Slabs, timber & drainage

The build has moved on well over the past few weeks, with far more progress than I've had time to capture here of late. Better late than never, here's an update on where we are:

We've ordered the timber frame - hurrah! And we've had the first meeting with Crendon, the supplier, who have gone off to design the frame with a plan to have it onsite late December. Due to the size of the structural openings we require for the sliding/folding doors and general open-plan layout I think they've got a challenge on their hands! Hopefully nothing a glulam beam or two can't solve.

The slabs for the kitchen/diner and utility are poured so we can now get a sense of the size of both those spaces. They've not been able to pour the slab for the garage thanks to a few drainage problems - not least that the existing foul drain (that we're still using) passes through the garage. This means the garage will be built and the slab cast last, once we've moved out and they can disconnect the WC.

After a very dry early autumn rain has finally arrived en-masse, resulting in a stream coursing through the 'garage', and washing mortar from between blockwork while Paul has been trying to lay it. This has slowed progress, understandably and highlighted the fact that they need to get the drainage right. Something that we are all too well aware of! Site is therefore extremely muddy and the guys are now laying drainage pipes and loads of gravel to give a reasonably decent work surface.