First on the list was to enlarge the opening for the stairs. Raising the height of the ground floor meant that we might later struggle to fit a staircase that conforms to building regs, so we had no option but to create some extra space. After checking with the timber frame company that the modifications would be structurally sound, the existing joist hangers were cut away using an angle grinder and the timbers that supported the plywood floor were refitted in a new position. Once these supports were in place, it was relatively straightforward to cut back the plywood floor.
Spot the difference - before:
After:
The supports underneath were not easy to remove as they had been tied into the metal web joists when the timber frame was first assembled.
Before:
After:
Next up was installing the toilet frames. These come complete with a slimline cistern that will be concealed within the wall and allow us to fit a wall-hanging toilet. These frames need to be secured very firmly in place in order to carry a person's weight so the carpentry had to be sturdily built.
Measuring up for the downstairs WC.
Normally the toilet frame would be screwed to the floor, but with so much heat pump pipework and cabling running directly underneath, we needed to come up with an alternative solution. Captive studs installed into a thick piece of ply seemed to do the trick.
Additional timber supports were screwed to the wall studs and the frame was fixed securely in place.
The en-suite toilet was a little bit easier to install.
Strong piece of timber bolted to the wall studs.
Upstairs we were able to bolt the frame through the plywood floor and into the strong metal web joists.
The main bathroom toilet required a lot more carpentry as it was being built into an internal stud wall rather than an outside wall.
A lot of the existing studwork was cut away and replaced with a rigid frame built around a strong triple stud that would hold the toilet firmly in place. As you can see, we raided the pile of wood offcuts for supplies here!
The toilet frame bolted in place.
The back of the toilet sits in a snug space within the landing cupboard. Getting very busy in there...
Our biggest 1st fix carpentry job was creating a loft floor, however before we could get started on that we needed to install a loft hatch and ladder. This one came as a kit from a manufacturer in Poland and looked a good deal better than the ones at our local suppliers.
We needed to allow for plenty of headroom on entering the attic so decided that the best place to have our loft ladder was about midway along our landing corridor.
Strapping the ladder to some large lengths of timber allowed us to test it out and fine-tune its position.
Once we were happy with its position, timber trimmers (more offcuts from the pile) were fixed between the joists and the hatch could then be screwed into place.
It's important to get the frame lined up accurately otherwise the hatch might not open and close properly. After that, all that was needed was to cut the ladder to the appropriate length.
Once the loft hatch and ladder was installed we could get cracking on the loft floor.
We had a stack of 22mm thick OSB sheets left over from the timber frame construction which would be perfect to use for the flooring, though getting these large, heavy sheets up into the loft was bloody hard work. Once we'd squeezed several sheets up onto the attic trusses, we were able to slide them around and use them as working platforms. Not exactly health and safety approved but it worked well (as long as you remembered not to step on any overhanging edges...)
Although we'd specified attic trusses to be installed, these still needed a lot of woodwork before they were ready to hold a floor safely as every sheet needed to be supported at all its edges. After carefully planning how the sheets would be laid, I started fitting noggins and supports where needed.
Although we saved a lot of money by recycling leftover materials and doing the work ourselves, the absence of any tradesmen also meant that we had to hire or buy any tools that we needed. This new plunge saw was bought primarily to do the boarding out later on but proved very useful for the loft flooring too. Its first task was to trim down a large piece of recycled timber to use as a structural support.
No support:
Yes support:
Me installing noggins. Lots of noggins.
And more noggins.
The site manager turned up to inspect progress.
He had a good look...
... before explaining how it should be done.
What's all that on the other side of the room? Oh yes, more noggins.
Once all the supports were in, we could trim and fit the OSB sheets in situ using the plunge saw.
All boards in place.
Once the floor was down, we could get a better idea of the size of the loft room.
None of the boards were screwed down as we still need to insulate beneath them, however that can't be done until the first floor ceilings are in place.
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