We moved in

[Sonyaclegg]

Superb.
And you've done in months what takes many people years.
Perhaps a new career awaits....

I'd do no filling around that beam until ... well, until all the timber has stabilised in relation to the new heating and humidity environment. The could be a couple of years. When we had central heating we kept it no higher that 62F to avoid damage to the house.

Do you have a humidity meter in each room?
It will be interesting to see/plot the pattern across the year - ours is highest, in the high 70%s and therefore the internal wood most swollen, at the end of summer, and lowest about three weeks ago when with both woodburners lit in the evenings it touched 45%. Now, around 56% and rising.
When humidity is lowest is the time for filling, although filling cracks around any element that shrinks and swells with the seasons is liable to be rather futile.
Although it is in a way regretable to introduce modern gadgetry, you may find that there are parts of the house that will benefit from the permanent presence of a dehumidifier. We have an Ebac in the cellar, where it takes ten points off the readings and has banished the mould.

Ah, yes, the mould... if/when/where it appears will indicate where artificial dehumidification may be beneficial.

Ivor

We have had a lot of help with skilled craftsmen along the way but done as much as we can where we can. I can sand floors and seal wood but I draw the line at painting as all previous attempts have been an unmitigated disaster! We split the work between us so J was responsible for three phase electrics, septic tank, drain fields etc. He had lots of fun with diggers and the like with our two sons along with the contractors. I've dealt with all the applications, and the inside of the house.

Mould had sprung up on the inside of the mullions in the bathroom which is to be expected so a good bleach wash down keeps it in check.

I will invest in a humidity meter and see what readings I get..

 

[Sonyaclegg]

Very impressive in such a short period of time. I still remember the saga regarding the doors! I bet the stone walls around the wood burner are an amazing heat store once they get going.

Out of interest, did you finally find a solution to your rainwater down pipes? I vaguely remember them pouring directly onto the grass alongside the house.[/quote

We have temporary downspouts on the back of the house which is a huge improvement. The water from the spouts was pouring down the walls and causing damage. We are sourcing a cast iron solution, although we need to be careful with the installation as metal theft is rife here.

 

[malcolm]

Our place was unheated for a year and was terribly damp with water dripping from the walls and loads of mould. We had to live here a while (initially with heating on full and some windows open in winter) before we got an idea of where any damp really was. I suspect an unheated building project will be much the same.

How is your place looking from the outside? Looks like a fun building.

 

[Sonyaclegg]

Oh
my
word.
You've achieved so much. Now please go away again and stop putting us all to shame!! :wink:

We have had a lot of skilled help so I don't want you to think we have done it all. We haven't seen a lot of each other as one would be here with the other at home with the children so it's much easier now we live here. If I need to measure something, I don't have to make a journey.

I have followed your renovation which has been amazing to see pulled together. You are very skilled and should take great pride in all your achievements

 

[Zebra]

Why thank you. At the moment I am in a frustrating DIY cul-de-sac, wanting to lay floorboards but realising that I'm not absolutely sure that the pipes are in the right place underneath because I'm not certain of the exact width of the radiators, never having fitted one before, so perhaps I should buy one radiator, but then where would I put it while I lay the floor, perhaps I should just fit those floorboards and then fit the radiator, but I can't fit the radiator anyway because the wall it's going on isn't plastered, so OK, I'll board and plaster that wall first, but I can't plaster it until I've know what's going on the end of that wall to plaster up to, I know what'd look good, I'll make something out of old oak, hmmm, haven't got any the right size, OK, I'll make it out of green oak, I'll phone the woodyard tomorrow to order some oak........... g'ah!