Dordogne Retreat - a farmhouse tale

Ok Ok I said I wouldn't post another article about the landing construction but thought I should prove that the window surround was completed today and wasn't left to another trip!

Have decided that six parts to the saga of the landing construction is enough, at least for me. With the exception of plastering (which is a real problem to get done well over here) and the window surround the landing is finished (ish) enough to stop posting articles about it.

Izzie and I put the last tricky (around the oak a-frame) bits of plasterboard up yesterday and today the insulation was put in place and some general tidying up of assorted areas. The banisters made a major difference, especially to safety.

Notice the 'shelf' in the bottom left of this picture, its a solid piece of oak which was an off-cut from one of the window projects... its about a metre long and planed up beautifully.

Have not updated the site for the last few days as the pace has slowed down somewhat, perhaps directly related to the increase in temperature, the warmer it is the more time we spend outside! The weather has been fantastic the past few days, temperature in the 22 - 24 range with clear blue skies. In fact its been so hot that the shorts have been dusted off and have seen the light for the first time in a long while (but it wasnt me).

Back to the landing, its not finished yet but some progress.

The chimney is now boarded in on 3 sides after repointing, a tedious but important task. The final side is not boarded in yet as this is in one of the future phases!

At the risk of boring everyone not much is happening except for work on the landing. Although work was interupted by having to go and chop firewood (chainsaw playtime....) and assist with pointing the chimney in the attic before we cover it up.

Also the electricians turned up today to run the power (and water) from the cellar to the pool room, this is a distance of 45 metres, but luckily the trench had already been dug! They ran three phase and a bare earth wire which will also improve the house earth system.

So back to the landing and it's certainly going to be a nice area, much bigger than I envisaged.

Looks good, unless you look up!

Another day another new wall. The landing continues to take shape after the construction of the wall and door (to what will be the master bedroom) under the A-frame.

The A-frame is not straight so in order to get the wall entirely under it we decied to use the French metal farming system which is only 50mm thick. It's not as sturdy as a wooden framed wall but is certainly quick and easy to work with (once you get the hang of it).

So another day and some progress although the morning was taken up with a late start and then off to the builders merchants for more materials (we also stopped to look at 'micro' tractors but thats another story).

Better start thinkins about the rail up around the stairs now!

Its only when you look at the side you see how much is still to do, tomorrows project is to frame the wall!