Week 8

There does not seem to have been a lot happening over the last two weeks although looking back we seem to have accomplished quite a bit. Whilst Phil and I were away last weekend the roofers finished slating the main roof. It is looking good although when they come back to do the porch and garage they have some tidying up to do.

We have been waiting for the brick layers all week but no sign of them They now assure us that they will be with us by the end of this coming week - we will see. It would be nice to get on with this as until the blockwork is up we can't erect the porch and then the garage.

Today Dave and Vic came and put the front windows in. Unfortunately the top triangle does not fit properly. The angle of the pitch is a few degrees out and it is very noticeable particularly from inside. Skye Homes will have to re order it and get the manufacturers to make a new one and then we will replace it. We have been very lucky so far and I suppose something had to go wrong - having watched Grand Designs nothing ever runs smoothly!



Meanwhile despite the hot weather Phil has continued to work hard on the inside and get on with as much as he can. We have found an electrician to work with him putting in the electrics and an electrical layout has been finalized. Thanks to Ben we have sorted out the speaker system and work sorting out the 'landscaping' has continued. We have ordered the library /study furniture and are getting our ideas in place for the master bedroom.
We have had long discussions as to where to put the oil tank, and how to cope with the water we have running along the back of the house. All these issues have been resolved now and all that needs to be done is to put our ideas in place. We are planning to bury a large tank in which will take all the rain water from the gutters - this we will use for cleaning cars and watering the garden etc. and any excess will overflow into the existing water course which we are planning to make a feature at the side of the house.

Phil has already painted some of the fascia to see if we like the colour (blue) and whilst the scaffolding is up plans to get as much done as possible. We think it looks very effective and a bit different from the usual black, white or wood colours. You can just see it on the above photo over the pitches - what are your opinions?

Week 6

The rear roof has been completed and they will get the front done this week.

Phil has finished the underfloor heating apart from the garden room which he can't do untill the front windows are in. Ken and William had great fun one day helping mix all the cement to go between the pipes and sending ip up to the firstflor on a Hoddi.




The windows arrived on Friday and are sitting in the garden - the larger ones being propped up against the jeep. The carpenters will come back and fix them when they have a time! At least these have the correct handles - we are still waiting for the others to be sent and be replaced.

All the tradesmen seem to juggle a number of jobs at once - to keep all their clients happy! - which means they come and go.

week 5

Things are back on track. The weather has improved somewhat this week and the slaters have started on the roof. The chimneys have been rough casted and they have started slating the rear roof. We have had a lot of stone delivered and filled in round the front and the carpenters have been in and put the floor down and the side walls to the garden room.



Phil has continued to be extremely busy and now has the first floor plumbed and the under floor heating complete. He has started putting in the pipe work downstairs and to your right you can see the pipe work in the study. This weekend he hired the little digger again and put the mains water pipe in up the side of the drive. Nearly finished and he has managed to get it stuck in the peat - too tired and hot to struggle with it he is now waiting for when they collect it in the morning! Just a few feet of trench to be filled in but that can be done at a later date.

On Thursday they came from AGA to survey the site and we have been busy chosing sanitaryware, wood burning stoves etc. I had a day in Inverness on Wednesday and ordered the kitchen and got a quote for the study. Have also started looking at bedroom wardrobes etc. It is getting exciting to see it all fit together and I really can't wait to see it finished. Although what shall I do then?