Oxford Construction site progress week 1 Feb 2023

This week our team have been continuing with the EnerPHit terrace house refurbishment at Stockmore Street in Oxford. All of the first fix plumbing and electrical works are now completed, first fix joinery work is done, and we are progressing on to finishing works. Unusually this is taking place ahead of the client supplied item of external windows and doors. This is throwing up a few challenges and will mean a return visit in due course to carry out finishing works to the reveals. Our project management team doing a fantastic job keeping progress on site despite these client supplied item delays.

The plasterboard has now been fixed to the timber wall sub structure in the house. This is fixed directly to the battens to ensure the airtightness of the membrane isn’t compromised. Similarly, the ceilings are counter battened to provide a dedicated airtight fixing. The first floor is now also nearly completely plaster skimmed. The spec for this is a thistle multi finish skim which is applied in two passes as per the manufacturer’s guidance. Plasterers site lights are being used given the property remains timber boarded to all window and door openings so there is no natural light accessing the property. This means the team are also having to assess the temperature in the site to ensure it remains suitable for skim to be applied to avoid any potential cracking.

The bathroom installation work has begun and are now ready for waterproof tanking in the wet room shower area ahead of the tile installation to the floor and walls ready for the client supplied bathroom suite to be fitted.

Client supplied items always pose an extra challenge with responsibility, which is why all client supplied items go through a thorough delivery inspection to ensure any external damage is reported before handed to our team for clarity of responsibility.

The team have navigated a few challenges with the MVHR system. There was a design issue where the system had been specified to have its external interfacing ducts to pass through the party wall between the two terrace properties. This has had to go back through a design revision and now the installers are due back on site to remedy the install with he ducts correctly passing through the roof space.

Other M+E items are progressing with the Air Source Heat Pump is ordered and due on site next week. We are not looking forward to getting that pump up onto the roof where some careful material handing planning will be required, including the option to use a scaffold winch.

Due to budget, the client is taking on decorating. To attempt to allow the client to progress quickly, we will grant them access to our site to carry out the wall mist coating ahead of laying the pine flooring which we hope will minimise protection of the flooring.

Looking ahead we have second fix plumbing, second fix electrics, second fix joinery and some minor landscaping works before pulling off site ahead of a return visit post window installation. Following mist coating.

The house next door is our focus this week coming. Our electrician has been finishing off his first fix electrical installation. We are awaiting the bathroom suite (client supplied due to budget) so we can complete our plumbing first fix works before plaster boarding the rooms. Once all our first fix plumbing has been completed, we can start plaster boarding the rooms. There are no membranes at this property, so the level of care required to ensure airtight membranes aren’t compromised is reduced. That said, our tacking team take huge pride in their work ensuring the boarding work is carried out well minimising plaster skimming prep work for the trades who follow. A team-based approach which we carry through the business.

We are awaiting the automatic bespoke Velux Vario windows so we can install them before we GRP the last roof. These have been very long lead in items but finally there are nearly due for delivery.

Just outside of Oxford our other team has been busy braving the cold weather carrying out some minor landscaping works at a property we finished in the Autumn. The weather has been far too wet and cold up until now to carry out this work. Thankfully last week 20 tonnes of soil was removed ready for paving at the rear and side of the property with MOT type 1 now placed, flattened and compacted ready for edging stones to be installed to the perimeter of the driveway.

If the temperature remains above freezing, then we will hopefully be laying the natural stone paving ahead of a full external site clean and project completion client snag review.