ASBESTOS IS REMOVED AND A LOG BURNER INSTALLED - Jan/Feb 2012

Following the chimney fire and the resulting damage caused to the potentially dangerous asbestos we arranged for it to be professionally removed.

Men arrived to remove the asbestos. They wore complete overalls and masks and created ‘cubicles’ attached to the fireplace to reduce the risk of contamination. The lounge resembled a crime scene from 'Silent Witness'. 

The men installed a shower unit outside to wash themselves following removal of the Asbestos. (Outside shower in January??? I think I'd have put up with the contamination risk!)

Before installing a new log burner, we decided that a slate hearth would suit the fireplace. So we researched the price of second hand roof slates to use and discovered the 'best kept secret no 1': in the Midlands they sell for a third of the Wales price. They may not be Welsh slates, but we're not here to fool anyone, we just want a floor that is inkeeping with the character of the house.
So equipped with roof slates from the Midlands, Will drove over to Wales to lay a floor ready to take a new burner.

A new burner was installed on a half tiled hearth, and made all the difference to the house. It increased the temperature, improved the appearance of the room and assisted greatly in decreasing the damp and smell. 

With the installation of the log burner, during our visits we relocated to this lounge instead of the lower lounge.

Logs have become as valuable as currency in this household, and clearly in other nearby homes too.  We have offers of cheap tree felling (but only if the feller gets to keep the logs). Local visitors inquire with interest about where we obtain logs, how much they cost, etc. Neighbours compete in the 'best wood pile competition'. Equally, wood piles are respected and although on show to the public, nobody would steal from a log pile - but there again there's not much evidence of any stealing going on up here (best kept secret No 2). In our travels across the country, we contemplate the degree of difficulty involved in taking home any logs or branches (or whole trees, come to think of it) we come across for sale or otherwise.

There is a sawmill nearby which sells all things wood, such as fencing, etc, It also sells ready chopped & seasoned logs. We buy a truck load about every fortnight.

There is a saying that logs are value for money because they heat you up 3 times – once when you chop down the tree, again when you chop them up and again when they are lit and giving out warmth. I would argue that there's a fourth time – when you load and unload the truck.

Many thanks to my brother who was in the process of clearing up a vast garden of trees and kindly gave us a couple of truck loads of branches to later chop into logs. 

Will's Christmas present this year? A log splitter! (Sorry Will - that didn't happen - maybe next year?)


Next blog -  A potential wind turbine nearby?