Build diary – weeks nineteen and twenty, warm, dry and well plastered

With great pleasure, I am handing this blog over to Whistlewood volunteers. If you would like to contribute, you can write your own piece as Chris has or send me notes using the contact page or via Whistlewood.

By Chris Gregson – 1st October to 12th October.

Whilst I was sunning myself in Croatia the guys were cracking on with the roof insulation plastering, and of course yet more shingles! Thanks go to the team of able volunteers who kept them going supplying the plaster with clean water and everyone with tea and buns.

However, there’s no rest for the wicked and Monday morning saw me back at the coal face, well the building site. The replacement parts had arrived for the lantern and were quickly installed in the frame and, with some difficulty, the lantern was manhandled into place.

The finishing and glazing were completed in-situ as it was easier; and made the frame lighter to lift. The area between the lantern and shingles will be boarded out to form an octagon and covered with lead flashing.

Once the internal scaffolding had been taken down the true extent of the internal space could be appreciated. Likewise once the final shingle had been nailed down the roof looks worth all of the hard work.

Towards the end of the shingle laying the guys were getting a little ‘roof happy’ you could hear them beginning to perk up and joke amongst themselves as the herculean task neared its end.

The last shingle was signed by those present who had helped lay them; left to right Tom, Lewis, Stephan, Paul and me.

It’s really feeling like the end is in sight, possible only another two weeks until the builders complete but this is a British autumn so anything is, or isn’t possible!

Chris Gregson