still looking for concrete layers/polishers
We had been hunting for assistance with laying the screeds. Ultimately, we would like to polish them, but we need them to be level in the first place. The ground floor is 110m2 and the first floor is 213m2, so lots of concrete. We will need a pump and they are charged on a daily rate, and we will possibly need them for two days if not three . We need 11 cube for the ground floor and 22 for the fist.
But we have to make concrete on site first.
A/ To fill the perimeter support for the sole plate
B/ To make mortar for bedding in the slip bricks and the edging blocks
C/ and also to fill in the gaps in between the double concrete beams.
D/ finally, we have to cover all the beams with a self levelling mix. But its 25mm thick, so it may be better to use redimix. Or Judith and l can spend a whole day, perhaps two or even more with the concrete mixer going mad.
But we still need a team of finishers.
Might even try doing it myself! Have checked out Utube and read how to do it from other amateurs who have taken the jump into the unknown.
I have found a hire company
Brandon Tool Hire Greenock Scotland (149)
Unit 1, Cappielow Industrial Estate
Greenock
Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland
PA15 2TQ
T: 01475 558480
F: 01475 558481
E: greenock149@brandonhire.co.uk
But initially l will contact all the Glasgow boys as well as check out the hire companies to see if they can recommend and expert.
_________________________________________________________
26th July
This week has been a little depressing. Arrived back from Gwens and expected the last section of beams to be up. The site was empty, all the machinery has been moved to a new job and Neil the fabricator is no where to be seen.
Contacted billy who said he would be back with his equipment on Saturday, and Neil explained that the steel stockholders had stopped Tuesday deliveries and now only deliver on Thursdays. Unfortunately we didn't have the equipment to offload the steel. So it was postponed until the following week. So hopefully it will be here and we will be able to offload it on the 4th August.
Spend Wednesday painting all the steel with a couple of coats of the special paint. On this occasion its black, but we have had, battleship grey and dessert storm yellow. Now as l say its black. But it hard work by yourself and its amazing how much paint you get through. 25 litre cans disappear quite quickly.
The following day l set about fitting the reinforced galvanised straps. As per the specification, we have to fix the 1.5 metre bars to the blocks with six fixings and then nailed into the timber that has been bolted into the universal beam cavity. This is to stop the floor blowing off. Cant imagine that this is possible when you consider the weight of concrete beams, the concrete blocks, the 25mm of levelling screed, reinforcing bars and 100mm of concrete. But its what is specified by the structural engineer, so if you want a warrant its got to be done.
Friday arrives, the fabricators don't, and the news from Billy is not good. He is away on the Hogwarts Express on Monday and he has had trouble on the other job. So its unlikely that the equipment will be back before Thursday next week. Also, the company who were going to dig up the road for the electrical and water services had told the electrical company that it was being put back a week. No one had told me, and no one had informed the water company. It had taken weeks to get them to agree Monday the 1st for the inspection.
Undeterred l set about making up the shuttering for the circle of concrete, cutting the board, reinforcing it, fitting to the sides and making it sturdy. Then its cutting the reinforced netting and eventually making the concrete. A work force of one plodding away.
By 5.30pm, l have completed the first section. About 4m in length and its time for home to meet the new airBnB guests.
Judith has been looking after them, not that she likes the front of house bit.
Spend time chatting to them, even though l am in my work gear and would prefer to be in the bath soaking my bones.
Saturday 30th July
Up early, in fact awake at 4am, or did l go to sleep at all. The mind was just going over the difficulties of the build, and the usual problems with getting people to fulfil their obligations. Judith had started the bout of depression by being overwhelmed her self. She couldn't see any end to the problems. Every thing was being thrown at us. Delays, insufficient information, wrong calculations, price increases, costly errors by the professionals which we have to cover. The list goes on and on. I try to stay positive, but at the back of the mind it gets you down and you cant see the light for the trees. Especially when you consider that another week is about to fly by with very little happening.
The beams are here, but they cant be lifted into position, the digger is away.
The gabions cant be filled , ditto, no digger.
Steel cant go into position - ditto, no digger.
Can't complete any more concreting as we have used all the sharp sand and gravel. Delivery isn't until Tuesday or Thursday next week. If it is delivered sooner we cant move it because we don't have a digger or dumper.
Start inspecting work that could be completed and it becomes evident that there isn't a great deal to be achieved. The work that originally seems feasible soon proves unpracticable, it would cause problems in the future. The pads to raise the pillars that were cut too small cant be mortared in as they would get in the way when we come to lift the steel. Cant make up any more gabions as we have no room to store them. The list goes on and on.
After finishing breakfast we head down the town in a dark mood. Get home and get on the blower to Billy to express my fears that we are going to put the delivery of the kit home back as we will not be in a position to complete.
And then l left another message with the fabricator to say that if he was finding it difficult, then we could get another company in to finish it off.
In the end, both got back and we managed to sort ever thing out, and hopefully something will be happening next week.
So, in a better mood, we headed over to the site. Set up another section of shuttering, used all the materials up, there was just sufficient to complete the last section, and Judith painted some of the steel.
We both slept well, had a good nights sleep and felt better about the build. Everything seemed to have just fallen into shape.
Sunday was a rest day, although l checked out measurements and sent the details of to the kit company and set up the next section of shuttering in the hope that materials would arrive on Monday.
After lunch it was into the garden to tidy it up in preparation for the estate agents photographs. The house will go up for sale in September.
A/ To fill the perimeter support for the sole plate
B/ To make mortar for bedding in the slip bricks and the edging blocks
C/ and also to fill in the gaps in between the double concrete beams.
D/ finally, we have to cover all the beams with a self levelling mix. But its 25mm thick, so it may be better to use redimix. Or Judith and l can spend a whole day, perhaps two or even more with the concrete mixer going mad.
But we still need a team of finishers.
Might even try doing it myself! Have checked out Utube and read how to do it from other amateurs who have taken the jump into the unknown.
I have found a hire company
Brandon Tool Hire Greenock Scotland (149)
Unit 1, Cappielow Industrial Estate
Greenock
Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland
PA15 2TQ
T: 01475 558480
F: 01475 558481
E: greenock149@brandonhire.co.uk
But initially l will contact all the Glasgow boys as well as check out the hire companies to see if they can recommend and expert.
_________________________________________________________
26th July
This week has been a little depressing. Arrived back from Gwens and expected the last section of beams to be up. The site was empty, all the machinery has been moved to a new job and Neil the fabricator is no where to be seen.
Contacted billy who said he would be back with his equipment on Saturday, and Neil explained that the steel stockholders had stopped Tuesday deliveries and now only deliver on Thursdays. Unfortunately we didn't have the equipment to offload the steel. So it was postponed until the following week. So hopefully it will be here and we will be able to offload it on the 4th August.
Spend Wednesday painting all the steel with a couple of coats of the special paint. On this occasion its black, but we have had, battleship grey and dessert storm yellow. Now as l say its black. But it hard work by yourself and its amazing how much paint you get through. 25 litre cans disappear quite quickly.
The following day l set about fitting the reinforced galvanised straps. As per the specification, we have to fix the 1.5 metre bars to the blocks with six fixings and then nailed into the timber that has been bolted into the universal beam cavity. This is to stop the floor blowing off. Cant imagine that this is possible when you consider the weight of concrete beams, the concrete blocks, the 25mm of levelling screed, reinforcing bars and 100mm of concrete. But its what is specified by the structural engineer, so if you want a warrant its got to be done.
 |
| The paddle steamer clanks across the firth of Clyde, heading to one of the islands full of happy holiday makers out on a day trip. Every day, its a different itinerary. |
Undeterred l set about making up the shuttering for the circle of concrete, cutting the board, reinforcing it, fitting to the sides and making it sturdy. Then its cutting the reinforced netting and eventually making the concrete. A work force of one plodding away.
By 5.30pm, l have completed the first section. About 4m in length and its time for home to meet the new airBnB guests.
Judith has been looking after them, not that she likes the front of house bit.
Spend time chatting to them, even though l am in my work gear and would prefer to be in the bath soaking my bones.
Saturday 30th July
Up early, in fact awake at 4am, or did l go to sleep at all. The mind was just going over the difficulties of the build, and the usual problems with getting people to fulfil their obligations. Judith had started the bout of depression by being overwhelmed her self. She couldn't see any end to the problems. Every thing was being thrown at us. Delays, insufficient information, wrong calculations, price increases, costly errors by the professionals which we have to cover. The list goes on and on. I try to stay positive, but at the back of the mind it gets you down and you cant see the light for the trees. Especially when you consider that another week is about to fly by with very little happening.
The beams are here, but they cant be lifted into position, the digger is away.
The gabions cant be filled , ditto, no digger.
Steel cant go into position - ditto, no digger.
Can't complete any more concreting as we have used all the sharp sand and gravel. Delivery isn't until Tuesday or Thursday next week. If it is delivered sooner we cant move it because we don't have a digger or dumper.
Start inspecting work that could be completed and it becomes evident that there isn't a great deal to be achieved. The work that originally seems feasible soon proves unpracticable, it would cause problems in the future. The pads to raise the pillars that were cut too small cant be mortared in as they would get in the way when we come to lift the steel. Cant make up any more gabions as we have no room to store them. The list goes on and on.
After finishing breakfast we head down the town in a dark mood. Get home and get on the blower to Billy to express my fears that we are going to put the delivery of the kit home back as we will not be in a position to complete.
And then l left another message with the fabricator to say that if he was finding it difficult, then we could get another company in to finish it off.
In the end, both got back and we managed to sort ever thing out, and hopefully something will be happening next week.
So, in a better mood, we headed over to the site. Set up another section of shuttering, used all the materials up, there was just sufficient to complete the last section, and Judith painted some of the steel.
We both slept well, had a good nights sleep and felt better about the build. Everything seemed to have just fallen into shape.
Sunday was a rest day, although l checked out measurements and sent the details of to the kit company and set up the next section of shuttering in the hope that materials would arrive on Monday.
After lunch it was into the garden to tidy it up in preparation for the estate agents photographs. The house will go up for sale in September.
 | ||
| Eric with his American Donald Trump cap |
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