A very late, and probably very short write-up for this week. Internet issues have made uploading images rather tricky, and most of the week’s work has focused on the Megashed.
Things not covered in this weeks write-up;
- A trip out to Delamere forest
- Failure mode investigation on an Ambulance
- Apple tree pruning course
Husbandry
There hasn’t been too much to report on the pig front. They’re certainly getting bigger, and I’m not sure I can call them piglets anymore. I also have a ‘least favourite’ who will likely be off for their blanket first.
Feline
Like the pigs, the kittens are rather too large to continue with the rather cuter name, so I’d better start referring to them as ‘the cats’. Clyde is slowly starting to get sufficient confidence that he’s less likely to bolt if he meets a person while outside.
And Bonnie has her first confirmed kill. Okay, not the biggest kill by any means, but she did bring it back to the house to share her success. Since this vole, the cats have brought a daily worm for the door mat. I’d rather they found the mouse that has been stealing pig food, but I’m sure that will come!
MegaShed
The MegaShed has nearly killed me this weekend. After the positive start to boarding out for plastering, I started looking for someone to throw mud on the walls. Pretty quickly I found a recomended plasterer with almost immediate availabilty. Que total panick boarding!
Walling Off
Focus was first pointed in the direction of the walls, for the simple reason that they where lower than the ceiling!
The gable walls got their pointly bits
The last of the insulation went into the front wall.
Before the boarding was added to finish the front wall.
Insulating the Ceiling
Saturday mornings’ focus shifted to getting the ceiling insulated.
Noggins went in first, at a board’s width to give me something to land the plasterboard sheets onto. Hopefully, this will help get a nice flat finish!
Insultation then went into the lower portion, and the vapour barrier wrapped over.
Using FarmSpec scaffolding, the lower boards were lifted into place and screwed to the rafters and noggins. Quite how I managed this on my own, I have no idea.
The front portion of the ceiling needed a whole sheet of barrier, so it was easier to do all the insulation and wrapping in one go. A 100mm wide PVC jointing tape joins the vapour barrier from the wall to the ceiling.
One at a time, the lower ceiling boards could be lifted up and fixed in place. After any holes in the vapour barrier are sealed up, of course.
A little help over hear.
Sunday afternoon saw a knight in shining armour arrive to get the higher ceiling panels in place. There was absolutley no way to get these in on my own, so it was a definite requirement to have another pair of hands.
A little trimming of the apex boarding allowed the ceiling panels to be slotted over the wall panels. This small gesture made getting the boards in so much easier.
Once the four main board where lifted into place, smaller and more manageable pieces could be cut.
Some of the remaining shapes were certainly more tricky than others. And amazingly, this panel dropped straight in without modifying, unlike the other side.
And while the ceiling was not intended to be curved, it kind of happened anyway. By late sunday night, the boards where all installed, but there was one thing left to do.
Window Openings
So that the windows could be edged, the previously measured window openings need to be removed.
This would be something of a moment of truth for my measuring skills. Perhaps not surprisingly, punching the scored plasterboard through was very satisfying.
So satisfying that my assistant reappeared for a smashing time. And amazingly, the marked openings matched the frame work.
Ready for Mud
After a tidy up and brush over from the beautiful assistant, the Megashed was ready for plastering.
This is by far the biggest area I have ever boarded over, and the most complicated once it got to the ceiling. And while getting this whole room boarded on my own, with a little help, nearly broke me, the finish is very satisfying!
Lessons have definitely been learned, but hopefully this effort will get me into the MegaShed for Christmas.
Until next time
Nothing to farm