Blocks arrive and well is sunk

The well was sank on Monday. The guys were on site at 8 am. They said there was plenty of water at 160 ft but dug to 200 ft just to be on the safe side. They haven't sent me a bill yet. The blocks have also arrived. I got a quote €500 cheaper than John A Wood from O'Regans so I got the blocks there. I had to set up an account again. The blocklayers said they be will be on site by end of week. I haven't seen the site in daylight yet this week as up the walls at work. I have some more photos though aswell I have to get up here.

More progress

Met the guys doing blockwork/deadwork this afternoon. They said they will come as soon as we have the blocks on site. My dad is going to order them Monday. I have an account with John A Wood but they said O'Regan's are cheaper so I might give them a quick call just to compare and see if there is much of a discrepancy. The contractor doing the well rang me this afternoon. He's starting Monday morning. So looks like there will be quite a bit done this week. Just have to touch base now with the heating contractor for his quote. Handed my plans to a guy who lives nearby for the plastering. I think I may have to get a generator for the time being as the ESB are proving very difficult to deal with. I got my brother to indicate on my drawings also where I want my plug points. Now I have to find an electrician. Next weeks job. One of many.

View from front of house

Driveway taken from front of house

Cabin is on site

Cabin has arrived.

The cabin arrived yesterday. It is ideal and fits nicely in the corner of the site near the road. I got it through a contact-someone doesn't need it for a year so they were happy to leave it off;-). I just paid to have it delivered-€220. I must post some more pics over the weekend. I'm meeting the lads doing the deadwork tomorrow at 1pm at the site. They said they would definitely fit my job in next week but couldn't give an exact day. I have phoned my engineer for a copy of the construction plans and she said to collect them on Monday morning. I went to site after work this evening and we checked the foundations with a level........perfect! The second UDH quote hasn't come in yet (he said he would phone on wednesday) so I'll give him until Monday before I start chasing him up. I really need that to be able to benchmark the initial one. This is quite urgent now as they will be the next on site once the deadworks guys have finished. First job in morning is to complete SEI grant form for solar panel and can't go to Munster Joinery as they are closed on Saturday. BOO! Think I'll go and check out a few kitchens instead.......saw in a mag place called Hartigans Kitchens in Douglas and Schmidt kitchens in Bandon. Don't know how they will fit around my budget but it can't hurt to look. And kitchens are a long way off anyway. I came across one blog though where they were in the house after 8 months! So the clock is ticking...............................

Steel pipes in foundation

Foundations

Foundations dug out

Looking at site from ditch at road

Foundations poured.........;-)

Foundations were poured yesterday. My father and helper started at 8am and finished up at 4pm. (2.5 lorries from John A Woods later). I have loads of photos to post here but haven't got the time over last few days. I will get them up tonight. I must contact the lads doing the deadwork now to see when they can make a start on that. The concrete will have to be allowed to dry anyway for a few days so hopefully they will be available later this week/early next week. The guy sinking the well also called to the site yesterday and he expects to get back there this week to sink that. More good news is that the bank finally issued a cheque so I can now pay John A Wood (had to give them money before an account could be opened), the first tranche of whats owed to the groundworks contractor and must pay for the steel also. The second UDF heating quote is due today but as yet he hasn't phoned. He's a recommendation I got so even if he comes in above the other quote (€23k) I think I'll go with him. Always better the devil you know as opposed to don't know. I STILL haven't completed the SEI grant form for the solar panels. I got all the measurements organised last night for the roof timber. I will be getting this at cost price from a contact of my uncle ;-). A portable cabin is being delivered to the site today/tomorrow also so any tools/materials etc can be locked in overnight. I must ring the ESB also with a view to getting a power supply as found out last week they don't do temporary supplies anymore.

Foundations to go in............ahead of time!

Headed up to site after dinner to take a few more pics. 2 more lorry loads of limestone arrived today so now it has been spread all round the house. Much easier for a car to drive in and out. Turns out the foundations will be poured tomorrow!!! My father and the groundworks guy will do them. This is a week sooner than I expected so no complaints there. Still haven't completed that SEI grant form for the solar panels and must also follow up with bank re cheque issue. They are being a total NIGHTMARE. Think I should make a list of what has to be done because at the moment there just isn't enough hours in the day. Must also head to Munster Joinery for a quote on the windows.

Groundworks well underway

Work commenced on the site last Tuesday (Feb 12th). Photos of site to follow. The guy I have is local and has worked until 7.30 each night and by the weekend all foundations were dug out ;-)
Spent the weekend with my brother and father on site putting steel in the trenches and tying the steel bars together. This is to ensure better stability when the concrete is poured. We also put bricks underneath the steel pipes to ensure they were 3/4 inches off the ground. The pipes also had to be tied underneath as opposed to on top as the concrete when poured would just blow them apart otherwise.

Have got a quotation of 17k for the UFH -going for geothermal and solar also. The solar are €6k extra. Have handed plans to another contact over weekend so going to see what he comes back with before making final decision. Must send off that grant form too for the solar and geothermal pump. My initial intention was to go for gas for the heating but both parties who are giving me quotes have advised against this .............so it will be oil now.

Have got the blocklayers (schoolmates of brother) organised and they are ready to do deadwork once foundations poured (hopefully this week) all going well.

Must go up to site tonight and help my father put up the health and safety signs.