Insulation: The roofs have all been taken apart, leaving just the stone slabs (xorok) on top of the wooden beams. A new layer of filler material is then applied on top. This is where insulation comes in. Seven centemetre plus thick polystyrene was placed on top of this with every little space filled in so that very little heat escapes or, in this case, little heat enters the house.
A specialist company then applied the screed, pumped up from a contraption down in the road. For many of these jobs, we had to apply for a council permit to block the narrow road.
We have had various issues related to the pointing. The specialist product that had first been suggested by the architect was suddenly no longer available but we had already used it to point a large area of the main room and the courtyard. The importer gave us a substitute which he claimed to be the same colour-wise. The decorators went on applying it to a considerably big area. Only when it eventually dried, did I notice the colour was much colder and greyer than the previous one. This time we took no chances and tried out various colour variations on small sample areas. We waited for them to dry and chose the one.
We then had to chip the old pointing out again before applying the new one. It's frustrating to think about the amount of time that has been lost in doing the same work more than once.
A dark oak stain has been applied to the new beams so that they are similar in colour to the old ones in the house.
I am resigned to the fact that I shall be spending August here in Malta. Just last week I have just been to the UK on a spending spree for the house. I miss our home back in Reading. I enjoyed the little quality time I managed to steal with Mike and family. Now that work seems to be moving at a faster rate, can't wait to see it transformed.
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