The Day of the Screeding...

March 13th 2015 - Screed and UFH all laid...

First the Floor insulation went down...

We couldn't get the full amount of insulation in the floor due to the height of the ceilings and the doors that have already been installed. If you remember, way back in 2014 we hadn't planned to take the floors up at all. The intention was to remove the floor tiles and then simply tile on what was already there. That's where we had the problems as the floor screed in most of the kitchen had disintegrated. So we decided to dig up the screed and take the existing under floor heating pipes out... yes, it was expensive but we had to do it. We also decided it will be better in the long run (we had to convince ourselves somehow!).

Once the insulation was down the new Under Floor Heating (UFH) pipes went in. - around 1000metres downstairs.

Most of it in the kitchen...

The pipes went all around the kitchen, including under the area where the island will go.

Although we didn't put it under the main kitchen units.

The same applied to the Utility room...

The hallway has a good thick floor insulation as the original concrete slab was lower than the kitchen floor.

Once the insulation and the pipes were down it was time for the screed to go in.

Justin ordered 15 tonnes of sand... 

and loads of cement (3 pallets)

The screeders started in the study.

running their screed pipe through the house from back to front...

They pumped piles of screed in to the rooms...

Then flatten it out and power compacted it to make it smooth.

The final result was a perfectly flat floor (we hope!)

So we have now transformed the kitchen from this ...

To this...

So now the floors are down... we now just have to wait for them to dry... and that means not walking on it for 3 days...

Front Door, tiling and more plaster!

Front Door, tiling and more plaster! Oh, and the demolition of the fire place.

The Builders have a had a busy few weeks since the last post - and I have had a busy time too (hence the lack of blogging!)

We took the decision to demolish the existing fire place as it was too small for the stove we had chosen. This was a bit of a pain as it was a cost that we hadn't planned for! At least now we have a clean slate to start from. Now we just need to select the installer.

Doors, Stairs and bathrooms

Doors, Stairs and bathrooms

Lots to show you this week - the building site is starting to look more like a house now.

The rails on the landing have now been finished. The decorator has done an undercoat to protect the woodwork and it is now looking great.

Upstairs the plastering is virtually complete. We still have to wait to complete the main bedroom for some of the external works to be installed.

The doors upstairs have now been fitted and these are looking really good.

Even the short airing cupboard door looks good! The bottom of the door was removed and then the door cut to size before the bottom was refitted. They've done a great job!

The secret cupboards in the girl's rooms are taking shape (even with the boxing all around the waste pipes from the bathroom.)

The cupboards are perfectly sized for Emma!

The tiling in the girls bathroom is now complete. The wood effect floor tiles look really good and give the room a nice look.

I especially like the white metro tiles with the grey grout.

The Minoli tiles look good in the guest ensuite. The tilers have done a good job here.

Meanwhile in the main bedroom the doors have been taken off again to fix the length. They were slightly too long when they were first installed and so would have rubbed the carpet. 

Luckily Damien the window fitter was able to remake the door from to fit.

Richard has also now plastered the ceiling in the bedroom. He has done a good job of the curved roof and the curved wall.

Downstairs the utility is ready for plastering...

and the games room light wiring is now ready.

Next it's the front door to be fitted.... sometime int he next week.