We started the week by putting in and fixing the structural steel post to its formed concrete base and then putting in the first of the two structural RSJ’s.  On Tuesday we got the second RSJ up and into position (thankfully!).  Dane then set about strapping and fixing the post to the wall and once that was done he then ran in the first fix pipe work for the new radiator.  While he was doing that I ran in the infill block work on top of the two RSJ’s.  On Wednesday we finished up the few bits from Tuesday and then put in cross layer insulation into the new extension roof.

Thursday was all about running in stud work for the RSJ’s and then studding out the walls ready for plaster boarding.  Once that was done we boarded the existing kitchen and new extension ceiling areas and then before we finished for the day we put in the DPM and floor insulation ready for the floor being screeded.  John the plasterer was in on Friday to screed the floor area, with me on the mixer and Dane on the wheel barrow.  We were all done by lunch time and had a nice Friday early finish.

This week was all about getting the extension water tight and then doing the structural opening.  We started the week by stripping out the dining room so it was ready for the knocking through later in the week.  The window and french door were being delivered into the merchants on Tuesday, so we had a day off from site.  Dane had his architects head back on as he was doing some drawing work for a client while I was keeping on top of the paper work.  We picked up the window and door first thing on Wednesday morning and made our way to site and set about installing the window and door.  When they were in, I put the finishing touches to things while Dane made a start on the structural opening and knocking through the wall.  On Thursday we had Gary and Michael in from Carlin Electrical the sparky’s to do the electrical first fix.  While they were doing that we removed the final part of the dividing wall and then set about chasing out another wall ready for the new steel post to go in.  Friday was a half day as we put in the pad stone for the RSJ’s and formed a concrete pad for the post to sit on which then needed the weekend to cure before we could proceed with work.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, and don’t forget our architects planning and drawing service.

Our roof tiles were delivered into the merchants on Friday and we picked them up on our way to work on Monday morning.  Once on site we set about laying the roof felt, fixing the batons and then made a start on tiling.  We also had the building inspector visit the site to sign off and check our work to date and he was more than happy with how things looked and were going.  The following day I spent my time up on the roof running in the eaves abutment ventilation system and associated lead work while Dane was applying the finishing touches to the facia and then set about pointing up the gable ends.  By the end of Thursday we had finished the gable ends, finished the lead work, ran in the new guttering and ran the new rain water under ground pipe work into the existing.  We were then in the position that on Friday we could fit the french door and window to make the extension water tight while John and J the plasters could put a scratch coat render on the walls.  I phoned the window merchants to confirm that they had received our delivery and that I could pick it up on my way home.  It was only upon phoning the merchants that they said the delivery had been pushed back to the following Tuesday!!  Thanks for letting us know and giving us notice!!  I do love being on the end of some good customer service.  So after a good week and being on schedule it all goes out the window through no fault of our own and it also has a knock on effect to our schedule next week, but we will have to see whats what and take things from there.

On the Wednesday Dane and I had a day off from site but we were out doing another site visit with Dane having his architects head on.  We were conducting a site survey for some new clients which involved measuring up the ground floor of the property so Dane could produce some scale planning application drawings.  When I say we, I mean Dane was doing most of the work while I held the tape and gave out the measurements!  After several meetings with the client they decided they wanted to proceed thier extension works with us as they wanted to take advantage of our all in one service.  With Dane doing the architectural work which includes the drawings for planning permission and building regulations, plus submitting all applications and dealing with the council on our clients behalf and once they are approved then we carry out all the building work from start to completion.  We are also in talks and working for another potential client who also wants to take advantage of the all in one service we offer, so if all goes well we could be in for a good 2012.

It was back to work after a nice Christmas and New Year break.  On the run up to Christmas and between Christmas and New Year Richard the brickie was cracking on with things while the weather was in his favour.  On our return all the interior and exterior block work was all done meaning Dane and I could get on with running in the roof timbers, which we had completed by Wednesday.  We then had to take a couple of days off while we waited for the roof tiles which were ordered before Christmas to get into the merchants, so it ended up being a short week in the end, but it was a nice gentle way to start the year.

We are now on Facebook and will be posting daily updates and photos as work progresses, so check us out at Richard Dane Blueberryproperties.