The kit is made part 1

We visited the Potton factory at Great Gransden to see the frame being built, and there will be 2 posts today because I couldn't fit all the photos into one!
Luke showed us the whole process:

The timber is all Forest Stewardship Council certified:

This is where it is sawn to length, and each piece is labelled as it passes down the line. At this point it is untreated, and the clean sawdust is re-used by a local farmer
This is where the timber is treated, with water soluble chemicals which are all collected for re-use. This is to protect against fungal & insect attack etc.
The next post shows the frame being built

The kit is made part 2

One of the panels is assembled:
The insulation panels are put in place, and the breathable membrane over the top

This is a window panel.



Luke & Matt with our pile of panels, some of which we signed, so our names will be built in!



Delivery day is Monday 4th July

The floor

Craig is laying blocks to the floor. At the front of the picture is the "garage" and the larger expanse is the house.
During this week, the drainage gets laid, the scaffolding erected, and we go to the Potton factory to see our kit being built.
Delivery is Monday July 4th

up to the floor

The steel cages are placed in the trenches and then covered. Andy, the groundworker says that no-one ever says "that house has lovely foundations"!
So here is a record of our appreciation.
Bricks are built up to the level of the damp proof course:
Tidying up:
Then the floor beams are swung in to place:

more concrete

The concrete is delivered, then poured into the trenches

Craig checks that it is at the correct depth:

Next, the brickwork courses, tidying up, and we hope, the floor will be laid out on Friday.

a retaining wall

Those of you who know the plot will realise that a lot of earth had to be shifted - and here is the retaining wall that will now form the boundary to the west.

Next, the steel cages get laid for the foundations, marked out in blue here:

And, for no other reason than it is just lovely, here are some of our new friends: