Mezzanine Floor
The mezzanine floor laying started on Friday, with just the first 6 rows of planks laid by the end of the day, as other jobs needed doing too - so no glorious photographs of the finished floor yet; just the one:
As you can see, the laminate is in dark 'Wenge', as the Germans like to call it. It looks great, and after a good clean down with all the edge trim fitted it will look the dogs bits.
Getting to that stage was 'fun' though, because before the builders could start laying the floor they needed some underlay, and this had been miraculously 'forgotten' from the shopping list when the flooring was delivered.
So, a quick trip to Horta to the local hardware shops was in order, along with the project manager, who thankfully was able to assist with shop locations and language skills. Honestly, I would have been a fish out of water without this help.
Laminate flooring is a 'floating' floor, meaning that it is not glued down - but instead rests on top of some foam underlay, which is quite thin and just allows the gentle free movement of the floor atop the concrete, and of course stops the boards banging against the substrate when walked on. The movement is needed to allow for expansion and contraction of the wood as the temperature and humidity changes. With a large floor like this, it is especially important.
Lots of different types of underlay are available - but this is just the most basic, as it is going on top of a 12" thick concrete slab... it does not need to sound insulate, it does not need to heat insulate either, as it would in the UK.
The first shop 'Delphim Vargas' did not have any... well they did, about 3 square meters, and 60 was required! This shop can be best described as a B&Q that you can't walk around.
It has literally everything (except foam) ...but you have to know what to ask for. Brilliant. Also you have to wait for an assistant to help you. So, half an hour to a hour or more is possible if you're in a line of twenty people. Fortunately we only had a 20 minute wait, as only a couple of people queuing ahead of us, before we where led through the warehouse to see an almost empty roll.
The next shop, 'Luna', also had a 'trade counter'... but had no foam... which lead to a final desperate final shop, 'Franklin Maximino's'. Actually the shop that supplied all the flooring and bathroom fittings. And yes they had a roll on display. This outlet is by far the best, as you can walk around its large showroom and well stocked aisles, plus there are really helpful and cheerful staff willing to assist. Bill came to 42 Euros for the 60 square meters, so not a fiscal disaster.
Meanwhile back at the ranch... One of the builders had spent the best part of a week and a half in the bathroom. No... not like that!
The bathroom units up and secured, hanging to the wall. Another piece of magic not usually encountered on the island. Wet room = no furniture on the floor. The mirror still has the protective film on it. Shower front panel on the sink are slightly spoiling the aesthetic. Roca Units to match the W.C. and shower fittings etc. Rarely seen, even in the UK. Top Gear.
Heated towel rail is pretty important, as the humidity is normally high, being in the middle of the Atlantic. No damp towels. W.C.is very comfy; tested. Room to swing the cat.
The shower glass, with tape over to remind the builders it is there... In fact, I might try to find a blue 'transfer' to go on there myself - it is a pretty big sheet of toughened glass. Washing machine, covered in cardboard is to the right.
Progress had been made here, and it is now all but finished. Lots of tiling, grouting, cabinet fixing, electrics and plumbing done. The shower however, is still not working, although it has all been connected up as of yesterday, so it will probably be tested tomorrow.
To get to this stage I had to do another two shopping trips - one to get some extra brackets for the cabinets (the builder wanted more security than those supplied by Roca) and an extra metal tube for the shower glass (as it has been made extra wide!)... so Franklins to the rescue again. Only a few Euros, and whilst I was there I got myself a bucket, mop and floor brush... these are going to be needed in earnest soon.
My one self-critical observation about the bathroom... it is 'generous'. And it could have been made a little smaller and saved money. Honestly, its the size of an extra bedroom.
Other works have continued with the lighting. The electrician comes on Saturdays, so this week he has been and fitted an extra outside light, that was not on the plans (another trip to town to buy a matching unit, which fortunately they had in stock, being Philips). He also put in the breakfast bar light, and the living area main pendant lights, as well as the light for the guest loo upstairs.
The breakfast bar light is a thing of beauty. I won't tell you how much it cost, or how long it took to find one with such an elegant and simple design in black metal. It is German.
Walking upstairs to take some shots and I looked up through one of the skylights... the border around the frame has yet to be fitted... but yup... a beautiful day... who would have believed horizontal rain the previous night. One of my mates suggested I would have been better for a wet weekend in Bognor. No, I think not :)
If anyone has some tips for straightening lighting cables, let me know. The full length long hanging ceiling pendants are really kinked. Short of hanging heavy weights or waiting an eternity....
The kinky wire is currently spoiling the effect. I had it coiled perfectly, so can't quite understand why it is not hanging straight. Special red braided cable - perhaps a thinner gauge is required. Otherwise, these would look spectacular. Shade still wrapped in cellophane...
Other news: I have some wheels... after borrowing the project manager's runabout for a couple of weeks (and managing to break a tail light and ding the rear bodywork - less said about that the better...) I got myself a shed. A little Honda Jazz. It is fine as a shopping trolley, and nothing I have to be too precious about, as I get to grips with driving a left hooker. The driving is not too much of a problem, but the reversing seems to be my Achille's Heel.
Happy owner of a shed. Interior is terrible... engine seems good. Bodywork in need of T-cut... it goes to shops and diner parties, so all good. I've not had it out of 3rd gear much: the roads are proper challenging here with lots of bendy twisty, fall off a cliff oppertunities.
My joy of proper driving is restored - little traffic (three cars is a traffic jam), twisty roads, hilly ups and downs... challenging... shame it is on the wrong side of the road to what I'm used to, otherwise I would be looking for a 'proper' car and thrashing around like a lunatic :)
Another 'interesting' driving thing here: Everybody's drive is at a 45 degree angle from the horizontal (mine included!). This presents some unique challenges for getting off the drive safely. Or getting up it of course.
Next Up: - Moving Stuff Upstairs & Kitchen.
