Week Two - progress after a rainy start.

Week Two.

 

Work didn't begin this week until Thursday due to heavy rain. We had the hole in the ground and I was worried that it would fill up with water but it drained away well and didn't turn the ground into a quagmire which I was really pleased about.

 

Work continued digging out the shed area and the same for next door.  We have been discussing the material to be used for the retaining wall and have decided to use railway sleepers which will be protected by a damp proof membrane and a layer of gravel. We are going to go for new green oak sleepers and use a preservative rather than the old and oily reclaimed version as the kids may want to sit on the steps and I don't want them getting covered in oil and tar!

 

View of the gardens.  Note the scaffolding tower and access over the wall into the Churchyard

View from the back bedroom

Lots more digging

Day Five - Friday 21st August 2015

 

I wasn't at home today, so was keen to arrive back after 6pm and see what had been done.  Lots more soil had been removed and the entire footprint of our new shed had been dug down to what is going to be the new lower floor level.

More digging

Day Four - Thursday 20th August 2015

 

More digging today

 

 

Churchyard ramp completed

Day Three - Wednesday 19th August 2015

 

Rain today.  The builders ramp out of the gardens was finished today but Neil and Jack were not able to do much more due to the rain increasing approaching lunchtime.

I managed to rake out some more mortar when the rain eased this afternoon and it was lovely and easy due to the nature of the old lime mortar.  I did get filthy though and all the dust clung to me as the rain started again....

 

Demolition of old sheds

Day Two - Tuesday 18th August 2015

 

A busy day today - the builders took down both sheds and we managed - with the help of my parents - to get rid of most of the materials. My Dad will chop up the good timber for firewood and the rest went to the tip. It felt great getting the garden clear again. Work started on constructing a ramp from the garden wall down into the churchyard so that materials can be more easily brought in and out of both gardens.

 

The project is finally underway!

Week One - First Day - Monday 17th August 2015.

The project is finally underway!

Work started on clearing an access through the neighbouring churchyard  (after full consultation and approval of the church wardens), then work began one demolishing our shed. The project is being done with our neighbours as our sheds are identical and share the same roofline.  We hope some costs can be shared thereby bringing down the cost overall.
 

A few problems encountered today include the old roof being tied into the brick wall at the back in a more difficult way.  A whole course of bricks had been removed in order to fit the old roof in. It means that the capstones will probably have to be removed in order to replace the missing bricks.
 

 

The plans

 

It was great to have some proper plans at long last.  Laura and I were really pleased to see something down on paper and it is obvious that Dan has given it a great deal of thought.

 

 

 

Working on brickwork

I have been raking out mortar on the old brick wall which currently forms the back wall of our old sheds.  We are going to renovate and repoint this wall and have it revealed internally. I have been using old screwdrivers and a small hammer but have recently been recommended a mortar rake drill bit which has been a revelation!  The difference it makes....

 

 

The brick wall after a little bit of work