Casa
Mazzaforte
www.mazzaforte.com
Mazzaforte
www.mazzaforte.com
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Not a lot happens in Italy in August, so we are extremely fortunate in
having our builders on-site and working for the whole month, albeit with a
cottages. Last week was plastering and laying in the piping for all services.
This week, the lower floor is being tiled in cotto - and very nice it looks too.
having our builders on-site and working for the whole month, albeit with a
cottages. Last week was plastering and laying in the piping for all services.
This week, the lower floor is being tiled in cotto - and very nice it looks too.
Laying water pipes
outside the current
entrance to
Mazzaforte, assisted
by Bianca and
day-boarders.
outside the current
entrance to
Mazzaforte, assisted
by Bianca and
day-boarders.
be fitted by the third week in September. The plan then is that we will
move into the bigger cottage and out of the smaller one - where we have
been living since late June. The builders will then complete some final work
on the smaller cottage that we deliberately didn't do when we moved in.
This includes laying the wooden floor in the bedroom, making some
alterations in the bathroom and polishing the cotto tiles on the lower floor
and portico. We also need to paint the interior and to fit a number of
lights, both internal and external.
connect Mazzaforte to the mains water supply. We are now into the fifth
week of work which has involved digging a trench for water and electricity
pipes. The trench runs about 1.5kms downhill to join up with the Comune
Acquedotto as it crosses the hill between two other properties. At the
connection point we have had to put in two 5000 litre underground
cisternas and electric pumps to pump the water up the hill. Furtunately
three of our neighbours have also joined in on the project, so this has
made a big difference to the overall cost.
Water is a huge issue for everybody in the area and having been entirely
dependent upon expensive tanker deliveries since moving here in June, we
will be uncorking the prosecco the moment the first mains water empties
into Mazzaforte's own cisterna. This 10,000 litre beauty we buried
underground next to where the car park is going to be located after we
have moved the main entrance to the property, one of the last jobs to be
done .
Once both cottages are finished by the end of September, work on the
main house will resume. All work should be completed by mid-November,
allowing just enough time to get it ready for Christmas.
move into the bigger cottage and out of the smaller one - where we have
been living since late June. The builders will then complete some final work
on the smaller cottage that we deliberately didn't do when we moved in.
This includes laying the wooden floor in the bedroom, making some
alterations in the bathroom and polishing the cotto tiles on the lower floor
and portico. We also need to paint the interior and to fit a number of
lights, both internal and external.
connect Mazzaforte to the mains water supply. We are now into the fifth
week of work which has involved digging a trench for water and electricity
pipes. The trench runs about 1.5kms downhill to join up with the Comune
Acquedotto as it crosses the hill between two other properties. At the
connection point we have had to put in two 5000 litre underground
cisternas and electric pumps to pump the water up the hill. Furtunately
three of our neighbours have also joined in on the project, so this has
made a big difference to the overall cost.
Water is a huge issue for everybody in the area and having been entirely
dependent upon expensive tanker deliveries since moving here in June, we
will be uncorking the prosecco the moment the first mains water empties
into Mazzaforte's own cisterna. This 10,000 litre beauty we buried
underground next to where the car park is going to be located after we
have moved the main entrance to the property, one of the last jobs to be
done .
Once both cottages are finished by the end of September, work on the
main house will resume. All work should be completed by mid-November,
allowing just enough time to get it ready for Christmas.
The kitchen. The door
on the right leads into
the laundry and
shower/wet room.
on the right leads into
the laundry and
shower/wet room.
You are never short
of stones in Umbria
of stones in Umbria
This concrete box is the access
point to the water cisterna.
point to the water cisterna.
Still very much
a building site.
a building site.
Click on the images
below for an enlarged
view.
below for an enlarged
view.
image for an
enlarged view.
enlarged view.
(15 August), virtually
all work in Italy comes
to a complete stop.
have been on site
every day, the level of
activity could not
accurately be
described as frenetic.
Some quality work has
been done, but the
pace has been
measured.
To the left - the cotto
laid last week in the
largest cottage has
now been grouted.
This needs to dry and
settle for two weeks
before being oiled and
polished.
all work in Italy comes
to a complete stop.
have been on site
every day, the level of
activity could not
accurately be
described as frenetic.
Some quality work has
been done, but the
pace has been
measured.
To the left - the cotto
laid last week in the
largest cottage has
now been grouted.
This needs to dry and
settle for two weeks
before being oiled and
polished.
The new, second doorway requires an external
step, so at the same time, the paved terrace is
being extended.
step, so at the same time, the paved terrace is
being extended.
Thankfully, after being hacked to the ground to
make way for the scaffolding erected for
re-pointing the walls of the cottage, the three
oleander shrubs growing against the south
facing wall, have reasserted themselves.
make way for the scaffolding erected for
re-pointing the walls of the cottage, the three
oleander shrubs growing against the south
facing wall, have reasserted themselves.
Click on any
image for an
enlarged view.
image for an
enlarged view.
There has been a change in the weather - rain and thunder storms for the
best part of three days earlier this week. Usefully at this point in the
project, what the rain has also done is to highlight a couple of problem
drainage areas around the main house. Now that we're aware that this is
an issue, we'll have it fixed over the next few weeks.
best part of three days earlier this week. Usefully at this point in the
project, what the rain has also done is to highlight a couple of problem
drainage areas around the main house. Now that we're aware that this is
an issue, we'll have it fixed over the next few weeks.
Click on any
image for an
enlarged view.
image for an
enlarged view.
Another week of limited activity, but some definite progress has been
made. The elettricista has now fully wired the cottage, so the light fittings
can go in at any time. The idraulico has almost completed the water piping
on the upper floor, and both bathrooms are now ready to have sanitary
ware installed. The builders are now back in the main house, plastering
walls and completing some minor structural work.
made. The elettricista has now fully wired the cottage, so the light fittings
can go in at any time. The idraulico has almost completed the water piping
on the upper floor, and both bathrooms are now ready to have sanitary
ware installed. The builders are now back in the main house, plastering
walls and completing some minor structural work.
Not work done this last week, but a
good view of the completely re-tiled
and insulated roof of the cottage.
good view of the completely re-tiled
and insulated roof of the cottage.
A neat new step for the
second entrance to the
cottage
second entrance to the
cottage
The kitchen now wired.
| Underfloor Water pipes for the bathrooms and radiators on the upper floor. |
There have to be some screw-ups and
this idea for housing a radiator at the
top of the stairwell was a fine example.
It will be removed on Monday and the
radiator will go on the wall, opposite.
this idea for housing a radiator at the
top of the stairwell was a fine example.
It will be removed on Monday and the
radiator will go on the wall, opposite.
These three shots are taken inside the house. Left, is the second bedroom
on the main floor, plastering now finished. The middle picture is of the
reception room on the same floor. The door on the left leads to the loggia
and the one on the right into the cloak room. The picture to the right is of
the plastering underway in the principal bedroom.
on the main floor, plastering now finished. The middle picture is of the
reception room on the same floor. The door on the left leads to the loggia
and the one on the right into the cloak room. The picture to the right is of
the plastering underway in the principal bedroom.
Two weeks on from the last update, more work has been done on the
cottage and most of the rooms on the upper two floors of the main house
have been plastered. We think we are now days away from the mains
water being connected. This "eleven day" project is now in its eighth week.
cottage and most of the rooms on the upper two floors of the main house
have been plastered. We think we are now days away from the mains
water being connected. This "eleven day" project is now in its eighth week.
Marina Carlini measuring-up the kitchen
in the cottage.
in the cottage.
Freshly dug
trench for the
water pipe,
running
down the
drive to the
main cisterna.
trench for the
water pipe,
running
down the
drive to the
main cisterna.
The final replacement stone lintel
being fitted to the cottage. New
windows and doors arrive next week.
being fitted to the cottage. New
windows and doors arrive next week.
The library plastered.
The main reception room on the
first floor also plastered
first floor also plastered
| Cottage and newly recovered oleanders |
Building Project Update - 16 September 2007
Building Project Update - 2 September 2007
Building Project Update - 25 August 2007