Building a solar House in France - plastering, stone wall, septic tank and sand filter  (36 Slides)     [Page 1 of 1] :: Jump To  
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By Tuesday Mr Laurent Maziere was finishing the plastering inside on the main floor monomur walls at great speed, thanks to his new machine.
Over the years I had been collecting old dressed limestone blocks from demolition of various walls, and Francis came to Beleterie to collect them to use n the new wall.
He struck solid rock digging the hole for the tank and had to bring in his Komatsu with pneumatic drill to break it up. Time spent breaking rock about an hour at 85 Euros an hour.
  By Tuesday Mr Laurent Maziere was finishing the plastering inside on the main floor monomur walls at great speed, thanks to his new machine.  
  Over the years I had been collecting old dressed limestone blocks from demolition of various walls, and Francis came to Beleterie to collect them to use n the new wall.  
  He struck solid rock digging the hole for the tank and had to bring in his Komatsu with pneumatic drill to break it up. Time spent breaking rock about an hour at 85 Euros an hour.  
A truckload of rough stone was dumped and the rustic stone facing begun.
Mr Frédérick Maziere, Mr Faye's son-in-law and manager of the firm, came to help with the stone wall,
I had worked out how the old dressed stones were to be laid, and numbered them, and spent the day cleaning them up and supervising,
  A truckload of rough stone was dumped and the rustic stone facing begun.  
  Mr Frédérick Maziere, Mr Faye's son-in-law and manager of the firm, came to help with the stone wall,  
  I had worked out how the old dressed stones were to be laid, and numbered them, and spent the day cleaning them up and supervising,  
The correct tank being lowered into the hole.
In place
Francis started to dig the 25 square metre hole for the sand filter.
  The correct tank being lowered into the hole.  
  In place  
  Francis started to dig the 25 square metre hole for the sand filter.  
He struck rock again there.
the dressed stone surround to the small window in the basement bedroom.
Francis using the Komatsu pneumatic drill to break up the rock in the sand filter. This time it took about 45 minutes with the pneumatic drill on the Komatsu machine.
  He struck rock again there.  
  the dressed stone surround to the small window in the basement bedroom.  
  Francis using the Komatsu pneumatic drill to break up the rock in the sand filter. This time it took about 45 minutes with the pneumatic drill on the Komatsu machine.  
First a huge sheet of geotextile was laid and then the hole filled with 70 cm deep sand.
The sand was levelled and then a layer of gravel was laid on it.
Francis and his assistant (another Mr Mazieres)
  First a huge sheet of "geotextile" was laid and then the hole filled with 70 cm deep sand.  
  The sand was levelled and then a layer of gravel was laid on it.  
  Francis and his assistant (another Mr Mazieres)  
On Thursday it started to rain and didn't stop for a week. But they just carried on in the rain.
The masons worked on in the rain building up the stone wall. Luckily the eaves overhang partly protected them.
On Thursday afternoon the inspector of drains from SPANC, Mme Berthome, came to check everythng. She was not satisfied with the proposed arrangements for the ventilation of the tank and insisted that a separate 100mm ventilation pipe was provided to above roof level.
  On Thursday it started to rain and didn't stop for a week. But they just carried on in the rain.  
  The masons worked on in the rain building up the stone wall. Luckily the eaves overhang partly protected them.  
  On Thursday afternoon the inspector of drains from SPANC, Mme Berthome, came to check everythng. She was not satisfied with the proposed arrangements for the ventilation of the tank and insisted that a separate 100mm ventilation pipe was provided to above roof level.  
Laying out the perforated pipes over the gravel layer.
The geotextile was wrapped over the gravel covering the piping and then covered with soil.
The projecting end of the stone wall forms a plinth on which the main living floor of the house sits, and will screen a little terrace outside the guest bedroom..
  Laying out the perforated pipes over the gravel layer.  
  The "geotextile" was wrapped over the gravel covering the piping and then covered with soil.  
  The projecting end of the stone wall forms a plinth on which the main living floor of the house sits, and will screen a little terrace outside the guest bedroom..  
View from the north.
Francis laying out the piping to the septic tank.
Wall nearing completion on Friday.
  View from the north.  
  Francis laying out the piping to the septic tank.  
  Wall nearing completion on Friday.  
Rain continued, and the masons were not happy.
Pipework to fosse bedded on a bit of concrete here and there, and covered with sand. Luckily no trenches were needed and it was all covered with topsoil to a depth sufficient to protect it.
By Friday afternoon the site around the house looked like a battlefield.
  Rain continued, and the masons were not happy.  
  Pipework to "fosse" bedded on a bit of concrete here and there, and covered with sand. Luckily no trenches were needed and it was all covered with topsoil to a depth sufficient to protect it.  
  By Friday afternoon the site around the house looked like a battlefield.  
The ventilation of the fosse as required by Mme Berthome.
The guest bedroom was plastered on Friday afternoon,
The sous sol shower recess.
  The ventilation of the "fosse" as required by Mme Berthome.  
  The guest bedroom was plastered on Friday afternoon,  
  The sous sol shower recess.  
On Saturday morning Margaret came to inspect progress.
Next Monday morning Francis carried on digging a drain for the overflow from the 4000 lire rain water collection cistern. Again he struck rock and had to use the Komatsu pneumatic drill. All this rock cutting is costing 85 Euros an hour ! But this time it was only about 40 minutes.
Laying the piping for the overflow and drain from the base of the retaining wall.
  On Saturday morning Margaret came to inspect progress.  
  Next Monday morning Francis carried on digging a drain for the overflow from the 4000 lire rain water collection cistern. Again he struck rock and had to use the Komatsu pneumatic drill. All this rock cutting is costing 85 Euros an hour ! But this time it was only about 40 minutes.  
  Laying the piping for the overflow and drain from the base of the retaining wall.  
The septic tank and drain all covered with topsoil.
The overflow from the rain water tank.
The battlefield restored with topsoil on Tueday. The sun returned and spring arrived.
  The septic tank and drain all covered with topsoil.  
  The overflow from the rain water tank.  
  The battlefield restored with topsoil on Tueday. The sun returned and spring arrived.  
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