Monday, February 02, 2009

Polishing concrete floor

After lots of research and faulse starts we eventually get a concrete polishing machine that is delicate enough to appear to work. Other machines with diamond discs are way too powerful and grind about 1mm per pass off the concrete - these would be great for a rough old slab but our pristine polished floor needs something more delicate. The machine is a large orbital sander uses diamondpaper (like sand paper but much more expensive).

After about £50 worth of sheets we realise it is much more effective to use a 9" angle grinder. On an 80sqm floor! The job takes ages and is painfully horrible (vibration and dust).








Spent the 3 days it took to do this job cursing the supposed experts at Lazenby contracts and the manufacturers of the concrete curing compound Sika Pro Seal W.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Downstairs WC

A last minute decision to go for red on the downstairs loo...




Disaster strikes however

The concrete kotatsu table top breaks at the joint while being drilled prior to installation. We decide to bond it together and try to finese the join later.




*edit in use we have decided to remove this table - concrete is just too unbendingly hard for small children.

The painting party.

Many thanks to the team: Paul, Clare, John, Silke, Dave, Yuka, Makiko and of course the ever present Neil. (sorry for the bad photo Yuka).





31st January more progress images, preparation for painting


Electric UFH in the downstairs loo.




Sliding doors in


Bathroom progress

Friday, January 30, 2009

30th January Progress




Oak Window cill goes in.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Painted mist Coat applied



Note: sliding doors installed using the excellent "straightaway" system.




First seal coat of paint applied which shows up the quality of light in the space. quite exciting, suddenly the house is getting there.


And front door completed by Neil and I. Big job and big relief to have finished it.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Burning oak cladding



For ground floor cladding and door. Photos don't do it Justice, messy job though!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Saturday 24th January






Taping and filing mostly done, though lots of snags still to do...

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Bathroom Tiling and Handrails



Bathroom nearing completion with excellent tiling by Alec (Arkadiusz Badowski).



Neil fits handrail upstands.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Grumpy tapers






The grumpiest subbie so far turns up. Jimmy the plasterer subcontracted to Dobbie & Sons. No fun...