I have been in Dorset for a few days getting away from everything. This is a fascinating project to be involved with, but sometimes it can get a bit stressfull, and there is only so much you can take without a bit of a break.
The Isle of Purbeck in Dorset is one of my favourite places, you can really get away from it all. I have always loved being near the sea, and Dorset has such a fascinating coastline, there is always something new to see. I found this fossilised Ammonite in the cliffs near Langton Matravers, it was over a foot across.
Meanwhile, away from Durdle Door there has been some serious progress on the floor. (couldn’t resist saying it again!)
Sheepswool insulation has been inserted in between all the joists and the boards have been going down on top. The boards are secret pinned to the joists, meaning that you wont see any of the nails which hold them down. They are tongue and grooved, the groove fits over the tongue of the previous board and the pins are hidden in the tongue.
First of all holes are drilled through the tongue, then nails are hammered into these holes.
The nails go through at an angle into the joists so they don’t get in the way of the next board. They are then hit home with a punch to take them tight up against the wood.
The result is a secure, stable, and stunning looking expanse of uninterupted solid oak flooring.
I think it looks fantastic, and am particularly excited about the way you can see the character of the wood in the grain and the rays that run through it.
The floor has been layed within a stones throw of the woodland where the trees were felled. I like to think that some of the character of those woods is starting to show in the building. It doesn’t seem all that long ago that we were out working in the woods felling and processing the trees for these floorboards.
Seeing them take their place in the building is quite something. It was great to get away for a few days, but its also pretty good to get back.
