VIOLET BANK, Hawkshead

Thanks to the mild weather we had in the last few weeks the work on Violet Bank is progressing nicely.

The roof frame on the small barn is now completed.

The original crooked beams are blending well with the new ones made of green oak and with all the timber work complete the construction is ready for slating.

In the pool room, the underpinning has been completed as well as the pool pre structure, but, as you can see, there is still a lot of work ahead.

The garage is starting to look smart thanks to the slate stone facing and two green oak heads above the doors. A two coarse slate tabling has been added above the oak lintels to protect them from the harsh weather. The roof is now felted and ready for slating.

At the back of the house, foundations are going in for the sun room.

The roof on the main building is coming off soon and as the original oak trusses are not savable, they will be replaced with new ones made of green oak.

This little structure next to the barn will become a biomass boiler housing that will also accommodate hot water storage tanks and solar panels.

DAMSON TREE BARN, Little Langdale




















This small but beautiful little barn conversion set in the heart of the lakes (Little Langdale) has stunning mountain views from all aspects.
































Due for completion in early June this one bedroomed barn conversion should prove popular for holiday lets and is already attracting bookings.


Although a relatively small conversion, building works have been extensive regarding the structure.
















The floor levels have been reduced considerably allowing for under floor drainage and under floor heating and as with most conversions these days, excavations come very close to or below the barn foundations, therefore underpinning is necessary.

















The under floor heating screed was laid yesterday and now frees up internal works by way of first fix electrics and plumbing.


















Whist this work continues external works can be completed (weather permitting) including guttering, external drainage and perimeter walls.

The roof was completed late December 09 and great care has been taken to match local materials by way of reclaimed green slate and the original sand stone ridge.


Detail on the roof has also allowed access for wildlife by way of gaps in the ridge line and lead slate openings.


Metal conservation roof lights have also been fitted giving a traditional look but uses a modern approach to double glazing in roof windows.

















Progress and more pictures of Damson barn can be followed on a later blog.


















Progress and pictures of Violet Bank can be viewed on our next blog in 2 weeks time.

Thanks for viewing. And a Big Thank you to all our customers for the past and ongoing work. It is very much appreciated. Thank you.

See you soon.


Stephen Grindrod

Ravensbarrow Lodge

Ravensbarrow Lodge, Cartmel Fell

Ravensbarrow Lodge has now reached the plastering stage. With the under floor heating to the main house laid down and screeded over just before the Christmas period, this freed up all the ground floor areas excluding the kitchen for plastering.

The two open fires are now complete and await the timber fire surrounds on completion of the plastering.

The kitchen underfloor heating is now being laid down and ready for the screed.

At this stage it is quite critical to get the well frame and glass just at the right height to finish flush with the green slate perimeter ring (supplied by Kirkstone quarries) and onto the hardwood floor.
This will be obtained via 12mm threaded bar resined into the concrete sub floor then adjusted to the critical height via the bar and fixed.
The stonework can then be made up to the underside of the glass and finally the floor slab screened over.

The garage roof is also finished and we are eagerly awaiting the removal of scaffolding to reveal the fruits of our labour.

The recent mild spell has also allowed us to make a good start on the cast iron guttering. Our customer has gone for a pre finished gutter and down pipe in black and I think it is a good choice as once the rainwater pipes are fitted its very difficult if not impossible to get a full covering of paint to the iron work and I have to say it is a very nice crisp finish.

Our work internally is now coming to a close, but springtime should see us concentrating on the external finishing.

Hello again after Christmas and the New Year. I hope every one had a lovely break.

We got straight back to it in the New Year and things are really happening at Violet Bank.

Just before our Christmas break we did manage to get the garage felted over and so things started to dry up a little whist we were away.

The pool excavation work is now complete and we took our first concrete pour last Wednesday.

The remainder of the steel work was then set up with the concrete shutter formers now in place and ready for the next pour of concrete on Thursday.

The main barn roof with the lovely Crooked beams has been stripped of all its slate and ready for the new spars.

The main of the timbers are oak with the odd piece of soft wood thrown in. I expect put in on an earlier reroof.

All the oak timbers will remain baring a small number of pieces beyond saving. But will be replaced like for like in local green oak from Graythwaite Estates.

Whist we wait on the beams masonry to the rebuilt structures can be carefully put back ready to take the roof.

In next Blogspot we should be able to show you the small barn conversion at Little Langdale and progress on Cartmel Fell as both are at the plastering stages and looking very nice.

Stay safe

Bye for now.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to every one.

Violet bank

Violet bank is shaping up nicely. We struggled with the weather for a lot of the time as most of the works are outside at the moment. Even so we got a small slot in the weather and finally managed to pour the concrete to the garage floor (we waited nearly 3 weeks in total).

Once that was complete it freed up work on the main garage walls.

To take the first floor beams and gables for the roof structure which are going up this week.

The aim is to get all the steel work up for the roof, timbers on and felted in for the Christmas period (weather permitting).

The first job in the New Year will be to start the excavation works for the pool within the old barn structure.

So as you can see we have plenty to look forward to in the coming year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers past and present and wish a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year to every one.

And thank you for all your support this year.