Oops ... We have neglected to keep you up to date these last weeks, despite the previous announcement of works that were going to go forward at high speed (like one French high-speed train, the TGV).
But to be honest, after a good start ... the “machine” has suddenly stalled for a few days, due to the holiday period in northern Germany, during which not much notable have happened ...
We took advantage, Sylvie and me, for a short break of three days on the Baltic Sea, it was sooooo good after a year without a vacation!
Well, we're back in the thick of things, the end of October approaches, we have started filling up the card-boxes to prepare for the move-in, and the progress of the “train” is now monitored with a great deal of attention ...
Good news: it is on track again!
Let's see that, and start from the outside.
The top container has received its insulation, now covered with the black water barrier. The final wood siding has been delivered (it's in the container already, I saw it with my own eyes!) and should be installed soon, giving its final appearance on this side of the house.
But to be honest, after a good start ... the “machine” has suddenly stalled for a few days, due to the holiday period in northern Germany, during which not much notable have happened ...
We took advantage, Sylvie and me, for a short break of three days on the Baltic Sea, it was sooooo good after a year without a vacation!
Well, we're back in the thick of things, the end of October approaches, we have started filling up the card-boxes to prepare for the move-in, and the progress of the “train” is now monitored with a great deal of attention ...
Good news: it is on track again!
Let's see that, and start from the outside.
The top container has received its insulation, now covered with the black water barrier. The final wood siding has been delivered (it's in the container already, I saw it with my own eyes!) and should be installed soon, giving its final appearance on this side of the house.
Also, now, the last window, the large bay at the end of the container, is installed.
In the lower container, the two partitions of the entrance are being installed and finished.
The installation of the electrical grid is also progressing apace, as seen in this view where we see the cables running between the two floors.
The insulation, our famous "cellulose wool," was blown between the beams (for its acoustic capacity, this time: how many advantages this material has!), and cleats are ready to receive the ceiling plasterboard plates.
On the first floor, the ceiling is also insulated by the cellulose wool (again!) blown between the beams that were screwed under the coffered roof, plus a layer of rockwool blocks and plasterboard ...
We are still surprised with the level of insulation in this house! ...
So much for the work of Renken, our carpentry company.
But we've not really talked about Macken & Sohn, who is responsible for the sanitary, heating and ventilation systems.
A little bit "in the dark" until now, their work begins to take a shape that I can show to you ...
Pipes, tubes, ducts are mainly located in small rooms of the house (bathrooms, mechanical room), and only my very wide angle lens could capture these images of tight spaces.
But let visit first the roof, where are now laying the tubes transporting the fluid from the solar panels that will heat our hot water tank on sunny days.
These pipes pass through the (multiple and thick!) layers of insulation, down through the the laundry, and will be connected to hot water tank located in the technical room ... which starts to look like a jungle, with hanging vines and mysterious creatures in the dark corners!
Drinking water, rainwater, heating fluids ... there are also the air circuits!
Here, one of the "muffler" or silencer, and the pre-heating box (with the red label) to warm air before blowing it into the house, on days where it gets really cold outside, so that my Sylvie keeps confortable!
On this view of the "cellar" next to the kitchen, you see the suction tube extracting air from the ground floor, and, along the wall, the inlet pipe of "fresh" air from outside, which will go through the heat-exchanger of the double-flux ventilation.
Lot of electrical cables there, here will be located the main electrical box.
Up under the roof, it's even worse! Air hoses, water pipes, heating pipes to the radiator of the container...
Well.
What else?
The exterior plaster finishing and framing of the windows are in progress, an insulator (guess what? Cellulose wool!) was blown between the two containers (the upper container is now completely surrounded by insulation), and plenty of little things I do not detail here (I hope you do not mind...)
Ha, I almost forgot: our stairwell now proudly wears his final column!
The exterior plaster finishing and framing of the windows are in progress, an insulator (guess what? Cellulose wool!) was blown between the two containers (the upper container is now completely surrounded by insulation), and plenty of little things I do not detail here (I hope you do not mind...)
Ha, I almost forgot: our stairwell now proudly wears his final column!
What does not change is the way to go upstairs, this simple ladder is still a bit rough (and so frightening for the ladies!...)
The staircase itself will be installed at the very end of the work, to avoid being damaged.
A few more frights for our gentle sex visitors on this awful ladder, then!
A few more frights for our gentle sex visitors on this awful ladder, then!
