So, I want a small south facing window in the garage which is fairly gloomy so I can have a sunlit work bench and do bike stuff. Calls contractor. Two weeks later he shows up. Yes this and that ya de yadda, quote to come. Weeks go by nothing happens. So thinks I will do it myself.
The bricklayer who built the garage was obviously a Friday afternoon specialist of the good nuff variety and also had a sense of humour when it came to accuracy. The beds of the brickwork vary from 10mm to 2mm and lining up perpendicular joints (perps) is obviously something to be kept purely in a tutorial manual read by aliens or apprentices. As I wish to cut tooth and bond the brickwork this is highly relevant.
So digs out the ancient 115mm B and D angle grinder. No a diamond disk doesn't fit due to the design of the arbor. Bugger.
New 115mm angle grinder.
New 230mm angle grinder (god they are heavy)
New diamond disks.
As I want to tooth and bond the brickwork and due to the inconsistency of the beds..........
New reciprocating saw and masonry blade (how much!). (instructions for saw say should not be used for masonry..... sigh).
Removes all relevant brickwork whilst managing to damage several (yes of course the most important and awkward ones) when drilling holes due to lack of bedding joints and perp width.... bugger.
Insert relevant lintel with dpc to damaged brickwork joint. Removes brickwork under. Cutting a bed and sliding in the lintel should have been a simple operation but oh no. Bricks have been incorrectly laid frog down. So just like Indiana Jones, when attempting to slide the lintel into place, all the cement in the frogs falls down. Chipping out this little lot damages the face of the bricks below and above.
Orders new window, pleasantly surprised with price.
Makes temporary frame actual size of window and clads with plastic sheet (visqueen) to keep the worst of the weather out whilst waiting for window and to check brickwork. Dresses bricks and identifies some huge perp gaps = more bricks to be removed and to be replaced with amended spacing. Strewth.
Quote arrives from contractor 4 weeks after last contact (is it me?) The quote was quite good actually and would have been accepted but would not have included CTB of the brickwork.
Travels 31 miles to obtain a few bags of yellow building sand that the whole estate is built with but is not available for miles around.
The saga continues.
Photos to follow.
Off to the
tip recycling centre in a while, one now has to make an appointment several days in advance. don't ya know.
