Windows finally ordered

Some progress on the windows front. We met with Herr Sauer (the window man) and Herr Keller (our architect) yesterday evening to finalise details for the windows, after weeks of toing and froing.

We've decided on six panels per window for the most part, except the smallest of them, which will have no muntins (now there's a new word for me. I knew what they are called in German - Sprossen - but just had to check the English term), while the slightly smaller windows on the west gable, second floor will have four panes.

We've gone for French door style from the kitchen to the back garden, with a secondary entrance looking a little more like a cottage door. I think Herr Keller would have preferred more glass, but the Irish in me stuck to what we felt we liked best, for good or for worse.

The best part is that Herr Sauer said we should have them in before Christmas! Originally the plan was to have them a few weeks ago, but if they can do it before Christmas we'll be delighted. My wife gave him a big hug, so maybe he'll stick to his promise.

This is what they should look like:

South facade, planned.

Note we haven't selected front doors yet. I'm thinking two that should be usable, and two should be false doors (four front doors would be pretty expensive!), but we definitely want them to be a bit rustic looking.

West gable, planned.

North facade, planned.

The windows and doors, especially at the back, will be have additional security to bring them to the so-called WK2 standard (or is it KW2?).

East gable, planned.

Special delivery

I haven't been able to get a good look at the results of today's work (too bloody dark, and I can't walk on wet concrete), but it was a nice surprise to see this truck outside the house at lunchtime. That'll be the new floor of the cellar going in so!

Now there's been some discussion on whether the floor is too high, not leaving enough room for a screed and tiles, but it's a bit late now! Will just have to see how it looks tomorrow.

They also started breaking up the remaining half of the old kitchen floor, over the vaulted cellars. That'll need to be relaid carefully, as we definitely need room left for underfloor heating. It's going to be a tight fit, as the top of the vaulted cellars aren't that flexible.

Hardcore cellar

Last week the guys finished excavating two of the cellars and laid the pipes for the waste water. These have been covered with 15cm of hardcore (not yet finished), and we'll have 15cm of concrete to go on top of that, hopefully next week. The waste water pipes go as far as the wall, and another crew will come and dig a trench to connect it to the main sewer. Not very exciting, but it's a step towards having a new floor in the right two cellars.

Looking towards the back, cellar 4.

Ignore the pipe sitting on top, it's a spare. The upright one on the left is the main downpipe for the new bathroom and kitchen.

Looking towards the front, cellar 4.

Due to the way the old floor sloped (it used to be a cow stall), we'll have a step half way across the room.

Looking into cellar 3.

Cellar 3 also has a down pipe (not pictured) to accommodate the guest bathroom on the floor above. At the back left, the new door between the cellars can be seen (the one I broke a sledge hammer on while breaking through).

Meanwhile, we thought we'd waited long enough for the revised offer for our windows (7 weeks), so we paid them a visit and told them precisely what we want. A new offer was to be submitted on Friday, so hopefully we'll get that on Monday. If we accept that, it'll still be another 6 to 8 weeks before we have windows. Just in time for Chrsistmas! :P