9am: No-one has arrived yet. There's a forecast of rain from Wednesday of this week...and as there's external work outstanding, which Top Cat said will take a couple of days, I am feeling concerned.
9.15am: Two have arrived. One is digging out the path and says that someone else will arrive tomorrow to lay it. The other is fitting internal windows ledges and finishing off woodwork bits.
11am: My husband has spoken with Top Cat, who insists that he hasn't received the two messages I left on his 'phone on Saturday when the front door was delivered, so he hasn't arranged to have it fitted today. I am not happy about this...he knows damned well that the door was delivered on Saturday! He has a primary duty to ensure the security of this property and the safety of the occupants during the build. However much he tries to cover it up...this stinks...
2pm: The door is being fitted. Bless 'im....he's a pussy cat...
Tuesday:
8.15am: Sun has arrived to lay the path...he's awaiting delivery of gravel and pavers.
As an aside from todays work...there's some concern about a gas pipe that has been buried during the earlier stages of the build and that has since accidentally become set in concrete. There is a statutory requirement for service pipes to be protected from potential movement of concrete structure.
19.—(1) No person shall install any part of any installation pipework in a wall or a floor or standing of solid construction unless it is so constructed and installed as to be protected against failure caused by the movement of the wall, the floor or the standing as the case may be.
(5) No person shall install any installation pipework or any service pipework under the foundations of a building or in the ground under the base of a wall or footings unless adequate steps are taken to prevent damage to the installation pipework or service pipework in the event of the movement of those structures or the ground.
This ruling basically means that the mains gas pipe now has to be re-laid. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to check the accreditation of builders. Some would disregard statutory requirements and as a result take risks that could result in critical danger in the longer term.
9.10am: Sun is completing small jobs outside whilst awaiting delivery of building supplies.
10.30am: Big Boy has arrived and the two are working to clean the old pavers prior to re-laying.
3pm: The path base is now laid and sand is due to arrive tomorrow for the surface laying.
3.30pm: The builders had just left when a building inspector turned up. This is the fourth, or fifth, different inspector. He arrived without having seen a copy of the plans and asked questions that I can't answer.
Wednesday:
8.30am: Sun and Snowy are here. Sun is laying the paved path. Snowy is digging to find and expose the gas pipe. All is well.
9.45am: Sand has been delivered for the path laying. Snowy has found the gas pipe (in the front trench area) and now needs to expose the length that's to the side, where concrete has set around it.
12.30pm: Sun and Snowy have been working all morning and are making good progress. There's been a nick to the gas pipe which now requires repair...but frankly that was to be expected given that the pipe was firmly set in concrete.
3.45pm: Work continues tomorrow.
Thursday:
7.45am: Sun has arrived to complete the path. Top Cat is due to arrive shortly. I have a list of 'odd jobs' that need to be completed...but as it stands the build should reach fruition by tomorrow night.
10am: Top Cat arrived and ran through the list of outstanding jobs. He made 'phone calls and all being well the job will be completed by tomorrow evening.
3pm: The weather has been atrocious today. The workmen have just given up and left the site. They will return tomorrow to complete as planned.
Friday:
8am: Sun has arrived...he's working alone today.
11.30am: The window cleaner arrived, he's cleaned the guttering and windows.
1pm: Sun has cleared about half of the outstanding jobs.
4pm: Sun has just left....most of the jobs have been completed. There's a bit of guttering that still needs sorting...he is to get a couple of parts for this and will return tomorrow to fix it and to clean the path, which has some paint on it. There's a heap of builders stuff to be collected (lorry due sometime). There's a gardener booked to tidy the grass area. The build is to be completed tomorrow.
We then start decorating!
Saturday:
9am: Sun arrived and worked 'til past lunch time...he has now completed the outstanding jobs.
Note...there's a small heap of building items stacked ready for collection and Top Cat promised that a gardener would be sent along to tidy the grass area where the builders have stacked their materials.
When this has all been sorted we'll take some photos...see 'Final Page'.
