Block walls in PMR gite

We've not posted for a little while, partly because I went back to Switzerland for 2 weeks while Caroline had an operation on her broken arm but we have been very busy. Here we are 5 rows up on the kitchen wall.


In the bottom right corner is my Dewalt self-levelling laser, an amazing tool for such a project. Being able to work in 3 dimensions independently or in combinations makes working in large spaces an huge productivity boost. Not a cheap tool but worth every euro! 

Now up to 10 rows on the kitchen wall and ready to put in the lintel over the double doorway. Dan is relaxing after a hard days work here not holding up the wall 😂 His visible foot is the new concrete slab level.


We've already put in the lintel over the kitchen window.


On the other side of the gite we've put in the foundations and today put up 4 rows of blocks (15cm depth) which will also support the new floor joists. We've decided to raise the first floor by putting 12 rows of block (240cm) which will make the down stair rooms lighter plus we have plenty of space above. Only an increase of 20cm or so.




If you're asking why we're covering up the stone walls, well the building was a barn and/or animal accommodation so the quality of the stone and stone work is not good.

More progress today, up to 9 rows, phew - hard work lifting those 19kg blocks into place above your head! It's starting to look like a house instead of a barn!

We'll get one more row (to make 10) then we'll work on getting the concrete floors in as we can't replace the joists on this precarious ground, we need a solid floor. Before we can crack on with the floors, I need the plumber to lay the incoming water pipe, not necessarily connected to the water mains but just coming in through the double doors and encased in the concrete slab. The water mains pipe will run to the first floor then a distributor will take separate lines to all the outlets (sinks, washing machine, bathrooms, hot water tank, etc.), all using 16mm PEX.  




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