The entire week has been spent do like structural work. The main workload this week has been on the upstairs floors. The original wooden beams in the house on the most part were OK but some of them needed replacing. A few had been scorched in an old fire but after a bit of a clean the damage was only cosmetic and it had smoked the woodworm's out of them! The damaged beams were removed (by chainsaw) and replacement beams sourced and selected to blend in. A bit of a fiddly job but one that definitely needed doing. Over the old beams 10cmx10cm rough sawn joists were laid and leveled.
The extra joists were laid to level the floor and to strengthen it. It sounds like a quick job but getting everything level was slow. The original beams were crooked, the new joists warped, the floors between the rooms had to be the same level etc etc. Add to this trying to squeeze a staircase in (cutting even more beams and supporting them), moving doorways and it all adds up to lots of man hours.
This week my electrician paid his first visit to the site, top start the first electrical fix. There was much scratching of his head when i explained i wanted two lighting circuits in each room (for some interior design ideas i have). I speak Bulgarian well and it took ages to get through to him. He is also one of those who thinks if he talks loudly i will understand better (remind you of any of the other Expats you may have seen?). My guys always enjoy this spectacle and sat back to watch the show. They understand me completely and find it funny that he doesn't but the sparky is a good hardworking guy so i keep using him.
Work also started on the battening for the wooden paneling on the second floors. Again the usual problems of nothing level or straight in the house and lots of fiddling to get it all vertical. The client has chosen to go with expanded polystyrene insulation behind the paneled walls instead of the usual rock wool. He feels it will be a healthier environment to live in. I disagree but he is a doctor! The polystyrene will require lots of cutting to be able to fit in every where so i think i may have to design a hot wire cutting machine for it (if i have the time). I will post pictures of this potential death and fire trap.......
Other work of note was the reinforcing of a main supporting vertical wooden post the previous builders had put a big stone over it and covered it with cement) and mini foundations for the stairwell.
The client is visiting from Norway this week and he is very happy with the work. So, a good week all around!
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