Dwór Restoration

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Diary of Dworek Restoration

Dworek in 2005

Dworek in 2005

October 2007: We removed the extension to Dworek. This was completely in ruin and we have planned french doors and patio for this end of the house. Once the extension was removed, this end the house had to rebuilt as the walls were unstable.

This is the view of the new french doors openings after the extension had been rebuilt. The upper section still under construction.

Back porch removed...

With the back porch removed we created 2 new windows. Some difficulty making sure all windows were properly aligned.

What we have envisaged is a wide hallway without ceiling right across the house to the garden side. With the porch removed, the light floods into the hallway

Fresh underpinning of the corner of the new facade.

On the North West end of the house, we discovered that there were no foundations on this end, the house having been extended at some time in its history. So on this end we had to underpin the walls.

November 2008: The new hallway seen from the top floor (at this time an attic). In order to maximize the space in the house we decided to make Dwork a proper 2 storey house. Our advice was to make the floor from concrete. More strength, less noise. Also for the ground floor concrete replaced the wooden floor which was largely rotten.

A new concrete ground floor is laid on the ground floor.

The cellar stretches underneath the Southern half of the house with several rooms separated by arches. In order to accomodate a boiler and wash/store room, we create an entire newly room with access from the hallway. Here are workers removing boulders from the cellar.

Here is a view of the dark little chambers below after digging out the floor to give decent headroom.

In order to support the weight of the second floor, the walls were reinforced with 23 reinforced concrete pillars cut into the existing walls.

Here you can see the metal props to support the laying of the concrete second floor. We had to plan the new fire places and chimneys as each needed its hole in the concrete floor for later piping.

Dismantling of internal walls and cleaning of bricks, dismantling of internal walls and cleaning of bricks, dismantling of the chimneys, dismantling of the wooden lateral beams, addition of new internal walls using old bricks. Decisions on room size and use.

Here is a view of the top floor after the concrete floor has been laid. So the next work was to raise the roof by about 30cm allowing decent headroom upstairs and correcting a strange part of the orginal construction. The original roof was longer on side (front of the house) than on the other (back of the house). In any case, we now have even sides eg ^. The thickening of the walls on the top floor to support the roof has been completed without blocking the windows. The house is now ready to receive a new roof timbers and surface.

Our builder Witek and the Owner. Witek helped us greatly at a time when so many Polish builders went abroad. Without Witek we could not have acheived what we did.

Visit 5th - 7th December 2008. Work has just commenced on the roof. This will involve replacing around 70% of roof timbers, creating a new roof and porches. We are trying to keep as much original wood as possible. Its not easy to convince our builder of the value of original timbers, but we hope the message has been registered. 4 months behind schedule a team of carpenters from the mountain region of Zakopane rolled in with 3 lorry loads of wood. Weather is still ok - just - at around 5 deg celcius. The carpenters say provided we stay above zero, work is possible. The first supports are fitted in: the roof will be about 20-30cms higher than the original. The roof pitch will be 70% rather than 67%. This is to get more head room below. A steeper pitch also helps to preserve wood tiles (shingles) should we decide to use them later. The first new rafters go into place.

January 30th 2009 visit to Kuflew: Half the roof has been removed. Rafters are in place for this half. Builders are working in -4 deg cent. Its snowing but only a few centimetres. Dormer windows size test seems correct. No water in the Agronomowka due to frozen pipes. A 3rd lorry load of wood will arrive from the mountains shortly to continue work. We expect to complete the roof in the spring. Thereafter the house will be tiled with ceramic tiles.

Designing the dormer windows took considerable time. There is no right or wrong in Polish Dworeks. Ideas were borrowed from all across Europe in their construction. We decided to keep the design sympathetic to the first floor windows. We also need to consider the placement. Symetrical with the first floor windows but not as many in number.

May 2009. We spent 2 weeks at Easter in Kuflew. Half the roof has now been completed. The dormer windows are taking shape. But due to the very cold winter, the mountain carpenters have gone home back to the mountains. They are expected back next week to complete the roof. The dry conditions means the old well of 8m deep has no water. So we drill a new well to 25m which will also serves the Dwroek. Thats done within one day and at a reasonable cost of PLN 3,000. There are frogs everywhere. And where there are frogs, there are snakes. We see them warming up on the sand. Mostly grass snakes, but also some adders. With the dry conditions we make bonfires burning old branches, dry grass etc. We collect 4 tonnes of rubbish - its everywhere. Vodka bottles, tins and cans.

July 6th 2009. Visit house. Vegetation growth has been incredible in the last 2 months. We can hardly see the house. Finally, the roof woodwork is complete. Now it is time to allow timbers to dry before the carpentry is finished off. In the meantime, foundations to the porches for the front and back have been laid. The woodworkers have gone home again! Incredible how many long weekends, holidays they take. And considering its a 5 hour + car journey home to the mountains. Am happy with the light coming into the second floor.

April 2011: The house has been sitting there for a while with only asphalt on the roof. Sorry but other needs must dictate - the Agronomowka was fully refurbishmed downstairs. BUT, this year, tiles must go on the Dworek. So we have sourced tiles from TopDach - a ceramic natural red colour. good quality zinc for flashing. The roofers were recommended by TopDach (though not employed by them). We arrived week before Easter, and the roofers were keen to get started. We had a small issue with the wood provider. He would not let any slats off the lorry unless we had cash on the spot. However, next problem: metal arrives, conservationist explains requirements for the decking the windows by phone to the roofers, and they basically refuse and leave. We suspect, either they have a better job, or they don't know how to do the metal work. A new team will start shortly

Roof with Slats awaiting the tiling and Metal work

The Roof is finished with tiles, drains and downpipes. We leave the dworek for now to concentrate on the Red House.

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Mazovia, Poland.

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