The Limecrete Company are back today to start laying the lime screed.  First step is wetting down the limecrete slab.

Day 437 - Underfloor heating pipes pressure tested

Underfloor heating pipes connected up to the manifold and pressure tested.

The pressure has settled at 1.5 bar.  It was pressurised to more than this but as plastic tubes give a little bit it causes the pressure to drop.  The pipes will remain under pressure while we lay the lime screed.  If the pressure drops to zero then the pipes have been punctured - we hope to avoid this!

Under floor heating pipework is now laid and ready to be pressure tested.

Pipe is sleeved with conduit for 300mm either side of all movement joints (such as in this doorway), to prevent the pipe from being put under stress as the different bays of screed on either side move differently.

We took extra time when we were laying the clip track, ensuring that it was all in the right place and was in line.  It paid off today - laying the pipe was quite straightforward!

It was a bit like doing dot to dot!

We finished laying the clip track for the under floor heating yesterday and are making a start on laying the pipe today.

Day 424 - sliding doors completed

Double sliding doors are now completed and glazed.  It seems very light inside now!

Day 422 - Underfloor heating clip track

Bits of blue edge insulation were really good for marking where the pipes will go!

Next task was setting out and fixing down the clip track which we will clip the underfloor heating pipe into.  Self tapping wood screws seemed to do the trick, although the harder bits of limecrete we did have to drill first.

Day 420 - preparing for the underfloor heating

The underfloor heating manifold is put up in the utility room.

The edge insulation is fitted around the timber plates which will form the internal walls.  It will stop the timber drawing the moisture out of the lime screed too quickly when it is laid, and also provide an expansion gap around the edge of the screed once it is dry.  It is also fitted around the external walls, (along with additional insulation), against the blockwork, to try and reduce heat loss.

The edge insulation supplied with the underfloor heating.

Day 414

We finished the threshold under the utility room door today - its amazing how long all these little jobs take!  We tried out using recycled plastic timber, as this will not rot, is recycled and will prevent a cold bridge.  It claims you can treat it exactly like timber - saw it, drill it, fix it etc.  We managed most things, however we did not have any success trying to nail it with the nail gun!  It is also heavier than timber.

Day 407 - Internal walls set out on GF

Sole plates for the internal walls downstairs set out and fixed down, in preparation for the underfloor heating to be laid.

The utility room/ plant room is behind the plywood wall, there is a small WC and then a study / sitting room on the right of the photo.  The entrance lobby can be seen in the back left of the photo and the hall / stairs will be on the left.  The photo is taken from the main living space which will be used as the kitchen, dining and sitting area.

Day 396 - Cladding complete!

Cladding complete!!

Day 395

Cladding almost complete!

Street view...

Day 393

Some more studwork completed upstairs - in the back right of the photo there will be a bedroom, and the landing is on the left, on the other side of the studwork.

Day 391

Day 387

Day 386

Carrying on with the studwork today - started the main wall along the landing - it is a bit difficult to see in the photo!

Day 385 - Internal studwork started on FF

We started the internal studwork upstairs this weekend - this will be the family bathroom!

Day 382

Cladding is about half way along south elevation now.

Day 380 - west doors glazed

The sliding doors are now complete on the west elevation.  We now just need to glaze the south sliding doors.

...and the glass goes into the triple sliding doors!

Day 376 -sliding doors in triple track

Sliding doors fitted in the triple track today... just the glazing to go.

Day 374

Cladding progresses on the south elevation...

Day 373

The pair of sliding doors were fitted into the frames on south elevation today... just the glass to go now!

Day 371

We started putting in the sheeps wool insulation between the battens.  This is the final bit of the insulation in the roof, bringing the total depth to 250mm.

We also built the frame around the twin-walled chimney.  This will be enclosed with magnesium board.  It is important to keep all combustible materials at least 50mm from the chimney, and to maintain a 50mm air gap around the chimney.  This boxing will achieve both these things.  When we put the magnesium board on, we will need to ensure that we put in air vents to allow any heat to dissipate.

Insulation and rafters in the roof also must be kept 50mm away from the chimney.

Day 370

We completed the battens to the underside of the rafters today!

Day 361

...and put more sheeps wool in.

This weekend we fixed more battens to the underside of the rafters...

Day 357 - More sheeps wool

More sheeps wool arrives for insulating the roof.

Day 356 - Electricity supply put in

New electricity supply put in...

Day 353-355

The last 3 days we have been continuing to fix the battens on the underside of the rafters.  These will increase the depth of insulation by an extra 100mm (4 inches).