Trev and Hil's New Build in Polemi

[trevnhil]

Oh yes.... I should have left a space, it's two words... "Words fail us"

Trev.. burning the midnight oil.

[trevnhil]

Hi Maggie. I thought you were referring to me when you mentioned a big brute.

As you can see we have made good use of the plants that you brought us, and Hilary had added a few more today. We are going to leave the 'Big Brute in the pot for the time being as we are not sure that where it is now is its final resting place.

But, as you can see... Siga siga.




























Cheers. Trev..

[Biddy]

It's lovely. Am I envious - Yep!!! Enjoy

[trevnhil]

Hi all.

Well as Biddy told us to enjoy it ...then we surely are doing just that. We are not quite resting on our laurels though. We have had the builder here to give us a price for a retaining wall at the side of our drive. The reason for this is that we have always been wary of the higher land crumbling down in bad weather. The price was favourable and so we ill be having the work done soon.

We also though it a good idea to put down a layer of hardcore /crusherer on the land to the rear of the bungalow.

We asked a local digger driver to give us a price for this job. We were expecting a large price because we realised that you could not get a large wagon to the ground at the back. We thought the filling would need to tipped at the front of the bungalow and ferried in the digger bucket to the back... a lot of journeys / hours.

The digger driver suggested bringing in 3 wagon loads over next doors higher plot and tipping them onto our land. We left it for him to seek the permission, which he did and he began the work today.

I have just put some pictures on the web album showing the land covered in grass. Then there are some pictures showing the land cleared and ready for the filling being spread tomorrow.

The final picture is a Herb Garden that I made for Hilary.





I will be adding more pictures of the area when it is completed. The idea is for us to be able to drive down the ramp behind the bungalow and to park the cars where a garage may be in the future.


Cheers. Trev..

[Molly]

Looks absolutely fab Trev.......Good luck to you both and every happiness in your new home.........

[trevnhil]

Thanks for the good wishes Molly and indeed 'Biddy'

Recently it has been a couple of weeks between postings but I could not resist showing you what a difference a day makes.

Yesterday the area at the rear of the bungalow, designated a parking / garage area, was covered in long grass and weeds.

This evening it is a hardcore parking area...... The digger driver from the village spent all morning bringing three large wagon loads of filling and tipping them on our plot from the land above ours. Thanks are due to that land owner by the way.

Then he set about spreading and leveling and rolling all with the digger.

He finished mid afternoon and since then I have been raking and rolling with my car, and what a good job it has turned out to be.

I have just added even more pictures to the web album, but could not resist adding these to the post.






Still a concrete retaining wall to be done, and hopefully that will be this week.

Cheers all. Trev..

[Macattack]

That looks like a job well done. At this rate you will be able to put your feet up in a couple of months, and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

[trevnhil]

Dear Ian.... " put your feet up in a couple of months, and enjoy the fruits of your labour".

Even in Cyprus the fruit trees take longer than that to grow, He he !!

It is certainly good to be able to admire the views and the (almost) completed jobs.

Trev..

[trevnhil]

I say, I say, I say..... I went out of the door in my Pyjamas today. I didn't know you had a door in your Pyjamas.!!!

OK, but the old ones are the best.

Seriously, this morning whilst we were in bed drinking tea and reading, we heard voices. Strange as we are about 500 mts from the nearest neighbour. So I went outside in my P J's . There were 3 men on the drive discussing our concrete retaining wall. I told them to give me couple of minutes to get dressed and I would be with them.

We discussed what was going to be done, some of which I changed, and then they went away leaving one guy behind. His job today... Dig the foundation for the retaining wall and cut back the banking where needed. BY HAND... or shovel actually

It is 27 mts long and he has done all the work by hand today. What a worker. He spoke no English (he is Russian) but I offered him a beer at lunchtime. He said it sent him to sleep. So I gave it him to put in his bag for this evening.

Here is a picture of the foundation trench he has dug. It also shows the banking cut back and the drainage pipe in the trench





I have been busy as well. I have installed the timber edging to the parking area, and I have been shopping for drill bits and screws. The reason for the above purchase is that the contractor doing the wall indicated that he would be using masonry nails to fix the shuttering to the drive.. NO WAY I told him. All is usually OK until you want to remove the nail from the concrete. It pulls up a piece of the path with the nail.

I told him that I would fix the bottom pieces by drilling, plugging and using screws. So another little job for me on Saturday I believe.

Pictures below show the edging that I have installed.





Cheers. Trev..

[trevnhil]

Well the weekend is over and it is just about bedtime for me. But just before I go I thought that I would put a picture on. It is a reasonable close up of just one of this weekends jobs.



I have put other pics on the Picasa web album and these will show what we have been busy with.

And I thought retirement would be an easy life. ::)

Regards. Trev..

[Biddy]

This has been the most wonderful project to follow. Your home looks a paradise. Please keep posting pictures.

[trevnhil]

Well thanks for the comments Biddy. I just have so little time in the day, because there are so many jobs to do.
This morning a load of timber and tiles to move behind the fences. Bricks to lay on a wall. Liaise with the Concrete wall men and put a plastic channel back in.

I am on lunchat the moment, but my wife has chairs that need painting now, so I may post more tonight.

Cheers All. Trev..

[trevnhil]

Well I finished for the day just before 6 pm, and I was out before 9 this morning.

The guys that are doing the retaining wall seem to be short of metal. I think that they are returning tomorrow with more metal and that they are going to concrete the foundation and then do the shuttering.
I am joining in with the shuttering because I am fixing the pieces of wood to the driveway. They wanted to use Masonry nails.... But I said NO!! I will screw them in so that all that remains when they finish are a few holes.

Even though it has been a hard day, to be able to see the following view from our lounge, bedroom, kitchen and veranda means a lot to us, and makes the hard work worthwhile.




I have also added a couple of pics to the web album.

Cheers. Trev..

[el tel]

Trevor

Its been a pleasure watching your building project and delighted you are on the home run as regards to the landscaping . I am hoping they will start the new marina soon so that you will be kept busy in the future.

terry

[trevnhil]

Hi Terry.

I have told them to hold the Marina, until I have a little more time.

Trev..

[trevnhil]

Hi Again.

We have had a transport extravaganza today. Car's, vans, wagon, Mixer, and even a Broomstick.





Yet another busy day at Villa Kafkalla, more for other people than ourselves.
Let me explain the photos first.... When 'Dad' who lives with us was in his own bungalow in the UK, he made a weather vane in the shape of a witch on a broomstick. When we moved out here to Cyprus, Dad brought it with him.
Today because there was a little excess concrete and because it had been repainted it was concreted in position. A position by the way that can be seen every morning by Dad when he opens his bedroom curtains.

The volume of vehicles was because just after 7-00am the guys arrived to continue with the retaining wall. They finished off some reinforcing steelwork and the concrete mixer was here before 8-00am. They did ask if the mixer had to stay on the roadway, and of course I said YES

So the guys having brought barrows with them commenced to put the concrete in the foundation trench, barrow load by barrow load. They finished after lunch having completed the steelwork for the wall. So then they were ready for tomorrow.

They are coming then to put up the shuttering and to pour the concrete for the wall later in the day. I have told them about the weather that is forecast for tomorrow.
But, what will be will be. There is nothing we can do about it but see how much it actually rains.

I have added a good number of pictures to the Album this evening.

Cheers. Trev..

[trevnhil]

Well here I am yet again. My posts are getting back to being daily. Maybe that's too much , but so much is going on just at the moment.

A lot of workers turned up before 8-00am this morning, despite the weather forecast. They said that they would do the shuttering for the wall today and they would also be pouring the concrete. This wall by the way is almost 30 mts long and 1 mtr high.

The weather was a bit showery this morning so apart from taking a few pictures I busied myself with a few jobs inside. When lunchtime at 12-00 arrived they said that the concrete was ordered for 1-00pm.
I reminded them that the agreement with the boss was that there was no mixer to go down the driveway. They said not to worry as a pumping machine was coming as well.
Both vehicles duly arrived and then the fun and shouting started. The pump driver wanted to bring his machine down the driveway. But, NO WAY.... It is 3 to 4 inches thick for cars, not for 20 ton wagons.

But of course the wall had to be done and so work commenced with pumping the concrete .... from the roadway. The pump hardly reached to the end of the wall, but they managed.

When the concreting was done the weather became unkind to say the least. The workers asked if I wanted the drive clearing of all the rubbish etc. But I told them just to go, and clear up another day.

I took loads of pictures, and most of them have been uploaded to my Picasa Web album.

Here is one, just as an appetizer......





I know I have said this before..... The pics I have just put on the Web Album, are for us to look back on. There are many that are almost of the same thing.

Just glance at the odd one if you think there are too many


Regards. Trev..

[Macattack]

Not too much at all Trevor. It is fascinating to see things taking shape.

[trevnhil]

Thanks Ian. One thing I didn't mention but I will now. I asked when we were having early discussions with the builder, if we could have a better finish than the house retaining wall. Oh Yes, he said no problem.

I did wonder how they did that and it was explained by one of the workers that they would have to get new boards. If you look at the pictures you can see that all one side of the shuttering is done in new yellow boards.

The top of the wall will not be the best finish possible. but this is a trade off for not having props and tracings fastened to the driveway concrete. They have had to use straps across the top of the boards and therefore cannot trowel the top to a smooth finish.

Cheers. Trev..

[anna]

Can you put rounded or curved tiles on top of the wall to finish it off, maybe the same colour as the roof tiles.

I think you've built a fantastic home and hope you are really enoying all the benefits of your combined hard work.

Many regards,
Anna.

[KEITH]

Been busy myself as of late and not had time to see this thread for a few weeks.
Like some others I have also been watching from day one.

So glad you are now in and living the dream, even though things still to do at least you are there.

What a house, what views, what a garden etc etc
I am sooooooooooo jealous.

So glad for you all.
KEITH

[trevnhil]

Hi Anna. Thanks for the suggestion and all thing are in the melting pot at the moment.

Keith, I am glad that you have managed to 'catch up' We are certainly enjoying being here at last.

The wall has been finished today. A couple of men were here by 7-00am and they have stripped all the shuttering and 'de- nailed' it. They have cut off all the ties that were through the wall and they have put the 'black stuff ' on the side facing the field.

They have cleared up, and swept and hosed the drive, and the job is complete.

I have put some pictures on the Album again, but as I was doing it I thought "good heavens.... it's just a wall "

Just like yesterday, here is an appetizer....



Enjoy the weekend. I think we will.

Trev..

[trevnhil]

Ha ha, you know me so well. This boy is heading up towards 70 !!!!

Hilary has indeed been making the tea this afternoon. But before that she has been mixing soil and putting it into some planters.

I wonder when there will be NO jobs left to do. ??

Cheers. Trev..

PS. Too early to paint the wall (as you know) . Maybe it's worth getting someone in to do it. 30 sq mts is a lorra wall.

Trev..

[geoffm]

Trev.
If you do attempt to paint it yourself make sure it's cold or at least cool(wall that is) if it's warm or hot it will be much harder work and use a lot more paint.
Geoff.

[trevnhil]

Thanks for the Tip Geoff. A late afternoon job then.

Trev..

[geoffm]

Early morning would be better after the wall has cooled down over night.
It took 15 litres more to paint the house next door(exactly the same house) because it was only done in the afternoons.
Geoff.

[trevnhil]

Ah, but our wall is in the sun until after lunchtime. I doubt that I will be doing that much painting anyway. I have told Hilary that it is early days yet. It was only poured on Thursday. My experience is that it should dry to almost white.

I am thinking of adding a cement skirting to it eventually, as the bottom 4" is not brilliant. If I do this I will need some white PVA glue for adhering purposes.

But 'Siga Siga'

Trev..

[trevnhil]

Well it is somewhat of an easier day today. A couple of reasons for this, it has firstly been a shopping day. Food shopping from Paps. Book shopping, coffee and bacon sandwich from Paphiakos.
Then the main shopping..... plants from all over for Mrs N.....

When we got home we unloaded the car, and for the first time we were able to park in the newly created parking places at the back of the bungalow.

I have done a little work since then of clearing debris left in the next field.

I am now watching the football, with a cat on my lap, and a pint within reach.

A couple of pics from today....







Cheers. Trev..

[geoffm]

That wall is a very nice addition certainly finishes off the driveway, looks so much cleaner.
Geoff.

[trevnhil]

Hi Geoff.

Yes it does seem to be a good addition, and it is 'whitening up' nicely now. As long as it serves its main purpose, and that is to stop the land above falling onto our drive in bad weather.

This did happen last year and Hilary and I had to dig it out in the pouring rain, and also do a little bit of home made shuttering.

Here is a before and after shot.....



Cheers. Trev..

[trevnhil]

Well here is my latest escapade, born out of a shortage of money... Ha ha no change there then.

When we had the bungalow built we had fly screens installed at all the windows..... But not the doorways.

Now let me tell you we have a lot of exterior doorways.... Six in total.

During this week we have had a price for an American style door screen, and it made us realise that we could not afford to have all doors done.
We did really want three done but we decided just to have one done professionally. This was the kitchen door onto the rear patio area.

But we still really wanted two others doing. These are the patio door out from the bedroom, and the patio door out from the lounge.

So I decided on the DIY solution. I already had the hinges and the magnetic catches. So I went out and bought some timber, some stain and some fly screen material.

I did one door on Thursday and I will do another one next week.

Although I will put pics on the web album later, here are some to show before, during and after......












Cheers. Trev..

[trevnhil]

Well you know what they say about Pride coming before a Fall, well it certainly does.

I must admit that on Friday evening, I was quite proud of the opening fly screen door, complete with magnetic catches to keep it closed.

However during the early hours of Saturday morning I heard the cat meowing outside the Patio door to come in. When I opened the curtains I saw that the cat had already opened the fly screen door and just needed the patio one opening.

So on Saturday morning it was back to the drawing board again.

I have added a cat flap now to the the fly screen, and also an interior catch so that he cannot open the door. After just one or two lessons (pushes) he now uses the cat flap at any time of day or night.

Here are a couple of pictures of the changes and the culprit!!!






I will do the other fly screen on Monday weather permitting.

PS.. The netting in the cat flap is cut on the bottom edge and the two sides.

Cheers. Trev..

[geoffm]

Good morning Trev.
Nice addition, some thing we could do with to save our moggies clawing the screens and wrecking the mesh, necessity is the mother of invention.
Geoff.

[trevnhil]

Exactly Geoff. That's why I am off to get timber and hinges and handles shortly.

Busy busy. Trev..

[trevnhil]

Well I have done the second fly screen door now. I will not bore you with a picture on the thread but I have put one or two on the web album.

I think I am on fly screen doors mark 4 now. The cat decided that it was better to open the door rather than use the flap. So I put a turn button on the inside. The trouble was that we can't shut the door with that arrangement.

So I have now reverted to the good old fashioned brass barrel bolt. I have had to drill a hole in the UPVC frame for the bolt to go in. The cat can't pull the screen doors open now.

I will add a couple of pictures here..... of the fog that we have had on the last two mornings. But even that looks kind of enchanting.







Cheers. Trev..

[KEITH]

Fantatsic pictures Trev,
I just love the location you have, everything always looks so peaceful and idyllic whatever the conditions.

KEITH

[trevnhil]

Thanks Keith. It's not too good when it's pouring down though. We are on a promise of the lane being concreted up to the bungalow. We certainly hope the promise holds good.

I just walked down the lane past our bungalow and took this shot. Like you say it is nice and peaceful here..





Regards.. Trev.. (on a day off)

[trevnhil]

Good morning to you all.

Well it is almost three weeks since I posted anything on here. I thought it time to bring things up to date a little.

We are still awaiting the 'Professional' fly screen door being fitted and maybe that will be this week.

People are still getting in touch with me about various jobs that we have had done. A couple of weeks ago John and Sally from the Forum came to look at the retaining wall and I believe after seeing the finished job, that they will be using the same firm that we have used. It was a good job for a very fair price.

Another member has contacted me from the UK about the stamped concrete that we have had done, and most of you will have seen some of the pictures.

This member (Adrian) is in Cyprus this week so the company that did our drive and Patio have been to see him today and have no doubt given him a good price.

Adrian asked my advise about the company and the job that they have done for us. I have told him that the job is good and he is coming to have a look in the next couple of days.
We did have one small reservation and that was that some of the 'Varnished' concrete looked a little faded.

However the company have been this morning and have promised that they will re varnish the areas that need re-doing.

I think that is very fair of them and it just goes to show what a good company they are.

It is almost 12 months now since the project was started by clearing the ground. This was done in early July 2010. What a lot has been achieved in 12 months.

If anyone has any questions about the job or the different firms we have used, then do get in touch and I will be glad to give details and recommendations of who we have used.


Regards. From Trev..

[trevnhil]

Hello all.

Today is a special day for us here in Polemi, and I did not want to let it pass without marking it in some way.

It is exactly ONE YEAR today since our building project was started, by clearing the ground for the bungalow.

This morning I took a photograph of the plot as it is now, and I joined it in a collage to a picture taken on the 1st of July 2010.

What a difference a year makes.




I had wondered about ending the thread today. But I will carry on posting the things that we do here. We still have the Central heating boiler to be installed and an outside cupboard around it. But most of the other work will be of a DIY nature.

As of today's date there have been over 20,000 viewings of this thread. I am glad that so many have shown an interest, and have experienced a little of what has happened over the last 12 months.

Cheers Everyone. Trev..n Hil...

[Macattack]

As you say what a transformation, and how satisfying it must be. Keep posting as we are all interested in the progress.

It will also give you a more detailed account for your Scrapbook.

[Anne&Mike]

Hi Trev
Yes what a difference a year makes.
It will be a shame when the thread ends as it has been fantastic to be part off your house build ( but without all the stress ) well done.
All the best to you and Hilary and may you enjoy many years living there.

Anne

[trevnhil]

Anne, thank you for your good wishes. We still have things to learn about the planning system here in Cyprus.

We have asked our architect what needs to be done now, to obtain our completion certificate. I thought we would just have to make an application for someone to come and make a final inspection.

Unfortunately, it is not a simple as that. We have to apply for new planning permission!!

We have not built the property exactly according to the plans.

Naughty Trev.. you may think. But it is not because it is bigger than the planned footprint. Nor is it because we have added one or two features.

It is simply because to get a final certificate it must be built as per plan, and we have omitted some things.

We have no Garage. We have no Boiler house. Nor do we have any chimneys or front porch or Pergola.

So it seems it will be while yet before we can get a final certificate.

Trev..

[trevnhil]

During the last two weeks I have been busy with DIY. Mrs Trev wanted cupboards in the 4th bedroom / office. I bought some flat pack base units and some wall units. I put them together and fixed them to the wall. One of the worst bits was moving a double socket up above the worktop. There was a horizontal stud to get through with the wire.





I then decided to 'box in' the space above the cupboards. So I made a framework with grooves in the top and bottom for sliding doors to run in.







.

Next job.... Another fly screen door from Lidl. ::)

Trev..

[trevnhil]

Well the flyscreen door was a bit of a challenge. You would be OK with it if you like jigsaws.







I built a painted timber frame around the doorway..





And then I made the fly screen door.





I Fixed it to the frame and it is not too bad. It's a little flimsy but it cost about €50 in total. The professional fly screen door cost €240


The finished job.




.

Cheers. Trev..

[Macattack]

Looks pretty good Trev. And it is handy having that bar across the middle to save walking into it after a few G&Ts on the terrace!!

[trevnhil]

A few G&T's.... I'll have you know I am strictly a white wine and beer man. Separately of course.

Now Mrs Trev.... Another matter entirely.


Here's another little project that I am on with.
Instead of the ducting from the Kitchen extractor going along the kitchen wall, it went through our Laundry room instead. It was all boxed in very neatly but I had the idea to extend the boxing with cupboards. Again Mrs Trev.. says you can't have too much storage space. (we have two lofts)

However yesterday I started some cupboards in the Laundry room.







I'll post again when they are finished.

[Macattack]

Looks like you are a dab hand at this DIY stuff.

Tell Mrs T to follow Mrs M's principle - if it needs to go in the loft, we don't need it, so get rid!!!

[trevnhil]

Hi Ian. There is no way I dare go against 'The Boss'

I have just about finished the cupboard now, except for a final coat of paint on the bottom panel










Cheers. Trev..

[Macattack]

Very impressed. If you ever get bored I am sure that there are a lot of people out there who would appreciate your skills.

[trevnhil]

It's very satisfying when thing go alright. But it's annoying when things go wrong, as they do.
But at least when you are doing it as a labour of love then time does not really matter.

I am going to put another ceiling cupboard in the same room. But it will have to wait a while as we have to get ready to repel boarders. No no what I meant to say was we have to get ready for guests.,

Our daughter and granddaughter are coming from the UK for 3 weeks. So we want everything to be in tip top condition. This will be the first visitors to our new home.

We are really looking forward to having our first guests (here) and enjoying some time with Family.

Cheers. Trev..