one step forward, two steps back

 This week the basement has started to take shape. Basement Builders were proceeding on schedule, due to Emil's brilliant management of the project.

 However, the unexpected always happens. Due to the quantity of recent rainfall, leaking drains and a sandy base that had been laid during the original works we undertook, the soil on the last remaining section caved in, and the builders have had to put up a temporary retaining wall before the build the final section of cellar wall.

 Another setback was the withdrawal of the company that was going to deliver the second phase of the contract. So we have to find another company to carry out this work.
I am begining to doubt whether we will be finished by Christmas after all.

Eco weekend

This weekend was North London Eco-House weekend. We visited about 6 houses which was probably a bit too much to absorb. Quite a variety of projects, some very professional, some quite DIY.  It was interesting to see how successful some of the DIY insulation had been - and no cold-spotting either. 

It was useful to hear about the benefits of solar thermal heating from a neutral source and about the design problems of earlier double glazing.
Only one house we visited was doing any water recycling and they were recycling grey water rather than harvesting. Interesting too to see too how  people are putting in place fixtures for further development.
Meanwhile the basement is starting to take shape. we now have footbridge across to the garden, and at long last I have trained our cat Mille, to cross it (she suffers from vertigo and get panicky when crossing).

Digging ever deeper

 The basement builders are making huge progress. The pit is getting ever deeper.

 Soon the two sides will meet and we will need a crossbridge to get out into the garden. To add to the chaos, Thames Water has hemmed us in from the other side with work in the street renewing their infrastructure. As the house trembles I am never quite sure which side the tremors are emanating from.

 The front garden remains a calm oasis in the midst of this carnage. My roses have put on a wonderful display, as has the philadelphus, and the tree with a name unknown to me.

On Friday we are expecting a camera crew to suprise us during the day, as they will be filming Caia. I had better get out the mops and dusters.

These photos do cheer me up.

Roof matters

The dilemma of the week : whether to install photo-voltaic panels on the roof or integrated panels (these are much more aesthetically pleasing, but we wouldn't be able to fit as many in, and they are not quite as efficient).

Mini-dilemma: whether to install photo-voltaic cells or solar-thermal cells on the smaller bathroom roof.

We are going ahead with a local group scheme organised by Transition Town Re-furb group, which gives us a group discount. The group asked a number of companies to give estimates and have decided to go with local company Joju, who are very helpful, have wonderful computer-generated plans to show you the lay-out, and explain how much money you can expect to save through the Feed in Tarriff scheme.

Here is Chris with Dominic our architect on one of his site visits. 

Dominic looks pleased with the work.

Chris has just been cycling.

Digging in the foundations

A photo for Janek who loves dumper trucks

over the bank holidays

Before Easter, the back of our house was pulled down. This is how our garden looks at the moment.

The shed has been moved.

 The gates put on for delivery vehicles.

 Our new toilet.

work has started

We have at last got a new bathroom - though not quite finished.
We are having 2 builders - Emil who is doing the basment and Jacek doing the new building works. Jacek's crew came in to install a bathroom at the top of the house. This had to be built before our bathroom in the extension was demolished - there was a bit of over lap when we didnt have anywhere to wish - but on the whole things went well.
It was Caia's birthday during the course of demolition works, but she and her friends had a great party on the scaffolding.  They put our rugs and pillows and had balloons, strawberries and chmapagne. The weather was great. That was before the rest of the house came down. Show you that later. Unfortunately I deleted a load of photos by mistake, that showed work in progress. Wait for more photos in next post.

starting this week

I notice in my last blog, I said we were going to start in February, it is now 13 March and we are going to start next week. The first phase of work involves putting a bathroom in the top floor, so that we have somewhere to wash when the back extension and bathroom come down.
Last week Chris and I went to Ecobuild exhibition and were inspired. We now know a great deal more about PV cells, underfloor heating and rainwater harvesting, and these are basically the technologies that we want to install in the house during this refurb. Of course we also want to make sure that we have as much insulation in place as possible.Roof has been pretty much done, but under ground floor rooms will have to be done. It was good at Ecobuild because a lot of these technologies have moved on and we were able to have a lot of our questions answered.
This Saturday went to Chris Stevens and ordered all the stuff for the bathroom, basin & taps, shower tray, enclosure, shower head and taps, toilet, cistern and eco flush system.Believe me, it all mounts up. And then there were the tiles. Have spent about 10 hours looking in magazines, going to Chris Stevens, going to Topps Tiles, then back to Chris Stevens. Could not make my mind up - ordered some tiles, but not sure if they will be right. Main thing was to get porcelain instead of ceramic, as they are tougher. Hope it all looks OK.