We have blocks and the beginnings of walls

Pat reported on Monday that one of many current supply problems affects concrete blocks. It seems it's the distribution system which is overwhelmed at present rather than the actual manufacturing process. They are usually on 48 hours notice, but when he ordered last Thursday he was told there would be a week's delay. We were driving home from our first Devon trip for many months on Thursday, so we called at the plot in the afternoon for a catch-up and to admire the piles of blocks being laid out around the perimeter of the house-to-be. The block-laying will be complicated by the fact there are no long uninterrupted runs: Adrian has designed in doors, windows, reveals and corners aplenty. And on this build, unusually, the inner skin will be built first, as the insulation panels are attached to the cavity side of this skin, then there is a void, then the outer skin of blocks (some of which will be rendered, some timber-clad).

By Friday afternoon when Liz called by, we had the beginnings of walls. Pat estimates that he will be at first floor level in three weeks and at roof level in six. Then the roof goes on, and the windows go in. It sounds simple. Watch this space.

In a fortnight we shall have owned the plot for three years.






 

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