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.

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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.

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After a nice week off we were back to work starting on a single storey kitchen/diner extension in Great Cambourne.  Monday was about getting the site set up and getting the first of the material orders in the pipe line. On Tuesday we had the skips, digger and dumper delivered so we could make a start on pulling the trench footings and by Wednesday lunch time we had them pulled and also signed off by the Building Inspector.  Thursday was all about pouring the concrete into the footings, and on Friday Richard the brickie was in to lay the trench blocks, which just leaves me and Dane to run in the block and beam floor this coming week with Richard also coming in to do the block and block walls on the run up to Christmas, so on our return after the Christmas break we can make a start on the roof.  So to everyone who reads this blog may I take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and I will be back blogging in 2012.

We had a nice easy week this week, or that was supposed to be the plan!  We started the week in Hardwick finishing off a bathroom refurbishment.  On Monday Dane and I finished all the tiling, fitted the shower and plumbed in and fitted the sink unit.  On Tuesday we carried out the last of the jobs.  While I fitted and plumbed in a new towel radiator, Dane grouted all the wall tiles.  In the afternoon we fitted the shower screen, hung some wall units and shelving for the client and finished the job by running in the silicon beading.

On Wednesday we were in Ramsey constructing a new hot tub concrete base.  Once that was completed we should have had the rest of the week as holiday, but things didn’t quite go to plan.  I got called back out to Hardwick on Thursday and Friday morning to remedy some minor issues which came to light as the bathroom was put into use, so my planned two days off soon disappeared.  One of the down sides of being self employed, but we can look forward to having a week off next week prior to use commencing ground works on an extension in Cambourne.

We started on a new bathroom refurbishment this week in Hardwick near Cambridge.  Our first job on the Monday was to remove the existing bathroom suite and pretty much strip the room back to bare walls and pipe work.  In the afternoon we made up our list of required materials and went off shopping.  On Tuesday Dane worked on putting in some new timber stud work which was to give the bathroom a new cleaner look as all the pipe work would be hidden within the stud work.  While Dane did that, I altered the pipe work and started to run in some new first fix pipe work.

The following day we primed the floor first thing ready for tiling, and while this was drying we took the oppertunity to pop to a local cafe for a breakfast.  On our return we laid the new floor tiles.  After lunch we plumbed in the back to the wall toilet and plumbed in the new bath.  WE also assembled the sink prior to its installation.  On THursday we had Gary and Michael the electricians in to run in a new extractor, new light switch and a couple of new down lights.  While they were doing that, Dane and I started on the wall tiling.  IN the afternoon dane had a site survey to carry out, so I plaster skimmed the one wall that wasn’t going to be tiled, and when that was done I grouted the floor tiles.

Friday consisted of more wall tiling and by the end of Friday we were pretty much where we wanted to be, with just a couple of days needed in the early part of next week to get the job all finished.

We have had an enforced quiet time over the last couple of weeks as we wait to start a new bathroom refurbishment job in Hardwick near Cambridge which we start this week.  We did one last day at Alconbury as we finished off some minor snagging issues and then cleared down the site of all remaining materials and tools.  Apart form that the break has given me time to catch up and get back on top of my paper work.  We have also won two tenders to do the drawing work and applications for two proposed extensions which has kept Dane busy, while I have been putting together two written tenders for a property refurbishment in Peterborough and the extension we will be starting in early December.

We finished our Alconbury kitchen/diner extension this week, but earlier in the week we were out and about doing a few smaller jobs that were in our diary.  On Monday we were hanging a couple of new internal doors for an older lady in Sawtry, and on the Tuesday we were doing some insurance work in Peterborough replacing six metres of fencing that had been burnt by vandals.  For the remainder of the week we were back to Alconbury to finish the internal snagging points and finish a few last bits in the back garden.  The client was really happy with the work we had done, so much so they recommended us to some of their friends who we visited earlier in the week one evening, and we are now going to be tendering for their proposed extension works.  Work is a bit quiet in November with only a two week bathroom refurbishment to carry out in Hardwick near Cambridge, and we then start an extension in early December in Cambourn near Cambridge.  We have had four recent enquiries for extensions so fingers crossed we can convert some of these enquiries into sales and get the diary filled up for 2012.

We spent this week doing the landscape gardening which consisted of laying a large area of paving slabs on Monday, making up some timber raised beds, making a concrete slab base for a green house and running in a paving slab path down the side of the house on Tuesday and on the Wednesday we pea gravelled the borders, landscaped the front garden and actioned a few snagging points.  We finished the week by carrying out the finishing touches to the garden, and while I moved inside to finish the laminate beading and to hang the double french doors, we got the skips and port-a-loo taken away and Dane power cleaned the paving and drive area so when our clients returned from their week away they could actually see and use their drive for the first time in months!