Renovation Progress Spring 2018

During the Spring 2018 and the cold weather I spent and very productive 9 weeks in Colondannes and on the house, getting more completed that originally planned and including:

• Velux Sun Tunnel Installed by Mick Elkins that proved easier him than it would of for me.  So we now have the Sun Tunnel Windowed installed in the rear of the roof, ready to shine daylight through into the new Bathroom ceiling, once all installed.  The amount of light into the loft suggests that this is going to be successful.  Having removed the ceiling subsequently, I have now made the tunnel hole in the loft floor in the right position to illuminate the central area of what will be the bathroom.
• Removed Ceiling Plaster and Lathe from Bedroom 3, Bathroom and all of Downstairs and finished what I started in November 2017 in Bedrooms 1 & 2
• Sprayed all of the Ceiling Beams and wooden floor boards now exposed by the removal of the ceilings
• Re-position the Kitchen Stove Flue before constructing the downstairs Partition Wall, as this Flue needed to be moved out 5cm to provide full clearance of the new wall and plasterboard.  This proved easier than expected and went well
  

• Remodel Landing Window to reduce the lower height and block up to match the exterior level of the small window in Bedroom 2.  This was Nick’s suggestion to enable the proposed new roof of the Garden Room to be the same height of the existing Boiler Room that will be the new Utility Room.
•  New Windows Measurement were taken by Francis of SAS Adams, as well as a new front door and an order was placed for the supply and fitting of all the windows. These will be supplied, double glazed and pre painted. It is be a while as they are very busy, but that is no problem and the new door will wait until the downstairs floor has been skimmed level all over.

Partition Framing in wood was completed as follows:

Bedroom 2 Door

Bedroom 2 Back

Bathroom Door to Bed 3

Bathroom Back Wall

Downstairs Loo Door

Bathroom Main Door

Bathroom from Stairs

Kitchen Exterior Side Wall

Bedroom 1 Front

Bedroom 3 Door to Bathroom

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  Downstairs Loo Floor

  
  

Downstairs Loo Floor

• Downstairs LOO Floor was installed and I used the same boards as in Bedroom 2 that proved to be excellent quality and produced a good result.This is also insulated underneath

Downstairs Loo Door

Bathroom Layout Plan

• Bathroom Layout Plan was determined with a view to maximise the space, and so the services are  restricted to the back and barn walls and the toilet waste is in the corner and drops to the downstairs loo and then out to the fosse in the back garden.

New Post Box

• New Post Box was created as a bit of distraction work when other work was completed each day.  This was created with Breeze Blocks and then rendered, initially with Cement and then to create a fine finish render cement, so I could have not used the cement render.  You learn as you go!  Not sure yet if I should paint it?

This will now be easier for the van to drive up and drop the post in and allow us to plan for a gate further up the drive in the future.

• Planned Tasks for May Visit

1.   Hang Bedroom 3 and Loft Doors

2.   Plastering estimate

3.   Utility door knock through

4.   Fit utility kitchen door

5.   Knock down Outside Loo Wall

6.   Remove Outside Loo Floor

7.   Remove Windows

8.   Stairs-Loft Partitioning

Renovation Underway- Summer 2017

Lounge now larger with wall removed

This is the front room looking out to the stair and current back door.  The area has been opened and walls removed.  The door you can see is new and will be an under stairs coat cupboard. On the back wall in line with the step will be a downstairs Loo as shown by the door and wooden plank.

In the Salon the fireplace surround has been removed and a gallows bracket installed to support the chimney as shown and a liner installed with a 7kW wood burning stove that I have tested here.

Removal of the walls have highlights the different floor and ceiling levels, so all the downstairs will have floor levelling compound spread before new flooring, like we have in the kitchen at Pinwood.

The discovery of differing ceiling levels has led to the decision to remove them all and have new ceilings installed and used for services.

This room will be the Family Bathroom, with "Jack & Jill" door entry from Chambre 3

Bathroom rotten flooring removed and marine plywood laid and removed wall

The bedroom floors There will be a Jack n Jill door into the bathroom in Bedroom 3, the main bedroom where the fireplace has been removed.

Where the new Chimney Stack is installed, is now between what will be Bedroom 1 and 2 and you can see the new floor in bed 2 and there will be a Partition between the two rooms here and the stack boxed in and hidden with built in wardrobe space.

Chambre 3 with door opening and chimney place removed

The Shower room with wall removed, rotten floor removed, levelled and new floor for Chambre 2

In the Bedroom 3 the fireplace has been removed and I repaired the floor with original floor boards from the bathroom where marine board has been laid.

I have laid a new pine floor in the smaller back bedroom where the boards were rotten and leveled the floor. 

Work in Progress

Since getting No 8, we have had the wall 'tied' to avoid any further cracks that resulted from the previous owner removing the end chimney and we have had all the old and broken radiators, piping, boiler and oil tank removed.

We have a new fosse septic installed, so that we could start our work on the rear garden, which is now taking shape and we plan to plant some soft fruits over the winter, as well as give the apple trees a prune.

The rear or the house has been refreshed and tidied with some shingle creating a patio area infront of the outbuilding.

Having secured No8 in 2013, we have proceeded to starting some small jobs to 'tidy up' the property and plan for the potential renovation work, when we can afford it.

We have removed the old Oil Tank from the rear outbuildings, the Boiler and the Central Heating System from the house.  The end wall has been secured with a metal cross support and the front elevation cracks were repaired, once a chimney stack lintel was installed by Aussourd Bros.

Shutters have been added to all the upstairs windows, for security and consistency and as shown here, we have painted the front to remove the old flaking red paint with something more neutral.  We used BEDEC Barn Paint, which is wonderful and we now plan to use BEDEC Masonry Paint this summer on the house.













We decided to install a new Fosse Septic and Reservoir in advance of any renovation work, so that we can use the garden and not have any plans subsequently disturbed. We have now tidied up the rear with a Gravel Patio Area, that eventually we will 

La Masion Grise

Be careful what you wish for....!!  It really can come true.

We start 2013 with a new future project and one we had dreamt of, but never thought would become a reality.

We share our driveway with No 8 and the family moved out in 2009, returning only occasionally.  By chance we discovered they might be considering selling and with the invaluable help of a local we put in a 'cheeky' offer at the end of October and they accepted!

The Notaire managed to prepare all the paperwork and just before the New Year we completed the purchase.  We start 2013 planning for the renovation on the house and will be able to use the barn for storage.  

In reality, the house will be secured and moth balled until we can afford to start the renovations, but we can start planning and dreaming again, as it might come true.