Oh My Aching Back
Posted: Friday, 23 March 2007 |
I bet that you lot thought that We had been sitting on our laurels since closing off the roof till springtime, (that's if it arrives) Well now that the new living accomodation is semi water tight etc we have been trying to get our heated floor circuit in and the final 4 inches of mortar and polystyrene in place. Its a long winded process and because we both have part time jobs is a little disjointed and slow.
We layed the blue plastic membrane on top of the concrete floor followed by a layer of 2" thick polystyrene and then had to lay a tubing system on top of this that would carry the hot water around the floor to heat the house and my cold toes in the winter. This was a slow business as we have a 600 metre roll and you are trying not to dent the polystyrene too much or kink the pipe. When this was laid then we had to pour on a mortar mix of a further 2" on top and crown it with the flag stones that we aquired from a third party. ( No not the roof of a neighbouring hoose)
The flags were a mixture of sizes the largest being 1.32 m x 1.2m square and I can tell you were very difficult to move lift and lay. As there were only Mr B and meself the task took nearly 3 days and a lot of heated exchanges and tired aching muscles.
Lots of people would say why bother, why not just put down Linoleum or tiles but we think that the hoose wouldn't look right without me flag floor or me Rayburn.
We have also made a hole in the trusses to take the staircase and started putting in the electric consumer units. Now we are going to have a relaxing weekend finishing off the floor and looking forward to the next task , screeding the rest of the floors Aaaargh .
update: Finished floor Sunday evening 8pm pics to follow
We layed the blue plastic membrane on top of the concrete floor followed by a layer of 2" thick polystyrene and then had to lay a tubing system on top of this that would carry the hot water around the floor to heat the house and my cold toes in the winter. This was a slow business as we have a 600 metre roll and you are trying not to dent the polystyrene too much or kink the pipe. When this was laid then we had to pour on a mortar mix of a further 2" on top and crown it with the flag stones that we aquired from a third party. ( No not the roof of a neighbouring hoose)
The flags were a mixture of sizes the largest being 1.32 m x 1.2m square and I can tell you were very difficult to move lift and lay. As there were only Mr B and meself the task took nearly 3 days and a lot of heated exchanges and tired aching muscles.
Lots of people would say why bother, why not just put down Linoleum or tiles but we think that the hoose wouldn't look right without me flag floor or me Rayburn.
We have also made a hole in the trusses to take the staircase and started putting in the electric consumer units. Now we are going to have a relaxing weekend finishing off the floor and looking forward to the next task , screeding the rest of the floors Aaaargh .
update: Finished floor Sunday evening 8pm pics to follow
Comments
And you did that, just the two of you! AMAZING, simply AMAZING. Congratulations. Great work!!
mjc from NM,USA
I love your hard-won floor.....mmmmm warmth under the paws and a rayburn to curl up beside...*purrrrr* Your eaves are very deep, is there a reason for this? (apart from not being dripped on when you stick your noses out the door...)
Flying Cat from daydreaming
Floor heat, eh Barebraes. You're spoiling yourself, old gal, ... as well you should. Next thing you will be tromping around the house bare feet. Adios to those famous English (and Scottish?) chillblains that plagued foreign students at uni. (the UK students either had antifreeze in the blood, or were genetically programmed to cope).
mjc from NM,USA
I continue to be hugely impressed with all your hard work and the results you have both achieved. I bet you look forward to the time when you can stand back and say "Finished". Good to see Hooch in such good health - I know the boy misses him! Was concerned about the weather when I saw the recent forecast - Orkney even got a mention on our news programme 'dahn sahf' as somewhere to avoid, but it looks as if everything held tight. Quality workmanship, obviously... Best of luck for the Spring and Summer. S&Buster
chopper from braintree
FC the eaves were purposely built that way to give more room in the upper parts of the house and a little shelter from the rain but as the rain tends to be horizontal most of the time we will no doubt get wet. Nice to hear from you chopper, hows life with you, any news on the job front?
Barebraes from Shapinsay
*sigh* I'm guessing that Buster is yet another d.o.g. There was once a female d.o.g. called Buster who was rehomed with very very posh folk in the West End of Glasgow when her owners emigrated. They couldn't cope with being overheard calling her in from the garden as Buster and renamed her Bunty....
Flying Cat from Cheshire Grin
Oh that`s becoming a fine bonny hoose! Well done tae ye baith for a` the hard work.
Hermit from Sanday
FC you will be pleased to know that the so called Buster is a Marmalade (Ginger) Tom cat with an appetite for squirrel. Hes a mean Hunter and belongs to my ex husband who also has a fetish with DIY implements (chopper)
Barebraes from Shapinsay
A tomcat competing with bipeds for squirrels: I am not sure I want to hear any more of this! I have always said that cats would take food from your plate!!
mjc from NM,USA
taking food from a plate is no challenge at all, mjc - now swiping a crisp in transit from packet to biped's mouth - that's class!
mia from chuckling on a chair
What kind of roof are you putting on? Does not look as if it's going to be a metal roof. Why not?
mjc from NM,USA
No mjc its not a metal roof its a concrete tiled roof so that the wind can't take it away. Mia I am impressed with your skills I thought it was only my cat that liked crisps.
Barebraes from Shapinsay
Why on earth would anyone put on a metal roof if they could have some sort of tiles/slates instead? Rain on wrinkly tin - the novelty would soon wear off.
Flying Cat from a Northern Fastness
Delighted to hear Buster is another marmalade chum of the feline sort. You do like men with tools barebraes.....I'm afraid my bipeds are of the haunless sort....you should see the new tiling in the bathroom! (no no mpu it's really good I didn't mean it honest!)
Flying Cat from Cheshire Grin
How else can a girl get her dream house if she can't use her attributes to trap ( er I mean mesmerise ) the men folk with their implements.
Barebraes from Shapinsay
Thank you Barebraes, crisps and icecream are the only human food worth the effort, and it still tastes better if it can be pinched from under their noses!
mia from calculating the odds
....all the while letting them believe THEY are mesmerising YOU with their....errrrm...implements!
Flying Cat from a knowing look
Re: Metal roofing. I have Decra Roof tiles on my house in Shetland. They have been installed for over 10 years and i have never had a problem with them, whereas the conrete and slate roofs nearby have lost tiles due to the high winds we get here.
TheShetlander from Lerwick
I concur with the shetlander. My Decra tiles have been on my house for nearly 20 years and are still in perfect condition just as they were when first installed. Never had a problem and would heartily recommend.
Raechelle from Isle of Lewis
We moved here in September 05 and have met many good friends. What more could you want from life.
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