Sunday 10 January 2016

Wiring, plumbing and playing

We've had a productive week on the cabin. Who knew the little jobs took so long?! I suppose I did, but I always forget and want it finished.

Last weekend we got the roof all insulated. The frame was cut at new year and we added some batons across for strength. This was nailed to the roof trusses and filled with insulation. We covered this all over with felt and nailed it down. We have done a few coats of paint on the fascia boards in the evenings ready for fitting this weekend.

In the evenings after work James has been wiring up the lights and sockets. We found some old lights out of the garage that we had in the hallways of our old house. It had lovely high victorian ceilings and I was in love with fisherman's lamps. Our house now has low cottage ceilings so we have to have wall lamps and I am so glad to have found a use for my favourite lights.  


James used plastic trunking to cover the wires in the bathroom. As it's been painted in a waterproof white oil based paint the plastic isn't visible. He even trusted me to put the trunking under the plugs.



In the other part of the cabin where we've varnished the walls we decided to make some trunking out of pine to make it less visible. We used two pieces nailed together to make a channel and have started putting them up. We've still got a bit to go on these.





This week we also put up some curtain poles and I did the thing that ladies like to do which is to furnish (inappropriately early) and James humoured me by letting me hang the curtains! I got them from George by ASDA so they are a bit thin but are enough to block out anyone looking in at night and keep down the drafts.


Yesterday we did some plumbing for the bathroom fittings. We are using push fit fittings in the cabin, where in the house we've always used old fashioned copper fittings. It is so much easier than copper! Today James tested them to make sure they were water tight. He's so careful and patient, I just wanted to put them in untested and take the chance (I know he's right by the way). I also did some overtime at work on Saturday morning, the list of things we needs is always growing and is somewhat expensive!


Today we took the fascia boards and put them up to cover the end of the roof felt. They were originally designed that they'd cover the roof trusses but they're not big enough now as we added extra height by adding an insulation frame. I'm not bothered I still think it looks good.




James also put up a junction box on the external front of the cabin for a LED flood light.

We also cut two holes in the bathroom wall. One for the toilet waste and one for an extractor fan.




Next job was to start laying the floor in the bathroom, the last one to lay. It's not quite there yet, but James is hoping to get the last boards down once the kids are asleep. 

It feels like we're in the home stretch now and it'll really come together soon. We're just figuring out how to make a false wall to go behind the shower and keep water off the wood. We think we've got the basic idea, we'll see how it all fits. I'm also looking for a few kitchen units for the back wall. Even with the so called January sales they're not the price I want to pay (I'm super tight) so we'll keep looking.

The kids were out in the cold with us making potions out of mud, sawdust and rainwater. It really helps us get things done when they play outside as we can keep an eye on them and work, otherwise it's only nap times and evenings. They were very good for us and I love to see them enjoying the outdoors.





Last night we had a bit of a crash as the kids were having their teeth done for bed, the tiles fell off the wall in the toilet. It's got to be the worlds crappest bathroom and I cannot wait to demolish it!







18 comments:

  1. are you going to be sleeping in the cabin while work continues on the house, its looking good and I am sure after the work is finished you will put the cabin to good use

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    1. I am hoping that we won't have to sleep in there, but our room will be gone and I suppose if circumstances warrant it. Our only bathroom will be demolished though so we will be using it for those purposes! It'll be a great place for guests, working from home and for the odd family member that's had housing difficulties.

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  2. I was interested in how you are hiding the wiring. I live in a log house, and I would like to put in heavier gauge wire on some of my runs, to enable me to use more power in certain rooms. I've held off because I could not envision a way to hide the wiring, which will have to go along the logs. No way to put it in the channels between logs as was done when the place was built. I can do something along your lines though.

    I can't imagine what it would cost to have someone do all that work on your homestead at an hourly rate. Good thing you and your husband are so self sufficient.

    Your kids look to be wonderful children. You have a good life.

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    Replies
    1. I can't imagine the cots either Harry, I shudder to think! James is very practical and always willing to learn new skills for which I am always grateful.

      The kids are great and I hope will grow up to be hardworking, productive members of society.

      Our life is good Harry and we say to each other every day how lucky we are.

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  3. My girls love your blue bathroom, they've said it to me quite a few times! Cabin is looking great by the way, what rent will you charge me to sleep there when I have a new born here?

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    1. Oh no, it's slightly less blue now as I took off quite a few wobbly tiles today. I promise you can have first dibs on it when it's removed ;-)

      Rent will be an hours free labour a day and babysitting duties and baby cuddles. I forgot to say that the wife needs to give you written permission first too!

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  4. Getting things done with little ones is so hard isn't it. How wonderful that they played alongside you working, it's really coming together now :)

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    1. It's lovely then when they play outside with us, a bit muddy for the cleanup though.

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  5. You have adorable kids! I love to see your bathroom done and excited to see the result. You are really hardworking and hoping that your kids will be too in the future! Thanks for sharing your activity! Have a great week!

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    1. Thanks they are pretty cute. It's one of our aims to have hardworking kids that contribute to society rather than drain it's resources. Hope you have a great week too.

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  6. Love those lights! We hid the electric cables for our ceiling lights (from the wall, then across the wooden beams to where the actual light is) by using copper piping, then buying industrial looking lights. Love the look, and it suits the chunkiness of the wood in the house. You are really getting on well with your cabin, even with the 'help' of your children!

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    1. What a fantastic idea Vera, I love the industrial copper look. I should have asked for ideas before we did the work!

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  7. Little jobs do take a long time. That is because there are so many of them. In addition to that, while lighting may not seem to take up a lot of time, there is a lot of planning that needs to be done before you take your first step with installing whatever you want in the space. It is important to have good lighting.

    Traci Romero @ Harris Plumbing

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  8. As a non-typical male who's never done an ounce of DIY, I can only admire your amazing project. It's a good job James isn't like me! I wonder if your cabin's wooden structure has been harden to work with than traditional bricks and mortar? Sadly, I'm never likely to find out through personal experience, but I like reading about DIY.

    Wilfred Andrews @ LB Plumbing and Heating

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  9. I'm impressed by your diligence, and by your planning. I can use tools, but I don't really grasp the mechanical and electrical concepts. I can follow directions, but I need directions. Are you governed by building codes where you are? Since you're putting in a shower, you must have a drain, and an outside pipe to take the water someplace.

    Peter Wilson @ Rumpca Services

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