La Studio - WINTER 2022-23 Visit

My next visit is planned for 10 days, arriving on 5th December 2022.  The focus and key task is to underake pruning of all the fruit trees to keep them under control and prepare them for next year.  I have learnt that it is key to keep them low to be able to pick the fruit and thin out the prolific growth. It also allow me to use the prunings for chipping and dry small logs in the coming years.

If the weather is not too cold, I aslo hope to get the Rendering of both the East and West ends of the La Studio.  This would then enable me to complete the final tasks on La Studio during my planned January/February 2023 visit. Well that is the plan!

THURSDAY 8TH DECEMBER 2022 - Garden Tidy

Compost Screen

This week I have been doing lots of tidying of the gardens and gathering or the large volume of leaves.  It has and is expected to continue to be too cold to consider the rendering of the side walls during this visit.  However, I have repaired the Post Screen of the compost heap in La Grange Jardin.  These had rotted at the bottom, so I removed and cut the rot, dug a trench and filled with concrete and plastic pipe for the posts.  Once set I installed the posts and cemented them into place, ensuring protection from the frost.  Having checked today, I have removed the protect and pleased with the result that shoudl last long into the future.

I started the prunign with the Walnut Tree and completed this with of pile of small branches to dry for a year plus and then use as kindling wood for the fire.

Tomorrow, I plan to trim the Apple Trees, then the Pear and cherry Tree, next week.

Kindling Cuttings

Walnut Tree

FRIDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2022 - Apple Tree Pruning

Apple Trees

Another cold day, but was drizzling a bit early on, so did some minor garden tasks and used some of the small stone saved to edge the gravel area around La Studio Patio under the Laurel Hedging.  By mid morning the drizzle had stopped so managed to prune the tops of the Apple Trees in La Grange Grise to stop the vertical growth and encourage lower branch fruits as well as the Pear Tree.  Cleared all the cuttings away and dragged them to the back of La Maison garden to dry out and eventually use them to chip in the spring for the borders to limit weeds and encourage water retention. 

MONDAY 12TH DECEMBER 2022 - Cherry Tree Pruning

Gave the Cherry Tree and prune this morning, removed some of the large high branches that coudl not be easily reached from the ground to pick the fruit and lots of vertical growth and generally thinned out.  Hopefully, this will encourange more lower fruiting in the next few years.

View to West

View East to Grange

The cherry tree pruning today produced as much as both apples and I have removed the branches to the rear garden in La Maison, so there will be plenty for chpping in the the spring and then spreading on the borders.

It is below freezing most of the day now and far too cold to consider the rendering work, so I have moved the bags into the Barn to keep dry for next year.  The rest of the week will be free to minor tidy up tasks before departure on Friday.

WEDNESDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2022 - Tdy Up Tasks

Not so cold totday and it rose to 10/11c and a little drizzel this morning.  So removed the Lawn Tractor 2 wheels that keep going flat and prepared them to take back fro UK for a check and puncture.

Used some spare wood to create a Handrail for the stairs in the Barn, that has proved successful and will rub down a paint in February.  Also, treated the trailer protection top I created by painting the screw points with tar paint.

Eventually, pruned the top growth of the back Apple Tree in La Grange and used all the cutting to weave around the compost poles and pallets installed to create a screen.

Pallet Screen

Apple Tree Pruned

Compost Screen

That is all for this visit, home on Friday and back at end Janaury 2023.

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LA STUDIO - Autumn 2022 October-NovemberVisit

SATURDAY 15th October 2022 - Door Jambs

I arrived on Thursday for another months visit, that should see most of the work on La Studio completed and here below is the Task Plan:

I started by a visit to Gedimat to collect an order for extra guttering items needed and to order 4 large sacs of Gravel.

On Friday I visited Leroy Merlin first thing to collect an order of 2 lengths of Oak to be used to create the Door Jambs for the vertical opening edge of each of the doors I create during the last visit.  These will create a straight edge on the Stone Walls and allow me to create a clean render edge.

Today, I cut and secured each Oak Jamb to the opening walls both down and upstairs, using screws and expanded foam that creates a firm fixing and good edge for the rendering, before I leave.

Down Stairs

Upstairs

So now on Monday I will start applying another coat of plaster to the Insulated PB on the walls and fill the gaps on the ceiling boards, before sanding and applying a first coat of emulation to all the walls and ceilings, if all goes well!

MONDAY 17th October 2022 - PB Joints

Good day and managed to get another coat on all the Insulated PB walls Downstairs and the ceilings boards.  Still been to fill the edges of the ceiling between the beams, but need to use the strong "sticky" mud filler on the, before the fine plaster finish and then sand.

DownStairs East Handle

DownStairs West Handle

Also, secured the internal Oak Door Handle and now just need to fix the door latch to the stone wall and have started to create a flat surface to get a proper base for the to be to leave and firm.

TUESDAY 18th October 2022 - PB Joints

Another good day in warm conditions.  Succeeded to get another coat on all the lower level Insulated PB walls Upstairs and some of the ceiling boards.  Work went better than I expected and should the second coat tomorrow, including the sections under the Purling Beams that I also added more expanded foam to. 

Looks like some of the areas I did yesterday need more time to dry, but should be able to do all the sanding this week and  then apply another thin coat, if needed.

Will do some photos at the end to the week, when hopefully all will be finished.

WEDNESDAY 19th October 2022 - Odd Jobs

Got the all the boarding joints plastered and used up the tub.  it seems the plaster is slow to totally dry so did some other jobs.

Having installed the upstairs oak doo jamb, I needed to plane the edge of the door to reduce the size, but need to adjust the wood plane more to finish.

Took delivery of 4 large Gedimat 1 tonne sacs of Gravel Stones for the paths, rear patio area once the work is complete.

Started to fix the guttering Support Brackets to the front roof struts, so now tomorrow will do some adjustments and fix the supports to the rear,  Can then fix the down pipes into the drains.

THURSDAY 20th October 2022 - FRONT GUTTERING

Clean up inside today and decide to leave the Joint Plastering to totally dry and sand next week, before skimming again.  So finished the fitting of the internal Oak Door Handles.

Upstairs West

Downstairs Latch

Upstairs East Latch

Front Guttering

Then completed the cutting and light fix of the Front Galvanised Guttering, although some level adjustment is needed and then will need to weld the fixing points to seal and strengthen the lengths and down pipes next. 

Looks like La Studio has its Jewellery on!

Just need to practice how to touch weld now before doing the guttering.

FRIDAY 21st October 2022 - REAR GUTTERING

Succeeded in fitting the rear guttering today and did some soldering on the ends and downpipe bends. Having  started on the east side end fitting the supports, I realised that the level above the rear door wasn't right and the guttering level was too low for the required door clearance.  After some consideration, I decided to raise the second 4m length above the door and all this second section would drain onto the first section.  Just need to wait for rain to check it all out!

Door End 

Downpipe

East End

MONDAY 24th October 2022 - CEILING FILLING

A full session today, filling the gaps in the Downstairs Ceiling Insulated PB in between the beams.  I use the Gedimat Plaster Adhesive they call Mud.  This dry's rock solid and will survive any small movement.  

I can now move on in the next 2 days to sand all the Plaster Board joints, ahead of a plaster skim to hopefully create a smooth and acceptable surface to paint.

Once done, I can give a 50/50 emulsion coat, before apply a finish coat and then move onto fitting and wiring the Fuse Box and give the Exterior Stone Walls a render coat to the current mud mortar.

TUESDAY 25th October 2022 - SANDING & SKIM COAT

Had to fetch more sanding paper but got all the joints sanded down and up stairs this morning, as well and a skim coats on the downstairs joints.  Looking good and no doubt a bit of touch up will be needed after the 50/50 paint coat, but I am pleased with how it has gone so far.

WEDNESDAY 26th October 2022 - UPSTAIRS SKIM COAT

Pleasingly gave a skim coat the upstairs Plasterboard Joints today and it is clear hat another will be required to some.  Whilst most joints are level, there are some that are not where the beams were not level.  These need multiple coats to cover, as they take days to fully dry and crack.  When I return next week from a trip to the Basque Region of northern Spain, I will give the final coat and sand, as well and the Mist Coat.

I also secure the Fuse Book Frame to the wall downstairs and ready for wiring up, again next week!

TUESDAY 1ST NOVEMBER 2022 - BACK WALL RENDERING

Returned from my weekend away and having looked at the weather forecast for the week, decided to make a start on the Back Wall Rendering and got 3.2sqm covered ether side of the rear door.  I used 1 bag of the render to get this covered and have another 3 bags, so should get the rear covered, providing the rain does not alter my timings.  This will allow me to properly determine the number of additional bags I will need to get to do all the walls.

I will do more inside plastering when the expected rain arrives!

WEDNESDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2022 - BACK WALL RENDERING

Did another bag of Render to the rear wall today and managed to cover 3.4sqm today, with another 4 sqm to cover.  The coverage usage varies, depending on the gaps and stone sizes within each sqm.  I suspect I may not cover all of the wall tomorrow with the bag left, but I now have a good indication of how many additional bags needed to cover all the remaining external walls.

Rear wall Comparison

Rendered Area

THURSDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2022 - BACK WALL COMPLETE

Despite the weather turning and starting to rain, I continued with the plan to finish the back wall rendering and erected a tarpaulin on the guttering to the  Walnut Tree to provide some protection.  

Her below are a couple of pics of the finished wall, having been able to render 3.8sqm with the final bag.  This was because of the size of the stones in this end of the wall and less gaps.  The rain also held off until I had finished, so all worked out well.

FRIDAY 4th NOVEMBER 2022 - Rear Patio Base

The rain and colder weather arrived last night, so I am pleased I managed to get the rear wall rendered.  Went to Tout Faire in Gueret this morning to get 15 more bags, but they only had 2 and need to place an order. Hope they arrive next week in time to get the Front and East Apex Wall completed.

So, this morning I managed to prepare the patio base and will spread some of the Grey Shingle Stone I have had delivered to finish this area next week.

Back Wall

East to West View

SATURDAY 5th NOVEMBER 2022 - Extra Gravel Down

Easy today, installed a length of rolled chicken wire in the guttering to limit the build up of leaf fall.  I have used this before and it is the easiest and cheapest solution.

Also, spread some of the grey stone onto the path/patio area to the front and used 1/2 of one large sac so far, so will be able spread thickly from now to create a deep compact patio at the rear next week.

Barn Path

Guttering Drainage Path

Courtyard Area

MONDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2022 - Patio Gravel Down

Got all the gravel down at the rear of La Studio to create a patio area and have now use 2 of the Cu3m bags.  The result is pleasing and the pics below show the full result.  Have another  bags, that I will use to lay later this week on the courtyard and front driveway to add depth to both.

West End

East End

Back View

View from Garden

TUESDAY 8th NOVEMBER 2022 - COURTYARD GRAVEL

Courtyard Gravel Down

Managed to get a lot of small tidy up and finishing tasks this morning, in addition to adding the new Gravel to the Courtyard area that looks near finished now.  Used 1/2Cu3m that will help drainage run off.

FRIDAY 11th NOVEMBER 2022 - FRONT RENDERING STARTED

Did many small finish and tidy jobs the past couple of day and then collect the 15 bags of render I ordered.  So, today made a start of the Front of La Studio and managed to get half of the wall completed.  Hopefully, will finish tomorrow and then might be able to get the East Side wall done by the time I leave on Wednesday!

SATURDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2022 - FRONT RENDERING FINISHED!

Managed to complete the rendering of the Front Wall today, although is took 7 hours to do the left side and used 2 bags again!  The work went well and looking good, especially next week when it dries fully.  So now all the holes are filled and and the stone will be fully secure. Some minor additional work needed, but not until both East and West sides are complete.

West Side View

East Side View

Have decided that work for this visit has finished and will focus on the garden now before returning to UK next week.

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La STUDIO - Summer 2022 Visit

 Weekending Sunday 14th August 2022

So, arrived as planned with a good journey getting me here at midday and WOW!  in the 6 weeks absence the Berberis Hedging had gone wild adding 500mm in some places, so the plan for the week as changed to garden tidy, especially with the heat being experienced.  Exterior temp has reached 37c and 34c in shade.

Oak Top Tressle Table

I unloaded all of the Cedar Wood for the shutters eventually and took delivery of some shutter hardware and paid a visit to Leroy Merlin to collect other items, including two sets of Trestle Tables Legs that are better quality and will enable me to use some T&G Oak to create a top and will make some bars underneath to position the top bars into and fix with two oak pegs underneath. It will make use of the oak and allow them to be used in La Studio as work table and easy storage.

I have make a table for each downstairs room, paint the legs Grey and Tung Oil the Oak to protect and make it easy to wipe.

Tiled Front Threshold

Total cost should be a 1/2 - 1/3 of what I had seen in shops of a similar quality, and the satisfaction every time I walk in!

Also, removed a little of the oak threshold to the front door, as I had already decide to tile the area now that the door is installed and confirms it is possible.  Just need to grout the three tiles now to finish off.

MONDAY 15th AUGUST 2022 - Downstairs Taping & Filling

So a week behind the plan due to the heat and need to do a tidy up on the garden, I have started the planned work.

This morning I taped all the Insulated Plasterboard joints downstairs and and gave them a plaster coating, which went better than I expected.  Need to sand and perhaps give another light coat, but I am ready now to start upstairs and then the ceilings, which should take the extra 2 days planned.

TUESDAY 16th AUGUST 2022 - Upstairs Taping & Filling

Started early and thank goodness, as it was 28c and heavy today.  Managed to get all of the lower wall joint taping, and filling completed. So now ready for the ceiling tomorrow, so also made sure all of the fixings on the Insulated PB were secure and not proud.

Finished the grouting of the tiling at the front door, as well as cutting the oak right angles beading for upstairs around the stairwell against the flooring, just need to do some adjustment and fix firm.

WEDNESDAY 17th AUGUST 2022 - Ceiling Taping & Filling

 

Managed to get both upstairs ceilings done and think I have made a reasonable good, but will need more work before it is finished.  Where the top flat section meets the front and back slope walls, I not only used mesh to strengthen the plaster coat, but finished with some jointing paper tape and it has gone well.

Have to used another tub and different make of plaster joint which was slightly different to apply, but there was no problem, once I got used to it.

Still have to do the lower section of the the front and back walls to do, below the main Purling Beams, but that should be completed tomorrow, with luck!

THURSDAY 18th AUGUST2022 - Lower Ceiling & Wall Taping & Filling

 

Got both sides completed on the lower ceiling below the Puling Beam filled today, in hot temperature and the plaster was go off by the time I got to the last sections.  Manged to fill all the retaining screw holes as well.

West Side Ceiling

East Side Ceiling

I have realised I need to leave the filling plaster to dry completely before sanding and will then need to do some level filling of the boards that are unlevel as a result of the beams to which they are attached.  So will leave that until later next week and tomorrow will cut and apply the Oak Frames to the Glazed holes.

FRIDAY 19th AUGUST 2022 - Oak Surround to Glazed Holes    

 Had a good end to the week when the cutting and filling of the Oak Wood Surround to the original holes in the walls.  I cancelled the original plan to get small windows made to let light in, when the cost of wood increased too much in January and came up with the idea of sealing with toughened glass.

As shown here, I think they look really good and especially as the total cost is 10% of the original expected cost!

Had a problem after I just started when my Chop Saw gave up and I had to revert to using the Circular Saw to get the mitre joints, but at least it was easier than a hand saw!

So now, on Monday I can move on to cutting the Oak for the Stairs Balustrade, secured to the floor and the purling beam, with 3off galvanised poles running across for security.
  

MONDAY 22nd AUGUST 2022 - Oak Surround to Glazed Light Wells

Easy today, but still took all morning to fix the Oak Window edging on all six glazed light wells.  I also fixed the upstairs stair well oak edging, which looks good and has been both sealed and nailed to the main oak beams.  Once the Balustrade Posts are fully installed and secure, I will seal the edging and flooring with Grey Mastic to give a fine finish, as well as wood glue and sawdust to hide small gaps.

Had confirmation that the new chop saw is on its way, so should be delivered tomorrow! 

Oak Edging

Stair Well

TUESDAY 23rd AUGUST 2022 - Balustrade Posts started

Amazon and DPD did the business again and the new chop saw arrived at 10:00am, so was able to start work with minimal delay and succeeded in getting all three oak posts fitted with the Strong Boot Fixings as shown with the bolt holes drilled.  Just some fine adjustments to do, but tomorrow will cut two main beam tops to fix to the Purling Beam, that will be screwed into countersunk holes and then pegs added for a traditional feel!

However, before the fixing I will drill three holes in all the posts to fix Galvanised poles across the long and short sides at 30cm gaps for security.

Short Edge

Long Edge

WEDNESDAY 24th AUGUST 2022 - Balustrade all installed

I makes you feel so good when months of planning produce a good result and today saw the completion of the Balustrade to secure the stairs.  A few minor mistakes and imperfection, but nothing that some final adjustments will not mask.  

Cross Room View

West Side View

East end View

Front View

FRIDAY 26th AUGUST 2022 - Downstairs Oak Door Creation

Had a rest day yesterday, as I had a lunch date with friends, so today I decided to make and fit the new Oak Door dividing the downstairs rooms.  I used the oak T&G strips I ordered in the UK.  I cut the back & front ends and then glued each length as I assembled each.  I used the original old hinges and marked them up on the door to drill and them bold the hinges through oak cross supports of the rear.

Very pleasing to see the end result, match the original door and in keeping with the look of La Studio.

Back East Side

Front West Side

WEDNESDAY 31st AUGUST 2022 - Upstairs Oak Door Installed

Upstairs East View

Had friends staying last few days so no work, but today got the Upstairs Oak Door made and fitted to divide the two rooms. 

Got a bit complicate due to warped oak, but managed in the end and fitted new door support pegs into the wall and the door hung.  

Have had to chip away some of the edge stone to allow the door to close and will need to continue this tomorrow to finish.

THURSDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2022 - Upstairs Oak Door 

Work continued to properly fit the Upstairs Oak Door that needed the stone chipped away on the hinge side of the wall to allow full closure. It took a lot more work than I expected and I had to secure the hinge holes with resin as well.  As a result of placing the hinges on the edge, it pulled the door in a bit and left a larger gap on the closure side, so I will need to get an oak post to fill the gap.

Upstairs Back West

Upstairs Front East

I also glued both Trestle Table tops and place a cross braces on one top to sit on the trestles.  Will do the other tomorrow.

Friday 2nd SEPTEMBER 2022 - Mixed Tasks 

Good day which started with completing the second Trestle today, with extra top supports, so just need to do some filling on both and drill peg holes in the under table support through the trestle leg brace for added support.

Also, I unscrew the metal stair treads and added a thin rubber strip to the back edge to eliminate the tinny sound as you step on each.

I measured up each door frame and ordered two 2m Oak Posts 6x8cm for each opening, as the door stop to fill the upstairs gap and finish both off in October.

Having bought some L-shaped Beading I finished both sides of the East Main Beam Downstairs where the plasterboard meets the beam.

Finally, I fitted 3 more fuses to the the Resi9 Fuse Box and positioned it on the wall near all the cable feeds, ready to start connecting next week.

As I cleared up I noticed a big mistake, in the absence of West Side Downstairs Light Switch for the Downlighters!!!  Really do not understand how I messed up here, but have determined how to fix it next week with minimal disruption.

L-Shaped Beading

Missing Light Switch

Resi9 Fuse Box

West Downstairs

On Saturday I couldn't resist fixing the missing light switch, s uncovered the junction box in the ceiling, fixed a cable for the switch, cut a hole and wired in the planned light switch.  So now next week I just need to make good!

Monday 5th SEPTEMBER 2022 - Guttering Overflow Trench

Trench prepared

Started laying the water excavation trench for the guttering today from back to front of La Studio and then onto join the water waste at the back of the barn.  Encountered lots of large stone on the route down, so a tough exercise.  Hopefully tomorrow will get the front and back downpipe holes down and then level right and can then get the galvanised guttering hung and order any missing parts that might be needed.

Tuesday 6th SEPTEMBER 2022 - Guttering Overflow Trench

The hard work of yesterday paid off today, as I got all the piping laid and fixed in place this morning and managed to get the soil and gravel back over to protect.  Just need to let is all settle and tamper down, before the extra grey gravel is delivered to finish off.

Down the garden

Soil Coverage

Up the garden

Thursday 8th SEPTEMBER 2022 - Tidy up & Roof Clean

I have been preparing for my departure this weekend and scarifying & seeding the grass in both gardens.  Today I took a trailer load of breeze block and cement rubble to the recycling centre, as well as having another attempt to remove all the accumulated Moss Growth, especially from the rear of La Studio roof.  Nearly all complete, with jut the upper central section of the rear to do and will then give the roof a fungicide treatment in the autumn.

Front Roof

Garden Tidy

Rear Roof

So that is it for this visit, although the hot weather out an end to my plan to plaster fill all the boarding joints, I will add that to the plan for October, as well as fitting the Galvanised Guttering and finished the rear patio and grey gravel.

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