggins.
• The whole arem also been ply boarded.
• Ceiling joists have been hung.

 Small Bedroom by Lounge :-

• Area has been levelled.
• Ceiling joists are in.
• Ply Boarded along one wall (need a window to finish this section)

Here is a pic so far of those three

Hallway :-

• As you can see from the above pic the front door is in.
• From the next picture down you will see the back door is in and ply boarded.

Master Bedroom :-

• Frame is up all the way around
• Got one window ready to go in (hopefully tomorrow) but need one more
• In the middle of levelling the ground there.

Bathroom/Small Bedroom :-

• All the frame is up.
• One window for the wall in the bedroom (same wall as backdoor) is now ply boarded

Main things I need to do next :-

• Put two footings and sleeper walls to support the joists in the centre section (Hallway/Bathroom)
• Lay joists in Master Bedroom
• Build 2 walls incorporating chimney breast tied into the frame to the left of the wheelbarrow in first pic and behind the mixer in second pic.
• Dig a trench for the soil pipe to the bathroom - just hope the hole I boxed up for it hasnt collapsed.
• Finish off levelling the ground inside the frame (running out of where to put the soil)
• Re-do the design (since it has changed slightly)

I will, fingers crossed, keep you updated more frequently.  Anyone who is good at digging and wants to do it for free let me know!

1st May 2011

Daft me, I havent updated this for a while because a new version of Linux came out and I upgraded the PC and forgot my password to get on here (DOH!!!)

Photos will be going up soon but just to give you a quick update - the whole main frame is up.

9th April 2011

Well, what can I say about today.  Due to unforeseen circumstances my young apprentice skived off today - so no BBQ (where did I put that P45?).

Despite that little setback I have been cracking along under my own steam and its been that hot I think I have produced loads of it too.

To start the day I finished off the noggings for the floor joists in the kitchen area of the plan so all that is now as solid as a rock.  As for the framework, I finished off the entire length going up the right hand site of the plan.  Once that was in position I was fiddling about with it for ages to make sure it was plumb and square.  As that was now plumb I made the frame for the wall that goes to the left in the bedroom above the lounge  which has helped hold everything solid as does the other frame I have made on the other side and put in which will hold the front door.

I was going to nip over and measure up for the windows I still need to get but now I have sat down I cant get up but I have to say, things are flying along now.

8th April 2011

What a scorcher today has been!!  Well today I have been up to allsorts.  First of all I noticed that one of the frames wasnt sitting quite square and plumb so I removed all the ceiling joists and replaced them with new and not it is completely bob-on.

I had put up a temporary wall between where the kitchen and lounge is going to be and as that doesnt need to be there now, I have also removed that.  The floor joists in the kitchen area have been finished off (just a couple of noggings to go in).

When I starting this morning I was going at it like a bat out of hell but by 3pm with the heat I was getting to a snails pace.

Those hassling me for pics - I will put some up soon!

Its got to be BBQ weather tomorrow....

5th April 2011

What a rough 24 hours I have had.  The stud frame I put up the other day is screwed into the existing frame at one end but it open the other end - the only thing keeping that end up is a brace going across the 4m opening.  Last night it was blowing an absolute gale and I could hardly sleep listening out just in case anything came down in the winds - now I know what the farmer feels like getting up every 2 hours to check when its lambing time!

Today it has been a miserable day but at least the wind has died down.  According to the weather forecasters we are meant to be getting a taste of summer during the second half of this week - yippee!!

4th April 2011

A fairly quiet day today.  I got over there early and set everything up.  I moved a load of stock timber out of the way (thats the worse bit about working in such a narrow plot - your always moving something out of the way) and just as I chopped my first bit of timber the heavens opened.

2nd April 2011

What a couple of days we have had, it has been miserable for the last couple of days - even had a thunder storm at 3am this morning but it brightened up not long after sunrise.

Today I completed the frame that contains the long window (2.4m long) to the lounge (on the right of the plan).  I did have to ring my apprentice to wonder where she was because there would have been no way I could have lifted that whole frame into position on my own.

I also have the frame on the opposite side (with the French doors) 90% completed and erected.

I am officially goosed!!!

30 March 2011

Typical Welsh weather today, the morning began overcast but I thought it would be fine (checked the BBC website and they said it won't rain until this evening) so set up the chop saw, got the radio going and spare drill battery on the go - just as I grabbed the first bit of timber it chucked it down!  Thank you BBC but I don't think I will qualify for the 100 yard dash at this years Olympics (but I must have been close!!)

29th March 2011

What a strenuous day today has been.  Before I continued with the frame I decided to fix some of the exterior ply sheets to help keep plumb the frame that is already up and to give the frame lateral strength.  I think it should have been me that needed the strength - forgot just how heavy 8'x4' sheets are and what an absolute nightmare it was holding them in place with whatever body part I had free to screw them into place!

After they were up I got about making the frame for where the lounge will be.  Thats about 90% ready to go up.

I'm absolutely knackered now!

27th March 2011

I haven't updated this for a while for one really good reason - I forgot my password!!

Things are picking up, despite the early spring climate.  Joist hangers are all up on the main stretch looking like little soldiers.  I have only three more to put on.  I broke a couple of drill bits so needed some more.  Here is a little tale for you...

In B&Q Bosch drill bits are £5 each so I found someone on Ebay who sold a 7 bit box set for £7.50 so I ordered them, a couple of days later a parcel arrived off Amazon with the bits in - the cheeky chappy made £2.50 on doing naff all apart from putting them on Ebay.

Below is the link to Amazon if you want some Bosch drill bits at really good value.

15th March 2011

Been raining (and I have been waiting for Mr Manweb all day)

13th March 2011

I has been a glorious day today so I have been out there early starting to get all the metal work done.  It won't be long until the final sections of the frame go up

12th March 2011

I haven't really been up to much over the last couple of days because of the bad weather, plus yesterday I could hardly shift myself with my back still playing up.

Today I was fiddling about for a bit dry setting the bricks for one of the chimney breasts to make sure the spacings between the bricks are spot on so I will only be using full and half bricks for that section.  I only had a bit of cement left so just laid a couple of courses so now I that's there ready to fly up.  I can't wait to be working at a stage where I am not bending over all the time.

My assistant was on duty today, my mum, so her job today was to shorten some bent straps with a junior hacksaw, builders merchants sent the wrong ones, I didnt giggle too much watching her sawing away but she announced it was raining after 5 mins - I'll trim them off tomorrow with the angle grinder.

Anyway, its rugby time (come on Wales!!)

9th March 2011

Today's weather has been a bit hit and miss so after my usual Wednesday shopping spree I did a little favour for the lady across the road - re-fixed a couple of tiles that had fallen off. 

Top tip of the day - if your doing something like this clean the old grout off the tile before re-fixing it.  The easiest way is to soak the tiles in water first and you will find the grout comes off a lot easier with a scraper or, in my case, an old chisel - for tough bits, take off what you can and then re-soak them.

8th March 2011

Another super day with the weather (but still a bit on the cold side).

I cleaned up the footings for the brick walls and laid the foundations for one of them - I didnt have enough cement to do both.


The DPC has now been finished off and laid around the entire building and now all the wall plates have been bedded and levelled.

Also, still can't believe I did this, but while I was smacking down the wall plates to level them with a hammer I somehow decided to put my finger exactly where I was hitting.  The sky was blue before but it was even bluer after I did that - poor thing has swollen right it (its the finger a woman wears her wedding ring on).  Still can't believe - never in my life have I hit a finger with a hammer - my thumb loads of times but never a finger!

6th March 2011

It has been a while since I have updated this and to be honest, I haven't really done that much in that time.  I pulled out my back the other week so haven't really been able to do much hard labour.

Since my last post I decided to spend a day cleaning gulleys and drains in the road (before you ask if that's the council's job, I know) but it was one of those jobs that had to be done and I cleared between 2-3 tonne of muck - no wonder the grounds of the bungalow wasn't draining properly.  Anyway, it was a day well spent (and keeps the neighbours happy - no more little streams down the road!).

I have also cleared away more rubbish from the site and today mum called down to help me clear some more.

The footings for the two walls that are going to be brick with chimney breasts have also been dug today.  The inner block cavity foundations were dug a while ago and the blocks laid two courses high.  The reason I am digging the outside foundations now rather than doing the two at the same time is because I am using what reclaimed bricks I can so I decided to have a stepped foundations so that the bricks don't go as far below ground as the blocks do - I have a limited supply of bricks and don't want to run out.

TROJAN VIRUS WARNING!

This morning I was informed that people visiting this site were attacked by a Trojan Virus.  I have removed the offender (from Clicksor Advertising).

I would encourage any regular visitors who use Windows to run a full virus check on their computer - please make sure your Anti Virus Software is fully up to date first.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused

12th February 2011

Sorry I havent updated for a while but with the high winds here has been a disaster zone.  The winds really did get extreme, at one point I couldnt stand still in them.  The effect they had in the bungalow was fairly minimal - all the roof trusses I put up aren't there anymore though!  I must be going blind - my mum came over to help me out today and spotted a huge tree had gone over in the winds - how I never spotted that!

Well today, despite my sidekick disappearing very early, all the block for the base are up, the DPC is around most of the new bit and a couple more wall plates have been bedded.  I would add more but my back is killing me now so going to relax and watch the rugby

3rd February 2011

What a mad 18 hours or so.  The high winds all last night meant I was up at 2am - it sounded like all hell had broken loose outside.  Being slightly knackered and heeding the advice of the weather girl I decided not to lay any blocks but instead have a tinker around tidying up the site.  My friendly neighbour called to collect more of the old wood for his woodburner at home.  Then, bang on cue, at 1pm the heavens opened.

The winds seem to be getting far worse now - hope I can keep my little peepers closed tonight

2nd February 2011

Typical - woke up this morning full of enthusiasm and it hasn't stopped raining all day.

Bring on tomorrow!

1st February 2011

Its been a week or so since I have been able to anything due to my dodgy shoulder and the freezing weather.  Well peeps - today I am on fire!

Today, I have taken out the wall I wasn't happy with.  It was a shame the blocks didnt come out whole but they will do for cuts etc.  Spent sodding ages taking up the mortar bed.

After that, each mix was an absolute treat, each block went down like it was meant to be there - fantastic!

Bring on tomorrow!

19th January 2011

Finally we have had some sunny days!  I have started prepping where the masonry walls are going to go (where the two chimney breasts were in the original bungalow).  Not only that, block work for the base is now nearly finished.  One slight gaff (I blame the tape measure), is one small wall isn't a true 90ᵒ so I will have to take that out and re-do it - at least it was just one course and about 6 or 7 blocks so no big nightmare.

Yesterday while trudging off to get some more water for the next mortar mix I tried walking over a bit of old kitchen unit board and went arse over tit.  Apart from landing on the bucket full of water and feeling a fool, I was fine yesterday.  This morning my neck and left shoulder is killing me so on that note I am taking some R&R today (sponsored by Carling!) I hope to be back on form tomorrow

16th January 2011

Unfortunately not much to update - its been chucking it down for the last few days so I have just been pottering about between the rain storms.  The weather next week looks promising - touch wood

8th January 2011

Crikey, it was absolutely freezing today.  Despite this we still got out to get some stuff done.  We continued with the breeze blocks around the foundations that we laid yesterday and marked out the joist hangers on the wall plates that were bedded yesterday.  Some bent straps were put in on those wall plates.

Unfortunately, the cold got too much (especially when it began snowing again).

It's meant to be sunny tomorrow!

7th January 2011

What a day today - woke up this morning and there was snow everywhere.  Did that stop us - hell no!

As you can see from the pic below - thats me laying some bricks in the winter snow (nutter) but as well as that we have managed to finish laying all the concrete in the foundations.  The DPC is now on and the wall plates are bedded in on the full lengths of blockwork.

We're steaming along now!

5th January 2011

Not much to report today.  Its been chucking it down and, as usual, decided to stop about 3.30-4pm and that's far too late to even begin anything.  Bugger!

4th January 2011

Yesterday we managed to get the block base built around 3 walls which looks spot on!

Today we went off early to the builders merchants to get a load of stuff and they had to deliver it in two loads and as you would expect, the materials I needed first were on the second delivery that didnt turn up until 4pm.  Also the timber I ordered has to be delivered using a sling and the gap between the top of the hedge and the telephone cable was too short so they had to drop it off on the grass verge and I had to shift it by hand.  Luckily, a neighbour of mine was driving past and stopped to give me a hand. 

1st January 2011

Just been over to check the meter and its still on 85 (yippeee) - so thats the hole filled in and my toil done for the day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!