March update - Week 104 (2 years!)

Whoopee!! we have achieved Practical Completion (apart from a few snagging items which will probably always be there to do) - it has taken 2 years from start to finish and we are both absolutely exhausted. It will be very strange staying there without having to pick up a saw or power drill!

We could not have done this without all the support and understanding of our friends and families so a big thank you to all of you and I hope you will come and stay soon and let us show our appreciation.

March update - week 104 cont...

March update - week 103

March update - Weeks 101-102

This week we started to make the huge kitchen table. First we planed the long pieces of semi-seasoned oak to ensure tight joints. We then biscuited jointed the four lengths and sash clamped them together overnight (see photo). Thanks to Jock lending us the clamps for the weekend we managed to make six bedside/coffee table tops. The next day we worked on the legs ready for constructung the final furniture.

During the week snagging continued as well as belt sanding and oiling of the tables. The downstairs WC and sink are now plumbed in (at the third attempt!).

February update - weeks 99/100

The boiler was installed and the flue fitted. We finally finished all the tiling and thresholds between rooms. The final lengths of skirting were fitted and plugged.

February Update - week 97/98

Mid wales was lucky to have another beautiful spell of good weather which makes you forget all the rain we experienced over the last couple of months.

Dave was stuck inside however still attending to snagging items and built a stone plinth around the woodburning stove base (picture to follow). We turned our hands to carpentry at the weekend when we constructed shelves for the study.

Plumber and electrician due on site next week.

January/February Update - week 96

We are into final snagging of the decorations whilst we wait for the plumber and electrician to attend site for final connections.

After fitting the solid oak tread between the kitchen and lounge (above) snagging included making good all the triangles (too awkward/small for the plasterer to attempt), all 18 of them! Who designed the oak beams?? okay I suppose we only have ourselves to blame but the finished look was worth it. Other snagging items included plugging all the skirting fixing holes with oak plugs and more coats of oil on all architraves.

January Update - week 95

Finally the utility room gets some attention; we fitted the units, worktop and sink over the weekend leaving dave to plumb in the sink, connect washing machine hoses and fit the wall units himself.

January update – week 94


It was such gloriously sunny weather we just couldn’t resist climbing up the hill behind us. At over 1500 ft there are fantastic views from top as you can see, Dave is pointing out the roof of our barn just seen.

Dave managed to do all the finishing touches to the bathroom this wek so now the washbasin is plumbed in with a tile surround, mirror and light.

January Update - week 93

Hurrah helpers for the weekend and we now have a completely finished ground floor; all grouted and sealed. Thanks mum m.

The bathroom was also suddenly transformed this week with a hand made oak bathroom cabinet fitted and the wash basin, towel rail and radiator being plumbed in. A nearly finished room and our vision is slowly becoming a reality.

January Update - week 92

The double doors in bedroom two were hung and all the door furniture fitted.Quite a complicated job as these doors are designed to fold all the way back allowing maximum light to flood through the bank of velux windows through to downstairs.


Dave had fun making a right mess in the utility room grouting the newly laid tiles.

December Update - Week 91

With 17 layers on (honestly!) we braved the bitterly cold christmas period and fitted all the architrave upstairs, hung the internal bedroom and bathroom doors and fitted nearly half of the skirting boards.

All is ready for the carpet to be fitted now!

Adam and Andy, two very competent joiners, came and finshed installing the staircase which has transformed the place.

November/December Update - Weeks 86-90

Working around a very enjoyable break in South Africa Dave managed to finish the limestone flooring.

November Update - Week 85

Dave spent all week laying yet more limestone floor tiles (well we have got almost 100 sq m to cover!). We also boxed in all the pipework in the ensuite after connecting both the upstairs toilets.

At the weekend we finished tiling the ensuite shower (we are becoming quite the tiling experts!)

November Update - Week 84

Finally the staircase arrived! Luckily Adam (the staircase joiner) and his helper Andy agreed to come down and fit it themselves. It took all day to fit the main staircase. Next month they will come down to complete the balastrades up the staircase and along the landing.

In the meantime more limestone tiles were laid (nearly finished).

October Update - Weeks 82-83

We started plumbing in the bath and shower upstairs. We then pressure tested the pipes to 3 bar pressure and no leaks!

Second fix electrics continued (wiring smoke alarms, thermostats, dimmer switches etc).

We started tiling the walls in the bathroom and at the same time Jock and Tim came down for the weekend to install the oak kitchen which looks fantastic (excluding work tops for the moment).

October Update - week 81 Mum M (grouting expert) kick started the grouting of the limestone flooring and bathroom travertine floor tiles.

Work continued on the electrics and another few rows of limestone floor tiles were laid (see Dave hard at work in background of photo).

October update - week 80

With the help of Dave's Dad we finshed the woodshed, complete with slated roof and faced at the ends with larch.

Another few rows of limestone floor tiles were laid as well as finishing all the external sealing of windows, doors etc

October Update - Week 79

The limestone tiles finally arrived last week, all 100 sq metres of them! David had levelled the concrete floor in preparation so at the weekend we put all our practicing on the bathroom floor into action. With some tiles measuring over half a metre squared it was slow work.

We also had some valued help in the form of mum and dad A. Norma was put to work oiling all the oak skirting boards, architrave and the internal doors. While John was given responsibility of tiling the wood shed - picture to follow next week...

September Update - week 78

Outside the barn deserves a bit of a mention this week as the lawn is springing into life- it is the first time since we first bought the barn back in March 2006 that we have seen greenery surrounding the building!

Dad M has for the last few weeks been working tirelessly doing second fix electrics, ie attaching power sockets, installing spot lights etc as shown below in their semi installed state. You can also see that we have put up the main entrance curtain pole.

September Update - week 77

Another week on and more painted walls to show for it, with the protective plastic finally coming off, the oak trusses can be seen in their full glory.

The next new skill acquired this week included floor tiling starting with the bathroom using travertine floor tiles. This small area didn't seem daunting but it will be a whole different ball game when the ground floor tiles get delivered in approx two weeks.

September Update - week 76

The repointing of the barn has finished this week just in time for the wet autumn weather on its way. We added the finshing touches of the solid slate door steps in front of each door.

Then back on to more painting