Week 1

We are now underway- Building Notice has been filed, and the Building Control Officer has made his first visit. Our builder, Simon Mildon, arrived on Monday morning at 7.25 and has been going full pelt with his team, Chris and Jack. Last week Martin came and stripped out the bathroom.

 Existing dining room/ future kitchen was stripped of floor and ceiling, and north facing window that will be over the kitchen sink is blocked up to make a more sensible 1m x 1m (3ft x 3ft) window.

Next, first fix electrics by Glen and plumbing by Eddie went under floor and into walls, so Karen and I (98% Karen) could install a mesh to hold the sheeps wool insulation. We chose sheeps wool not just because it smells nice and is a domestic product, but because of its ability to take up and release moisture, reducing the likelihood of moisture-related problems under the floor. Karen stopped at 9.30 on Thursday night.

Then the new plywood subfloor went down on Friday. Kitchen cupboards arrived this morning; we were expecting the van at 11.30, but had a call at 7.00 to say he was arriving in half an hour. We finished unloading in time for me to join the 9.00 run with Crediton Running Network. I delivered a trailer full of broken pine floorboards to the tip before sitting down with the paper and coffee at 11.30.

 Almost forgot - Simon cut the door opening from the kitchen to the dining room (or dining zone as Karen prefers - it's not a separate room. There is ongoing discussion about what to do with this wall to prevent thermal bypass, but that is for another day!