Friday 29TH OCTOBER - Day 11

Carpenters fitted to the first floor and more problems with Lawtech.

Lawtech’s third party subcontract insulators and renderers arrive on site as promised from the previous day, but still no window reveal insulation or render material. Following our conversation with Lawtech’s subcontractors the decision was made to complete at much as possible which meant completing only a section of the base coat render and leave site, this is not what the Lawtech subcontractors wanted, but with no material on site left them no choice. So what was programmed to be the completion date for Lawtech’s works activity was in fact still left with only 50% complete. At this stage the external works of the Retrofit project was definitely going to cause delays to the project. Lawtech at our prestart site meeting confirmed a 2 week programme of their works would be suffice to complete, this clearly was not the case. After a very heated discussion with Lawtech’s project manager we was left no choice other than to except that the insulators would be back on site Monday with the materials and the renderers on site Tuesday giving the insulators a full day to complete. We all at BBCL at this stage was very concerned with the reliability of information and promises from Lawtech’s PM, the project was in line with programme on the internal works, but the external works by Lawtech was letting all the efforts of all the other trades down. This is not what we wanted to see!!


In this photo you can clearly see the beads and reveals are complete on No. 13 but no works can continue on No. 14 until the reveal insulation is complete which will not be until Monday.















Last minute tidy up on the first floor prior to the carpet fitters returning to lay the first floor carpets.

The final fix is completed to the kitchen fit out and ceiling coving is complete.












Now the kitchen units and coving are complete its full steam ahead with the ground floor decorating













It’s all a tight squeeze everywhere in the house as every trade is working closely to meet the fast track programme, with new PVC window boards being fitted and decorating works goes on over head.





The pressure starts to show as the preparation works ahead of the decorating is coming to an
end.







Walls are striped and prepped ready for final paint.

Day 11 Update' Solar Heat Gain Commissioned

The solar gain heat pump was gassed up and commissioned today and after only 1.5 hours it was up to 31degrees.

The radiators upstairs felt warm, so am looking forward to the heat once it gets up to 60 degrees.

Still working on my weekly brief for the blog, taken 23 hours and I’m only half way thru!

Decorators are also in today…..we’re getting there!

Matthew Ball
Managing Director
B Ball Contractors Ltd

Thursday 28TH OCTOBER - Day 10

Renderers make a start to fixing the corner beads. Electrical final fix is completed within the kitchen and the first floor works are complete.

Lawtech renderers arrive on site again, unfortunately the window reveal insulation has still not arrived on site, and they also discover there is not enough material to complete the render covering. After discussions with the render foreman who was a third party subcontractor to Lawtech said he would do he’s best with what he had and would try and push on. So to recap, the renderers and timber fixing wall plates were on site which was arranged by Lawtech’s project manager, but no insulators or insulating material nor fixings for the timber plating. At this stage this was showing complete disorganisation by Lawtech’s project manager. We again raised our extreme concerns that this works activity was programmed for completion end of play tomorrow and when would be the anticipated completion date. Lawtech’s project manager again assured us that there was only an additional 2 days of works required to complete the render coving and that the additional materials would arrive today. He also explained that they would work the Saturday to assure completion and not to allow works to creep into another week.

As promised the renderers continued on with what materials they had on site. As number 13 Hawthorn did not have new triple glazed windows installed therefore no reveal insulation was required due to the existing window openings they could continue with rendering the base coat to the reveals and corning beads as shown below.

Below you can see the setting out of the proposed timber plate fixing locations, and as the day creped on we (BBCL) decided to locate and purchase the fixings ourselves, and start getting them fixed up so as not to hold up the renderers.

When we arrived back to site after purchasing the fixings, two of Lawtech’s insulators had arrived, albeit with no fixings they were on site as labour resources to get the timber plates up. If we had not located to fixings ourselves, this would have been another third party subcontractor of Lawtech unable to continue through no materials on site.

Second fix electrical works completed within the kitchen and dinner.

BBCL laying an additional 400mm of Rockwool insulation to the loft space also covering the newly installed HR









All first floor works are completed, fully decorated, loft insulated, new airing cupboard constructed and shelves built in new airing cupboard and the previous airing cupboard which has now changed to a storage cupboard

All the kitchen units are fitted, only the handles and appliances remain.








Above shows the installed pulse meter and the wet works being fitted. To the left is BBCL’s plumber completing the final wet works to supply the sink and appliances.

Wednesday 27TH OCTOBER - Day 9

We complete all electrial first fix and making good to walls.

First fix electrical complete to the lounge area and all other rooms including the hall and kitchen diner. Wall have been made good ready for finishing and decoration works to begin.





The external insulation was complete today, but unfortunately the window reveals could not be complete as no insulation panels to suit were not available on site. Lawtech confirmed to us that they would be on site first thing tomorrow. This however caused us some concern; the rendering finishing team had just arrived on site that morning to commence their works but was unable to proceed due to other trades not finishing. We did raise our concerns with Lawtech with regards to the impact on the programme, but they assured us the time would be made up.



The SHB flow and return pipe work are sealed within the sleeves entering the kitchen. And below shows the kitchen first fix well on its way.


For the first time we see the SHG panels operating as they should do by showing signs of frost. It’s a pleasing moment as with them not operating, this will not only delay the project but stop the tenant and the family from moving back into their property.

TUESDAY 26TH OCTOBER - Day 8

Today we are finishing off the installation and commisioning of the Solar Heat Gain and Block.

Here we are fitting the remaining kitchen base units on the opposite side of the kitchen, and below hanging the kitchen entrance door with alterations to suit the new drop pipe box outs.



Box in the drop down heating pipes to the kitchen. This had to include an adaption to the kitchen door lining and door.

Electricians are replacing the floorboards following the commissioning being completed of the Heat Recovery work.

This previous hot water cylinder is replaced with new pipe work layout to connect the existing system and divert the flow through the wall to the new cylinder location.

Above shows the water Flow & Return and the Inlet and outlet of the gas pipes for the Heat Block.

This shows our Engineer re - fitting the cover after the commissioning of the Solar Heat Block.

After just 1 hour of running time, we were amazed to see the return water temperature up to 31 Degrees Fahrenheit. There was a significant heat noticed within the dwellings radiators on the 1^st floor and the skirting heating to the ground floor.

To the right you can see the first fix electrical in the lounge underway were they are chasing the existing wall to extend the Satellite cables to the new wall mounted position of the TV and also to provide an additional Satellite socket in the dining room area.












Above the first fix electrical continues with raising the power sockets to the lounge. You can see by the photos that not only did we need to raise the sockets to meet the new regulations but the existing locations did clash with the new skirting heating panels.

Following the successful commissioning of the SHB came the daunting task of dismantling the scaffolding to from the roof. With many thanks to Kingsnorth Scaffolding Ltd, and with great care and respect for other trades work the task was completed successfully.

Day 7 Solar gain heat pump is installed: 25th October 2010

The solar gain heat pump has been connected and commisioned this afternoon.

Day 7 25th October 2010 Day 7 Update:

Trying to do 4 weeks work in 10 days, and having up to 22 men on site at one time, has been amazing. There has been loads of extras bits to do, including replacement of fence posts that a subcontractors lorry delivery knocked down, which is putting a lot of pressure on the us – but we're thriving on it!

One of the most difficult things we have found to be is to provide regular daily/weekly updates. However, daily notes are being kept and stacks of photo are being taken to be uploaded in a couple of weeks once we are near completion.

Matthew Ball
Managing Director
B Ball Contractors Ltd

MONDAY 25TH OCTOBER - Day 7

Today we are finishing off the alst bits on the 1^st floor so that the decorators can start in the bedrooms. We are also now ready to get the new kitchen installed.

Upon completion of the replacement insulation and plasterboard wall, great care has been given to ensuring a seal around the edges of the board using expanding foam and by taping the joints of the boards.

To the left is the completed duct for the removal of the air from the kitchen. It is now being boxed in within the rear bedroom.

Above you can see the water meter that has been fitted with a GPS Data Logger.

Our Carpentry Supervisor here is fitting the base units of the new kitchen, which was agreed by The Client. He is able to fit his brackets through the wall board into the timbers previously fixed into position.

Things going to programme have enabled our decorators to start the undercoating decoration works.

Making good to the existing coving

Here the sleeves are being installed for the heating’s flow and return to the SHB which is due to be installed & commissioned tomorrow.