Level Floors

Progress!  We now have nice new level floors - you can see that while the floors are level some of the ceilings were not - but they will be!

Old joists next to new - because the old joists are most likely original, they have to be kept even though in many places they weren't even in the walls!  They had to be taken out, treated for woodworm and put back next to the nice, new, strong ones.  Hopefully these ones will last a good long while.

Nice new floor in what will be the guest suite shower room.

This will be the main guest bedroom - see that beautifully level and insulated floor - it currently doesn't creek - hope that continues

All rooms under construction

The builders have moved to the ground floor - having started all the rooms upstairs, it's now time to ensure every room is having something done to it!  They are taking up the floor in the snug to lay underfloor heating in due course.

They are opening up the kitchen.  What was previously a kitchen, boiler room & bathroom will be one lovely big kitchen.  Hard to imagine it now, but in a few months time it will look amazing.  I might even cook!

Antique wiring.....

Gotta love the wiring stapled to the old joists - the contrast of white against brown is most attractive.  Oh, and the builder is preparing to put in the helifix strengthening bars (to stop the wall falling down I think)

They have now opened up the old gable window - I love it, and think it looks wonderful, but our friend at the planning department isn't too keen about having it opened up - the historical consultant will try to find out why and when it was blocked up in the hope we can leave it open and not have to seal it up again

unsafe floor

Seems the floor in what will be the 1st floor bathroom isn't what you'd call safe.......it's not hard to imagine what would happen to a full bath of water on these joists :-(

By the time they've finished, the whole house will have new joists and strong, stable new floors - phew!

Historic soot?

Johnny the builder swept one of the chimneys today - seems there was a large amount of soot, so it's been building up for a while I think.  The open fireplace will likely be replaced by a wood burning stove - oh, and yes, the rather naff brickwork will indeed be going.....

Gas

Today the connection for gas is put in by those nice chaps at British Gas - will be a LOT cheaper than the existing oil fired heating.  The old oil tank in the background will be removed, which is a relief as it's not what you'd call attractive

Disaster?

When the builders remove the floorboards to treat the joists for woodworm.......the joists collapse.  Luckily no-one was hurt which is the main thing, but the joists will need to be replaced.  Given the survey results, this isn't altogether surprising.  The good thing is that this work is categorised as repair and maintenance and so we don't have to wait for planning permission before getting the work underway

Under the floorboards it seems the original floor is still in place