Week 81-84 : family help, insulation, joinery.

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We took advantage of christmas and new year visitors to stack the chestnut heating wood delivered before the holiday. It looks a lot but ...

We took advantage of christmas and new year visitors to stack the chestnut heating wood delivered before the holiday. It looks a lot but ...
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...this is 2 years of heating - 8 stères (cubic metres)of chestnut. Spiel predictions are that we will use 4 cu.metres a year. So far despite the weather we seem to be on track.

...this is 2 years of heating - 8 stères (cubic metres)of chestnut. Spiel predictions are that we will use 4 cu.metres a year. So far despite the weather we seem to be on track.
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And while our son was with us, we dug out the path to the front door and laid down a good base of hardcore.

And while our son was with us, we dug out the path to the front door and laid down a good base of hardcore.
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Then the parquet floor in the lower ground floor visitors bedroom was started with Geff's help.

Then the parquet floor in the lower ground floor visitors bedroom was started with Geff's help.
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Note that rather than throw away all the polystyrene packaging that arrives with everything, we are using is under the floor to lift the heating pipes off the concrete base. I know that ecological builders are not supposed to use polystyrene, but is it better in landfill ?

Note that rather than throw away all the polystyrene packaging that arrives with everything, we are using is under the floor to lift the heating pipes off the concrete base. I know that ecological builders are not supposed to use polystyrene, but is it better in landfill ?
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The tiling done before the winter holiday was done in a bit of a hurry, and we were very glad of the help of our family visitors in final cleaning of the jointing.

The tiling done before the winter holiday was done in a bit of a hurry, and we were very glad of the help of our family visitors in final cleaning of the jointing.
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The day that Geff and Uda left, it began to snow, and we got them to the airport to fly home only just before the weather sealed all airports in UK and we were unable to move for a week.

The day that Geff and Uda left, it began to snow, and we got them to the airport to fly home only just before the weather sealed all airports in UK and we were unable to move for a week.
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Despite the Arctic temperatures, the house was very snug....

Despite the Arctic temperatures, the house was very snug....
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...even though large areas of the roof space had not yet been insulated properly.

...even though large areas of the roof space had not yet been insulated properly.
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As the electricians had finished in the roof space, we set about crawling about adding the final insulation - 20 cm of hemp wool and breather membrane.

As the electricians had finished in the roof space, we set about crawling about adding the final insulation - 20 cm of hemp wool and breather membrane.
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... the difficulty was the VMC (heat recovery ventilation) and all its insulated ducts.

... the difficulty was the VMC (heat recovery ventilation) and all its insulated ducts.
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Margaret passing me cut sections of hemp wool rolls to insert.

Margaret passing me cut sections of hemp wool rolls to insert.
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... but work in the roof space had to stop for the next period of cold weather and snow as it was too cold to work in there.

... but work in the roof space had to stop for the next period of cold weather and snow as it was too cold to work in there.
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This is the third wave of very cold weather this winter.

This is the third wave of very cold weather this winter.
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Very picturesque but frustrating - for a week we were snowed in at home and could not get near the house to work on it.

Very picturesque but frustrating - for a week we were snowed in at home and could not get near the house to work on it.
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At last the gas hob is finally intalled and working...

At last the gas hob is finally intalled and working...
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...and so the kitchen is operational and we have lunch there every day we work on the house now.

...and so the kitchen is operational and we have lunch there every day we work on the house now.
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The kitchen and hall doors are glazed.

The kitchen and hall doors are glazed.