Month: August 2015

Conservatory Re-Build – Day 6


Not much to report for yesterdays progress. The brickwork at the utility room end is up to the level where the new back door will be fitted.

Conservatory - End wall viewed from the side passage.
Conservatory – End wall viewed from the side passage.
Conservatory - End wall viewed from the kitchen door, looking out.
Conservatory – End wall viewed from the kitchen door, looking out.

At the opposite end, adjacent to the back door where the old conservatory had pulled the bungalow brickwork out of the vertical, repair work is almost complete.

Conservatory - Bungalow wall repair.
Conservatory – Bungalow wall repair.

The repairs would have been completed, were it not for the super hard screws used to secure the bedroom window. There were two and they seemed impervious to both of my hack saws, even with new blades fitted. Craig arrived early this morning and made short work of the screws using a mini disc cutter.

In the picture you can see that two different types of bricks are being used. Those nearest the door will not be seen when work is finished as the interior walls are being plastered. For those nearest the window frame and down they are reusing the original bricks as they are exterior to the conservatory and will be visible.

Conservatory - Kitchen Door Fixing. This explains why the door stayed vertical while the wall was pulled out when the old conservatory shifted.
Conservatory – Kitchen Door Fixing. This explains why the door stayed vertical while the wall was pulled out when the old conservatory shifted.

This picture shows how Barratt Homes fit doors in timber frame houses. Obviously it is robust enough but to my untrained eye it seems a little flimsy. After all it is plastic, not metal.

Bob and Anton are back this morning and are now, much to everyone’s surprise, to be assisted by Simon, another bricky. So the brickwork should progress quite nicely.

Conservatory Re-Build – Day 5


Here are just a few pictures to show progress so far. Nothing much to say as the day was event free. The guys just got on and laid bricks and blocks.

Conservatory - The beginnings of the end wall. The garage side wall has been prepared for the building of a support pillar.
Conservatory – The beginnings of the end wall. The garage side wall has been prepared for the building of a support pillar.
Conservatory - Opposite end, where you can see the beginnings of the pillars which will separate the three full height windows.
Conservatory – Opposite end, where you can see the beginnings of the pillars which will separate the three full height windows.
Conservatory - The long wall, here you can see where the utility room window and door will be.
Conservatory – The long wall, here you can see where the utility room window and door will be.

We had a sprinkling of rain towards the end of the day, thankfully not enough to stop work. By close of play yesterday they were up to the DPC.

Apparently, todays main task is the end wall which is full height cavity with no doors or windows to break up the brick runs.

More later.

The New Conservatory Begins


After a well-earned weekend break the team from Executive are back on site and working. Gone are Anton and Angus, replaced by Bob and Connor. Still under the watchful eye of Craig.

I’ll say one thing for these guys, they arrive early and get underway pretty soon after, allowing for the time obviously. No machines until 08:00.

Starting today is the base brickwork, so compressor and pneumatic drill were picked up around 07:00 and shortly after cement mixer and barrows were delivered.

I’ll post pictures later today when there is something to see.