14 - 19th July progress

Dom and Viv visited with Ingrid on 13th-14th so no work on the weekend of 14th July. Slow week with two days spent making the roof watertight after strong winds almost ripped away the stapled down breather membrane. Delivery of insulation on the 17th means work is hard with no space but but good progress with big team of helpers on the 19th July. Thanks to everyone who helped.

Also 4 cubic metres of concrete go into complete the sub base.

Starting electrics with Danny the Electrician and met JWS plumbers - we may have a plumber!

Sorting slates and lead dormers 10th July

Wednesday 9th July House progress

Rain in Portobello! Leadwork starts at last, after two no shows by Blakes.
Road re-intstated by British Gas despite the fact that Electric company have to dig it back up next week. And last image showing the broken waste pipe that needs to be replaced.

7th July 2008 Tanabata

7th July 2008, Tanabata, finished the sarking on the roof, heroic efforts from Neil and Lewis.

4th & 5th July Progress

Mainly on the dormers and roof.

Heavy rain on the afternoon of the 5th - first time really that work has been disrupted by the weather. The last picture shows the horigotatsu filled up with water - that's 800x1750x440 or 0.616m3 = 616Litres. We syphon it off using a small bore plastic pipe and some sucking which is disgusting when you get a mouthful of stinky water! It takes about 5 hours to empty.

2nd July progress on the Portobello House

The main corner views of the house.


The corner glazing facing due South



The dormer boxed out with haffits and soffits (just like saying those words)




The C16 grading of timber stamped on the s/w.

Charnwood stove

Much nicer than the Taro in my opinion, will have to see how much it costs...

edit: just found the costs £1,330. Minus my 30% I'm demanding from all my suppliers from now on...


A beautiful stove detail from flickr

and the rest of the interesting ones

Velfac windows arrive

1st July progress

2 guys on site from Alan Tough's carpenters mostly notching rafters and preping the roof structure.

360 panoramic from the top of the roof

The house has great views of Portobello.

Solar hot water

About £2,000 all in. Considering installing. Thing that is putting me off is the aesthetics rather than the cost. Above various images from the interweb of the evacuated tubes.

30th June progress

Topped out!






Main progress on gables and ridge beam. Neil notches shadow gap to Post. Shock discussions with contractor on price - I'm paying his team for travel to and from the site. Shock.

Friday 27th Progress

Stoves

From greymetal.co.uk I have narrowed the list of stoves down to 3:


The Luna, will heat 100m3, cost £359.


The Taro, will heat 100m3, cost £360.


The marinella, no info on heat output, cost £499

Telehandler - lift and shift

12m crane with fork lift, a jcb body and all terrain tyres. Available at Robert Purvis Plant Hire in Fife.



available at amazon

Wednesday 25th June

The steel beam being lifted into place by a telehandler, possibly the most amazing piece of plant I have ever seen.



The semi complete corner panels.

Colours for the Alumasc Gutters

I've narrowed the already narrow range to these