The current project I am working on, with my working colleage (well OK the talented one) plasterer Marcel is the hallway. Before we started any work (although it is not building work it is refurbishment) I informed my local council where I spoke to the buildings control officer, this is a good idea and one I would recommend to all as you can check with the officer the materials, method and any requirement(s) for Part L of building regulations.
So far all the old laths and plaster on the walls and ceiling have been destroyed (carefully removed) as they had parted company with the walls / ceiling, if you do this, be warned this means 100 years or so of dust covered everything for weeks on end, so if you can tape some plastic sheeting across door frames and seal any laptops or similar in plastic bags before you start.
The hallway beams were not straight so some leveling had to take place, I used plastic shims for this as they come in 1mm to 6mm sizes...
After the ceiling was leveled, boarding with fireline plaster board can start ...
Then after a day or too ...
The skylight is next up this is a tricky one as none of the sides are level or even, more about this tommorow.
Funny story from yesterday, as I buy my lunch with Marcel (the portugues speaking plasterer) we go a little out of our way to buy some humus from a deli I have never been into, the service is terrible but hey the humus is purchased and while we waited 5 mins to get served (with no one else in the deli) I decide to buy some olives, get back to the house and Marcel says as I put an olive in my mouth.
Marcel:"I am never going to that deli again!"
me:"Yeah, terrible service.." (chewing olive)
Marcel:"No they have a big rat problem"
me:"(I pause chewing) what do you mean?"
Marcel:"I used to go in there all the time, but I saw a big rat coming out of a hole in the kitchen wall at the back of the deli"
me:"Why did'nt you say anything?"
Marcel:"Olives and humus should be OK"
I now spend the lunch hour watching Marcel to see if he has any early signs of food poisoning.
As I mentioned in a previous post, employing roofers urgently to fix what we thought was an immediate problem (leaking roof), was a bit of a mistake, as I have now learnt (to our cost) do a lot of research on roofers and roofing companies, don't just take someone's recommendation, go and visit some jobs. Also when you get the quote check though the detail and ask them to explain it, tell them what you want (step flashing ect) as in our experience they do not ask you what you want they just do what they think you want.
I have now found (I think) a great roofer to come and fix some of the work the other roofing company could not remediate.
More pictures and progress in a later post of the skylark, I mean skylight...
