Site Manager Ian Davenport's Site Progress Diary

The last few days have been difficult with the weather being so cold, we have however pushed forward as far as we can with the roof and today we will fit the vapour barrier which will make it water tight over the Christmas holidays. The setting out of the roof lights has proven difficult as we had to align them in such a manner so when they open they do not foul on the steel beam. (hope we get this right)

It is unlikely that we will do anything else this week after today as the sub-contractors are finishing after today.

Merry Christmas to you all and a happy new year.

Rebuilt I-Joist roof to rear extension to increase insulation

Rebuilt roof to rear extension

Site Manager Ian Davenport's Site Progress Diary

Today we have completed the block work to the extension and started the plaster skimming. We have routed the solar panel pipes from the roof to the kitchen boxing which proved to be more complicated that it looked at first. The problem was that the pipes are in one long length and to thread them through walls and floors without using any sharp bends was quite difficult. 

The house is significantly warmer that the other houses we are renovating for Sanctuary, we noticed this when we put on some temporary heat and within five minutes we had to turn off the heaters as it was to warm to work.

Minimal boxing for MVHR supply Ducting in Bedroom

Visible return for internal insulation to party wall

Site Manager Ian Davenport's Site Progress Diary

The weather has finally warmed up enough to allow us to start the rear extension, the front door has been fitted and when shut you can tell the difference in sound insulation compared to a standard door.

New Front Door

Re-building rear extension blockwork

Site Manager Ian Davenport's Site Progress Diary

Today we have inserted the foamglas packer to above the steel beam, the windows have been completed and the intello tape fitted to the frames. The temperature has finally got above 3deg and work has started on the rear extension.

Foamglas bearer for steel

MVHR Kit in cupboard

Triple-glazed window installed 

Woodfibre insulation returned at party wall

Site Manager Ian Davenport's Site Progress Diary

Yesterday and today we have been fitting the windows and started the fibre board to the f/f, the fibre board has been difficult to cut and needs a hand saw to do this. We tried to cut it with a power saw but the fibres clog up the saw. The windows so far have been easy to fit even though they are quite heavy, the membrane has been attached to the windows as per the manufactures detail and has had extra tape applied to give a better seal.

Woodfibre lining board to external walls 

Plasterboard ceiling with air-tight grommets for cabling

Air-tight taping to triple-glazed windows

Site Manager Ian Davenport's Site Progress Diary

Today we have had a pre plaster air test, the result was 4.5 which leaves some room for improvement. The main areas of leakage were as follows;

• Through the electrical back boxes. We hope to remedy this by sealing the inside of the box with intumescent mastic. For future projects it would be better to use airtight back boxes.

• The junction between membrane and plaster in corners and around joists. This will be rectified with the use of the Orcon F mastic to form a better seal.

• All penetrations through the g/f membrane. More attention to detail around the pipes.

• Walls in general that are plastered and need patching, the air test engineer has stated that a continuous plaster covering as opposed to patching will be better for a lower result.

• The staples to the membrane although we have fixed them as specified would show a collective hole of approx 50mm when added together. To rectify this we will apply the Tescon No1 tape over the staples. (see photo)

Staples taped over on airtight membrane

Ceiling membrane with tape applied over staples