Green Paint 2

If you were reading the blog back at the start in early 2007 you may recall that we used Auro natural emulsion for some of the early decorating.

Now that we've had the timber window frames and french door set delivered we need to prime and undercoat them prior to fitting. So we've been back to the Green Shop and, thanks to us being so impressed with Auro emulsion, we've bought Auro's wood filler, primer, and undercoat for the frames.

We've not used the filler yet, but the two paints are proving sucessful, we think! The primer is strange to use at first as it is translucent and therefore feels like it's not doing much when you apply it. The undercoat gives much better coverage, but that's probably simply down to it containing more pigments.

Both paints are very pleasant to use, with no fumes whatsoever due to them being totally natural and non-toxic. More than can be said for the knotting solution we've used, which, in the absence of a green alternative, feels like a big compromise due to it's high VOC content. At least we're only using very small amounts compared to the paint.

It'll be interesting to see how the paints weather externally, especially as the window frames are only softwood.

Porcelain

Whilst it's a little early in the build to be buying porcelain, or rather sanitaryware, we've been doing some research nevertheless. This is partly to check the budget and partly sizes. You would've thought that toilets, sinks and baths were a standard size but no, they come in a huge range nowadays.

Much to our suprise an eco-issue has helped limit our choice in sanitaryware supplier. We had been considering using Vitra, a good value contemporary range that had been recommended to us. Checking their website, the company is Iso 14001 accredited so they must be okay environmentally, surely. And if you dig a bit further you can see that they source the clay from English China Clays in Cornwall, also a good thing. But, and it's a big but, they then ship the clay over to Istanbul where the products are made before shipping them back to the UK.

Enter our alternative, and slightly more expensive, supplier Ideal Standard. Also using British clays their finished products are manufactured in Hull and other parts of the UK. So far less product miles involved.

With plenty of other decisions being made we're keen to make the decision process as simple as possible, ruling out a product on product miles is a quick win. So, with little to choose between the two suppliers we've decided that the low product mile Ideal Standard option is best.

Off to try out the lime based render tomorrow....

Windows

Nothing to do with Bill Gates.

After a slight delay, due to the manufacturer getting the order wrong, the timber windows have arrived on site. For most of the windows we have opted for softwood frames with hardwood cills to help protect them against the elements. The glazed units are 16mm argon filled double glazing.

The only exceptions to this are the windows and sliding/folding glazing in the kitchen/diner which are aluminium framed units (from Smart systems), also with 16mm argon filled glazing, and the one remaining original sash window. The aluminium windows are not due on site for a few more weeks. As for the sash, we want to retain this but it needs a serious overhaul and also needs to be double glazed to reduce heat loss. This is a problem with conventional 16mm double glazing as it's thickness means it won't fit in the existing frame. Enter Slimlite ultra-thin double glazing. http://www.slimliteglass.co.uk/home.html

Slimlite uses low emmisivity glass along with inert gases such as Krypton (nothing to do with Clark Kent) between the panes to obtain a lower U value than can be obtained for the same thickness of 'conventional' double glazing. This is due to the gases used having much greater insulating properties than argon or air, but they're significantly more expensive as a result.

We've not yet investigated the cost of using Slimlite in the sash but this looks to be the best way to retain the only original window in the house whilst making it far more energy efficient.

Meanwhile there's not a single piece of uPVC in sight.

Snow progress

Not a lot has happened at Hillside this week. Snow and freezing temperatures all week have kept the builders away for most of the time - it's been too cold to mix mortar so the roof tiling hasn't been finished. Snow and ice on the roof and scaffold have also made it very dangerous. As a result they've done a few minor bits and pieces inside but nothing of any consequence.

The timber frame company made it to site yesterday to add in some bits that they'd 'forgotten'. The kitchen supplier and the joiner also made a site visit. Could do with the windows now to try and make the place weathertight...

Had hoped to go to the Green Shop in Stroud today to talk render paints - they stock a silicate based paint that has a 15 year life - but the snow prevented us. Maybe next weekend.

Shingles

There's been virtually no progress on site over the past two days, thanks to the snow and ice making it treacherous on the scaffold and too cold to mortar the last few roof tiles in place on the bedroom.

However, up until the weekend good progress has been made. There are only a few ridge tiles left to be fixed onto the bedroom to complete the roof. It's also been great to see that the carpenter has started to fix the red cedar shingles onto the kitchen roof. He's not done many rows yet, and it is a fairly time consuming task as they are all nailed on, but has done enough to show that it'll look great when complete. The cedar also smells fantastic!

Highlight of the weekend had to be seeing two deer in the wood adjacent to the 'orchard'.