Steve Maskery
Established Member
I've had Ray for 2 days this week, as he wanted to see some real progress. I'm sure he must regret starting all this. I do. But every time we come up against a problem, he figures out a couple of ways out and invariably takes the one that will produce the better job. "If we are going to do it, we may as well do it properly", has been uttered more than once, even if between gritted teeth.
So we started where we left off, cutting a block to fill the gap in the middle of a row.
Remember the soil pipe? Well the good news is that there is quite a fall on it, so once we get a foot or so away from the cabin we will be able to get some sand underneath it, not as much as we might like, but some. The edging rows are being cemented in, of course, so we can get away with a bit of whittling
And so we continued all the time me mixing and shovelling
We have a 1:100 fall to the far right corner, so we put some weep holes in the back edge
And so, at the end of the day, we have some edges that are done, some half done and the bit by the gate and the old raised bed yet to start.
The back is now starting to look better, rather than worse each week, which I'm really glad about, as it was starting to get me down. We have got rid of a very large part of the rubble, either to the tip or as foundations.
I've also had some good news on the cladding front. The BCO suggested I use Glasroc. But several people, including one or two on this forum, have pointed out that that is not a very good idea, as it is Gypsum based and meant for semi-exposed areas, not fully external.
But I've found a product called Cempanel. Not only will it fit the bill nicely, but it is cheaper than the Glasroc. Still a lot of money, given that I've already bought the shiplap, but it's a solution, and a good one at that.
Ray can't come next Wednesday, but Thursday, all being well. He's left me with some homework. I have to cut membrane for the narrow strip between the fence and the retaining edge and fill it with gravel. The fence is entirely on the neighbours' plot and we have built to the boundary line. I just hope I can keep that horrible ivy stuff at bay. It's a menace.
So we started where we left off, cutting a block to fill the gap in the middle of a row.
Remember the soil pipe? Well the good news is that there is quite a fall on it, so once we get a foot or so away from the cabin we will be able to get some sand underneath it, not as much as we might like, but some. The edging rows are being cemented in, of course, so we can get away with a bit of whittling
And so we continued all the time me mixing and shovelling
We have a 1:100 fall to the far right corner, so we put some weep holes in the back edge
And so, at the end of the day, we have some edges that are done, some half done and the bit by the gate and the old raised bed yet to start.
The back is now starting to look better, rather than worse each week, which I'm really glad about, as it was starting to get me down. We have got rid of a very large part of the rubble, either to the tip or as foundations.
I've also had some good news on the cladding front. The BCO suggested I use Glasroc. But several people, including one or two on this forum, have pointed out that that is not a very good idea, as it is Gypsum based and meant for semi-exposed areas, not fully external.
But I've found a product called Cempanel. Not only will it fit the bill nicely, but it is cheaper than the Glasroc. Still a lot of money, given that I've already bought the shiplap, but it's a solution, and a good one at that.
Ray can't come next Wednesday, but Thursday, all being well. He's left me with some homework. I have to cut membrane for the narrow strip between the fence and the retaining edge and fill it with gravel. The fence is entirely on the neighbours' plot and we have built to the boundary line. I just hope I can keep that horrible ivy stuff at bay. It's a menace.
