10. Conservation double glazing panels are installed
10. Conservation double glazing panels are installed (Image 10 of 12)
In early spring, it's an extraordinary day on site: after months of time-consuming repair work, everything is arriving at once. First, after a year of wrangling with the council, the listed bedroom windows are being fitted, thanks partly to some very clever technology: a 10 mm thick double glazed unit filled with thermally efficient xenon and krypton. This may sound like a product invented by Superman but these glazing units are so delicate they really do look like single panes of glass.
Downstairs, which is effectively a new build, double glazed windows were always going to be allowed, but that doesn’t mean that it’s an easy job fitting them. There are eight bays of sliding doors which, given the huge areas of glass, have to conform to the highest insulation standards and some very tight physical tolerances.
As does the ribbon staircase, another new arrival today. It’s now a year since the engineers were first here on site to measure up. The bespoke sections of fabricated and painted steelwork are now being delicately eased into their tailored locations with extreme care and precision - and the big question is “Will it all fit?”
"There aren’t that many materials in here," says Ian, "but what we’ve used has been the best quality and we’ve been very precise in terms of the fittings going into the old building. We have a precise design, but we're working around a building that is definitely not precise."
From The Bath Apprentice Store Episode
Bath: The Story
Bath: Where To Buy Everything From The Show
Bath: House Tour
Bath: Behind The Scenes
Get More From Grand Designs
4Homes Self Build Advice
Which Grand Designs House Are You?
The Grand Designs Fanatics Quiz
From Huf Haus to Ikea, we look at the top kit home manufacturers and offer some expert advice

Your Comments
Post your comment
Please note: In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in to Channel 4:
Sign In Here or Register Here
Comments closed
Comments are closed at the present time
Comments
Thank you for your comment!
Your message will be reviewed and the best ones will be published below.
If you intended to make an official comment to Channel 4 please contact us.
Comments