The Sandbag House Reno Record - reimagining the Void - VI

The last two weeks have all been about p's: pipes, painting and power. Work on the wiring started which allowed the hole in the ceiling to be closed.

The wiring for the light switches for the bathroom, bedroom and stairs is in place as is the wiring for power points in the floor for bedside lights as well as one in the far wall, have all been done. Two others must still be sorted - as well as the covers.

Along with that, the finicky work of boxing in the plumbing - the outlet and water pipes to and from the shower - could be done. The outlet could not be under the floor because then it would have no drop, and it could not be altered which is a function of the sandbag external walls.

For the last while, because the door's been moved to the other side, I've had a walk-through bathroom. Not that it's made any difference to my life other than that I've had to use my downstairs bathroom because the wash basin's not connected.

This week, they started closing up hole the hole.

All the banging and crashing brought further evidence of bat habitation in my roof.

It's been a constant thing. Bats finding their way into the house via the void and the deposits of dung. These are small insect-eating bats and I've become quite resigned to, the flubber that alerts me to a presence and allowing it to settle somewhere. It needs to be where I can reach it and I have become quite adept at throwing a cloth over it, picking it up and releasing it out of the nearest door or window.

That said, I am hoping that when the renovation is complete - heaven knows when - the colony will have had enough and moved on.

What about a bat box?

You may well ask. I have investigated that but been told that nine times out of ten, bats won't relocate when you want them to, so it's a waste of money. They do, I'm told eventually move to new digs. I'm hoping that'll happen sooner rather than later.

Returning to the matter at hand, the walk-through is no more. The next step will be (more) pipes and plumbing for the handbasin.

The handbasin is in its new position. I had been a little anxious that I'd not have enough space to move around and/or that I'd have to sacrifice either a mirror or a bathroom cabinet. Now, I don't think so.

Until the painting, tile splash back and "restoration" of the bathroom cabinets happen, I have a long walk to the loo during the night, down Jacob's Ladder to the Alice in Wonderland bathroom, instead of around the corner past the Big Hole (the currently unprotected stairwell). The former is less risky in the dark, wee hours...🤭

Back to the void

It really is beginning to look like a "proper" room.

The floor has been primed: ready for the cracks - literally - to be filled. I've learned that priming it first means that they're less likely to fall through miss any cracks.

I'm not sure when that will happen and the floor painted, which is also when the wall on the gable end - along with the plastering tidy-up that needs being done - will happen.

I will, next week, be collecting the second had bed I've bought and paid for because its host needs it removed. That, too, will start to give a sense of how the room will really shape up.

Until next time

Post script

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