Robert's blog

Posted Friday, 28 June 2013 - 4:17pm in Robert's blog

Today we took delivery of the Velux windows (and additional slates, to replace broken ones).

Posted Thursday, 27 June 2013 - 9:13pm in Robert's blog

At the front of the gable there was originally a ridge finial - still to be seen on neighbouring properties. Some Googling lead me to this website, where believe it or not this guy specialises in making reproduction finials - amazing what you can find online! This one is a close match to the one our house would have originally had...

Posted Wednesday, 26 June 2013 - 6:27pm in Robert's blog

With the roof fully stripped, we discovered a purlin running right behind the original skylight at the top of the stairs (which we couldn't see before because it was behind plaster).

Posted Friday, 21 June 2013 - 7:24pm in Robert's blog

Today I took the plunge and ordered an ISE Drying Cabinet, which is the best clothes dying solution that I could find...

Posted Thursday, 20 June 2013 - 10:47pm in Robert's blog

The builders have started work on the roof today. Straight away we've found out that we aren't going to be able to salvage as many slates as expected. Apart from that, it's so far, so good.

The MVHR units arrived...

I was considering a very impressive 1.5 litre vacuum flush toilet called Propelair, which I'd seen at Ecobuild...

Posted Wednesday, 19 June 2013 - 9:53pm in Robert's blog

Set up a basic site office in one of the bedrooms - desk, chair, whiteboard, drawings on wall.

Had another meeting with the sprinkler company...

The rainwater harvesting system arrived...

I called Velux technical support to try to understand their somehow rather incomprehensible code numbers...

This evening I had the future occupants of the house come round and discussed various things with them...

Posted Monday, 17 June 2013 - 3:36pm in Robert's blog

I made sure I was back to be able to meet the builders on-site first thing this morning... but they called at 9am and said they weren't coming until tomorrow.

On the upside, I just bought this sink on eBay for the bargain price of £50...

Posted Friday, 14 June 2013 - 6:31pm in Robert's blog

Yesterday I spent some time at the house just generally clearing up and readying the place for the builders to start work on Monday. Yesterday and today I've been dealing with various items...

Posted Thursday, 13 June 2013 - 6:49pm in Robert's blog

The rainwater harvesting system we're going to use is from rainwaterharvesting.co.uk - they sell a complete system, in kit form. Because the tank is shared with the fire sprinkler system, I thought it would be a good idea to get it on-site ASAP, if possible. So I've been thinking about how to achieve this, given the road closure going on with the United Utilities works.

I'm very eager to ensure that we have good communication, and good relationships with the neighbours...

Posted Monday, 10 June 2013 - 4:52pm in Robert's blog

Today I had a meeting with the window company. They specialise in manufacturing and refurbishing sliding sash windows.

Posted Wednesday, 5 June 2013 - 7:39pm in Robert's blog

It would have been a good idea to have started this blog right at the very beginning of this project. But, since that didn't happen, getting the funding through to be able to start the building work in earnest seemed like a good milestone at which to pick up instead.

I had a meeting on-site with the main contractor today. They want to get the scaffold up, and start work on the roof and repointing the front wall (with possible brickwork cleaning).

The other meeting I had today was with someone from the sprinkler company. Now I totally agree that installing sprinklers seems like a bizarre place to start with an eco-house! I'll write a separate article explaining the thinking - but first the meeting...

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