Dymented - the Serious stuff starts!

[Philou]

Going to town didn't happen as we had a bit snow and it looked as if it was going to last - in the end it stopped after a short while and the sun came out - still cold though!

 

I did some cutting of wood using the off-cuts that I had from ripping the planks yesterday ans pent the afternoon making what would have been called glue blocks to go behind the treads and risers. Mrs Philou's brother called yesterday and usually I don't listen much to him as for various reasons I think he's a fool, but for once I did take note when he mentioned that screwing horizontally into the treads could make them split. I decided I would do 'glue' blocks screwed to the rails and then screw vertically down through the treads into them. I can also screw the risers into them as well. Better be over-engineered than not enough.

 

The proper way of course would have been to rout the shape of each tread and riser in the stringers and work from there. I'm  lucky if I can cut anything square-ish let alone be left in charge of a router!

 

Tomorrow's foray will be to mark out each tread and riser on the stringers and then start screwing the blocks in place - joy.

 

Speak again soon,

 

Philip

[Philou]

Hello chums, it's me again,

 

Sunday was definitely a 'meh' day. My get up and go had gotten up and gone without me. It was snowing - not a lot - but the typical UK sort of 'it's the wrong snow' - wet and sticky. As the temperature was positive I knew it wouldn't settle but it just didn't encourage me in any way to go out of doors and into the barn. I did a bit of this and that around the house and a bit of train porn - RMWeb and RM that had arrived earlier in the week.

 

Today, Mrs Philou had her evil way of me and we went to town to get a length of pipe for our new wood-burner and an adapter between it and the existing  pipework. They had some of the right size on Thursday but none today as I picked up the wrong ones initially. Now I'm going to have a whinge about French pipework - so some may wish to avert their eyes and skip the next paragraph:

 

The French have as many pipes as they have cheeses - in fact so many that when De Gaulle came to power in 1958 he was said to have said 'How can you govern a country that has 300 cheeses!' Well consider this: In copperwork if you go to Castorama (which is part of the B&Q group) you can buy 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24mm copper but not 15mm. You can also buy in brass and iron threaded elbows and connectors in 3/8", 1/2" and 5/8" sizes that will thread directly to UK BSP threads but you can't use 15mm olives. Now, when I went to get my bit of black enamelled steel tube for the burner outlet I was faced with the choice of 100, 110, 125, 130, 139, 150 and 180mm tube. I picked up 130 and I actually needed 139 which is apparently not stocked everywhere - bit of a bar steward size as I have found out.

 

I did come back with a garden hand pressurised spray. Mrs Philou was miffed as she seemed to think it was too much at €60. The last one I bought over 10 years ago was well over £20 in B&Q! I needed one to treat all the new wood work that I'm putting in place and this one is toxic substance resistant. What's more, I shall need it annually for the decking - so ya boo.

 

It was mighty cold in the barn, something I shall have to keep an eye upon when the room is ready, but I did do some wood working in the afternoon by marking out some of the stringers ready to take the 'glue' blocks. The 'glue' blocks I drilled and countersunk ready for screwing onto the stringers tomorrow. I had to leave after a couple of hours as the cold floor was causing cramp in my toes despite two pairs of woollen socks!

 

Anyway a couple of photos:

 

My treads and risers that I cut a few days ago:

 

 

One of the resident engineers inspecting my box full of glue blocks:

 

 

Marking out of the stringers. A drawing office set-square can be very useful. The adjustable square is set at 42°:

 

 

The 'glue' blocks set up in a temporary jig - didn't half make it easier and quicker for drilling and countersinking. I had to remind myself a few times that though they are identical in shape, they are to be laid left-handed and right-handed hence the saw-tooth being different:

 

 

One thing I have observed, is that the planed wood is still awfully wet despite seasoning in the dry for a fortnight. I just hope it won't shrink too much once laid out!

 

Now that I'm underway, I mustn't lose the old mojo ......

 

Cheers everyone,

 

Philip

 

[Andy Hayter]

The one good thing with all those copper pipe sizes is that you can save a fortune on connectors.  The 10mm is a tight fit inside the 12mm, a short length of which can be used to solder 2 bits of 10mm pipe, as is 14mm for 12mm, 16mm for 14mm and so on.

[JeffP]

But even soldering is a minefield.

Because of the high water pressure and aggressive nature of our water in the Limousin, (it has a pH of around 6.4), joints in copper pipes for hot water or heating are brazed.

[Philou]

Our pipes are supposed to be brazed (or seeing as we're in France 'braised' - mmmm), as in our village it's very ferrigineuse - full of iron that reacts with the soft solder. I use a form of silver solder that seems to have held good to date. You can leave a glass of water out for a couple of days and it will cloud and eventually turn a nasty rust colour. We don't drink it!!

 

Today was a day of progress and Mrs Philou took pity on me and let me work indoors. I screwed and glued the first set of blocks onto the stringers - so one pair of stringers are now ready to take the risers and treads - I haven't quite worked out how to do that yet. I may sub-assemble a tread to a riser and then screw the pair to the blocks on one side and so on and then present the other stringer to the now bigger sub-assembly. All I do know is that it will be heavy!

 

As Mrs Philou was still being sympathetic I was able to then bring the longer stringers in and mark them out too. To these I can then screw and glue the remaining blocks tomorrow. Steady as she goes.

 

Cheers everyone,

 

Philip

[JeffP]

Our water leaves blue rings on porcelaine.

On the plus side, everything is shiny, no limescale.

But water heaters dont last long.

[Philou]

Hello chums,

 

A little update. It has been a quite fruitful couple of days - from a box of bits and assorted lengths of wood - I now have one completed stair case. I put the last screw in this morning. This afternoon has been one of drilling, counter-sinking and sanding the rest of the treads and risers ready to assemble the BIG stairs tomorrow. I had a practice on 7 treads and tomorrow will be 13. I only stopped Thursday evening because Mr Screwdriver was tired and he wanted a little rest and a drink of electrickery.

 

I am really happy (and amazed) that it all went together without any hassle. The only thing I noticed that the due to the house being much drier than the barn, the last treads that were unscrewed started to warp and not in the direction that I thought they would. Therefore, I have to do the whole of the other stairs in one session.

 

The biggest problem about building inside the house is I have to get the completed items out and into the barn. I can tell you that the short stairs is a 3-man lift!! We shall need to be 5 to get the big one out. What will probably happen is that I shall part-disassemble them by removing the majority of the treads and risers and then re-assemble once in the barn. Just think it as a dry run in the house. I shan't be able to leave them in bits as I don't want the parts to start warping.

 

A couple of photos:

 

This was Wednesday's work, glueing and screwing the blocks onto the pair of long stringers:

 

 

 

Come Thursday, I was busy having a dry run with the treads and risers. One advantage of working indoors, I get to keep my slippers on!

 

 

For Thursday evening's finale, you'll have to read the next post due to the size limitation on uploading photos.

[Philou]

............... and here is the result (couple of screws excepted on Thursday), finished this morning:

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

Edited December 3, 2021 by Philou
Posted too quickly!

[Philou]

Good afternoon one and all,

 

A good start to the day, despite the rain and wind.

 

This was the dining area at 10:30 this morning:

 

 

Twenty minutes later, it was like this, one stringer and the treads and risers indoors:

 

 

Another half an hour passed by and things were underway:

 

 

Taraaa!!! Three and half hours from start to finish, I have a completedsecond set of stairs:

 

 

Now what to do? I have to take it apart completely (keeping a tread and riser as a pair) so as to plane off the risers as all bar one is a little proud - that was down to me ripping the planks to size the other day. I shan't re-assemble in the house as it'll be simpler to do that in-situ in the barn.

 

Off to have a cuppa and nurse my shoulder muscles as they're grumbling. Dismantling can wait until the morning. As the timber is all screwed down there ought to be minimal warping and it'll allow some of the wetter pieces to start to dry out overnight.

 

Toodle pip,

 

Philip

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JeffP]

Out of interest, do you use stainless screws?

I started out using those gold coloured ones, but everything in our part of the Limousin is so acidic that even in a plastic plug in a stone wall they rusted to powder inside five years.

I still take stainless over from whoever is doing them cheapest.

[Philou]

Allo @JeffP, I'm using a mix of steel screws, either zinc plated or bichromate (the yellow ones). The ones in use at the moment are made by EssVe and comes in an Essbox and are Essdrive self driving. looking at the box, they are possibly German in origin. These I bought from my local builders' merchant. I do also use stainless steel ones but these have to date been reserved for external work - mainly the decking. As with you, zinc plated steel does not do too well outside.

 

I don't think the barn will cause me too much by way of problems especially if I manage to completely seal the walls. The main doors are in no great shape and there is plenty of air flow. The only damp that seems to get in at the moment is when there is fog or mist.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

[JeffP]

Our area is just so blooming acidic!

I went back once to find s hammer had fallen off its peg in the barn onto the earth floor which used to get damp as the roof needed attention. Some time between end of October and mid-February.

The head wasn't just rusty on the side touching the floor, it was flaking and badly pitted.

Recently took a radiator off a wall downstairs, been up maybe fifteen years. The threaded rod epoxied into the wall was just about rusted through in one spot. I've got M6 stainless to replace it.

[Andy Hayter]

Phew!  Makes me glad I cannot grow azaleas in the garden because the soil is too alkaline. 

[Philou]

@JeffP Crikey! That is bad! I'm not sure what the soil pH is around here - not much grows in our garden due to the heavy green clay (Marl?) that we have in abundance. In the same garden 20m further away, the soil is much better due to the gentle babbling brook (open sewer more like from time-to-time).

 

Similar to @Andy Hayter, our soil must be more alkaline as we can't get azaleas nor rhododendrons to last more than about 2 seasons.

 

Today's update: I had that moment whilst having breakfast, as I had taken measurements in the barn during the afternoon and I calculated that I cannot get my longer stairs in place due to the scaffolding being in the same space - I did think that it would just over-fly it, but computer says no.

 

I've also started to tap into my strategic reserve of wood for the burner that is in the barn - I need to burn it anyway as wood (unless it's oak) will not keep any length of time. However, I can't get more 'fresh' wood to replace the stock as my planks are now occupying some of the space within which I need to manoeuvre the trailer to get it out of the barn. I can't now take the stairs that are assembled in the dining area as I can't erect them in situ and if I leave the parts unassembled I'm sure they'll start to warp.

 

Having flicked my eyelashes and spoken in my bestest pleading voice, Mrs Philou has agreed that I can leave both stairs in the dining area - but only until Christmas Eve eve as family will be coming Boxing Day.

 

Good-oh, I now use up my strategic reserve to clear the space to take the smaller stairs (I didn't mention that above, did I), and I can also make a start on the flooring - which is why the scaffolding has been kept in place. Once the planks are up, I can get the trailer out. I have a 10 supply - provided the temperature stays as it is at the moment.

 

Later this morning, I made a start on the flooring. Twasn't easy as walking on the scaffolding meant I had to keep my head ducked down so as not to collide with the new joists - felt like Quasimodo but without the bells, the bells nor Esmeralda.

 

Anyway, the first piece was duly cut to length, all 4.9m worth and manhandled up onto the new joists (wasn't too hard) - slid it into position and cut an additional piece to make up the first complete length. Using a long aluminium straight edge I just couldn't get the two pieces to align along their length - not a simple task when working from underneath. I got another ladder and placed it such that I could get more of a bird's eye view and lo! it was a piece of banana wood. It was curved horizontally! I went for lunch !

 

So, after lunch, I chose another piece, this time near-straight and cut it to length and manhandled it up into place - much better. Screwed it every so often and then cut a third and corresponding fourth piece to lay the second strip. That didn't quite go to plan as it showed that none of my so-called PSE is very SE. Eventually having unscrewed what I had already laid and using a cramp, I was able to rectify both strips so that I now have a reasonable straight setting out line from which I should be able to start laying the floor in earnest tomorrow. It took three and half hours to lay 4 pieces of wood - totally unlike yesterday's progress!

 

Using a chock and wedge I shall use up the bendy piece during tomorrow's session - done it before.

 

No photos to show today but hopefully some tomorrow.

 

Cheers everyone and keep well,

 

Philip

[JeffP]

6 hours ago, Andy Hayter said:

Phew!  Makes me glad I cannot grow azaleas in the garden because the soil is too alkaline. 

We planted a magnolia twig about 18 years ago.

It's now over 20 feet tall and has to be cut back every year yo be able to mow.

[Philou]

@JeffP Pah! Magnolia twig? We bought the whole tree costing €20. Died 2 years later. I don't think Mrs Philou has green fingers, more like the blackspot when it comes to gardening .

 

[Philou]

Hello, 'tis me again with an update.

 

Despite a slightly delayed start due to some minor household chores needing attending, I did get off to good start. The first piece of the day was the banana-wood from yesterday. Using a chock (or block) firmly screwed to a joist and a couple of wedges that took but a few minutes to cut using the chop-saw, I was able to straighten it out - bit of a bash with my trusty timmy mallet and bingo! Screwed down tight and almost perfect.

 

Only pausing for lunch, I was able to carry on until I had a safe area of flooring from which I can now work. it means that the scaffolding can come down to be re-erected on the new floor - probably next week. I had a look at the walls from close up (first time ever) and they will need a bit of work to seal them prior to insulating.

 

I was also able to measure up (again first time) the minimum headroom under the eaves - about 1550mm that for me, won't be too bad. What I did espy that perturbed me a little, is a huge supporting beam that holds up the purlins of the main roof. It is lower than it at first seemed from ground level. I can't do anything about it - it's there and I'll have to put a foam cushion along it to prevent low bridge type collisions. I shall have a better idea of clearances once I get the flooring underneath it.

 

Here are a few photos.

 

Firstly, wedging of the banana-wood that I have had to do to nearly all the planks so far:

 

 

Then a couple of shots of the floor so far - from which I can now work safely. The biggest time-loser will be going back to ground floor, cutting to length and then raising the cut planks onto the new joists:

 

 

 

You'll see that I have arrived at the stairwell which for me is a milestone. If I can work around it tomorrow, it'll be job well done.

 

Cheers everyone and keep safe and don't get blown away overnight. Apparently there's a storm over Blighty coming our way tomorrow.

 

Philip

 

 

[Philou]

Thanks chaps for the thumbs-up. It's very encouraging.

 

It's non-starter this morning as we were invited to an 86th birthday party across the road - despite not over-doing the food and drink, I get a lot of reflux about an hour after going to bed. It keeps me awake for hours and unfortunately the likes of Gaviscon has no effect. It's the non-return valve that doesn't do its job. I didn't really want to squish my stomach further, so after lunch things will have settled down and I'll be up there.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

[The Stationmaster]

34 minutes ago, Philou said:

Thanks chaps for the thumbs-up. It's very encouraging.

 

It's non-starter this morning as we were invited to an 86th birthday party across the road - despite not over-doing the food and drink, I get a lot of reflux about an hour after going to bed. It keeps me awake for hours and unfortunately the likes of Gaviscon has no effect. It's the non-return valve that doesn't do its job. I didn't really want to squish my stomach further, so after lunch things will have settled down and I'll be up there.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

Phillip,

 

Have you tried Oxyboldine?   We came across it in France years ago and found it very effective.

[Philou]

@The Stationmaster  Ooh, I haven't heard of that one. I'll make a point of asking at our local pharmacy - they're pretty good. Thanks for the info.

[JeffP]

Or ask your doctor for lansoprazole or omeprazole.

 

I've also had some fizzy tablets that killed heartburn in a matter of minutes, bought in a pharmacie.

[Philou]

@JeffP Thanks for the info too - I'm seeing my doctor next week as I need to renew my script. My medication is free - as in free - due to raised blood pressure so he can add that at no charge.

 

I was also thinking about your rusting of steel problem - I'm almost certain it'll be down to the large quantities of lime that the French use/used in plastering and jointwork. Our house was constructed using a lime/earth mix in the 1820s, but it's now crumbling to dust. I've raked the joints out and replaced it with a lime/coarse white crushed stone mix. It seems to hold up - but I wouldn't use for anything structural .

 

On to today's business - despite my failed start this morning, I managed to lay 4 additional strips this pm and 2 more will see me the other side of the stairwell. I should have that done before lunch tomorrow. No photos as there's not much to show. I'll post some tomorrow evening.

 

Cheers,

 

Philip

[JeffP]

Isn't it great when you can walk on it?

We used to refer to ours as " the dance studio", 10m x 9m with four Velux windows.

[Philou]

Hello chums,

 

A little update today. Progress was quite good but I didn't achieve the goal I'd set myself for today.

 

I had set out to finish at the mid way point this evening, but I ran out of puff on the last-but-one. Nearly there - it'll happen tomorrow instead.

 

Here are two photos showing progress so far:

 

 

 

I'm not far from that big beam that I mentioned earlier. It seems to be about 1.25m above floor level - it's going to give me a headache!

 

Cheers everyone,

 

Philip

[DonB]

16 hours ago, Philou said:

Hello chums,

 

A little update today. Progress was quite good but I didn't achieve the goal I'd set myself for today.

 

I had set out to finish at the mid way point this evening, but I ran out of puff on the last-but-one. Nearly there - it'll happen tomorrow instead.

 

Here are two photos showing progress so far:

 

 

 

I'm not far from that big beam that I mentioned earlier. It seems to be about 1.25m above floor level - it's going to give me a headache!

 

Cheers everyone,

 

Philip

Speaking from (painful) experience,  I recommend wearing a substantial hat to avoid nasty scalp injuries. I resorted to a cycling helmet  after a second contact with a beam in my loft while fitting floor-boards and was glad that I did so.