At times over the last two weeks the place has been swarming with people all being shepherded along by Anthony the project manager and Carl the builder:
The action is both outside and inside (upstairs) with work going on that is included under the current approvals.
.Outside there's been people on the scaffolding rendering while others scampered about removing the concrete bases for the 'balls' that adorned the top of the building (so we can replace them).
I'm told the top half of the building will look pretty schmick in a week and the scaffolding can be taken down! The lower half will be done in conjunction with the verandah and balcony if only I can solve the issues of the columns.
Internally, the roof has been tied into the walls, more wood has gone into the roof space to reinforce, provide accessways to the various roof spaces and create an area for storage of junk. Some of the insulation has also made its way up into the roof space too though it is still all in its plastic bags yet...
Doorways have been reinstated and lintels replaced as necessary (even on existing doorways), and walls with crumbling render have been rectified.Rotten joists are now replaced and most of the remaining floorboards are up so we can check and salvage whatever we can (not as much as we hoped but I suppose that is a consequence of the building being derelict and exposed to the elements for so long). The roof over the exposed areas should be in place in the not too distant future. At least the pigeons who made it home for an extended period have acknowledged that their squatters rights have been eroded!
Electricians have rerouted some of the existing (new) cabling and have been followed by the chasers who have embedded the cabling in the walls. Many of the walls have been subjected to the scraper taking off the old and peeling paint, and a couple of square metre areas have been prepared, treated and even painted just to select the quality of finish required.
I have asked a million questions and been asked a million others in return! Last visit I went to the plasterworks to check out cornice and possible ceiling roses (the latter unlikely - they are all too pretty for this house - but there will be something there...watch this space!) I've also been investigating architraves, switches, underfloor heating, electrical appliances, light fittings and loads of other things!!!
Doors from the upstairs rooms to the (as yet non existent) balcony are being made, and should only take a week or so, so they should be on site next week. Also next week the ceilings are going in upstairs, cornices will be ordered along with skirtings and architraves to replace those we cannot rescue.
Soon it will really start to feel like a house rather than a building site (sort of anyway!)
