Replacing the Windows

After some of the storms recently, we've had a few of the top windows of the house flapping open on their own, despite being locked! After heavy rain, they have also been leaking and with the seal going a couple of them too we thought it would be prudent to replace them before causing anymore damage. 

So, having been impressed with the job that Clearview did on our main bathroom, master ensuite, teachers bedroom and on the cider barn windows, we employed them again to replace the top 4 bedroom windows. We had opted for the Victorian Slider range and altered the arrangement of the astragal bars, so as to allow more light into the rooms and ultimately more of a view.

The house looked really peculiar once they had removed the old windows:

But once the new ones were in, we were really pleased with how it complimented the rest of the frontage:

Around the back of the house, we spent a bit more time getting the windows right for the kitchen, where we opted for wooden ones to compliment the exposed beams in the roof. 

 We used the same joinery who had made the replica cider barn door, and after measuring up the openings, the new windows arrived in iroko ready for oiling:

And, after a few days fitting, we were really impressed with the end result:

On with a NEW ROOF!

Now that the walls have gone up it's time for the new roof of the kitchen...

Steph has been using the space in the barns to chip away at the new timbers:

It's great to see the space being used and to experience the trusses up close - 

some very fine craftsmanship indeed:

With the help of the genie lift the end gable goes up:

And we can start getting a sense of the whole space now:

The trusses go up and WOW!

Mike is looking pretty impressed!

The gable gets filled in from the back and the chimney built up to meet the ridge:

Then the battons go in:

The felt goes on:

The space blanket over the window voids:

With the windows cut in when they arrive:

And although we would like to have the scaffolding down by now - it has been good to get another shot from above:

Here's a quick walk through from the dining space into the new kitchen:

Lifting up the floorboards

We had the carpenter in this week to check out the floor joists in the living room. We knew they were shot, and that there was a lot of damp in the room, after taking up the carpet and the underlay was dripping with moisture! On closer inspection though the end of the floorboards in the corner had gone:

So it was up with the floor boards to assess the damage:

A good 3/4 of the joists had been nibbled by wood worm - ever seen one up close? We found one when taking down the timbers in the pumphouse the other day:

With all the boards up you could see one of the reasons behind the damp. 

There was one air brick below the window on the left that was open and able to flow:

On the right however it was a very different matter:

We had already discussed about needing to introduce a gravel drainage system around the perimeter of the house but seeing the extent of this damage it has crept up much higher in the to do list!

Due to the damage being a little worse than we thought, we decided to get all of the joists relaid and after a few days work it was complete:

membrane on the ends to save any future water damage, 

and with well treated timbers this floor should now last us a good while now - phew!

All that's left now is to take up the rest of the downstairs floorboards - some of which are feeling very squidgy! Watch this space for flooring update number 2, 3, 4...