GO!

(Moby, 1991)




If I sounded a bit hesitant last time that the works had actually started, then this week has made it all real.  Where to begin? 

In the house, the contractors have been busy, beatifully wrapping the chimneys, floorboards and marble hallway in protective coverings, 

Removing all electrics and piping, such as the original fuse box. 

Removing the banister from the back staircase, as well as the doors and windowframes, ready for the demolition of the back annexe.





On Friday, we paid a visit to the neighbours, to check the state of the dividing wall before we start the heavy works, and also to identify any works that need doing on the dividing walls.  It was a good opportunity to build up good neighbourly relations, not least because of the issue of the illegal and grotesque roof terrace and corrugated plastic extension on one side, which blocks out quite a bit of sunlight.  See what I mean?  There is hope for a solution that everyone is happy with, but more on that in due course. 




To top it off, this weekend we finished off the bits and pieces we had on our list of things to do inside the house, like removing the plastering around the front door (which will be fitted with insulation), 

removing the staircase down to the cellar from the hallway (part of it will find a new life as part of my bike ramp idea), and...




... an interesting but fruitless trip to a salvage yard in the Belgian capital of the Duracell battery, in search of floor tiles to match those we have recovered from our old kitchen.   No tiles, but we did see some inspired roundabout art...

Meanwhile, temperatures have dropped to below freezing and the whole of Belgium is bracing itself for a general strike on Monday.  Let's see what this week brings...

Go... ?

On Friday was the first Reunion de Chantier, or site meeting. Present were the two contractors doing the main part of the works - Renovital, who will do the heavy duty demolitions and building work, and Murmuur, who will do the interior work, insulation and finishings. Last but by no means least, from the architect's office was Cédric, who will be overseeing and coordinating everything.

We still have to sign the contract with the firm doing the technical parts (water, electricity, bathrooms, ventilation), which is planned for this week, and work out what we are doing with the front windows (repair or replace?) and line up a contractor for that, but that is all in hand.

Finally, we have decided to take out some of the finishings (painting, sanding floors, fitting the kitchen and stripping doors) since we can save a lot by doing these jobs separately at the end, in a rather Belgian manoeuvre...

The first major event will be the demolition of the kitchen annexe at the back, and dismantling and repairing the roof. But before they can get out the sledgehammers, we have to arrange an Etat des Lieux with the neighbours, to establish the current state of the dividing wall, in case of any complaints down the line about cracks and leaks caused by the works. That is scheduled for next Friday 27th.

Meanwhile, on the inside, Murmuur can already get started with setting up the site and removing the existing electrics, pipes, etc.

I also pointed out the various items which we would like to be salvaged from the demolition of the back: the pierre bleue steps (which I plan to use in the garden as paving), the original windows and doors (which a friendly woodman expressed an interest in), and a chunk of the mosaic floor that may come in useful for repairs later. Let's see what comes of that...

In terms of timing, they have given themselves 140 working days to complete the works. So excluding weekends, public holidays and the occasional day of weather so awful that works are impossible, that takes us (optimistically perhaps) to mid-September. Then add on another few weeks to finish off with things like sanding floors, painting and fitting the kitchen (if we don't manage to squeeze that in during the works themselves), that takes us to mid-October.

A rough estimate it may be , but I think it deserves a countdown widget.

.. Get Set...

So this weekend, after one last lunch of pizza and ice tea...

... we cleared out the last of the tools and furniture, swept the floors and put back the carpets to protect the floorboards and tiles.

On your marks...

A short post, but a momentous one.

Today we signed the contract with the 'entrepreneurs'.

We hand over the keys on Monday and they start the works next week.

I am still pinching myself.