Our build thread, renovation and extension

Our build thread, renovation and extension

Author
Discussion

league67

1,878 posts

202 months

Wednesday 21st May 2014
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Thanks, info would be much appreciated. Great (re)build.

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
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Two concrete samples for the worktops, I think we will be going for the darker one.



All carefully weighed out



One of the lots of rebar and remesh laid out.



The moulds when they were under construction.



Edited by Muncher on Thursday 22 May 10:40

Pixel-Snapper

5,321 posts

191 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
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Love that fact that your making your own conrete worktops Munch.

Would love the fact that your doing it on your nice new oak flooring though.....!

Just be careful kid. wink

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
quotequote all
Pixel-Snapper said:
Love that fact that your making your own conrete worktops Munch.

Would love the fact that your doing it on your nice new oak flooring though.....!

Just be careful kid. wink
I've bought shedloads of 1000 grade damp proof membrane to cover the whole floor so it should be fine.

Minemapper

933 posts

155 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
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Casting and polishing in place? You have my attention, sir.

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
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I will polish outside, other than I may try and polish the aluminium joining strips whilst in situ if possible to get a smooth join. I forgot about your magnesium float by the way but I think we should be ok with a steel one?

Minemapper

933 posts

155 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
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Crap, sorry. I'll bung it in the post today to ya.

The magnesium one is key for the initial smoothing and pulling the cream up.

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
quotequote all
Minemapper said:
Crap, sorry. I'll bung it in the post today to ya.

The magnesium one is key for the initial smoothing and pulling the cream up.
Ah, do you think you could get it to me for tomorrow or saturday as I am planning to cast them on bank holiday monday.



Minemapper

933 posts

155 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
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Heading into town now, so I'll make sure it's there for Sat.

Same addy as before?

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
quotequote all
Minemapper said:
Heading into town now, so I'll make sure it's there for Sat.

Same addy as before?
Yeah please! Thanks a lot!

paulrockliffe

15,624 posts

226 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
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Dude, I invented that bed a couple of years ago! Unfortunately I've not been allowed to build it. However, I'm going to forgive the IP theft as your pictures will probably sell it to the boss and I might get to build one when we convert our loft.. I didn't think of the floating cabinets, so I'm going to steal those and we can call it quits. smile

Looking forward to the casting of the worktops, I bought the book you recommended. Sadly we've gone for iroko as we don't have the time to do the concrete thing. When I sort out my workshop I might cast the worktops in there instead. I was looking at casting a concrete patio a while ago, but I think I'd need a few practice goes to get it properly smooth.

Make sure you take lots of pics and good luck!

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
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Haha, thanks! There are quite a few people online who have done the whole floating bed thing.

Apparently one of the samples I did last night has gone a bit crumbly so I may need even less water in it than I thought (it did have a fair bit of cream coming off it which I allowed to drip off.


Minemapper

933 posts

155 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
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Don't forget that all that water needs to be re-absorbed during the cure to make it strong. If you've done the calcs, then leave all water until a few days have passed.

Float should be with you Sat.

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Thursday 22nd May 2014
quotequote all
Yeah, I probably should have left it. I think the other one is setting fine.

These are the ratios I am using:

Ratio Per 40kg load
Cement 0.2 7.65
Pea Shingle 0.3 10.94
Sand 0.5 21.30
Fibres 0.0 0.11
Plasticizer 1% by cement content 230ml
Dry pigment 5% by cement content 417g
Liquid pigment 1L per 400kg 417ml
Water 2 litres

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Sunday 25th May 2014
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Stupid question but what is the easiest way to run a 110v US appliance here? I want a specific ceiling fan and have found a cheap one in the US and the saving may well make it worth it. Is it a case of sticking a big 110v site transformer in the loft if necessary or is there a better method?

jimmyjimjim

7,326 posts

237 months

Sunday 25th May 2014
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Out of interest, what fan is it?

Griff Boy

1,563 posts

230 months

Sunday 25th May 2014
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Looking really good mate, love the use of oak, my favourite timber in a house!

I'm really looking forward to seeing the concrete worktops, although I have to say I'm worried about your flooring getting damaged! Especially as it looks great.

Keep up the good work and posts!

GB

5potTurbo

12,464 posts

167 months

Sunday 25th May 2014
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Muncher said:
Stupid question but what is the easiest way to run a 110v US appliance here? I want a specific ceiling fan and have found a cheap one in the US and the saving may well make it worth it. Is it a case of sticking a big 110v site transformer in the loft if necessary or is there a better method?
No, muncher - you can get step down transformers from Amazon that are small and <20

Muncher

Original Poster:

12,219 posts

248 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
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Worktops cast yesterday!

It's quite hard work, it took all day to prepare the moulds, weight the sand and pea shingle, mix it, transfer to barrow, transfer it to a bucket, transfer it to a mould, press it in by hand, level, place the steel, wire the steel to suspend it in the mould, vibrate it, cover with other layer, smooth, vibrate again etc.

It seemed to go ok. The first bath we made was too runny, so we mixed it with a more dry mix but for some reason that one had a lot more water coming off the top of it. Getting the water right seemed key, hopefully they will turn out ok! I'm leaving them for 2 weeks before attempting to remove them from the moulds.



Had to go to Aldi to get 15 carrier bags so we could weigh out the cement, charcoal pigment and fibres!

Moulds ready to go









Water reducer and liquid black pigment measured out in bathes




First layer of concrete laid






First one done

















dxg

8,097 posts

259 months

Tuesday 27th May 2014
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Are you going to move them into location while still in their forms? Might be safer...