Week starting 11th January - bright and sunny!

After the deep freeze of last week it has been easier for stone work to progress this week. Some of the days have had bright blue skies and warm sunshine - ideal weather for running up and down scaffold.
The main emphasis this week had been on raising the level of stone work at the front of the house. This has progressed well even though some delay is being caused by the non-arrival of some of the stone lintels that were ordered back in November!. Similarly the roof timbers were due to arrive on Friday morning but are now not due to be here until next Thursday - which may hold up progress a little (but this is France!).
The adventures with the old stone fire place have continued. The individual pieces of the structure are so heavy that it is quite an adventure getting it all set in place - but if there was a way with the pyramids then there is a way to be found here - and the structure has now taken shape.
The stone chimney breast is being built up and this will appear running right up through the mezzanine floor which is to be suspended in the middle section of the salon. Robert has devised a method of releasing any of the build up of heat from above the stove (which will eventually be fitted in the fireplace) - small vents are to be placed (in the chimney breast) at what he considers to be feet height - and where he guesses the desk will be placed - so there will be no chance of cold feet up there!

Week starting 6th January - The Big Freeze

A week hampered by freezing conditions. With temperatures well below freezing for many of the days it was hard (even with anti-freeze) to use mortar. So cold fingers and frustration all round. The plan has been to continue the stone work to the West elevation and to start to build up the last gable wall (East). This wall will include the french-doors out to the covered terrace and at the other end a doorway out to the garden. The old stone fire place which Bob has reclaimed from a derelict building locally is now to start to be built into this wall. The pieces of stone are very very old and extremely heavy. Many of them are having to be slung into position with the digger. The larger top pieces and final mantel will be the next job - so that should be rather tense!

Also being built into this wall is another of Bob's (he has a thing about old stone) reclamations. An old stone sink - very typical of old stone houses in France. The huge slab of stone runs right through the skins of the building and sticks out into the freshair. Into this huge slab a drainage channel is cut, so that before modern plumbing the household's water would be released to the outside. The sink itself is shallow and has huge stone cheeks on either side. The main large piece of stone weighs about 700kg and so this had to be very carefully placed into the structure and then built around.

Where the stone sink sticks out (externally) will eventually be the covered terrace - but that seems a long way off right now!

Week starting 29th December 2008 - another short week - New Year

The stone wall is continued above the archway. Spaces are left for the A Frame that will support the roof at this higher end of the building. The peaks are built up at the lower end of the building ready for the start of the roof structure. Happy New Year!

Week starting 8th December

The blockwork continues and the damp-proofing starts to be built in. Drains are laid around the building and gradually the underground section of the house begins to be filled in with gravel. The stonework is now starting to rise and the cavity between the blocks and stone is filled with rigid insulation. Oak beams are used above the window openings internally and outside the windows are to be surrounded with coins and cills.