Topping Out

Today we topped out on the main roof of Speckled Wood, quite an occasion.We still have some work to go on the link and the verandah to be completely finished, but that should all get completed tommorow.

The last of the cleft shingles went on this morning.

And then it was on to the ridge. We are using what Chris tells me he has decided should be called a pie crust closure on the ridge. We were trying to avoid using any materials other than sweet chestnut, but we needed something a bit more close fitting than our hand cleaved shingles, so some were machined out of chestnut from the woodland you can see in the background of some of these pictures.

The idea is that these sawn shingles run horizontally along the top of the ridge with a slight vertical overlap so that they shed the water without allowing any in. We have also run a small strip of waterproof membrane under them just in case. I realise that description might not make much sense, but hope the pictures give an idea of how it works.

The pie crust ridge worked its way across the building throughout the day with everyone on the team taking a turn. Towards the end of the afternoon Sam nailed the last one on.

We’d had a target of four weeks to finish the roof, and frankly after week one it was looking pretty unlikely. But with lots of hard work from Chris, Sam, the Black Down team, Justin and his crew, our many fantastic volunteers and all those who came along to help out it has all fallen into place. I couldn’t be more chuffed, the roof is a thing of absolute beauty, reptilian in texture it wraps the building and keeps the elements at bay.

There are still a few more shingles to nail onto the verandah roof, but I suspect they will be a pleasure.

The sponsored shingles

Over the past few days we have been putting the sponsored shingles on the roof of the Speckled Wood building.

Transition Town Haslemere have been doing a fantastic job at the local farmers market and other events raising awareness of the project and getting shingles sponsored at £5 a time. In return for their sponsorship money people have been putting their name, or a simple message on the back of the shingle. Its been a great introduction for people to what we are trying to achieve, and has been a really valuable fund raising source for the project.

Its been fascinating seeing some of the messages and names on the shingles. There have been a number of names I have recognised, as well as lots I haven’t. Some of them have been really funny, and a number of them have been very touching. Below is a picture of one of my favourites. The artist did sign it but I can’t make out the signiture, I especially like the way they used the grain of the wood to create the lines of waves in the sea.

If you were one of our sponsors, thank you very much. If you would like to know where your shingles ended up, they are in a band a few courses thick running just above the roof light on the western (high street) side of the building.

Transition Town Haslemere are holding a Sustainable Harvest Picnic this saturday night from 5-8pm at Imbhams Farm. This is the farm next door to Swan Barn Farm, and is a beautiful place. The picnic is going to be in their medieval barn, a unique opportunity to have a look at a fascinating timber frame. The idea is to get together to celebrate the fruits of the year and take along something locally produced for everyone to share. I went last year and it was great fun, I am hoping to make it again this year. You can find out more by clicking here.

Meanwhile on the roof we are reaching for the top. The shingles having been going on a treat and progress has been great.

The weather has really helped, but not as much as the extra help that has been coming in, both in terms of our volunteer groups, and the countryside teams from Slindon and South Downs East.

The building has really felt like it is coming together over the past fortnight, a number of tasks in it have started to be completed, when the roof is on I think we will all breath a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, the view from the top is fantastic.

Apple Pressing Day

I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who came along to our apple pressing day yesterday. Everyone seemed to be enjoying it, and it was great to see so many locally grown apples being put to good use.

We didn’t get chance to count, but reckoned over 150 people came along and brought their apple harvest with them. I reckon we processed over a tonne of apples. Stirling work was done on the scratter and press on a very hot day, a few people in particular put in some really hard work, thanks especially to you.

There was plenty of fantastic tasting apple juice being drunk, and plenty more went home with people to be turned into cider. My demijohns are now happily fermenting away in the kitchen, hope yours are too.

There were also a number of tours of the new Speckled Wood building throughout the day, the project seemed to get a very positive reaction.

On the roof of the building last week we passed a major milestone. At four o’clock on friday afternoon the last shingle on the eastern side went on.

The sunshine was pretty fierce up there last week, and it was hot work for everyone. We had lots of help on all sorts of jobs last week from a group of working holiday volunteers, they really helped us move things along, and the roof was just one part of that.

I know lots of people who read the blog have had a hand in making or sponsoring these shingles. I hope you like the way they look now they are in place.

Its on to the other half of the roof next week. We will be hoping we have made enough shingles, there aren’t enough to finish the southern verandah, that will have to be finished later, but we are all hoping we have enough to finish the main roof, otherwise we will have a few days of extra shingle making out in the woods!