Summer 2020 Task List

      Looking forward to returning and hopefully completing the work on La Maison Grise this summer.  The following is the Task List planned for completion and hightlighted are key major tasks:· Secure Toilet Bowl

·      Tile Shower Top
·      Grout Bath
·      Seal Bath & Shower Edges
·      Fix Wood Stove Hearths
·      Seal Skirting – Downstairs
·      Seal Vinyl Edges
·      Table Top Oak
·      Fit Ceiling Roses
·      Get Floor Sander – Leroy Merlin
·      Sand Landing, Bed1 & Bed 3 Floors
·      Get Tap PER Connectors
·      Fix PER Connectors in Loo & Bath Basins
·      Move Kitchen Units to House
·      Kitchen Loose Layout
·      Fix Kitchen Units
·      Construct Back Frame & Plasterboard
·      Utility Units Layout
·      Get Render 65 – Tout Faire
·      Render GR Back Wall
·      Finishing Grout GR & Utility Floors
·      Fit Door Handles

Spring Trip - March 2020

Despite having done a full write up over the last 2 weeks of all the work completed, I pressed the wrong button late last week and deleted the post, not being able to recover all the work and photos posts!

So, will do so once I have the energy to do so again, but is the meantime I have recorded a short video of the flooring work completed that shows how things have change and completion is now insight.

La Maison Grise - Spring Trip 03/2020

https://youtu.be/JVG5C6fY_OM

January 2020 Trip

Week commencing 13th January
The work plan has been disrupted a little this visit as it is so cold and below 5 degrees so I have to be careful what is done when

Alcove Shelving - As planned I cut down one of the roof joists I had left to create some shelves in the Alcove in the Garden Room, as shown here.  I have another to place above and then need to plane them down and paint to create the final finish, as well as cut some slots underneath to support each with the dowels I have placed in the side walls.


Dining Leisure Table - Again using the spare roof joists I have create legs and a frame for a table to be placed in the Garden Room.  It is 2m x 78cm and I have ordered some oak panels to form the table top. So once planed and the legs painted it should look good and sits in the room perfectly to easily seat 6, if not 8 places, as shown below:

Downstairs Floor Leveling - I have been struggling with getting a plan for the level of the Garden Room floor to ensure the tiling matches the height of the Utility Room, so eventually took the plunge, having done a lot more research. I treated the floors with the Weber Sealant and measured things again. I decided  an average covering of 5mm of self leveling compound was needed in three main areas of the Garden Room. I actually ended up applying a thinner second coat, after another sealant coat.  It has ended up satisfactory and before I leave this time I will apply a top coat of sealant to the Garden Room.

Water Feed Connections - Before the tiling can commence I needed to complete the Water Feed Connection and to be honest I had been delaying this as it required to make PER Fittings to the plastic pipes the guys had run.  Again I took the plunge and realised I had over engineered the wooden support at the back, so had a bit of work to do to remove that through the feed holes.  Although it took a lot longer than expect it ended up good and I made good and sealed around the all the shower and bath water feeds and test connected the taps.  Very pleased in the end.

Floor Sealant Tape
Whilst in the UK and researching I found some shower tray sealant that is attached to the walls and 'lips' over the tray, so then applied this to create a full water seal on both the shower tray and bath edge under the taps. So with luck no nasty leaks!

Shower Door
I also fitted the Shower Door, so I could seal everything and fully tile up to the door.  Despite choosing a low cost 180 euro Leroy Merlin door it proved great.  Easy to install and adjust to the width and works really well, with great edge seals.  It is a swivel door 680mm wide and sits on the shower tray really well.








Electrical Inspection
Had an inspector from ConsuelPRO visit, to inspect the new Electrics, which is essential to get a Certificate of Conformity and only then will EDF activate the new account and switch on the supply.  It was very impressive and professional.  He found a few faults that Frederic of ALS_Frappat needs to fix, but I replace the radiator connector covers with water proofs ones.  These are seriously good and well engineered.

Bathroom Wall Tiles- So now, I can start cutting all the tiles.... and on Friday 24th I managed to tile most of the shower and all the bath area.  Just a few tiles to cut around the inset shelf in the shower and a few smaller edge tiles to cut, as well as the Mosaics to apply.  It was hard work yesterday and made more difficult by not be able to find a manual tile cutter or file over here.  Will hopefully finish all today a take a few snaps.
 

Well two full and hard days of tiling has resulted in a good outcome that I am pleased with and I just need to grout now when I return in March. A few mistakes and miscalculations, but should end up with a good result.

December 2019 Task Visit

Next week is fast approaching and my final 2019 visit to La Maison Grise.  This 2 week visit is primarily a FLOORING one and the following are the key tasks to be completed:

• Scrub clean and clear the Upstairs Floor Joints
  
• Sand the Upstairs Floors
• Sand dust Glue the Floors
• Oil Tint Floors upstairs
• Cut and fix all upstairs skirting
• Sand Stairs
• Tung Oil Treatment stairs before leaving
• Downstairs Floor Leveling, if workman arrive!

and if there is time:

• Glue and fix Oak Window Cills
• Hang Electric Radiators
• Final fill and paint landing wall

Thursday 5th December 2019

Had a day yesterday planting new Laurel to replace the damaged Box-Buxus that have been attacked twice now and today undertook a clean up of the Upstairs Floorboards, in preparation for sandy over the weekend and then filling and treating them with a OSMO Oil Tint next week.

I used a chisel to follow along the joint to disrupt and remove the muck in between, then gave the boards a deep brush with a stiff broom and vacuumed the dust and dirt up to remove.  

Bed 1 

Bed 3

Landing

Landing

Having cleaned and in anticipation of sanding it became clear that the small section in front of the Bed 3 Window exposed the misalignment of a SQM of replacement boards, so I used my Hand Circular Saw to follow the main joint line of each main board and now just have some final work to reach into the wall edge to finish the work at the weekend.

Saturday 7th December
Having collect the Belt Floor Sander last night from Leroy Merlin in readiness for 3 days work, it is true the Best Laid Schemes of Mice and Men.... go wrong!
This morning the sander just gave out a mild groan, rather than a ROAR when plug in and despite all of my prep, planning and attempts it fails to perform.
Having return it to the wonderful staff at LM, and it ROARING there, it became clear that a short and thick extension cable was needed.
I had to abort my plans and will need to wait until the full electrics are activate in La Maison, as I cannot rely on just the extension cable form Grange Grise to provide the power needed!!

So on to a series of small jobs .....

Tuesday 10th December 2019

Spent 2 days doing some small jobs and filling, including the Bottle Gaz pipe from the Utility to Cuisine, but also managed to fit all the Radiators and Heated Towel Rails to all rooms.  These are Sauter Inertia Fluid units, with Thermostats and Timers, including the Loo and Bath Room one that has a heater blower included.  

Just need to source a Horizontal wide low level one now for the Garden Room wall by the alcove.

Loo 

Bedroom 3

Landing

Bed 2

Wednesday 11th December 2019
You don't realise the packaging waste created until you remove it all from the radiators installed and then have to take it down to the refuse dump!
It is now too cold to do too much, as the glues, pastes and fillers do not cure properly in these conditions. So today I connected all the Radiators to the electric sockets and they are ready for when the electric get activated.

Have tried to complete the Consuel of Conformity application to have an inspection and get the Certificate needed to have EDF supply.  It is not easy, but I will continue to complete and hopefully get it off next week.

Decided I will cut all the Skirting Board now for all rooms and can then spray it when the weather is warmer and fit once the downstairs leveling is down and sanding upstairs.

Winter 2019 - Work Tasks

October and November 2019

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

Not sure I will complete all of these, but should do if all goes well.

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.  

Dried Plastering Tour

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 Light
The 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.

https://bedec.co.uk/bedec_products/barn-paint/

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