Well at last we have started to see some real progress. The diner has finally been completed but not without some teething problems. Here are some technical details: All rafters are 200×50mm C16 grade timber with 18mm thick T&G boarding fixed over the rafters. Over the ceiling boards was installed a vapor barrier and 200mm thick Dow Chemical Roofmate SL-A extruded polystyrene insulation board. Then we installed a 0.7mm VM Quartz Plus Zinc laid  standing seam roof.

Diner rear wall is constructed.

Floor rafters are installed.

Supporting beams and roof frame completed

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Zinc standing seam roof installed.

We used a company called VM Zinc to provide the standing seam roof materials http://www.vmzinc.co.uk and they put us in touch with their sub-contractors to install the roof. We used a company called Bell Zinc and Copper Roofing http://www.bellzinc.co.uk . The installation was quick and carried out with incredible skill and perfection. The finished item looks really good.

The next task is to tackle the external insulation and cladding and this has presented a few problems, namely the length of the fixings. We initially had real problems sourcing the stainless steel ties of the right length to fix through the insulation and through the battens and insulation. But Ablerow persevered and after a week or two were able to lay their hands on the right fixings. All exterior walls needed to have all rendering removed to provide a good surface to attach the cladding. 140mm Dow Roofmate SL-A Insulation is then held in place with a polyurethane foam adhesive ready for fixing with stainless steel ties. On to this goes a breather membrane and then 50 x 50mm vertical battens fixed to the masonry wall through the insulation with additional ties. This will have a stainless steel expanded metal lath fixed over the battens and then rendered in a 3 coat 30mm lime render.

The importance of this stage is that without the insulation and cladding in place we can’t fit the windows and without the windows in place we can’t achieve a dry sealed house. This is essential before pouring in the screed floors on the ground floor ready for laying the electric cabling to form the underfloor heating. And only then can we think about internal decoration.

So the house stands with almost all of the windows removed and all of the old render removed ready for thermal cladding. From now on (fingers crossed) we should see some more real rapid progress.