Week 65-70 : joinery, finishes, bathroom, rain water system, EDF etc.

The chimney was designed as a vertical duct around the flue ... The chimney was designed as a vertical duct around the flue ...	... and a grille allowed hot air to thermosiphon into the mezzanine. ... and a grille allowed hot air to thermosiphon into the mezzanine.	Margaret staining the douglas fir ceiling beams after I'd sanded them. Margaret staining the douglas fir ceiling beams after I'd sanded them.	The OSB panels used as temporary flooring on the mezzanine were recycled as partitions in the shower ... The OSB panels used as temporary flooring on the mezzanine were recycled as partitions in the shower ...
...suitably treated with special waterproofing acrylic. ...suitably treated with special waterproofing acrylic.	The temporary stair to the mezzanine got a handrail after a near accident to a visitor, after nearly 2 years without. The temporary stair to the mezzanine got a handrail after a near accident to a visitor, after nearly 2 years without.	Margaret scrubbing down the timber frame of the auvent. Margaret scrubbing down the timber frame of the auvent.	It had been put up in the mud and walked all over by Mr Mazière's men. It had been put up in the mud and walked all over by Mr Mazière's men.
We were working all day and taking lunch and tea on site We were working all day and taking lunch and tea on site	I put in the framing and panels around the bath .. I put in the framing and panels around the bath ..	.... and pipe duct cover to receive tiling. .... and pipe duct cover to receive tiling.	We put up the shower partition after a big struggle to get it level to slide smoothly. We put up the shower partition after a big struggle to get it level to slide smoothly.
The plumber finally came to install the rain water system, after a months delay. The plumber finally came to install the rain water system, after a months delay.	The hole into the cellar was drilled and a pipe and electrical lead with a sensor ... The hole into the cellar was drilled and a pipe and electrical lead with a sensor ...	... inserted into the 4000 litre tank (still empty) under the terrace. ... inserted into the 4000 litre tank (still empty) under the terrace.	Inside the cellar he installed the pump, pressure tank, tank empty switch, and filters. Inside the cellar he installed the pump, pressure tank, tank empty switch, and filters.
4 Months after we had first applied for a final connection, the man from the EDF came to put in the meter... 4 Months after we had first applied for a final connection, the man from the EDF came to put in the meter...	.. But the subcontractor who had put in the box and conduit 2 months before had a paper which said we wanted 3 phase (despite my protests that I had applied for single phase).... .. But the subcontractor who had put in the box and conduit 2 months before had a paper which said we wanted 3 phase (despite my protests that I had applied for single phase)....	A second subcontractor came and installed the wiring for 3 phase, desite yet more protests ! We had written letters and telephoned numerous times to no avail. We had asked for, and they had quoted for 9 kw monophase. So the final EDF man just followed the wiring that was there without question..... A second subcontractor came and installed the wiring for 3 phase, desite yet more protests ! We had written letters and telephoned numerous times to no avail. We had asked for, and they had quoted for 9 kw monophase. So the final EDF man just followed the wiring that was there without question.....	..... and so when our electrician came to connect to the house, he found that the circuit breaker was only 15 amps on each phase and we could not have more than 3 kw. It took 5 telephone calls and 2 more months to get them back to correct the mistake, which took 15 minutes to change the circuit breaker ! ..... and so when our electrician came to connect to the house, he found that the circuit breaker was only 15 amps on each phase and we could not have more than 3 kw. It took 5 telephone calls and 2 more months to get them back to correct the mistake, which took 15 minutes to change the circuit breaker !
We started on the final stage to finish the kitchen ready for tiling and final pumbing. We started on the final stage to finish the kitchen ready for tiling and final pumbing.	The main bedroom was finally finished. The main bedroom was finally finished.	Meanwhile I profited from the good weather to try to seal all external potential air infiltration points in the cladding joints around doors.... Meanwhile I profited from the good weather to try to seal all external potential air infiltration points in the cladding joints around doors....	.... windows and roof juctions. .... windows and roof juctions.
The most vulnerable points are edges of cladding which must be sealed with mastic. The most vulnerable points are edges of cladding which must be sealed with mastic.	The green oak frame has a tendency to shrink and open up cracks in contact with windows. I will be sealing for years. The green oak frame has a tendency to shrink and open up cracks in contact with windows. I will be sealing for years.	Internally there are gaps at the edges of ceilings that allow air infiltration. The month of October has not been very productive - a busman's holiday to UK to work on a conservatory/greenhouse and other outside work. It was then that the spell of good weather broke. Internally there are gaps at the edges of ceilings that allow air infiltration. The month of October has not been very productive - a busman's holiday to UK to work on a conservatory/greenhouse and other outside work. It was then that the spell of good weather broke.

Back