Library to Resource Area

[Dragonrider]

Wish me luck!

Actually started the other day getting ready for this one, removing the old, fitted shelving from our school library as I'm changing it's use to a resource area, whilst the resource area is becoming the new Library. Thankfully, a firm is coming in to install the new library kit, I'm just working on the old library.

The wall's are iffy in places. One has had damp in, being fixed, but the plaster has gone and only the bookcase was keeping it firmly on the wall, another wall is so naff it needs replacing, complete stud wall to go in it's place. Then there is a doorway to a classroom, which is to be blocked off and as much sound deadening as I can possibly work in to the gap adding. Of course, there are no electrics in the room, so the electrican is due late next week.

The plumber is due on Friday to remove a radiator so I can chase the wall clear and dot and dab 1/2" plasterboard and get that smooth again. The skip is coming on Monday and the gear on Friday all ready for half term.

Then, it's all hands to the pumps and bring down the plaster, the naff wall and box off the doorway, rebuild the wall and hopefully, by Thursday, be ready for the electrician and the new library firm! I must be mad to have agreed to this!

If anyone is interested, I'll keep you posted!

 

[AdamW]

Are you a teacher at this school? If so, that is devotion to your post!

Makes you wonder though, where is all the tax money going that should be paying for this to be done? It is great for you to be doing it, but a bit rough that you are giving up your holiday to get it done!

I am interested in one aspect of the electrics in particular: is the spark going to install network cabling for computers? If it hasn't been considered it might be a good idea to give it some thought.

Let us know how it all goes.

 

[Dragonrider]

Are you a teacher at this school? If so, that is devotion to your post!

Makes you wonder though, where is all the tax money going that should be paying for this to be done? It is great for you to be doing it, but a bit rough that you are giving up your holiday to get it done!

I am interested in one aspect of the electrics in particular: is the spark going to install network cabling for computers? If it hasn't been considered it might be a good idea to give it some thought.

Let us know how it all goes.

No, I'm the caretaker and it goes with the job! Tax money?!?! Not in my school.....

Ahh, BUT I get all of August off, and if I can get it done in time, a mega long weekend at the end of Half term!

No, sparkie not installing network cables, I do that! Already rigged the computer suite for that, installed the broadband gear and also the hubs too.

Wish me luck! "Your time starts now" as someone famous once said

 

[AdamW]

Blimey, when I was at school the caretaker seemed to spend most of his time pottering about in his shed! The school caretaker of the 21st century is a computer network engineer

Good luck with the project, building studwalls is quite fun in my opinion, because you end up with such a drastic change when it is finished.

 

[Dragonrider]

Blimey, when I was at school the caretaker seemed to spend most of his time pottering about in his shed! The school caretaker of the 21st century is a computer network engineer

Good luck with the project, building studwalls is quite fun in my opinion, because you end up with such a drastic change when it is finished.

Well, I've been in this job over 20 years now and the job has changed so much! Now I do jobs like open up/lock up, clean up, potter in my shed, as you would expect, plus make props, rig sound and lighting effects for the school plays, I've pretty much wired the entire hall for sound, mics and lighting, as well as give the drama teacher a hand in rehearsals. Then there's design and rig up an entire network, as well as maintain it with the Head of IT (She can usually find the on/off switch - in joke this week). I've even covered the office whilst the secretary is off ill, deal with the parents, back up the head, draft specs for major works, price them and advise on which firms to use, as well as maintain the building, look after the grounds and on and on and on ......

Still, got the bookcases out now, down to bare walls, deliveries expected tomorrow afternoon, and the plumber to remove a rad, then once school closes, It's Hammer Time!

 

[Dragonrider]

Here's the first piccy of the old library, it shows the current state of a (disused) door into a classroom, long since replaced, but teacher objected too much to it been removed, as it should have been, in the last round of alterations. She still objects to it going, but it's going!

Note the block of wood on the left of the door, it's holding part of the plaster on the wall! Major drop off expected on Monday!

Oh, below, check out the new library! Delivery of parts and crew, Thursday!

 

[AdamW]

New library looks nice and bright, skylights are a cracking good idea for libraries as you get lots of natural light for reading, great.

What is the insulation for in the old library? Is this for the stud walls you are building, or for loft insulation?

 

[Dragonrider]

Insulation is for the stud wall, loft is another floor and a bit above this level!

This is the worst part of doing jobs here, EVERYTHING is stairs! And LOT's of them!

 

[AdamW]

Ah, but you have plenty of room and can easily clear the space around your work area into a corridor. Try performing a major remodelling of a one-bedroom flat whilst living in it! This is what I am currently doing and it can be very annoying as you have a pile of clothes there, a pile of tools there, and a stack of timber there!

 

[Dragonrider]

Oh great!

Got the door blocked off and insulated, the wall next to it looses a lot of plaster and stones, not bricks! Sort that out, -ish and the plumber comes(three days late) just as I start on the naff wall.

He merrily drains the rad on the carpet as I bring part of the wall off, to find rampant dry rot in the battens and lath.

Some days, NOTHING goes smoothly!

 

[Dragonrider]

Everything comes to a dead stop, galloping dry rot throughout wall, old lath and battens completely gone, even in the solid plaster wall! Someone seems to have put concrete over some of it and I've distrubed it all now.

Called in the specialists, bet it's in the ceiling joists, not to mention the walls upstairs, as I am farily sure I know where the damp got in.....