Northfield House Renovation

Having met and spoken with the neighbour, he requested the boundary wall be knocked down so as there is only the garage wall visible from his side and he gains a few inches of space to make it easier to get in and out of his car. It also makes it easier for us to build the wall without having to build from the inside. Photo 1 below shows the wall removed. Photo 1 Photo 2  Some hard-core was also delivered which will be used for the drainage. Photo 3 Another couple of grab-lorries have removed the waste at the front. Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 5 shows the delivery of blocks. These will be laid on the concrete footings and hopefully we should start seeing the shape of the extension. Photo 6 The small shower room has now been completely cleared and the floor removed. Previous Next

This morning I noticed that the trench for the back of the garage (that connects back to the existing house) was dug slightly in the wrong place. It had made the garage longer but reduced the size of the kitchen. I brought this to the attention of the workers and once the main contractor was on site, it was resolved quickly. They would shutter the trench, back-fill it, and dig the new trench. Photo 1 There was unexpected rain on Wednesday afternoon which as shown in Photo 1, filled up some of the trench. Photo 2 Due to the rains, the trench was starting to collapse, (as can be seen in Photo 2 near the bottom right), so the builders decided to pour the concrete into what was dug. The BCO had also visited and was happy with the depth. Photo 3 Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 6 Photo 7 Photo 8 Photo 9 Photo 10 Photos 3 to 10 show the concrete being poured into the trench and checking levels. Photo 11 Photo 12 Photo 13 Photos 11 to 13

The digging continued today with a start on the drain run too. Photo 1 Photo 1 shows the trench that will form the side wall of the new extension as we look from the back. Photo 2 Photo 2 shows the same trench but looking from the other side now. This angle shows where the kitchen area bumps back out before the new utility area. Photo 3 Photo 3 shows the reinforced bars protruding from the set concrete. These will hopefully hold the two pours of concrete together in case of movement in the ground. Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 4 shows the same trench from the front with Photo 5 showing where the kitchen joins back to the house. You can see the old lead pipe and mains gas pipe. Unfortunately this trench has been dug a bit further to the left than required by the plans which would make the garage a bit longer but reduce the kitchen. Photo 6 Photo 6 shows some digging for the new drain run. Previous Next

We were away during the end of August bank holiday and the builders weren't going to be on site either. So today was the first day back on site with the concrete due to be poured into the trench that was approved by the BCO. Photo 1 Photo 2 The concrete has been stepped as we needed to go deeper closer to the boundary fence due to the neighbour's tree. The BCO allowed the steps starting at 1m and going down to 1.5m to save on the volume of concrete and use blocks to make up the height. Photo 3 Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo's 3 to 5 show the hallway with the floors dug out and ready for the hardcore. Photo 6 Photo 7 Photo's 6 and 7 show the old breakfast room. Photo 8 Photo 8 shows the old dining room. Photo 9 Photo 9 shows the side access with the paving removed and some soil compacted down to build up the ground. The plan for tomorrow is to continue the digging of the trench and remove the waste from the front garden.

The Building Control Officer visited the site today and explained that with keeping the Eucalyptus tree we would need to dig down to 2.1m at the front of the garage and then step up to 1m along the side of the extension. The presence of the neighbour's apple tree on the boundary of the back garden also adds to some complexity as the corner of the foundation is very close to the boundary. The BCO advised that we dig to 1.5m and then step up till we meet the garage. Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 2 shows the neighbour's apple tree just over the fence. Photo 3 The BCO was happy with the depths of what had been dug as shown in photo 3 and authorised the pouring of concrete for this part. The concrete would require some reinforcing bar (rebar) to tie the next pour together. Photo 4 So we're hoping that what has been dug can be poured on Tuesday, then the remaining dug out and poured on Thursday. The BCO will return on Wednesday to inspect the depth of the remaining

The team started on the foundations today. Photo 1 The above photo 1 shows the start of the trench looking at it from the back of the house. Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 5 shows where the existing drain was coming from the side of the house and running down the length of the trench in Photo 4. Photo 6 Photo 6 shows where an existing brick manhole used to be to take the drain back towards the front of the property to connect to the public sewer. You can just see the clay pipe to the right of the middle of the photo. Photo 7 Photo 8 Photos 7 and 8 show the current pile of waste in the front. I did ask they use something to protect the driveway but its too late for that now. Hopefully it won't be too damaged. More breaking of the floors continued inside the dining room and hallway. Photo 9 Photo 10 Photo 11 Photos 9, 10 and 11 show the dining room. Photo 11 Photo 12 Photos 11 and 12 show the hallway.