Hole in Roof

Well, we haven't moved out, but that doesn't mean there isn't a big hole in the roof !

Work did start on the gable so the ceiling and roof above the hallway and stairs of the current house have been removed. Before it was tarpaulined for the Easter weekend you could stand on the stairs and look up at the stars :

Note the stone that shows at the top of this wall, previously above the ceiling. This is the original outside wall of the cottage. It still has the remains of climbing plants attached to it !

We are now unsure of how the roof is going to be built back up above here. It is not going to be quite like the drawing I posted a few weeks ago (see 16-FEB-2007 entry) for reasons some of which escape me. The builder has a plan that is somewhere between a gable and a dormer window. One of the problems with the 16th Feb drawing is that the left hand side of the gable over the front door overlaps with the neighbouring gable. This would require building a wall off of the roof existing roof joists, which is not recommended. He is also concerned that the area to the right, where the main roof steps down, will form a trap point for leaves and standing water.

He tried to explain what he is proposing, but I didn't follow it too well. You, along with I, are going to have to wait and see ! This is quite a nerve-racking time.

There was something that surprised me a lot this week. To protect the rest of the house from the dust of demolished ceilings etc, the builder hung sheets of polythene "curtains" at the top of the stairs, and leading into the rest of the house downstairs. Between these curtains the air is open to the outside and is very cold. However, the polythene makes an amazing heat barrier. Just passing through into the parts of the house warmed by the radiators makes a huge difference in temperature. I can't believe how effective this is.

Roof tiles are on order, and the remaining window mullion components are due for delivery early next week.