Thought I'd have a go at a bit of manual labour, to work off a few calories on the run up to Christmas.
Got the offer of a Conservatory at a good price, the downside was I needed to prepare for it's arrival at the onset of winter.
Never seriously laid a brick before in my life...but hey the internet's great.
Watched a few YouTube clips and thought how hard could it be......
Late September/Early October
A bit of digging out of the old Patio for some footings.
Lots of old concrete found underneath existing patio. Looked to be original patio groundwork, in some places about 6 inches thick
Smashed through to soil using heavy solid iron bar.
Wrists suffered a bit of RSI for the following weeks (should of hired a Kango).
Dug down approx 22 inches accross Patio and between 22 inches and 18 inches accross front lawn.
Early October
Borrowed a mixer of RobEvo5 (thanks Rob) and spent a whole day shifting 2 Tonnes of Ballast, Mixing and pouring into trench accross front Lawn.
Couldn't beleive it took all day.
Following weekend, spent another whole day shiftng, mixing and pouring another 2 Tonnes into remaining stepped trenches.
Mid/Late October
Concrete footings set and started Block work upto Damp Course (Block work will be rendered over once complete).
Early November
Hardcore Backfill
1 Tonne (50mm depth) of Building sand levelled and compacted
Waterproof Membrane
50mm Celotex Floor insulation
Waterproof Membrane
2 tonnes of 100mm Concrete Slab poured and levelled upto floor level
'WARNING' wet concrete burns if exposed too, for long periods.
I was mixing, pouring and leveling from 0830 until 1500, non stop. Getting wet from the concrete and also the drizzle.
Clothes and gloves got soaked and I ended up with alkaline/acid burns to hands and knee's.
This stopped all work for 1 week and very painful.
Mid November
Commenced Brickwork, matched too house. 8 courses required in Total
Commenced inner Block Wall/Cavity Wall
(pics to follow)