Roof on in time for the floods

Luckily the roofers manged to finish and get everything water tight before the sky fell in.
The last part was to fit the ridges. To comply with the Regs we needed a continuous vented ridge. This is to allow vapour that can form between the slates and insulation to escape without rooting the slats and rafters. I had originally thought we end up with a modern ridge but after seeing how the system works I realised we could recycle the old ridge.
The system comprises of corogated strip that sits under the ridges and on the slates, lifting them up a little and allowing the ventilation. The ridges are screwed down on to the ridge board using clamps and a strip between them to stop water coming in. A simple system that works well with modern ridges. The ridges we have are 'roll top' which is like a tube along the top. The clamps had too be modified to fit in to the tube and longer stainless steel screws sourced. The ridge board had to packed up with slats giving enough wood for the screws. These were too high on the first ridge and so had to re-done.
The result is a ridge that look right, apart from the gap slight gap between them. Some morta or a thick bead of silicon could sort this.
A slight set back to this job was when the roofers foot came through on the neighbours side of the ridge. He survived the the accident but not the embarassment, the others made sure of that. It was quickly fixed, so no harm done.

More Reminders

Sold Chalet, New house workload, Laptop fix. Mot Bike

I was itching for something to get my teeth into a few weeks back and ended up building a tardis. Now there seems like a million and one jobs come at once. Oh Well busy, busy, it'll all be done in a month or three. I'll have to have some more hours in the day.
But it's my birthday on Sunday so some beer and friends and family followed by two days proper paid for work and back into it Wednesday. When I'll get chance to put some more on here I don't know.

Reminder to self

roof nearly finshed, ridges recycling, redo first ridge, ceiling colapse, elephant on roof and inevitable consequences, first stuctural timber and beams, wewiring, chimney bought, stone mulioned windows spotted. Another house to work on.

Loft conversion Fire Separation Wall - Stage One

This was a hot and sweaty job but satisfying because the progress is rapid and visable. Carrying the blocks up from the garden is a job I've been spreading out. Taking a couple up everytime I'm passing that way, not carrying anything else, and if I remember. Iv'e shifted about 100 so far so only anther 50 to go. It was a hot weekend when I built this first bit to the offshot and it gets hot up there however the sweat dripping into the mortar kept it workable. Carrying the full buckets of mortar up is bit arm streaching but using the large blocks 450 x 230 x 75mm means I didn't have too many to lug up.

Nothing special about the wall. However I did put cardboard down on the neigbours side, as promised, to break the fall of any blocks I might have dropped and to catch mortar droppings. I'll remove these from the neighbours side when required.

The blocks are lightweight (not so light when soaking wet) aerated concrete, they are easily cut with a saw. I used a bow saw, the blade is no good for wood now but is still cutting the blocks.

Between the blocks and slates I've packed rockwool flexi slab, this I believe is up to spec.

Velux Windows for loft conversion

The twin velux, yes I know the picture is on its side, so use your imagination or turn your head. The Purlin across the middle will be going after I've built the supporting wall off the steel. The best price I found for Velux products was from Travis Perkins (dont bother with the website though, I found it infuriating more than informative, the staff at the local branch where helpful and keen).

All 4 Velux are now in. There are three big ones, one of which is is the "means of escape" MOE. this one had to be no more than 1.7m from the eave to allow the escapee to reach the top of a ladder (building regs). The one above it is fitted as close as possible with a "duo flashing kit" the height of this top one is matched with the third large velux on the other side of the roof. Again I'm sure I would have done a better job of the joinery for these but they look solid enough. I will have to adjust some of the timber to make sure everything is looking as square as can be, before plaster boarding. The fitting of the membrane around these also leaves a lot to desired, the persistent rain has has highlighted the deficiencies.

The last velux goes over the landing to the stairs. Originally this was fitted a couple of inches out. It had to be moved or I wouldn't have been able to open the window after I've built the rest of the fire separation wall and fitted the insulation.

Having the windows in give a feel of what the room will eventually become. It also gives a fantastic view of the thunder storms coming in before I had to run round with the buckets again.

Loft conversion - Steels, UB not, PFC actually , RSJ's lifted and installed

Steel beams for the loft conversion

the big steel

shorter steel also showing the two wooden purlins




End view showing the section

Well what a relief when these where in, with no damage and no slip ups.

I would have photographed them going up but the technique was so far from a recognised safe method I don't think I would have been thanked for it.

They gave me a price and did the job and I'm not complaining. I did offer plan B but plan A worked. I'll not describe the method in detail for fear of it sounding like a recommendation but it involved a flatbed truck, a wobbly scaffold tower, the proper scaffolding, two ladders and some planks. Not forgetting some coordinated grunting and some extra strong tea before and after.

Once up there positioning, levels and bricking was easy.

The Steels are resting on class A engineering bricks with slate packers. A compromise was made to the squareness of the room to try and keep the Ashlar (I think that's the right word) or knee walls looking OK. It's no good try to get everything straight and square in these houses because it will always look wrong.

I had asked for extra care with the steel on to the party wall, and got it, so no problems there.

The steel beams where specified by a structural engineer- 230 x 90 x 32kg/m PFC one off clear span 4.9m and the other 3.8m The loading on it will be the floor and the roof via a structural stud wall, the top purlin will be coming out.

Sun Tunnels

A what? Is the normal response. Sun tunnels are like a small roof light from the outside but on the inside a reflective tunnel is fitted to take the light down through the ceiling below.

As I've had to fit closers to all the doors to the escape route (for building regulations) the landing is dark all day. the other one is going into the bathroom which has never had a window.

I'll show progress on these as it happens and take some pictures to show the difference it makes. I do hope it will be worth it.