Progress
First steps
March 2022
Road, electricity, water and septic tank
Roofs
Summer 2022
The roofs are made of wooden beams and branches, topped with a kind of tumbleweed and mud. Although fairly waterproof and providing good heat insulation, a roof like this is not good enough nowadays. Not only water, also dust falling down is a problem. However, replacing a roof can have a drastic impact on the originality of the look and feel inside. We have chosen to keep what is present as far as realistic and to add protection.
There are four roofs in total, one had collapsed and one was poor. We have decided to keep two roofs (living room and kitchen), but with a new roof on top. The spaces between the branches and the tumbleweed have been filled with foam. A layer of plaster still has to be added, leaving the branches largely visible. So no dust is falling down anymore. On top are insulation plates and EPDM rubber.
The other two roofs (bedroom and bathroom) we have replaced with new wooden beams, branches, wood plates, thick insulation plates and EPDM rubber. But first the stability of the house was improved by adding a band of concrete on top of the stone walls all around these two rooms, about 50 cm wide and 40 cm high.
Ceilings
Summer 2022
Four ceilings in total, two replacements and two renovations ongoing.
Room connection 1
Bedroom to living room
Summer 2022
The bedroom has been a stable and storage room in the past. There was no door opening to the living area. There is a connection now through the 50-cm thick wall, supported by a concrete skeleton. Because the opening could not be made high enough, to avoid collapse, the floor of the living room was lowered by 30 cm.
Room connection 2
Kitchen to living room
Summer 2022
There was no door opening between the kitchen and living room. Also here there is a connection now supported by a concrete skeleton.
Bedroom niche
Summer 2022
Another aim we had was to make a niche in the bedroom of 40 cm deep to allow for a wider passageway to the bathroom.
Facilities
Summer 2022
Lots of cabling and plumbing in parallel to building activities.
Plastering inside & outside
Summer 2022
We considered repairing only part of the (outside) plastering, but eventually we had replaced it all, with characteristic stones and beams still visible. A concrete ditch behind the house was made to direct water downwards rather than having a chance to penetrate the wall.
Veranda
Summer 2022
An important addition to the house is the veranda, which will be our main "living room" during a large part of the year for sure. There was barely room for it given the hill-side location and it had to be built very robust because of that.
Terrace
Summer 2022
And last but not least we are working on a terrace next to the house. A supporting wall has been built so we have at least a flat area now. A little bathtub here in the future would be nice. :)
Finishing up
Spring 2023
We are getting there, sigá-sigá!
Almost ready to stay
Autumn 2023
Prime focus on bed and bathroom.
The renovation took 1.5 year. As from late 2023 we live in our new home.
Later work
Spring 2024
Prime focus on the kitchen and start of the veranda pergola.
Autumn 2024
Finishing the veranda pergola with bamboo (and plastic) and wind screens.
Spring 2025
Batteries and a converter to keep basic functionalities alive during power failures. We have a generator on gasoline to load the batteries in case of a long power break.
Autumn 2025
The 300-meter road down from the main road was too steep and too much ruined by rain. About 100 cubes of sand and stones and 100 cubes of concrete were added. That is 2x 11 trucks.
