The bricklayers start on site Monday 19th January, and so until they have finished and the scaffold can come down there is not much more progress visible externally. However the roof is on and the building is weathertight so work goes on inside.

I have been busy doing various internal jobs like building this chimney from Isokern pumice. It will not be visible once the fireplace has been built, but it is essential to ensure a log burner in the lounge works properly.
I have also been getting ready for the Under floor heating (UFH) pipes which have to go down before the floors can be screed. The 3 UFH manifolds have been fixed temporarily in their locations and then insulated heating pipes run from the boiler to their locations. There will be UFH on the basement and ground floors only. Heat will be circulated around the house by the MVHR system.



The house should not require a lot of heating because of the high level of insulation and air-tightness. All heat for the house is supplied from the buffer tank in the basement and maximum use will be made of solar heating to provide background warmth.
I am not alone whilst working in the house. Stuart from DJ Scott Electrical is busy with the first fix for the electrical power, lighting circuits and alarms. The basement will include a large area for all the services to be located together. This area is now designated and all cable runs go back to where the various water main taps, fuse box, aerial and internet services will be located.

All first fix work (electrics and plumbing) has to be completed before Touchwood return to fix all the plasterboard throughout the house.