blog

Late March Progress

Posted: 25-03-10

Window worries. Insulation. Bullnose. Working late.

I noticed the other day that there was no butyl tape used where putty would have been used for single glazing in old timber windows. Our joiner has used Silicone. Our new windows we got when renovating in Brooklyn used the tape, but our new ones use Silicone.

My worry stems from forum posts on EcoBob about not using Silicone to weatherproof and bed-in double glazing into timber frames due to UV and moisture breaking it down. I'm really gutted as I had read this months and months ago and could have easily stipulated its use. I called the joiner and asked him what they used "silicone" was the answer. "But not the shit stuff".

Oh thanks, I feel so much better.

Apparently UltraGlass, the company who supply the joiner with the IGUs stipulated the use of this product, so at least there are no warranty issues.

I still don't really feel any better so we will now have to wait and see what happens with our windows. If it turns out the stuff lets moisture in, then the theory goes that the silicone has indeed broken down. If that's the case, the IGUs can be taken out, butyl tape used and the IGUs replaced. Hassle I grant you, but there's no going back at this stage because the windows are all installed.

Bugger.

We've been doing some late nights (evenings) this week to try and keep up with the builders as they finish and nail-off all the weatherboards now that the windows are in. The weather's been closing-in for winter and we need to get all the nail-holes puttied and filled, and all the walls painted to protect the boards. Were doing OK, but looking forward to some dry weather over the Easter break to get this stuff done.

We noticed yesterday that our lovely Wool Latitude Insulation had arrived in its familiar alien-like pods (We used the same product in our reno in Brooklyn last year) and there's so much of it, it takes up all of bedroom 2 and some of bedroom 3! Well yesterday the builders had opened the bags, by this evening all the walls had insulation installed!

I had previously reiterated to the fore-man that I didn't want any fannying around, piss-poor insulation. All those joints need to be tight. I am mostly pleased with their progress. They even asked me what to use to cut the stuff (garden shears) as they're used to using bog-standard Pink Batts which is that 'orrible glass fibre stuff but is easily torn into the right size pieces.

We noted today also that each of the pre-formed sections of our colorsteel bullnose verandah had arrived. As far as we know it's due to be installed tomorrow (Friday) so I will get some snaps and chuck 'em up on the gallery. With that on and the our lovely coloured-glass front-door installed, the house will really start to take shape and look like the real article.

Have a look at the Moss Brothers website for a modern take on the classic colonial villa. It was these folks we were originally wanting to build our home. Just look at those gorgeous designs!

Keep safe,
Russ