Post-build work around the site - 2013
There was never a proper 'edge' to the road, as the tarmac simply went up to the old 'Cornish Hedge' (aka deep stone and earth bank with vegetation growing in and over it). In any event the edge of the tarmac had been utterly destroyed by the crane wheels, and I had to reinstate it and the damage to the road. I intended to build a wall right to the road, so I thought the best solution would be a line of low kerbs that would mark the boundary and provide a low enough entry point. This work can only be done by a contractor approved by Cornwall Council, and after checking around and getting quotes, I awarded the job to D A Thomas & Son, who did a completely satisfactory job. The boss Dave, asked what I was going to do with the drive, I told him it was going to be the last job, we were probably going to have tarmac but I was going to introduce some granite setts into it to enhance the appearance. He then asked if I had any setts, and asked if I wanted to make an offer for a load he had in his yard. This was an opportunity not to be missed, and after agreeing a price, 600 or so used setts arrived on the drive the following day. They were old, mixed sizes and rounded off, perfect for what I had in mind.
The front wall next, I planned to build in block, and face it with 5" of stone. I ordered a load of block, but now without a trailer and the means to tow it, I would have to order a load of stone and have it delivered. With the 4" of block, this would make a substantial retaining bed into which we would plant evergreen hedge plants. After marking out, I dug out out the footings for the road side, but the house side needed to be much lower to get the correct drive level, and needed to be much deeper for a decent retaining wall. I called Colin Bilkey, and on August 30th he dug out the footings, took down the levels between the wall and garage and took the spoil away, absolute Gem!
It was time we started to make use of the rain water tank, so I dug out the ground, laid pipes, and made the connection from the down-pipe off the back roof to the tank. The water off the roof would only be contaminated by things landing on the roof, and these would be picked up in the tanks basket filter. A network of piping for garden use and car washing only would be laid from the tank. A separate surface drainage system would drain the patio and side paths, taking the water to the soak-away we put in over a year ago.
We needed the building signed off for Building Regulations, and although we had layed some temporary slabs to the front door, we were told that we would have to construct a wheelchair access and an area large enough for a disabled person to alight from a vehicle and access the front door. Thankfully neither of us require such a facility at the moment, and we do not expect a visitation from anyone who does, but rules are rules! So in order to get the final admin. and certifications done, I turned my attention to this. We decided to do a proper and permanent aesthetically pleasing job which would remain, as against something that looked permanent but wasn't....to be removed after satisfying the Inspector (as was suggested to me by others). A gap was left between the plinth and the top of the ramp to ensure that no damp could transfer, and there would be a small gap between the threshold and the granite paving to allow rainwater to drop harmlessly away to drain. We used 25mm Chinese granite paving bought from Lantoom Quarry at a very reasonable price.
One thing I did that I would change next time, I bedded each slab by 'dot and dab', and because of granites' porosity, at times you can see circles of dampness on the surface where the dots are. Full bed next time! I took the opportunity to increase the drainage points to ensure that we had more than adequately catered for even the heaviest downpours. There would now be four separate outlets for the drive, three to the front soak-away, and one that would continue down the West side to the lower garden soak-away.
The Buildings Inspector was satisfied, so back to the front wall. After Colin had dug out the footings for me, I had mixed up and laid the foundation. Although the higher ground was quite solid, I thought it best to retain it properly, and laid block that was below road level, on the flat. I also decided to lay with the incline rather than plumb level, to avoid stepping, although because the inside foundation was almost level, so a certain amount of cutting for adjustment between the two levels was inevitable. You'll note below the first course of 'on edge' block is tapered.
The end of the fence had fallen in high winds, so I had to cut the last bit away, It is at this point I was made aware by the neighbour that the fence belonged to them. So why had I replaced 40' of fence at the bottom of the garden at my expense, without any comment, offer of help, or thanks from my neighbour? For that and a variety of other reasons we have not spoken again to this day, and after repairing their section, I would build a new fence entirely on our own land. The first section of fencing would be on posts set against the block, and above a wall to retain the higher ground on the neighbours side. I dug out the footing and laid the foundation
As with the front wall, I would build in block, and face off in stone. As the ground was higher next door but reducing in height fairly quickly with the incline of the site, I would build level to the corner of the garage, and step down from that point. I had asked Colin if he could supply some earth for the front bed, and as always he came up trumps. He filled his trailer with earth and left the trailer with me for a while so that I could easily transfer the soil straight into the bed.
The next step was to build paths around the house, we had slopes down each side which were difficult to use in poor weather, and nowhere was clean underfoot. I first of all laid a the MDPE water pipe from the tank up to the slope where I had decided to have the outside tap for use at the front of the house. I then started laying a base layer of concrete paths, inclined to shed surface water, with drainage provided at every opportunity. At a later date, concrete slabs would be laid for a proper finishing touch.
It was early December now, and as the front wall now had earth in it, we could think about planting the hedge. We chose slow growing evergreen 'Griselinea', having seen this planted elsewhere, and after shopping around bought 48 good strong plants from 'Blackacre Nursery' for a surprisingly low £96! They have all grown strongly apart from one that was yanked out one Saturday night by a 'pickled' passer-by!
A few fine days, and the path was laid from the back door to the back corner. All concrete or mortar from this point onwards was made using rain water from the tank, from a temporary standpipe at this point. The pump works on the basis of a pressure drop. When you turn it on (I don't leave it on all ther time, only when I want to use it), it pressurises the pipes. As soon as you open a tap, it senses the pressure drop, and starts to run the pump until that pressure returns, and stops the pump.
Back on the West boundary again, I reinstated the posts and rails that had fallen over, with new replacements. I didn't replace the palings....they were mine anyway, put on in the belief the fence was ours. I had extended the boundary wall foundation another few metres, I had layed more blockwork and put up up posts. The posts were fastened on the back face of the block and held in place with large coach screws through holes in the block.
The last job of the year was to finish the surface drain underground pipework on the East side in readiness for continuing the concreting around the house.
To put things into perspective, this time last year we had just completed the roof, and we were waiting for the balcony deck to be fibre-glassed.
