Man cave: Day 366 - finally done

Exactly a year ago I posted that my garage conversion was finally starting.

Today I finally received the completion notice from the council.

The huge delay was caused by the fact that the project as a whole, for which I contracted BW Reed & Son Ltd, did not, as a whole, meet building regulations.

There were several issue which meant that the builder had to do a lot of work to prove the unconventional way he did the insulation did meet some of the regulations, and that took time.

But the final issue was ventilation - fresh air. To fix meant either a big fan, or windows that opened. The fact I have an outside door, which I can always open to get fresh air, and in internal door leading to a utility room with windows that open, and hence I could leave open to get fresh air, apparently do not count!

The solution I went for in the end was windows that can open. I am unlikely to actually open them, as I have air-con, and it would, most of the year, defeat the point. But they can be opened, and that means we do now have the final building inspection sign off.

Next step would be to work out who to blame?

• The builders, BW Reed & Son Ltd, were engaged to do the garage conversion, and in that to meet building regulations. They arranged (and I paid for separately) a number of contractors to do things like electrical work, windows, flooring, decorating, etc.
• The electrician put in power sockets, network sockets, and so on. The builder thinks it is his fault as he should have quoted for and insisted on a suitable fan.
• The glazier is aware of some building regulations (such as secondary exit from bedrooms), and the council say that a glazier should be aware of regulations as they have to comply when simply changing windows. The glazier was not aware of the fresh air requirement.

I've asked the glazier if he thinks he should have know building regulations. I may ask some other glaziers. Changing the window cost £585, actually the same as the original window installation. So this is a straight extra cost for the mistake that somebody made. I may even try asking the CAB.

BW Reed & Son Ltd (Builders)

Some 10 months after my garage conversion was supposedly completed, at substantially more than the quoted price, I still do not have building control sign off.

There was a problem over the way the membranes in the walls was done, but the builder convinced building control of that, leaving an issue with "fresh air" requirement "which is a consideration of Part F of the Building Regulations with a view to protecting your long term health".

Basically, at this stage, we need an extractor fan installing to meet the building regulations.

Personally, for fresh air, I am happy to open the internal door to utility room which has a window, if I need it. I can't see how that is different to opening a window in the room. But it seems that is not good enough!

Paul did arrange several other contractors, quoted/paid separately, but arranged by Paul for electrical, windows, flooring, decorating, etc. But Paul is the main contractor I engaged to do this. My recollection is that he said he would ensure it meets building regulations - I would not have hired him otherwise.

The work was done on a building notice without formal plans, which is fine. And Paul said it would be fine. Though now he is blaming lack of plans for the fact there is the "fresh air" issue. As it happens I did a 3D model for him at all at the start (with no fan) so he knew what was planned.

The window contractor asked if I wanted opening windows or not. I said no (as I never open them normally) and he explained the window has a vent at the top anyway. He seemed more concerned over windows as a means of escape, but as the small room has two separate doors then that was not an issue.

At no point did anyone say we needed air circulation, but 10 months down the line after it is all done, apparently we do.

What is surprising is that Paul is passing the buck - claiming it is not his responsibility. He is blaming the electrician, but I suspect the electrician could blame the window contractor just as easily. Only someone co-ordinating the whole thing could really have sorted this, and that is Paul.

At the end of the day, the electrician was not "doing a garage conversion", and neither was the window contractor. It is Paul that was "doing a garage conversion". So I am surprised at Paul not taking responsibility as the prime contractor, and passing the buck, but that is the way it is.

So, I am paying yet more money for a fan to be installed so we finally get this signed off. No, I am unlikely to ever turn the fan on as it will be noisy. A box-ticking exercise for the council and a waste of money.

So, beware engaging a builder that claims to ensure the work meets building regulations.

Man cave - the final countdown

I am sure you all thought the story was over. It is not, yet!

One of the things the builder is responsible for is ensuring the work is up to the required building code. The council, who we paid to inspect the work, advised the builder during the process, and they have the job of finally inspecting and signing off the work. This is important if we ever want to sell the house in the future.

Things did not quite go to plan. The builder did not quite follow what he was told, and put the membranes in the walls in the wrong place, apparently. So the building inspector was not convinced it met requirements regarding condensation. It is important to avoid mould and the like in the future.

However, the builder was not convinced that what he had done was not sufficient and paid to have someone do "calculations" on dew points and stuff to prove his case.

This is just as well, as the alternative was that all three external walls would have had to be re-done, and then all the interior wood work and decorating re-done. Pretty much starting from scratch, and at the builders expense, but at my significant inconvenience.

So, the result, well, this is where things just drag on and on, and eventually we were told that there needs to be "mechanical extraction". I.e. a fan to cycle the air.

This strikes me as a problem for several reasons:-

• An extractor fan is typically quite noisy, so why would I, as the home owner and user of the room turn it on, ever? It does nothing immediately to help me. Unlike a toilet fan that can be linked to the lights, it would need to have a switch. If I don't turn it on, there was no point installing it.
• If the fan is cycling air from outside, it will defeat any heating or cooling I have in the room. The suggestion is 4 air changes per hour! I may as well be sat outside. And if I can make heating/cooling work with that it will cost a lot, as I'll be heating the street!
• I already have a proper split air conditioning unit which will surely do the job of reducing humidity
• The room has small vents above the windows anyway

So I explained these issues and we are now told the the requirement is for "mechanical extraction or AC unit".

Yay! We have the answer - I sent pictures of the AC unit (inside, and outside) and the hydro-thermometer showing the nice low humidity.

Then I have the strangest email :-

It appears the mechanical extract may not be required as your photo demonstrates your existing ac unit to be mounted externally. Should the unit provide a minimum of 4 air changes per hour from external air then this would rectify the ventilation requirement. Should it do so please can you provide evidence of this e.g. technical specification/manual that stipulates this.

Sorry, but what? Since when does an AC unit cycle the air in the room with external air? That is not how they work and would not be at all efficient. What the hell is this guy on?

I have explained it again.

I suspect the builder is going to have to put in a fan, one that will never ever be used by anyone, just to get a box ticked.

P.S. I am told it is possible to have mechanical extraction with heat exchanger, but still, would I turn it on if noisy, and would the AC not do the job anyway?

P.P.S. They are finally talking to me (after months) and are now saying this is not just a condensation issue but one of air circulation for a healthy living environment - so the builder will have to put in a fan, with heat exchanger, anyway! Why they did not say that in the first place I do not know!

Wood stain saga

What we have here is "Dark Oak Worktop Nick and Cut Colour Treatment"

Over a year ago we had a kitchen fitted that we ordered from Wickes. The worktops are solid oak, and a very nice dark oak colour. I liked the overall effect and so decided to go with the same for my man cave. Fortunately the kitchen fitter left a box of this "nick and cut treatment" and oil for treating the wood. There were five pots of this, and it worked to stain the worktops and doors in the man cave rather nicely.

Now, it is slightly confusing, this is the "Nick and cut" treatment, but it is the same as the main wood stain used. It covers very well, so a small pot of this goes a long way. It is a tad tedious as it is 72 hours for the stain to cure, and then two coats of the oil on top, but the result is really very very good, and looks nice too. The kitchen worktops still look great a year later!

Unfortunately the wood stain did not quite go far enough in the man cave, largely because of the changes to the shelves. So, simple matter of getting some more. But it was far from simple. The only instance I could find on-line was someone ebaying some pots lefts after his own kitchen installation (auction over). I imagine there are thousands of bottles of this stuff under kitchen sinks, but you cannot buy it anywhere.

So I got the decorator on the case... Here is rough idea of the saga that actually went on for weeks.

• Ask Wickes, and told it was the installer that sorts that
• Contacted original installer, and told he was given it by Wickes
• Talk to Wickes again and told it comes from worktop manufacturer
• Eventually get details and contact worktop manufacturer, who were not keen to talk to us
• Get samples of other wood staines - not even close
• Get even more samples of other wood staines - closer, but not good enough match
• After some effort get answers from worktop supplier -  told they stopped supplying Wickes three years ago
• Back to Wickes who think it is a different work top supplier now
• Contact them, and they have details of the stuff and say should be able to buy from Wickes, they cannot supply direct
• Wickes eventually find product code for this, £18 a pot, and have to order from their warehouse, but system comes up as over £500 (whole worktop pricing).
• Eventually confirm with warehouse it is product code database issue, and needs the data cleaning
• This takes ages, and involves someone being on holiday, but when back finally, able to order at right price
• £15 delivery charge on an £18 pot, which is crazy as just a small parcel force delivery, but eventually arrives
• Worktop supplier not impressed with the run-around we are getting from Wickes but cannot supply us direct.

So, finally, we have it and can finish the wood stain in the man cave.

Well done Steve (decorator) chasing this over and over again, spending hours in Wickes and on phone calls.

What is good though is this really is rather good wood stain - the various samples of different makes and colours we tried while sorting this are nowhere near as nice. Well worth the wait.

Man cave: Nearly

The good news is that we are nearly done - this week has been a lot of decorating. Few minor bits to do next week when some more wood stain comes in. Steve (the decorator) does a nice job.

So far the main snag is that the shelves over the bar cannot handle the weight, and the brackets actually started to bend. The solution is going to be some wood at the end to ensure it is more rigid and screwed to the wall. There was nearly a very messy whisky related incident as the shelf started to droop, but I was quick enough.

Not finished yet is the sink and taps plumbing in, and the boxing in of the meters, and the sofa arriving.  I have blinds to put up as well. Hopefully sink today, but the rest in just over a week. I'll do a blog post when all finished anyway, with more pictures, and a list of all the workmen involved and contact details.

For now, the room is in use (and that does mean James invaded yesterday to watch a LoL world championship, or something, on the big TV with half a dozen of his mates).

So my blog should return to normal a bit now.

Man cave: Day 24

I'll stop doing the daily posts on this now. We are in to some final bits and decorator coming in and so on - and I may as well do a post with loads of pictures when finally all done.

Today was some little bits like the hole for old boiler flue in the back wall, fitting hinge bolts, that sort of thing. A couple of bits more still to do, including the sink. Sadly the decorator is not well today.

Some furniture has started to arrive, not the TV yet though. Sadly I think we are looking near end of week for decoration to all be finished. Not sure when the man is coming to box in the meters but might be this week.

Thank you all for following.

Outward opening external door

To continue the fun I thought I would explain some of my logic for an outward opening external door.

First off, I found a great discussion thread on the topic here. The best comment was clearly "Creates a clear threshold that magical creatures cannot cross without being invited".

The other one was how it was easier for emergency services to break down the door (and for police, HMRC, etc, too) if it is inward opening.

It seems to be the case that in the UK, and apparently the US, external doors normally open inwards. Some other countries (Sweden was mentioned) do not follow this rule.

I used to have a house that opened right on to the street, and for that an outward opening door (especially with no window) would have been, err, fun. But here I am opening on to our drive.

My reasoning is simple, and applies to both internal and external doors - I want to maximise the space I have been graciously given by my wife for my "man cave", and outward opening doors help with that. The internal door uses the same space as a cupboard in the utility room, so a no brainer - not taking away any extra space doing that. The external door is more interesting.

I can see two obvious downsides to this, and ways to address them:-

One is quite important - the hinges are exposed and someone could break them, cut them off, pop the pins out, or some such. Obviously this would trip the alarm, but a smash and grab could get stuff. The answer is, however, very simple - hinge bolts. They stop the hinge side being forced like that. Only issue is why they are labelled "Window Hinge Bolts"???

The only other real concern (and magical creatures are not an issue, AFAIK), is catching in the wind. I am not sure I need to worry - it will simply be a matter of being careful, but I plan to try installing a concealed door closer in the top of the door limiting it to 110° and closing the door nicely. I may try this on internal door first to see how well it works.

Sandra has a concern if she was to park too close on the drive, but to be honest, I do not see the size of a door being an issue, even if a 3ft wide one.

Floating shelves

Having spent a month on this project, I felt it is worth writing a few articles on some of the things I have learned.

This one is on floating shelves.

The first thing - someone asked on my blog comments "Why floating shelves?". Well, FFS, they look better. Same reason you have frickin lasers on the sharks, obviously.

My decision on the worktop and shelves was mainly based on how well the kitchen worktop had come out being solid block oak 44mm thick worktop, stained and oiled. This was my "theme" for the whole project after that. It is a somewhat timeless style (wood never goes out of fashion).

Sadly this is not a cheap choice, it is several hundred pounds per worktop (3m x 616mm x 44mm). I have some shelves 308mm deep over the bar and some 200mm deep for bookshelves. In total I used 5½ worktops!

The worktop has used some serious worktop brackets. A floating worktop would have been near impossible - maybe if short and with ends fixed to something, but this is 4.75m long. Even so, these brackets, which are rated at something like 400kg, and height adjustable, are pretty good.

However, the shelves will look nice "floating" with no visible brackets. The way this normally works is with fixings like these :-

They screw to the wall, and you make a hole and route out the back of the shelf to hide the bracket within them. The rod can be screwed in against the back plate to lever it up a bit so as to make the shelf level.

The big concern I have is the leverage on these. As you can see, it is down to the screw and the back which is as little as 5mm height on to plasterboard. The rating is apparently 25kg, but even that I find hard to believe.

So, what I did was have them dig out the plasterboard and fix vertically directly to the stud work which is fixed to the wall. This means at least 55m of leverage screw to screw, and not on plasterboard but something more solid. The hole in the plasterboard needed to be filled. To level it I had to put a washer behind the bottom screw, but that was easy enough/

However, the result is a shelf that is 308m deep, 4.75m long, and 44m thick and from which I can hang with my weight! We did use nine of these fixings though, just to be sure.

The other shelves were more of a challenge - not because of this way of doing things, but because of breeze block. It is a building material which loses a fight with a small butter knife. It is horrid. They had to put strips of wood up the whole height of the shelves using 6" screws right through the breeze block, and resin to fix it in, and then do the same trick with the floating shelf brackets screwed to that. The end result works, but even though much smaller shelves they are not quite as sturdy. However, they are good, and will hold up books and bottles of whisky.

Update: Whilst the long shelve is really rock solid, the one over the bar is not so much, and nearly resulted in a whisky related accident. Updating to have a support at the end.

Man cave: Day 23

Yes, well over a month now, and still not quite finished. I think we have a day of carpenter/builder work and the rest is decorator during the week.

The decorator is being very helpful and finishing one side of the room with the work benches first so I can move some stuff in while he sorts the other end. We have the work bench all stained and oiled now, and the ceiling is all painted - so I just need that wall painted.

The outside door has stain and varnish now, so protected.

The internal door frame has warped a tad and they are sorting that, but I do have skirting board and architrave now, and even a window sill.

I have some stuff being delivered on Monday, but now the ceiling is done the decorator is happy with stuff under a dust sheet in middle of room! I need to get some bar stools and some blinds for the window.

Note to self (well, to Paul/Callum):

• Fill bricks where boiler flue and aircon were located in back wall
• Fill hole outside external door which was dug to check foundations
• Fix internal door frame so door closes properly
• Fit door stop around internal door
• Fit door step to utility room
• Fit skirting/architrave on utility room side of internal door
• Install concealed door closer in external door
• Install hinge bolts on both doors
• Patch plasterboard on bottom shelf
• Screw down work bench to brackets
• Fit power strips under work bench (I can probably do that)
• Fit sink and (correct) tap
• Box in meters (checking rules on gas pipe ventilation)

Man cave: Day 22

The carpenter was somewhat sidetracked on another job most of today, but managed to do the trim around the outside door, and around the loft hatch.

The decorator (Steve) however has made a lot of progress, oiling the worktops, staining the internal door, and filling more holes.

I expect one or two more days of work internally with the carpenter, and the rest is all decorator now.

I was slightly worried about the door yesterday. We nearly took the frame out when the wind caught it. Now that it is finished, it opens wide and hits the drain pipe before the door hits the brickwork at the hinge, so "safe" in that respect.

However, I have ordered in a concealed door closer that fits in the top of the door and the frame. That will stop it opening too far, and close it automatically. The spec is for 80kg, and the door is only 50kg, so should work.

I was also concerned that the lock sounded like it was straining, but it seems to be working well. It is a high torque motorised lever bolt that comes down in to a "V" receiver which pulls the door cleanly on to the weather seal. You can see the door pull in to place as it closes! It is actually working really well.

From a security point of view, as someone else pointed out, the hinges could be popped and allow the door to be opened from the wrong side. I have a pair of good quality hinge bolts coming tomorrow to solve that one. The door has a sensor, and the lock bolt has a sensor, either of which will cause an alarm if someone tries to force it. I may go for Kensington locks on kit in the room as well just to be extra secure.

I do think it looks nice though.

Man cave: Day 21

Well, what can I say - doors and windows and air-con...

Installing the frame and door took most of the day, but the decorator stayed late and managed to stain the door, the frame, the bar and the shelves. The air-con was installed, and in a slightly more sensible place.

So at least another day of carpenters, maybe two with the boxing in of the meters, but apart from that it is all decorator...

One snag is stopping the door catching the wind and swinging open against the brickwork, so I am looking at a concealed door closer for that.

It does mean I have sort of moved in - computer on a bit of card on the work bench which still needs oiling - but the end if really in sight now.

Man cave: Day 20

Some real progress today!

We have the shelves over the bar and the book shelves done now. They needed taking out plasterboard and fitting wood to the breeze block with glue in the 6 inch screws then the floating shelves fitted to the wood. We have a bit of work tomorrow to put plasterboard over the gaps and the final last book shelf at near floor level that boxes in the gas pipe. Tomorrow will also be skirting board and stuff.

We have windows! Yes, having not done so for some decades, I finally had windows installed!

But other fun things, we have air-con going back in tomorrow rather than Friday, TV and TV table and coffee table coming Monday, and even the sofa has moved forward and comes in a couple of weeks. The really good news is that the external door also goes in tomorrow.

Getting excited now...

Man cave: Day 19

Progress, albeit a bit slow. No outside window or door yet, but I am assured I will have a window tomorrow. The door should be "some time this week". But we do have the bar. Sadly I had to go to work for a meeting, and leave them to it for first time in a month, and what happens? Mase cuts the wrong hole for the sink, so it is drop in rather than under the work top. Close enough, but frustrating.

The challenge is the floating shelves on a breeze block wall. We knew it would he a challenge but they have tried several things including 6 inch screws (i.e. to other side of breeze block), and still there is enough leverage on the shelf to pull them out. Tomorrow they will be getting more creative with batons on the wall and resin with the screws.

Callum has said I will have shelves tomorrow one way or another, definitely! That will leave small items like skirting board and stuff, as well as boxing in meters, and, of course, the door and window. But still seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

I am pretty happy with the bar - it is not long, but laying it out on the floor it was clear that it was going to take too much space with a sofa in the room, but it is a bar, and has a fridge, and a sink, and will have optics.

Man cave: Day 18

Today we had Mase (carpenter) and he managed to finish the shelf and work bench, including cable holes, as well as make the "step" I have put at the back on the floor for PCs to stand on.

We also managed to convince Steve (decorator) to stay late and stain the bench, shelf, and step, as the stain is meant to wait 72 hours before oiling, and so sensible to do before the weekend.

Still at least a day of carpenters, maybe two, and lots of decorating next week including filling holes, oiling benches and shelves, and painting.

Still hopeful for a window on Monday, and a door before end of next week. My personal deadline for this is next Friday, when the air-con is re-installed, and by which time all woodwork will be done and hopefully most of the decorating is finished. We will see.

Man cave: Day 17

Today we had carpenters (Mase and Callum) working on the bench and shelves and so on.

I designed this all with a 3D model and had taped it all out on the bare walls before painting, so had a very clear idea where everything was going.

One wall is work bench, 4.75m long, 616mm deep, 40mm thick, solid oak. We got some serious worktop brackets that are meant to hold 400kg per pair.

Above the bench is a floating shelf 4.75m long, 308mm deep, 40mm thick, solid oak. This was more of a challenge. There are some nice floating shelf brackets which are designed to fit within the shelf and be invisible, the fixing is two screws (left and right) of a rod that goes in to the shelf. It is hard to see how there is any leverage to hold a shelf at all like that. The spec is about 25kg which is not a lot. However, because the back of the fixing is less than the thickness of plaster board we were able to fit these vertically, fixed direct to the stud work, which actually provides some leverage to hold a shelf and will make it massively stronger. We then used 9 of these to hold up the shelf. The end result is a shelf that I can hang from! The decorator needs to fill in a few bits of plasterboard.

It was quite fun with the laser level - using a washer to adjust the level, it was possible to get shelf very level indeed. I was quite surprised - you can see from this shot that the laser is visible on the front edge of the shelf and the back on the wall, so the shelf is level to the thickness of the laser!

Even so, with a heavy box the front edge does drop a millimetre or two, which is not surprising.

So, I want to get the decorator working on staining and oiling the worktop as soon as possible, as the process takes several days - so the sooner we start the sooner I can actually start using it.

Tomorrow should make progress on the bar and sink, and maybe some of the other shelves. Hopefully by Monday we can have the fiddly bits of skirting board and door stop and so on sorted. Still need lots of decorating work and external window and door. But next week should be a lot less happening until air-con installed on the Friday. I can really see the end of the tunnel now.

I did have some fun yesterday though - I have been watching a lot of NCIS, and so I cut some letters to go on the wall :-)

Man cave: Day 16

Carpenters were in today - with the internal door, the loft hatch, and delivery of work benches. We have the unit for the sink ready to be installed. I properly installed the PIRs on the walls (damn fiddly things). We ordered the heavy duty work bench brackets, and the fixings for floating shelves. And, we have the most high tech (alarmed) temporary door you have ever seen :-)

Day 17 may be Thursday as nothing is happening tomorrow. I may have to actually go in to work!

The good news is that they reckon the work benches and shelves should be sorted by the end of the week, which means the decorator can start staining and oiling stuff.

The window is due Monday, and the external door should be soon after. There is some chance this will all be done by end of month, or at least by end of next week. I do hope so.

Of course, the sofa is not expected until November, but I am sure we will be able to cope.

Oh, and my door handles finally came in - tudor style door handles on (what will be) stained and varnished oak doors with electronic locks - obviously :-)

Man cave: Day 15

Ceiling painted, that is all...

Though I did some work over the weekend - getting some 1K resistors from Maplin's so I could wire up the tamper circuits and lock bolt sensors in to the Galaxy alarm panel. I also installed the PIRs (they have built in resistors). I also wired up the second (external) door lock ready for when the door is installed, and set up in "fail secure" mode (power fail leaves locked). Makes it more complicated for the emergency break glass to work - feeding directly from battery to bypass relay board and door control and anything else that could have gone wrong. The other (internal) door is "fail safe" just in case.

This is also the first time we have used these locks (Abloy Trimec ES8000 V-lock) as the main lock on a door. At the office we only use them as the night deadlock. They are good - unlock is a snap action and so instant, but locking takes a second or two (motor engages to push bolt down in to position). So I have had to get some simple roller/ball catches as well so the door will catch closed and stay put while the lock engages.

Anyway, tomorrow gets busy, finishing internal door, installing loft hatch, and a delivery of solid wood benches to be made in to the shelves, work bench, and bar. Personally I'd like to see the room finished by the end of the month but that may be optimistic.

Man cave: Day 14

Electrical work done. I have lights. I even have a loft light. Electrical work by LA Electrical, and Lee seems to do a good job.

Some more paint on the walls now, but more to be done next week. Ceiling was not dry enough for paint today.

Apart from the outside door and window when they arrive, it is all internal, worktops, shelves, decorating now.

I do have one door, the internal door, with the lock all connected and tested. It needs some final fixing to do on Monday, but apart from that Monday is decorator. The rest of the week is decorator and carpenter. Loft hatch is here and will be installed once ceiling is painted.

Oh, and Sandra got me a sign :-)

Man cave: Day 13

Holy bat cave, Robin, we have a floor!

In contrast to yesterday, today has gone rather well, cramming in the plasterer to do the ceiling immediately followed by the flooring man to do the floor. So ceiling and floor in one day. They were briefly tripping over each other in the middle :-)

The floor looks good - engineered wood, pre-stained and oiled.

And, I think tomorrow is going to be loads of stuff, with loft hatch and ladder, internal door, floor box, lights, maybe even some paint, and possibly a start on the work bench...

This really is starting to look the business now.

Man cave: Day 12

Frustrating day...

The electrical work went to plan, but the plastering did not!

Several small issues: the roll of "NASA stuff" (the tin foil and bubble wrap stuff) is 15m² and the room is 25m² so someone should have worked out he would need two rolls, then when he went to get another they were out of stock now, so had to go somewhere else; nobody seems to have stock of a loft hatch and ladder; almost exactly enough plasterboard was ordered (again, this is something one can work out in advance!), but several bits were damaged and unusable, so more delay; the screw driver gun failing, and the second one (more delay to get it) was jamming.

However, at the end of the day, we have plaster board. The plan for the morning is skim of plaster and fitting the floor as well as fitting the loft hatch. This means some more painting on Friday and the internal door being fitted and maybe even starting on the work tops - yay! The lights can be fitted Friday (again) and part-P testing done (yes, USB charger sockets are a pain). We'll see how it goes.