I've finally started work on the main bungalow. Currently in the destructive phase, which is slightly alarming but still very satisfying to know what it's moving towards. There does seem to be something very satisfying about occasional wanton destruction in itself, so it's fun to be able to indulge in a bit of that and have good justification for it. I'm trying to keep the amount of stuff that goes in skips to a minimum but some stuff will have to go. Much of it will be recycled by the skip company though, and it is still much less waste than knocking down the bungalow and starting again. I have realised that this would be far the simplest way of getting a low-energy home, but it would be hugely wasteful of all the materials that make up the bungalow. And although we are changing it a lot, I think some of the character of the bungalow will remain.
I'm still hobbling around a bit but movement is getting freer again, and far less painful. Good! I've become very attuned to spying men in work-clothes with a limp; they're everywhere, especially concentrated around builders merchants and tool shops.
Here's some photos of the story so far:
All these rafters will come out soon, to open this space up to the roof
The sunroom is no more. It felt like revenge and it was good.
First skip. Plasterboard ceilings at the bottom, separated by carpet from the rest so the skip co can keep it separate for recycling - this is legal requirement now, some companies won't let you put it in same skip at all. The rest is mineral wool removed from the loft and lots of mouldy carpet and matress, also from loft.
Keep it tidy.
Tidy
Jury rigged plumbing. Allows plumbing to be ripped out without hindering tea making, hand washing, or toileting
I think this is a false widow spider nest. Seen lots of these. We have two varieties of false widow living in the roof. Oh goody.
Stock-piling scrap metal to take to a scrap merchant
Gas boiler is gone, never to return, so I stripped out the radiators. Also to go to scrap merchant.
Lovely view from the roof, whilst dismantling incredibly well-built chimney.
Original 1960 fuse box. Now replaced by much safer RCDs. I've had all the electrics disconnected apart from some central sockets. This means we can cut into rafters/knock down walls with impunity where needed without fear of electrocution
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Where the chimney was.
Seriously over-engineered chimney base. A couple of hours chipping away at it, two of use taking it in turns, and we only got this far. May hire a kango hammer.
Lovely salt-glazed chimney liner. Will take to salvage yard if I can't use them anywhere.
view from roof again
