Strawbale House

This blog is intended to chart our progress through the self-build process, from half-hearted plot-hunting through to completion of the build. The twist is that we're building the house from timber and straw (hence the blog title).

Click on the image at the end of each post to see that day's photos.

Saturday 22 September 2007

September 20th -- Backfilling and pantry

Went to Berwick with Anna to collect the shower tray and enclosure from my mate Dennis. From there to Homebase to look in awe at the disintegrating displays of crap plastic baths and basins, guided by a disinterested and ill-informed woman. From there to Grahams, where we were helped and given coffee in china cups by an obliging and knowledgeable woman to buy a gorgeous bath, basin and toilet for the bathroom and a slim-line basin for the downstairs dunny. The difference in quality and service left me slack-jawed.
By the time I arrived on site, the underground pipes and fittings had arrived (well done again Toolstation) and Melvin had started assembling them in the trenches. He carried on with this for the next few hours while I finished framing up and sheeting the pantry walls.
Before he started back-filling the trenches we thought we ought to test what he'd done, and he poured about a pint of water down the top end of one branch. It seemed to take an eternity, and we were starting to grow despondent by the time there was a gentle gurgle and the water spilled prettily from the bottom end, confirming that Melvin had got his levels spot-on. The second branch, which is longer and more anfractuous worked perfectly too, which was a relief. Hats off to you, Melvin.
By day's end the backfill was almost complete, as was the pantry.

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