All is well after yesterday's adventures. This morning we watched in some fear as the big digger eased out the second huge tree stump from uncomfortably close to our aged concrete septic tank. Thankfully, it is still intact.
Then, with a few lorry-loads of hardcore and some very skilful earthmoving, a new set of levels and a new alignment of the entranceway appeared. We are more than pleased with it all.
From corrugated iron to heartwood of native Scottish larch. An account of the joys and trials of demolishing and rebuilding a house extension on the Isle of Skye.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Friday, 14 January 2011
Where has our driveway gone?
Mostly to the quarry at Drumuie I'm told...
At breakfast time this morning we became aware of someone wheelbarrowing a pile of sand away from the corner of the house. "Moving stuff out of the way, because the digger is coming to re-profile the ground around the end of the extension", apparently. We relaxed over our cereals. It didn't sound very interesting really, and it was a bit wet to go out to check what was happening. But it didn't take long to realise that it was about to become more than a slight re-profile.
Have a look at what happened next...
By nightfall, some 100 tonnes (7 loads of about 15 tonnes each) of tarmac and earth had been dug out and ferried away. The main rainwater drain had been pulled up, to be replaced in a deeper trench at some point, and the huge tree stump - that I had plugged with dozens of dowels impregnated with oyster mushroom spores - had been ripped out and taken away.
After dark, the tipper returned a couple of times with loads of hardcore, and the big digger thrummed away moving it around, lights blazing. All is quiet again now, but I think they will be back tomorrow for a bit of Saturday working. I hope so. Our car is on the wrong side of the hole, and I need it out to get to Inverness Airport on Monday morning!
Meanwhile, the workshop has gained a nice cushioned rubber floor and a rather fine workbench. It is taking shape nicely.
At breakfast time this morning we became aware of someone wheelbarrowing a pile of sand away from the corner of the house. "Moving stuff out of the way, because the digger is coming to re-profile the ground around the end of the extension", apparently. We relaxed over our cereals. It didn't sound very interesting really, and it was a bit wet to go out to check what was happening. But it didn't take long to realise that it was about to become more than a slight re-profile.
Have a look at what happened next...
By nightfall, some 100 tonnes (7 loads of about 15 tonnes each) of tarmac and earth had been dug out and ferried away. The main rainwater drain had been pulled up, to be replaced in a deeper trench at some point, and the huge tree stump - that I had plugged with dozens of dowels impregnated with oyster mushroom spores - had been ripped out and taken away.
After dark, the tipper returned a couple of times with loads of hardcore, and the big digger thrummed away moving it around, lights blazing. All is quiet again now, but I think they will be back tomorrow for a bit of Saturday working. I hope so. Our car is on the wrong side of the hole, and I need it out to get to Inverness Airport on Monday morning!
Meanwhile, the workshop has gained a nice cushioned rubber floor and a rather fine workbench. It is taking shape nicely.
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