July 22nd

I can't quite believe that we got the felt and battens on today before the first rain is forecast tonignt. The roof has been off now for 10 days, and it's only taken 6 days to put the timbers up and get it water tight. There's not much to spoil even if it had of rained mind you, as all the floors and ceilings below are being replaced ... but there was a slight chance of water getting into the already renovated half of the house.

 

 Getting the new gable ladders firmly secured to the old tottering gable walls is a huge relief. The whole house is (more) structurally sound now.

 Felt and battens go on.

It's done. We are now waterproof! 

Only 800 tiles to put on now.

 The view from the top of the new roof.

18th July

 The weather is really good if you have no roof on your house. I wouldn't fancy being anywhere near this tottering gable wall in a high wind. Mind you, being out in the sun all day has it's drawbacks!

 The old flues can be seen in this shot of the other gable wall - although you'd imagine these would help keep the wall upright, it's this side of the property that has seen some movemment. It's about 80mm off the vertical at present. "Nothing to worry about", said the structural engineer. Mmmm?


The trusses arrived... but not at the project as the 'artic' lorry couldn't get down the hill. So they had to be walked in - Dil and John were on hand luckily... and a handy sack truck.

 Nive to get the gable ladder in place - the wall seems a bit safer now.

 All looking straight and secure.

Come on! Just because you're wearing your mobile chemo pump doesn't mean you can't cement in the gable ladder!

July 12th

Great weather for getting out on the hills...

We had some crossing points to suss and ways up and down the main ridge on the Black Mountain - these are going to be dangerous for competitors who want to straight line it in bad visibility. There are some obvious ways through the crags shown on the map but also some other 'doable' routes that could be pointed out.

 Llyn y Fan Fach

 Lynn y Fan Fawr

 It was hot enough for some 'skinny dipping' in one of the many pools. Felt like about 20 degrees. Lovely!

Sundew in the warm boggy patches

Building Update

Steve, John and Dil came round to help take the old roof off.

 

 Each tile levered off and handed down to be stacked below.We got them all off before lunch. Great team!

 Steve starts work on the dodgy rafters next to the gable walls.

 Middle rafters come down.

 Steve trapped at one end. "Help.. I need a ladder!"

All off... except for purlins - these need to be sawn carefully to avoid bringing down the gable end walls.