The first snow fell last week end. It did not stick to the ground but it marked a clear change in the weather pattern. Temperatures during the day are hovering around 10°C and start falling below zero at night. We may not be able to continue building the stone walls for much longer. Although we switched, three weeks ago, to a cement that was only 90{86faa949d09500cfb2fb8be01edc8582822a5980221f039bd4bbebd1d0646763} lime-based and could withstand slightly lower temperatures, it still cannot be used if the temperatures are consistently below zero at night.
The North facade (the long one with a slanted roof line) is almost done up to the second floor’s ceiling. Once the masons reach that level, they will stop and move on to the South East facade (along the road).
The lintel above the high staircase window has finally been installed. It is hard to see the window on the picture below as it is half hidden by the scaffolding and pallets.
My dad has started closing the windows and doors on the ground floor by installing plywood on the inside of each opening. This will help protect the construction for the winter by blocking as much rain, wind and snow from going inside the house.
The beams and joists between the first and second floor are all installed. One can start to see on the pictures the layout of the entrance hall, the bedroom, the staircase and the mezzanine.
The challenge will be to ensure all the wood is carefully protected while the masons continue to work on the walls.
The construction of the walls around the 2nd floor is now well underway. The area above the dining room is almost done and the walls have reached the level at which the beams and joists for the second floor will come to rest on the walls.
Sadly, we have come to conclusion that there will not be enough time before the cold weather settles to finish the stonework and install the roof. We have made the decision to continue the stonework all the way to the level of the 2nd floor ceiling and then we will stop all work until next Spring. We will need to cover the top of all the walls with plastic tarps to prevent water from penetrating inside the stone walls and creating cracks. All the beams and joists from the first floor will also need to be carefully protected so the snow does not damage them.
As of last week, we have switched from a 100{86faa949d09500cfb2fb8be01edc8582822a5980221f039bd4bbebd1d0646763} lime-based cement to a 80{86faa949d09500cfb2fb8be01edc8582822a5980221f039bd4bbebd1d0646763} lime-based cement which requires less time to cure and can cure at lower temperatures.
We hope that the masons will be able to continue their work for another month but we it will all depend on the weather.
