Week 31/32 A front door and render starts...

First news is that we have sold Fern Cottage.  It was on the market for just two weeks and our buyers were our second viewers.  This is great news - firstly they are a lovely young family and secondly, we now know that we can finish things that would have been on hold due to cashflow such as our garden - plus a much needed holiday!

There's been a lot going on this week on site and as I have taken some leave from work, Aidan and I baked some brownies as a Friday treat today and shared them with our fantastic building team.  They were well received!

We got a front door on Monday - although we are changing it for a wider one.  The glass above and on the sides will go on next week.

The render started today on the front of the house.  They are back tomorrow morning to finish off the walls they started today - no lie in for us then!

When it's all done - next week apparently - the scaffolding will finally be dismantled.  At this point, the service trenches will be dug ready for the gas, electricity, water and most vitally, for Dylan and Aidan, the phone/broadband connection to all be turned on at the end of the month.

The roof is now complete - with installed solar panels to give us a ready supply of hot water.

And talking of hot water, all of the underfloor heating is now installed ready for the screed on Monday.  

Apparently there are six thermostatic valves controlled by the below pipework.  I am sure I will get used to it!  Underfloor heating needs to be left on all the time, which I am assured by the plumber, is cheaper than central heating.

Upstairs, many of the rooms have been plasterboarded and skimmed, which has allowed us to see the generous size of the rooms.  

The ensuite in bedroom 5 will have the tiles put on next week.

So all moving foward - which is good as we now have a deadline of 8-12 weeks before our buyers want to move into the cottage.  Always good to have a deadline to work to!