Sparks is flying!

It has been a long time since the last post.  This is partly due to Christmas, partly due to the new year, but mainly due to the lack of progress.  We have been waiting for a series of design decisions to be made and drawn up.  In particular, the key decision has been the approval of the slates for the roof.  For a SIPS construction house like this, there will be a small amount of flex when all the tiles are placed on the roof, and this means that the external brickwork should not start until the slates are on.  Whilst local planning department had approved the use of welsh slate, we were pushing for grade 'A' Spanish natural slate which allegedly performs better and looks just the same.  Yesterday, the local council made it clear that they would not accept the Spanish (significantly cheaper!) alternative in the conservation area, unless another (potentially unsuccessful) planning application was made with the associated 8 week delay.  So the decision is made: we are going for the more expensive Welsh slate.

The slate that got away!

Despite the house not having its outer brick skin, or roof slates, it is effectively water-tight albeit a tad draughty.  This means that the first fix activities can begin, and this week our electrician ('Sparks'), has started work and he is really flying along.  It does mean that you need to be careful walking around the house as there is a risk of strangulation by rogue cabling.

Just a few of the many cables

One corner of a bedroom

The plumber also started work today, connecting the pipework for the upstairs bathrooms.  Access to upstairs is via a temporary staircase largely made up of scaffolding.  It is very steep, and with only 9 steps, the gap between each step is very high.

Temporary staircase

You have been warned

 We have also a 'Chippy' on site who is busy finishing the internal walls, putting up plasterboard, and fitting the velux windows in the roof.  Yesterday, the upstairs bathrooms were very dark.  Today, they were filled with light as the velux windows were fitted and the sun came out to celebrate!

Velux: Before

Velux: After

On the boat front, we paid a visit to our boatbuilder earlier this week.  He has made significant progress, but realistically-speaking, it won't be finished, and have its sign-writing completed until the end of the month.  The delivery date was therefore set at the 6th Feb - fingers crossed!  Due to all the winter stoppages on the canals for maintenance and repair work, and in particular the stoppage just north of here, this means that we will have to have the boat transported all the way from Liverpool down to Aynho, a village south of Banbury, and sail the boat back north to Cropredy.  The next job is to book the low-loader.

The sharp end

The blunt end

Shower being fitted

Bedroom Storage (the doors are fitted last)