Got the Builders

Is having builders officially recognised as one of the 10 Most Stressful Life-Events? If not, it should be. Certainly as far as JN is concerned. Back in January (you may recall) we signed with Mayor Ken's 'Green Home Concierge' scheme, had a home energy assessment, identified work to improve the climate-proofing of our little house, and started lining up quotes. Around June time, we got a couple of the small specialist fixes done: a light-tube installed over the stairwell, an extractor fan in the bathroom. Then we waited for the two main building outfits to firm up dates to do their stuff -- and, wouldn't you know it, both said they'd be ready to start last week. Since one lot are doing exterior work, the others interior insulation work, we decided to give both the go-ahead.

In the event, only Mayfair started on time, making good and repainting our front garden wall and building a new breeze-block wall along the side passage outside the kitchen (to support a glass roof, creating a covered area that JN insists is not a porch). So far, so good. Tuesday, Two blokes from Devereux turned up and got stuck into the loft insulation -- starting by tossing all the stuff stored there randomly out of their way, instead of moving it gently. Explosion of JN when he arrived home after work and poked his head up through the hatch. However, here we are Friday, loft complete with all the insulation it needs, a good half of it solid enough to walk and store stuff on (Knauf insulation boards, covered over with hard chipboard loft panelling) -- and the front lounge wall stripped of wallpaper and newly lined with Sempatap insulation, a 20mm rubberized foam lining that should reduce heat loss/gain by 25% which is (we've been assured) the best performing stuff currently available. Outside, we have lots of nice bright white new paintwork: garden walls, window sills, front door and the new back wall and stout wooden framework to carry the glass roof panels when they arrive from the glazier.

Next week: chaos as Devereux strip down the bathroom and back hall then re-line them; ditto our bedroom exterior-facing wall, then paint them all up plus the kitchen for good measure. And, fingers crossed, Mayfair come back to fit the glass roof and a bench along the fence. We fit small water-butt to catch run-off from the new roof. We arrange (and no doubt re-arrange) all the plants, pots etc currently covering our mini back lawn back into New! places. I order folding shelves to maximise plant-spaces along the new under-cover wall spaces. We see how it all survives the winter.