Christmas Break!

Not much of a break, as we only had Christmas Day & Lowri's Birthday (Boxing day) off working on the house.
Mostly spent filling external walls & 1st floor ceiling with thermal insulation, internal walls with acoustic insulation, fixing timber noggins (for fixing plasterboards), and fixing vapour control layer in place.

Topping Out
on the 23rd Dec our brickies finished the chimney. Not often you'll see it from this angle.













We have enlisted the help of the migrant workforce over the holidays, our antipodean visitor learning about insulation (they won't believe him in Sydney).
Darren is currently on a 45day round the world trip, to which there is a blog, http://rtw45days.blogspot.com/ .
The insulation is itchy, and fibres are released when you cut it, hence the PPE (personal protective equipment).
We also try to employ local labour when possible, so thanks also to Gramp and Wendy for their insulating




Here's an external wall, consisting of 140mm of mineral wool insulation (Isowool Frame Batt 43) - [I would link their URL, but their site is rubbish], and a vapour control layer -polythene - overlaid (said to prevent condensation).


Our 'tackers' made a start, fixing the plasterboard prior to the plasterer skimming. Here's the kitchen nearly boarded.






Bobby our plasterer is also rendering the exterior, which is now complete. Given some dry weather we'll try & paint it. (and fix the downpipes)