Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Tanking, tick. Update # 30

7 July 2015

Lots of we-hoped-meaningful silence from La Fromagerie. And then, a new photo update from Tom in this morning's inbox:

The black waterproofing will be hidden by lime mortar.

So.

Let's hope we hear more soon.

Only 4.5 weeks until we can see for ourselves... :)

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Small but perfect - Update # 29

1 July 2015

It's been a busy time at La Fromagerie. The weather has been kind and has allowed the guys to get on with the project.  Mid-week last week, Tom reported that:

Concrete floor is finished. 
Ceiling is insulated, plasterboarded and plastered.
Brian (electrician) has finished his first fix.
Gregg has been pointing the walls. Pointing will be finished tomorrow, the tanking/skirt will be done the day after.
The materials are on site for the mezzanine sleeping floor.
I've not bought the window yet.
I'll get you some photos before the end of the week.

Tom did send some photos through:

I rather like the bucket still life. 
Gregg's pointing handiwork

Brian has done his first fix.

The mezzanine should tuck in above the door quite nicely.

According to Tom's latest email, there is still some masonry work to do: the concrete will need to be rendered and hidden with the same pointing mortar. The photos (trust me) show that the bottom of the walls are ready for tanking, and Tom reckons he'll do about 300mm up from the floor all the way around. By 'tanking', he means waterproofing, using black bitumen with a key and then rendered with lime mortar, so it's hidden.

Now we're waiting for sketches of the mezzanine, so we can pore over them and make final suggestions and adjustments. And we have to discuss the wooden flooring. It's got to be moderately robust, humidity-resistant, and inexpensive. Though we're talking a tiny area here, I realise.

And we've had no word back from J-M's son J-M, the menuisier, in response to our two emails, so we'll have to ask Tom to fit the front door and organise glazing for the A-frame. You can't say we haven't tried to get the locals involved!