DIY with function over finesse!!

[mickthemaverick]

One more run to the recycling and another to the charity shop saw me returning the garage to SWMBO after just 4 nights out on the drive.

MTMO - Job jobbed!

Unfortunately I didn't take any pics of the loft before we started but you have seen how much was removed, plus two dump loads completed before I took the first pics, so now you can see the space I've made so I can set about fixing the boarding in place and making it more useful in general!!

A collection of photos which I left because SWMBO will want to go through them.

The disused tank is no longer surrounded with junk

The other end awaiting boards and now spare

The central area now storing what we need.

[CitroJim]

Excellent!

[mickthemaverick]

Back on the Elstree project today we got all bar the last two boards on the roof before the weather took a different course and washed out further work today:

Almost finished the roof boarding.

[mickthemaverick]

Time to start a new pretty simple job today. As a result of the ongoing changes in our climate, specifically the stronger windy spells, I decided it was time to address a concern I have about our passgeway roof:

The passageway as it is.

As you can see the roof is made of relatively lightweight panels across a wooden frame and in my opinion not resistive to a lot of force. Thus I fear that strong wind along the passage hits the solid gate and is deflected up to batter the roof which may not be up to it. Because of this we have developed a system of opening the solid back gate:

Viewed from the garden

when strong winds are predicted. That means closing the front gate to keep a boundary between the back garden and local dogs that like to run through given the chance. However it also means that the back of the house is open to potential intruders unless we padlock the front gate overnight:

The last line of defense when the solid gate is open.

At the moment we do exactly that but when we are both out during the day I padlock it as well. However SWMBO is not happy that padlocking the front gate during the day prevents the postman from reaching the letter box so a solution was required. My first thought was to move the front gate past the front door thus allowing 24/7 access to the letterbox, however that creates a different problem for me. When I am doing a job working between the house and garage I shut the front gate to keep those pesky dogs out and move backwards and forwards freely which I could not do if I moved that gate. So my solution is to install a new lockable wrought iron gate behind the existing solid (for privacy) gate and thus be able to lock the back garden while allowing stronger winds free passage with the solid gate opened and reduce the chance of the roof being lifted!! To that end I found a suitable gate on ebay and collected it earlier this week before starting the loft clearance. Today I laid it down and touched up the bottom with Hammerite as it is easier than when installed. I hope to install it tomorrow but I am awaiting the 100mm screws I have ordered for the job!! :

The new gate

To be continued...........

[Gibbo2286]

If the letter box is the only concern why not have one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mounted-Waterp ... 3050&psc=1

[mickthemaverick]

I did think about that plan Gibbo but it is not just letters, SWMBO also pointed out that the passageway is our covered area for parcel deliveries when we are out, so we need to leave access to that as well as the letterbox.

I have been able to partially install the hinge plate this morning but I am still waiting for the screws to give it the necessary strength. I had one left so I was able to fix the top of the plate and drill the other mounting holes but I now only have 120mm screws which are too long for this job!!

MTMO - The hinge plate temporary fitted to allow me to make measurements.

[mickthemaverick]

Screws arrived and install job completed, quite pleased with the end result:

The stay open latch

The stay closed lock

The finished gate

I just need to touch up the paint when the weather dries out a bit!!

[mickthemaverick]

While I have been gate installing progress has continued on the BBQ Gazebo:

MTMO - The roof membrane is on!

[mickthemaverick]

I returned to the loft today to get the new boards down and I managed to get the two main areas where I walk fully boarded. These pics still looking cluttered but I have'nt done the under eaves boards yet which will allow some of that stuff to be tucked away out of the way and hopefully leave the central area clear as a useable workspace!! To be continued..........

The tank end

The middle

[mickthemaverick]

Opinions sought!!!

While up in the loft it is a pain moving up and down the space because of the cross spars. I would like to alter the supports by replacing the cross brace with two verticle supports. Fig 1 shows the layout as it is with the cross spar being just too high to comfortably climb over.

In Fig 2 I show that spar as blue and I would like to remove it and add in the verticle supports. My question is should I fit them halfway up the diagoinal as the yellow ones or to the same point as the horizontal spar as shown in green. My feeling is the yellow is a better option but I would appreciate the opinion of others?

MTMO - my loft roof support

[Paul-R]

Frankly I wouldn't mess around with any of that and keep it as it is with all it's discomfort. I just wouldn't want to take the chance of the roof collapsing!

[mickthemaverick]

I appreciate that Paul but I should have said there are four frames along the length of the roof and I only want to modify one of the middle ones. An alternative would be to simply drop that cross bar 4 inches down and then I would be happy to straddle it to get along. Thoughts on that?

[Paul-R]

There will be more force going through if it's lower down (fulcrum points and all that) but probably OK.

[mickthemaverick]

Indeed, maybe a combination of the two ideas, drop the blue beam 4" and install the green uprights to maintain the fulcrum as it was.

[PaulC5]

How about a 4 inch step each side of the bar and leave it as it is ?