Man Cave Mk2

[DJ.]

Good luck with viewing!
I assume you have a shorter drill bit to get the holes started, it must be very trick keeping holes that deep on track.

[b33fy]

Good luck with viewing!
I assume you have a shorter drill bit to get the holes started, it must be very trick keeping holes that deep on track.

It wasn’t vital to be super accurate thankfully, as long as we kept it in the ball park. Started with a pilot hole then used a 200mm, 600mm then a metre drill bit. As you pull the drill out you have to feed a pipe into the hole to stop it collapsing as the middle of the wall is just quarry waste. Glue the pipe in then feed the cable through. A lot of messing about just to wire a door bell and alarm box. It’ll save me changing the battery’s every few months I guess though.

[DJ.]

Crikey, that sounds a pain in the bum! I hope you've finished all those holes.

That's funny, I typed a*se and the website changed it to bum, I never use that word

[b33fy]

Holes all done Duncan. Only two to do.

Much the same in terms of work since the last post. More roof and more plasterboard. Like anything it looks a quick job until you realise how big the area is and nothing is straight. Had to trim every sheet and add noggins at the joins as the old ceiling joists aren’t wide enough for fixings for two boards. Stewart’s aiming to get the roof finished next week and we were hoping to get the plasterboard done for Monday, though it’s unlikely as the windows take a bit of work with all the angles and we going to Knockhill Circuit on Sunday for some Rally Cross.

A couple of moon lit shots taken in our travels during the week.

[DJ.]

Two great photographs

[b33fy]

Roof is finally finished. Stewart did a top job on it with so many compliments from the locals. Treated Stewart to lunch along with Ross our architect. We’re doing more of the same in readiness for the plasterer, who hasn’t started when he said he would. Nearly done with the main living area, then onto a bathroom or two. Managed to squeeze in a trip to Knockhill. Weather wasn’t great, not helped by the “rain” songs being played on the tannoy. At they got a sense of humour up here. Had some old 80’s vinyl framed for the man cave. Picked more for the covers than the music tbh.

[DJ.]

I still like a Chevette
Good photos.

[b33fy]

Thanks Duncan, my mother had a Chevette back in the day, until my old man swapped it for an old Celica. The Chevette was a better car without a doubt.

Finished the plaster boarding in the living area. Took an age because nothing was straight and then sorting the outlet positions for the various appliances. Stewart gave us a hand today insulating the loft space with 18 rolls of 200mm loft roll. Not a job I fancied tbh and the joists aren’t weight bearing so wouldn’t have a chance with me up there. Stewart has some goat in him and goes hill walking up the highlands in his spare time as well as clambering over roofs for a living. Though he said it was a bit of a struggle. He only went through the new ceiling plasterboard once and lost my best pair of scissors somewhere in the ether! Just grateful it’s done. The plasterboard damage was an easy fix.

Still awaiting the plasterer so didn’t want to get too involved with other work til we know what he’s doing. So decided to see if we could make the old front doors into an internal door to the living area. Couldn’t get them dipped as it would make them too wet apparently and react with modern paints so bought a new hot air gun and got stripping. Ripped the sides off and added some new strips. Got them in the hole today though they still need filling, sanding and painting. Pleased with how they are turning out. It was nice to put something back in that we saved. Though there wasn’t really anything worth saving other than the door. Weekend doing very little in anticipation of a busy week coming up. Back on the scaffolding for the plasterer hopefully.

[b33fy]

Busy week. Filled and primed the old doors. Cleared out the living area as the plasterer was turning up. Greg cracked on and got the outside rendered. Despite being ultra careful about the colour, getting samples etc, in the real world it wasn’t quite the shade I was expecting. Though I can live with it and Greg did a brilliant job on it. In time the colour will go lighter and weather in so to speak.

Between moving scaffold towers for Greg we tidied up the yard, managed a few tip runs and reinstated the fencing along the side of the extension. Greg also managed to start on the inside, completing the ceiling in the living area. A huge area for one plasterer to do in one hit at over 50 m2 Total respect to Greg, Seven hours of solid graft and he got it done. Delighted with the end result.

[DJ.]

The house really does look fantastic Mike, well done. I bet you're looking forward to moving in and putting your feet up!

The Rogue Runners are at Ecclefechan from 18th to 24th May next year, I've had a look and it is 75 miles to Kelso taking in the beautiful Moffat to Selkirk road, so I should be able to come over one morning, go out for lunch and get back to the hotel at a sensible time. I hope you are around then.