Work started on opening up the windows in the barn. Once the roof had been replaced, the barn felt quite dark and so we were really keen to see how light it would be with the new windows. They are going to be very large! We are reassured that there will be lots of light and that the views of the mountains will be fantastic.
The process is hard work, firstly the stone is cut with an angle grinder to form the edge and then the stone is removed with a hammer drill. It is very hard to make a flat edge and so the windows will have frames inserted so that the new windows can be installed. The stonework will then be made good around the frame.
Another big concrete pour this time over the first floor of the guest rooms and then our suite. It does transform the space. The floor is now ready for underfloor heating and tiles though we are a long way from this. The next task is to build the roof over the guest rooms and they needed the floor in place to do this.
Unfortunately, we needed to remove a couple of pine trees in order to build the pool. I was in awe of the team that did this. He is at the top of what remains of the tree, about 5 meters off the ground. He then continues to cut the top section with a one handed chain saw. He does have spikes on his boots but even so…..
In order to rebuild the courtyard roof, they need to re-enforce the wall ready for the new beams. Whilst the picture shows bricks, these will be faced with stone reclaimed from earlier work on the house and it will be hard to tell it from the original wall. This picture also shows the cleaned stonework on the barn matching the main house. It helps to make it feel like one building rather than three separate parts.
Now that the team have started to clear the area in front of the house, we have started another wall. This goes round the outside terrace. We realise how much more confident we are than when we started our first section last year. It also helps that the digger dropped off stone that had been excavated from around the house – much easier than collecting it ourselves though the pile does seem to go down very quickly!