The "needs to be done first" phase

Aside from the usual collection of accumulated detritus and "stuff" that inhabits most lofts, there was the added complication of a number of water tanks in our loft. Not only the main cistern and central heating header tank, also the hot water cylinder, pump, three port valve and associated yards of pipe work, and some control wiring. This filled a large space slap bang in the middle of our loft. Relocation of that lot was going to be a non starter, so elimination was the key. A suitable high output combi boiler was selected (Ideal Isar HE35) and ordered (the local plumbing and heating supplies shop in the village turned out to beat all the online discount heating suppliers for the boiler!). Pick a suitable start time (i.e. last cold snap of winter!), stick a load of logs on the fire, and set about the heating system.

All in all, the boiler replacement went smoothly enough, although it did take four of the two days that were allocated to the task! Not sure if I plumb slow, or estimate too quick!

The other remaining tasks were to try and empty the loft of accumulated stuff! Not as easy as it sounds, and finally unscrew all of the floor board sheets carefully laid in the loft a few years previously when it looked like a vast untapped space just yearning for something to store!

We bagged up the old loft insulation at the same time! (and yes, those boards are piled up over a supporting wall!)

Lets go shopping

The next job was a quick shopping trip. Lots of wood and steel. As it turned out the steel was easy enough, the wood was going to take longer. The timber merchant was going to have to order the C24 stress graded timber as required for some of the new floor joists. So after the excitement of the "start date" there was a week of nothing much to do!