Weekend Update

We've just got back from another site visit to check out the progress over the last couple of days.  All the foundations are now complete so we're 'out of the ground' which means we're past the riskiest stage.

The retaining wall is now built to its full height which gives us a good idea of how the slope behind the house will end up.  The gabions are also slowly filling up and have been really nicely faced with stone which has been reclaimed from the site.

Foundations complete

Retaining wall and gabions

Brickwork

We made another site visit yesterday in between the showers to review the brickwork which has just started.  The bricklayer has kindly done a couple of options for the pointing - bucket handle or flush.  The bucket handle pointing creates a deeper recess at the joints and somehow looks too perfect for the type of bricks we have chosen.  We definately prefer the flush pointing where the mortar is finished almost level with the face of the bricks.  Because of the worn corners of the bricks this also changes the visible brick-to-mortar ratio of the finished wall.

Brickwork with flush pointing

The builders have also marked out the internal walls on the ground, ready for the very shiny new digger to start the rest of the foundation trenches on Monday.

Internal walls marked out

From above you can start to see the footprint of the house

Good news

We've just heard that our revised planning application has been approved!  We needed to re-submit our drawings because we have decided not to build the garage and re-arrange the parking spaces and steps.  This now means that there is nothing left outstanding to be agreed with the planners, so one more thing ticked off.

The builders have started the brickwork today which is exciting!  It's the first bit which will still be visible at the end.

The walls are growing.

We have walls (well sort of)

I've just been up to the site this evening and it's all progressing well.  The retaining wall at the back of the house is taking shape, including the reinforcing mesh, the first pour of the concrete to fill the cavity wall and a perforated drain at the rear to take away any water in the ground.  The first load of bricks has been delivered to site and should start to be laid soon.  We've chosen bricks that will hopefully not look too new and crisp as we want the house to weather into it's surroundings as quickly as possible.  I hope we've got it right!

The retaining wall takes shape.

Too late to change our minds now!

Hold up!

After a short hold up we are now back on track.  NHBC (who are providing the warranty for the build) came to view the excavations and had concerns about the angle of the bank behind the house.  They have asked that we provide soil erosion protection to ensure that the soil doesn't migrate down the slope and pile up against the house.  We haven't quite worked out all the details yet, but are confident enough that we can agree something.

A few more recent pictures...

Concrete foundations, retaining wall rebar and empty gabion cages

Concrete foundations from above

View from the road