I have determined my visit to Colondannes now from mid October to Mid November, which is over the expected Brexit period, so should be interesting when I return, and have a list of the Key Tasks for the visit as follows:
- Mask Up all Windows and Door Frames
- Fill Plasterboard Elements
- Emulsion Spray Ceilings
- Emulsion Spray Walls
- Fit Mantel to Salon Chimney
- Render GR Alcove Wall
- Render GR Back Wall
- Render Utility Wall
- Render GR-Utility Wall
- Fit Oak CILs
- Level GR Floor
- Level Salon Floor
Friday 11th October 2019
Arrived and settled in and pleased with the dried out results of the plastering as shown on this video tour of the house.
Removed the masking tape and cleaned the windows and frames of the plaster stains. All is ready to start work next week.
Had a visits from a local guy to do an assessment and quotes for rendering the East Side Exterior Wall that has 'blown' and needs completely rendering afresh. I have decided it is too big a job for me and best to get a pro, if it is affordable!
Week Ending 20th October 2019
So first task on Monday was to cover all the electrical cable ends and then started some filling of plaster bits on the plaster boarding that was not plastered.
I made some final adjustments to the Oak Mantel I made last visit and secured this to the Salon Wall as show here. Pleased with the result and it is ready to render below and for the final render coat before painting begins.
Having completed some plastering touch up and filling, I have spent the week cleaning up, masking the window and external doors, as well as covering with plastic protection. So, once I get more making tape tomorrow I will be able to mask all the internal doors frame and will be ready for applying two mist paint coats tot he newly plastered ceilings and walls.
I also completed masking all of the door frames before the end of the week and gave a dust vacuum to the floors ahead of spraying the walls.
On Friday afternoon and Saturday the Electricians turned up to start the 2nd fit Electrics, that might delay my spraying next week, but it is great to see the wires starting to disappear!
Week ending 27th October 2019
Work continued on the 2nd fit Electrics on Monday and Tuesday and the guys got all done with a fuse box for downstairs in the Utility Room and upstairs in the Loft near where the Water Boiler will next be installed, as shown here:
As their work stopped me spraying I installed the cable for future electrics into the Stone Garden Rooms and then rendered the old back door wall surround and gave it a first coat making it look better already.
Thursday 24th October
So, I spent yesterday finishing the masking off, and some minor job and then decided to get the Paint Sprayer ready. Ooops! I realised that for long term storage I was supposed to oil some of the value parts and they were stuck, so I needed to clean and soak in oil overnight. So this morning when I primed and tested the unit I was delighted that all seemed to work OK.
Having checked on a few videos I did a 70/30 Paint and Water mix and started with the Downstairs.
All went well, with a few minor runs. Amazingly, I manged to finish by 1:00pm and had completed ALL the walls and ceilings of the Cuisine, Salon, Utility and Garden Room, as well as the small loo, in under 4 hours. I estimated that doing the same by a Roller would have taken 4-5 days and a lot more effort! Really so pleased at the result of the first coat, that applied 40 litres of paint.
I think I might have enough for upstairs tomorrow, but will need to get more for the second coat.
Completed the spraying of the upstairs rooms but having run out of the Wickes Basic Paint I had to use a large 25kg tin I bought here and it has taken some getting used to. When diluted it seems lumpy and the mix was not right. I tried to use on Bedroom 1 and 2, but was getting runs and what appeared to be just water spray. I used the drill mixer and it certainly got the mix better.
I will have to give Bed1 and 2 another mist spray, but think the other rooms just now need a top spray. You can see the difference here below.
I have bought another 40 litres of basic white emulsion locally, which was nearly double the cost of the Wickes paint and will give what I hope will be a final spray when I return from a week visiting Bayonne, Bilboa and then down to Ribadesella on the west coast.
Week ending 10th November 2019
Had a good week off, but now started this weeks task of applying the final paint coats to the ceiling and walls. On Monday I gave a second mist coat to all the ceilings, both upstairs and down. To use up the mixed paint poured i also gave some of the walls another spray and applied a total of 30 litres today in 3 hours, which has made a difference and taken a fraction of the time it would have taken using a roller.
Should finish all the walls and final coats this week and remove all the coverings to see the room in their full glory.
As hoped, I gave all the surfaces a second Mist Coat and a full Final Coat, just as the sprayer seemed to give up, so used a roller for the stairs wall and finished today, Wednesday 6th. Cleaned up the window frames after removing the covering and cleared the floor protection. Here is a video of the final finished result.
Finished Painting Video
Friday 8th November - Let there be LightThe Electricians came back and fitted the last of the down lighters, so La Maison now have lights in every room that has made a real difference and shows off the house to get effect. I feels like the last leg is now approaching, but I know there are lots of small time consuming task ahead.
Week Ending 17th November - The end is in sight
Last week for the first time I felt the construction had turn into the decoration phase as the hard work was now behind me and the house is taking shape.
I have given the stairs a first coat of paint, fixed the bath waste, insulated underneath and fitted the front tiling board in place ready for tiling.
Eventually, I have cut the Oak Cill for the rear windows and alcove in the Garden Room, which are looking good, but need securing and glue once the render has been done.
On a cold and drizzly day I managed to get some of final render on the Chimney Breast, Alcove and most of the Salon/Garden Room doorway. I didn't want to mix another batch, especially as i only back 1/2 a bag left. This will be enough to do the rest of the doorway, but will need to collect another 6 bags to complete the old rear wall of the house and expose the stone.
The render will be light beige when fully dry and hardened, so should not need any further treatment, other than a touch up and perhaps a coat of PVA Glue to seal and stop bits dropping off!
Well, the end of the working week and this visit has arrived and as over the last few days I manged to test the cutting of mitre corners on the skirting board and my chop saw made it easy! I cut and secured Door Architrave to most of the doors. i actual ran out of the 100 metres purchased and may need to order more. Having done so, I sanded the door frames and gave all a first coat of paint. I used some Light Grey - Bedec painted I had purchased years ago when we purchased La Maison and again this Bedec product has proved great and whilst expensive in the UK, it is great value compared to french products.
Finished the week with a tidy-up and cut the skirting boards for the Bathroom, Bedroom 2 and the Landing, but will not fixed them, until the floors are cleaned and sanded. All in all a very satisfying visit and hopefully my next visit in December will see the ground floors levelled, in readiness for the tiles and Quickstep flooring laid.
La Maison Grise-Painting Complete Video
