This is the latest light tunnel, albeit a short one.
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The first bit of work has been to move the ceiling light.
The old light fitting has been removed and a flush fitting LED downlight installed further along the ceiling away from the light tunnel opening.
Hopefully that will give enough space to extend the opening to suit the Velux window.Just installing that light has worn me out, I am not quite well yet, I guess.
All the 'working above my head' stuff is hard going. And the amount of old plaster and soot that fell out was ridiculous.
@Maker_of_Things Why is there soot in your ceiling?
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@Maker_of_Things Why is there soot in your ceiling?
@yngmar
Old Victorian house. All the roof voids, and to a lesser extent the floor voids, are full of soot from the old coal fireplaces.
It is just a thing until someone bothers to clean it.
There could be 100+kg of soot in the roof. -
@yngmar
Old Victorian house. All the roof voids, and to a lesser extent the floor voids, are full of soot from the old coal fireplaces.
It is just a thing until someone bothers to clean it.
There could be 100+kg of soot in the roof.@Maker_of_Things@cupoftea.social @yngmar@social.tchncs.de There's a fair amount in our loft (post-war council house). I think I removed about 5 wet&dry vacuum cleaners' worth of soot/mortar dust mixture, and that was just from the bits I was actually working on.
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The light tunnel is over the high point of the stairwell.
I have had to build a platform over the stairwell so that I can place a ladder there to work.
@Maker_of_Things that's a very impressive platform
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@Maker_of_Things that's a very impressive platform
@Indigoatcrafts
For the work I have to do up there, I wasn't having anything less.
With a smaller platform I'd be too nervous, or even scared, and that makes the job dangerous. -
The first bit of work has been to move the ceiling light.
The old light fitting has been removed and a flush fitting LED downlight installed further along the ceiling away from the light tunnel opening.
Hopefully that will give enough space to extend the opening to suit the Velux window.Just installing that light has worn me out, I am not quite well yet, I guess.
All the 'working above my head' stuff is hard going. And the amount of old plaster and soot that fell out was ridiculous.Not much to show on the outside today.
I had my head and shoulders up inside the ceiling cleaning out the soot, broken plaster, and wooden laths. An absolutely horrible job!
Another reason I use a proper respirator mask and not a cheap disposable mask.
I got out about 15kg of soot, and 15kg of other rubbish, just from around my working area.
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Not much to show on the outside today.
I had my head and shoulders up inside the ceiling cleaning out the soot, broken plaster, and wooden laths. An absolutely horrible job!
Another reason I use a proper respirator mask and not a cheap disposable mask.
I got out about 15kg of soot, and 15kg of other rubbish, just from around my working area.In order to open up the space for the larger light tunnel opening I had to screw in a timber to support the cut joist of the old ceiling.
The old plaster and laths were then broken away to extend the space for the new tunnel framework.I also added more timber to the later plasterboard ceiling to start framing the new opening, and supporting the timbers that will be cut away later.
I can't say it was easy using a handsaw in such a confined space, with very limited headroom and elbow room.
Tomorrow I might be able to finish the internal framing prior to cutting out the ceiling below. But we'll see. Tomorrow is also a bit busy.
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In order to open up the space for the larger light tunnel opening I had to screw in a timber to support the cut joist of the old ceiling.
The old plaster and laths were then broken away to extend the space for the new tunnel framework.I also added more timber to the later plasterboard ceiling to start framing the new opening, and supporting the timbers that will be cut away later.
I can't say it was easy using a handsaw in such a confined space, with very limited headroom and elbow room.
Tomorrow I might be able to finish the internal framing prior to cutting out the ceiling below. But we'll see. Tomorrow is also a bit busy.
You know that plaster and lathe ceilings used to be covered with a layer of dirt for insulation?
So that layer might not be soot. Also may contain arsenic, so wearing a mask is definitely a good move.
I could be wrong but that's what I've found out from watching several renovation videos on older properties.
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You know that plaster and lathe ceilings used to be covered with a layer of dirt for insulation?
So that layer might not be soot. Also may contain arsenic, so wearing a mask is definitely a good move.
I could be wrong but that's what I've found out from watching several renovation videos on older properties.
@srfirehorseart
Ugh! Yeah, it could be all sorts of nasty stuff.I think I heard something about insulation, but assumed that was a by product of all the crap rather than a reason.
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@srfirehorseart
Ugh! Yeah, it could be all sorts of nasty stuff.I think I heard something about insulation, but assumed that was a by product of all the crap rather than a reason.
Yes, the dirt is a deliberate layer.
Victorian era properties are full of this. It often also provides some sound insulation and fire retardation between floors, so you may need to put some other material in its place if that's something you want to restore.
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Yes, the dirt is a deliberate layer.
Victorian era properties are full of this. It often also provides some sound insulation and fire retardation between floors, so you may need to put some other material in its place if that's something you want to restore.
@srfirehorseart
Not restoring. The roof space has rockwool insulation, and I will be adding more as I have loads in stock.I just don't want all the fine black dust all over the house while I am working.
I remember when I was a little kid, a small area of living room ceiling fell in and landed on Dad while he was sitting on the sofa. The sooty dust that came with it filled the room!
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@srfirehorseart
Not restoring. The roof space has rockwool insulation, and I will be adding more as I have loads in stock.I just don't want all the fine black dust all over the house while I am working.
I remember when I was a little kid, a small area of living room ceiling fell in and landed on Dad while he was sitting on the sofa. The sooty dust that came with it filled the room!
That sounds alarming! I can't imagine seeing a ceiling collapse.
That dust may also have been Victorian insulation, if that ceiling was also made of plaster and lathe.
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In order to open up the space for the larger light tunnel opening I had to screw in a timber to support the cut joist of the old ceiling.
The old plaster and laths were then broken away to extend the space for the new tunnel framework.I also added more timber to the later plasterboard ceiling to start framing the new opening, and supporting the timbers that will be cut away later.
I can't say it was easy using a handsaw in such a confined space, with very limited headroom and elbow room.
Tomorrow I might be able to finish the internal framing prior to cutting out the ceiling below. But we'll see. Tomorrow is also a bit busy.
Today I managed to get back on the second light tunnel.
I made up some L shaped corner posts to join the corners of the Velux to the corners of the frame I added to the ceiling. Those were so awkward and the joints are not at all tight (or square). I could remake them but it isn't worth it.Once the framework was in I was able to remove the remaining plasterboards from the old light tunnel walls, and also take out all the screws and edge beads.
I then cut out the redundant framework from the ceiling opening and cut the plasterboard away.That left a much larger opening that is the right size for the window.
It is so difficult working in a confined space, above head hight, and with no room to use tools properly. I was so shattered just doing this, that I am going to leave the rest for another day.
I should add a bit more timber to the framework, and put some insulation in place before I can plasterboard.
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@HarrietMonkhouse
I am not sure I have the energy though.
I have seen a lot of low quality construction in old houses that I no longer feel bad about it not being perfect. So long as it is structurally sound and stable, and not causing damp or leaks.
When we sell up, I am fairly sure that everything will be stripped out anyway and the house turned into flats.
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Today I managed to get back on the second light tunnel.
I made up some L shaped corner posts to join the corners of the Velux to the corners of the frame I added to the ceiling. Those were so awkward and the joints are not at all tight (or square). I could remake them but it isn't worth it.Once the framework was in I was able to remove the remaining plasterboards from the old light tunnel walls, and also take out all the screws and edge beads.
I then cut out the redundant framework from the ceiling opening and cut the plasterboard away.That left a much larger opening that is the right size for the window.
It is so difficult working in a confined space, above head hight, and with no room to use tools properly. I was so shattered just doing this, that I am going to leave the rest for another day.
I should add a bit more timber to the framework, and put some insulation in place before I can plasterboard.@Maker_of_Things Much better!
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@HarrietMonkhouse
I think, being realistic, even if it was bought as a family house, it would be subject to renovations, anyway. -
@Maker_of_Things Much better!
@Sarah111well
It is, thank you.
There is one more mis aligned light tunnel to deal with, then the rest are all just normal-ish Velux window reveals. -
Today I managed to get back on the second light tunnel.
I made up some L shaped corner posts to join the corners of the Velux to the corners of the frame I added to the ceiling. Those were so awkward and the joints are not at all tight (or square). I could remake them but it isn't worth it.Once the framework was in I was able to remove the remaining plasterboards from the old light tunnel walls, and also take out all the screws and edge beads.
I then cut out the redundant framework from the ceiling opening and cut the plasterboard away.That left a much larger opening that is the right size for the window.
It is so difficult working in a confined space, above head hight, and with no room to use tools properly. I was so shattered just doing this, that I am going to leave the rest for another day.
I should add a bit more timber to the framework, and put some insulation in place before I can plasterboard.@Maker_of_Things
ooh you've been busy! does it feel good to be making progress, at least, even though goodness yes it looks like very awkward work. -
@Sarah111well
It is, thank you.
There is one more mis aligned light tunnel to deal with, then the rest are all just normal-ish Velux window reveals.@Maker_of_Things I like your use of "just" in that sentence.
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@Maker_of_Things
ooh you've been busy! does it feel good to be making progress, at least, even though goodness yes it looks like very awkward work.@moonrabbit
Oh yes, the progress feels great, even if my body doesn't.It is that keeping on, no matter how small the progress, it is still progress.
It means that we can look forward to having an end result at some realistic point when we can sell up and move.
Selling a house is something neither of us have any experience of, and I have only bought one house, this one, and that was pre internet!
