Thursday 31 March 2011

Day 351 - Frames for the sliding doors fitted













































The aluminum frame sitting behind the cedar cladding.  It is a triple track, which allows all three of the doors to slide, two one way and one the other.

























The frames for the sliding doors were fitted today.  These are bedded on a lime mortar (NHL5, mix 3:1).

When we ordered the windows we asked for them to be 12.5mm smaller than the structural opening on all sides, so the windows were overall 25mm narrower and 25mm shorter than the hole they were fitting into.  When we ordered the doors we were advised that 5mm on all sides, so 10mm overall was sufficient.  However, while the frames do fit within the opening, the gaps on some of the sides are now very small, once the frames have been squared up.  This is going to make it much harder to adequately seal the gaps against weather and achieve a satisfactory airtightness and thermal performance.

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Day 350


























What will be the walls of the utility room have been covered with smart ply, to enable mechanical and electrical services to be easily fixed to them.

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Day 349 - Internal studwork begun


























Internal partitions to the utility room were begun today.

























Cedar lining to the rest of the windows complete...

Monday 28 March 2011

Day 348













































Cladding continues on south elevation...

Sunday 27 March 2011

Day 347 - sheeps wool roof insulation begun


























The battens fixed below the rafters, and the sheeps wool in place.  There will be more insulation running between the battens.

























We started battening the underside of the roof yesterday and putting in the sheeps wool insulation today. The wool is soft and smells very 'sheepy'!.

Friday 25 March 2011

Day 345 - cladding complete on north elevation


























The completed north elevation.

























Street view of the completed elevation...












































Cladding on the last elevation started...

























Cladding on north elevation complete!  (and downpipe half put up)

Thursday 24 March 2011

Day 344


























North elevation almost complete...

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Day 343

Tuesday 22 March 2011

Day 342

Monday 21 March 2011

Day 341

Sunday 20 March 2011

Day 340 - Hemp and lime insulation complete



























We finished off the hemp and lime insulation to the eaves void, above the straw bales.

Saturday 19 March 2011

Day 339


























Second coat of plaster put on the utility room wall.  This is also the last coat on this wall as it will have timber studs in front of it lined with plywood.  This is because it is our mechanical plant wall and we needed to be able to fix to it easily.

Friday 18 March 2011

Day 338


























... and another.  It almost looks like we have finished from here!

























The street view...












































The cladding in the brief late afternoon sun.

























Half the cladding complete on north-west elevation!

Thursday 17 March 2011

Day 337













































Cladding has now passed the stair window...

Tuesday 15 March 2011

Day 335


























Battening begun to south elevation.












































Cladding progressing...

Monday 14 March 2011

Day 334 - Cladding to north elevation begun


























Battens completed to north elevation, and cladding begun...

Saturday 12 March 2011

Day 332 - Climbing plants planted













































The front elevation (north-east) and north-west elevation are intentionally quite blank.  This is to prevent excessive heat loss through openings / glazing facing north, which receive little sun / heat gains.  The majority of windows are designed to face south instead.

To add interest to the front and north elevations we are planning to grow climbing plants up them, so in time they become 'green walls'.  As the cladding is now complete on the front elevation we decided to give the climbing plants a head start (as they will take time to establish), and plant the 'Parthenocissus Henryana' (virginia creeper).

Thursday 10 March 2011

Day 330


























Battening started on north elevation...












































Cladding finished on the front elevation!

Wednesday 9 March 2011

Day 329

So close...

Tuesday 8 March 2011

Day 328













































Getting closer...

Monday 7 March 2011

Day 327 - Cladding continues













































Putting up the cladding on the front resumed on Friday.  Nearly half way now...  The 'hit and miss' boarding over the bathroom window is also complete.