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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LA STUDIO SUMMER 2022 Visit

 Summer 2022 Task List - Plan

Having returned to the UK and reviewed the work completed, I have prepared a plan for the task to be undertake during the August to September Visit program as follows:

Hopefully, I will be able to complete these tasks and then all that will be needed in Autumn 2022 will be to make and hang Cedar Shutters and Grout Render to seal the exterior, whilst retaining the stone appeal!

FRIDAY 24th June 2022 - External Shutters

Have ordered the wood for all the Door and Window Shutters, including the large Rear Garden Room Window. I have decided to use Red Cedar Wood, as this will not need treatment, will provide protection and importantly is light and will fade to shade of grey. I want to only have a single folding shutter on each end and the 4.2m Garden Room Window; the lightness should make it feasible. Enough has been ordered for the rear door of La Maison as well. The total material cost should work out significantly less than the cost getting them made.

I will construct these over the Autumn/Winter period  although I still have to source the right hinges and lock mechanisms to be used for each shutter.

FRIDAY 15th July 2022 - Cedar Wood Delivery

As expected, the Cedar Wood for the Shutters arrived yesterday and I have cut near to size for each to be able to place in the car for the journey over to Colondannes in August.

Now have 2.1m, 1.6m and 1.4m lengths that are T&G, as well as some plain 1.5m lengths for the Garden Room Shutters, to allow them to fold.  All are slightly over length, which will allow me to assemble each shutter for the doors and windows before trimming to size and level each.  Really pleased with the quality.

The oils in cedar protect the wood against decay, which makes the material ideal in even the muggiest climates. Outdoor cedar furniture also resists bacterial and fungal growth. Cedar has tiny pockets of air inside the grain of the wood, and those air pockets protect the wood from changes in temperature.

LA STUDIO - JUNE 2022 VISIT

 Wednesday 8th June 2022 - Ceiling Boarding Complete

Having arrived yesterday and given the gardens a grass cut and tidy, I was ready to start the work this morning and the first thing on the task list was to completed the Insulated Plaster boarding of the down stairs rooms.

I completed the West Side in the morning and East Side after. Cut all the light holes and space for the cable runs, then screwed all to the ceiling with the retainer washes.

West Side Outer Back Wall

East Side East Section

East Side Internal Wall

Oak Base Support

Having completed the ceilings, I fixed the Oak Base to the Stairs, having reduced the size and added oak to the front.  I will finish with some tile grout tomorrow.

Beam Cutaway

I also cut away some of the beam directly above the stair steps to give more headroom above the first few steps.  I also found an old piece of iron, with two holes already made so that I can screw to the beam and provided added strength to the beam in the stair well, once I have installed the bannister posts and rails and oak surround that I have ordered from Leroy Merlin and should be delivered this week.

Thursday 9th June 2022 - Downstairs Tile Grouting

As planned, I got the grouting completed today and around the Oak Stair Base. Just enough grout now left to finish some of the edging tiles once I have them all cut to size.

AMAZING Leroy Merlin!

I have been waiting for this to come in stock and discover the had this morning at the Chateauroux Store, so ordered at 6:02 and the order was delivered the 60km to me at 9:30am today.

What excellent service.

Friday 10th June 2022 - Skirting and Door Frame

Easy tasks today and got all the Skirting cut and in position downstairs and upstairs as planned.

Then attended to the Main Door Frame, planed the left side of the door below the middle section to establish a level vertically to measure off for an 81cm opening for the new door frame to fit into. I used a wooden stick cut to 81 to mark up the right side of the door and used my chain saw to cut about 1-2cm away from the old oak.

Also cut and positioned the new Oak Board the Stair Well. Needs a little more adjustment and cutting, but that is for next week now.

East Side Skirting

West Side Skirting

Stair Well Boarding

Right Side Door

Left Side Door

Once the new Doors are installed, by the end June we will be on the final stretch!

Saturday 11th June 2022 - Stair Beam Support

Hadn't intended to do any work today, but last night I had an idea how to fix and hide the metal beam support for the last beam of the Stair Well. I secured it to the front side of the beam and removed the strip of ceiling insulation board and screw through for here. I then reapplied the board to neatly obscure the iron support and bolts through to the oak beam.

looking up

Iron Support Applied

Iron Support Hidden

So now the Iron Support is is at the top and does not come below the cut out of the Oak Beam and when the Insulated PB is applied only the bottom edge is seen.

Now I need to secure the Oak Fascia to the beams on the well side, but easier done than said as the nails bend. So I will need to drill a very small hole for each through the new oak.

MONDAY 13th JUNE 2022 - Ceiling Board Fillers

Not much to show for the days work, but good progress. I have allocated 2 days to fill in the Plaster Board gaps and bits and should do it all, so that later this week I can tape and plaster the joins.

Back Door Ceiling Board

East Side Beam  1

East Side Beam 2

Having used Expanded Foam to fill most of the ceiling boarding gaps and pressed the filler home when dry to touch it will provide a good base to apply the plaster filling later this week. I added wool insulation to the gaps above the main beam supporting the East Side Floor Beams and then cut lengths of plaster board to hide the gaps both sides.

I also used a piece of the plasterboard above the back French Door frame to hide the wool insulation I had applied earlier and was waiting until I found the spare bits of PB.

So tomorrow I can continue to fill the little sections that need Insulation Board and Foam Filler, before the temperature goes above 30 the rest of the week!

TUESDAY 14th JUNE 2022 - Plater Boarding Bits

Today was finishing the little bits of Plaster and Insulation Boarding, in preparation for the filling that would be needed. I used up most of the plasterboard left overs and bits of insulation board to fill the missing sections.

I also mixed a strong smooth concrete to build up the missing and rotten bottom of the main door ahead of the new doors being installed next week and tidied the front that I had cut into.

WEDNESDAY 15th JUNE 2022 - Boarding Filling

Mixed a 7kg of the Boarding Adhesive this morning and was lucky to get through the task of filling some of the gaps this morning and the temperature rose to 29c by noon, heading towards 32c today! it was just going off by the time I finished and I ended up doing more than expected at one point during the morning.

Off to get some corner beading this afternoon and hopefully the Oak Posts will arrive tomorrow, if the can find me this time!

THURSDAY 16th JUNE 2022 - Clean Up and small jobs

It was too hot today to start the final filling tasks and mix the adhesive, so I fixed the plaster board Edge Beading to the door way corners and clean some marks from the walls and floors.

Levelled the upstairs floor edge that hangs over the void in front of the rear French Doors and will finish this off with from Oak Strip later.

The Oak Posts for the stair well balustrade arrive and rough cut them to size, to make easier to handle. They need cleaning before use, so will need to get the plane and sander out before using.

END OF VISIT WORK!

Just had confirmation that Adams are coming of Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd to install the new Doors and Windows, so I have decided to change my return crossing to late evening on 23rd rather then midday and this should give me the ability see and signoff the total installation. SO, I will stop any more work and focus on clean up and emptying La Studio in preparation.

FRIDAY 17TH JUNE 2022- Tidy Up!

Did dome tidy up job and remove everything from La Studio preparation for the door to be installed. However, could resist fixing the Skirting Board to the walls down and upstairs. As well as grouting the cut tile bits I fixed yesterday.

Also, decided to give the door/frames a coat of the Bedec Barn Paint and will do the same to the window frames before they arrive on Tuesday, and sealed the upstairs rear flooring by the back door, where i will fix an oak trim to tidy up.

A local friend removed a pile of stone at the back and left smaller stones that I have removed into a large garden sack for storage, whilst I dig a trench for the new Guttering run off of the front and back runs and down to the front where there is already a trench under the barn floor into the main road drainage.

This will be a summer tasks and I now plan to use the small stones as a part of a patio area at the back.

East Skirting

West Skirting

Main Door Frame Painter

Rear Door Frame Painted

Rear Stone Cleared

SUNDAY 19TH JUNE - Frames Painted

Before it became too hot at 32c today, I decided to finish painting the frames, or at least 2 coat before the Doors and Windows are installed.  It starts to look different with just a single coat and will be transformed by the time I leave.  I will clear the wooden Lathes  that I removed from both upper floor s and onto which a bed of soil was placed, been trying to think how I could use the wood, rather than as fire starters!  I have 2 bags of 1cu3 of the soil in the barn to use on the lawns.

Back View

East View

Front View   

MONDAY 20th JUNE 2020- Odd Jobs

Thunderstorm hit last night with rain, a welcome event!  So, cooler today and just did a few minor jobs:

So firstly, I mixed some concrete and laid a base in front of where the new Low Window will be installed to create a firm Cill to protect against the rain.

Still need to mix some smooth concrete to fix the post edges here, where the wood has rotten.

I then found a thin length of Oak and cut to size and secure it to the edge of the upstairs floor where is crosses the back door void.

Then in preparation for sorting the rear patio and a trench for the guttering water drainage, I cleared the wooden lathe pile away and will need to remove the too large bits of rubble, once levelled.

 

WEDNESDAY 21st JUNE 2022- Door and Windows Installed

Work at La Studio has really finished for the June Visit now, with all the Doors and Windows delivered and installed by SAS Adams this morning.

Whilst the two guys got on with their work I was at hand but did some clean up tasks outside.  I removed rubbish from what will be the rear patio, repaid the collapsed stone wall by the Laurel and importantly, removed most of the moss from the roof which was helped by the rain again last night.

Really pleased with the inside and exterior transformation now that installation is complete, with only minor adjustments  and I have been left with lots of surround trim to finish off.

Here below are some Outside and Inside pics of the finished impact:

Front View

Rear Patio Area

Main Door Interior

French Doors Interior

French Doors Exterior

Front Window Interior

Here is a short video tour of

La Studio Renovation062022

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