Year: 2009

  • Windows shuttered

    For as long as we’ve been planning and designing the conversion of the barn the issue of how to screen the large window on the yard side of the building has been nagging at us. The challenge being to allow as much light in as possible whilst retaining a degree of privacy (although it’s hardly…

  • Oak floor adrift on the high seas…

    I ordered solid European oak flooring and associated underlay, fixings and tools from a flooring company (who will remain nameless for now) back October [Corrected]. The passing of time has made the details somewhat hazy, but I planned to get the floor in, at least on the landing, by Christmas and that included an allowance…

  • Building Progress ~ November 2009

    Finishing treating the untreated oak stairs and banisters is proving a real pain – the banisters along the landing have all been whitened & waxed, but the stairs themselves along with the banisters running down the stairs still need finishing, they’ve been whitened but not waxed. The problem is getting the timing right (never my…

  • Insulation ~ Extruded Polystyrene

    Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) is made by mixing polystyrene and a blowing agent under pressure and then forcing the resultant fluid through a die. As it emerges from the die the fluid expands into a foam, which is shaped before it cools. Extruded is stronger than expanded polystyrene and as such is better suited applications where…

  • Insulation ~ Phenolic foam

    Phenolic foam insulation is made by combining phenol-formaldehyde resin (note the presence of formaldehyde, a hazardous chemical and known carcinogen), a foaming agent and a hardener. When all three are mixed an exothermic reaction causes foaming followed by rapid setting. Description Usually now available as rigid boards or panels sometimes as a backing to plaster…

  • Insulation ~ Glass Fibre

    Similar to mineral wool insulation, glass fibre is one of the most common forms of insulation in the UK – everyone knows that rough, itchy, scratchy feel of glass fibre much beloved in our drafty attics. Whilst it has been installed in many homes for at least of couple of decades, this has not usually…

  • Living room windows

    Picture with measurements of both of the living room windows – one photo two sets of measurements. Only where the two windows vary are both measurements given. Just for the record the picture is of the left side window (I think!) Click on the picture for a larger version hosted by Picasa.

  • Bedroom hayloft door

    Picture with measurements of the hay loft window in the bedroom window. Click on the picture for a larger version hosted by Picasa.

  • Building Progress ~ October 2009

    Ah, October – seems like a long time ago now… I’ve stalled in finishing treating the untreated oak stairs and banisters the banisters along the landing have all been whitened & waxed, but the stairs themselves along with the banisters still need finishing. I managed (mistakenly) to wax one of the posts before whitening it…

  • Slack

    Sorry, I’ve been very slack in updating the site over the last few weeks – very busy at work (my proper job) at the moment with a system implementation. Rest assured my usual slow and steady service will be resumed shortly…

  • Yard Window

    Picture with measurements of the yard side window. Click on the picture for a larger version hosted by Picasa.

  • Logs

    I really enjoy Roger Deakin’s book ‘Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees’…