Project Diary - In by Christmas? Client undertakes the remodelling of a Listed early 19th century terrace house in York acting as his own Main Contractor, Project Manager, and Architect!

Project Diary - In by Christmas? Client undertakes the remodelling of a Listed early 19th century terrace house in York acting as his own Main Contractor, Project Manager, and Architect!

The Mount, York, Kitchen Extension

Mrs X at the York Civic Trust Christmas party and were so impressed by their enterprise that when they invited BFA to help, we said yes.

Normally we act as architect on a job, and are only too keen to offer project management services but Mr & Mrs X are ‘bright sparks’ with management experience and a good basic understanding of building construction and we were happy to offer a guiding hand in the areas which were outside their comfort zone.

Since we met in December 2010 Mr & Mrs X have (with the help of direct labour) carried out works to the top part of the house including a loft conversion, the installation of one en-suite bathroom, and the remodelling of an existing Family bathroom.

This Family bathroom is in what were known as Closet Blocks and added to the house around 1900. It was built in an odd location though logical to the interior plan of the house being accessible from the half landing. It looks very odd from the rear garden perched up on a cast iron pillar but it is very much part of the Listed Buildings appeal and common to the whole terrace so the decision was to keep it.

The existing kitchen extension had been built just post World War 2 so the decision was to demolish that and replace it with a large Kitchen/Dining/Living extension expanding to the full width of the property and giving uninterrupted views to the long arboreal garden beyond. Lit by sloping areas of glass and a giant glass lantern the proposed rear elevation will not only improve the interior spaces to this property but will ‘make visual sense’ of an exterior elevation which has been spoiled by it’s various additions over the last two centuries. 

To date we have supplied drawings for Building Control Approval, served the relevant party wall notices to their neighbours, offered advice on Planning and Listed Building matters including details of the regulations surrounding the claiming back of VAT on Listed Buildings of which Mr & Mrs X were unaware.

Our current brief is to act as Consultants attending site as and when required though things are moving fast at the moment and we resolve to call in at least once a week.

Programme so far:

Week 1 (030911)

Demolish existing kitchen extension, establish temporary kitchen in existing Dining room, re-route gas and water supplies. Excavate to required level to achieve new kitchen extension, including excavations for new inspection chamber and associated drainage, underpinning works to main house, laying of concrete sub floor, foundations for new steelwork including one ground beam.

Diary entry: Tuesday 18th October 2011. 

The discovery of a brick vaulted cess pit - possibly to become a wine cellar/aquarium? - has caused a three week delay to the building works. In
order to remove the old cast iron stanchion which supports the corner of the bathroom closet block - and is directly above the newly-discovered brick chamber - complex temporary steelwork has had to be introduced.

The new permanent steelwork has now arrived and is ready to install. This will release space on the site to lay the remainder of the concrete slab,
complete the WC enclosure, construct the roof.…

Christmas Day is still on the 25th December and won't wait. The clients want to be sitting down to it then. Will it all happen?

w/c 7th November:

New steelwork in. Old cast-iron stanchion removed (by ingenious technique devised by the steelwork manufacturer). Roof being constructed, and new WC block brickwork now well advanced.

The new space is finally beginning to take shape but there is still a lot to do in the next 5 weeks!

Diary entry: Friday 25th November 201

Taken this morning of 25th November these photos show considerable progres since the last entry. The WC extension brickwork is complete, the sarnafil clad roof is now weathertight apart from glazing to the lantern light and monopitch roof (to let daylight into the main house rear ground floor room). The internal walls are being drylined in preparation for the 1st fix electrics next week. The concrete subfloor is being prepared for insulation
and the laying of the sand and cement screed next Tuesday. The Kitchen units are arriving on December 6th! The whole structure MUST be watertight by then!

Diary entry: Friday 16th December

At last the glazing is in, the rear bi-fold doors fitted. The kitchen is fitted - sufficiently to produce the basics anyway, and the wood-burning
stove is burning away merrily.

Of course there's a lot to do but fantastic progress from the demolitions stage which took place only just over three months ago. It's insulated, heated, the labour force will be working next week, and yes Christmas lunch WILL take place!
JF