Now that the materials were here, all I had to do was measure out the exact building lines, mix a load of mortar and start to build.
People have told me that the first few blocks, working below ground level, are the most difficult. I spent a long while getting lines and levels right, and started with the corners, ensuring I got the levels right to match with the existing Damp Proof Course.
I started with the medium density concrete blocks for just the outside skin and ensured that the blocks were vertical, straight and level; that the corners were at right-angles and the three lines between the existing damp courses and the new blocks were level.
A 5:1 mix of sand to cement meant that I was using 2 1/2 bags of sand to 1/2 bag of cement in the mixer. I had forgotten to get any plasticiser, but I shall remedy that tomorrow. Actually the blocks went down very easily and needed little adjustment; probably because of the time and trouble we took getting the foundation concrete level.
Before I did the blocks I decided to remove the old cast-iron soil pipe, a job I had not been looking forward to, partly because it is so heavy and partly because even at the top of my scaffold tower the top was out of my reach and would likely come crashing down onto the scaffold sending me catapulting into next-door's garden.
In the event a few blows of a large lump hammer shattered enough of the pipe to make the remaining section less of a threat. It came down easily, thanks to Newton's discovery. The only bit that put up any real resistance was the connector into the bathroom which needed digging out with a chisel. So I am very relieved have got rid of it and bricked up the hole in the back wall.
We are very fortunate in Norwich to have a wide range of builder's merchants, all of whom would be delighted to fulfil my requirements for blocks, sand, cement and the vast range of associated bits and pieces I will need.
Not all of them have a good web-presence with online shop so I could compare prices, but those who did were remarkably varied in their prices. For the pallet of aerated blocks, pallet of medium-density blocks, sand and cement the prices
ranged from £502 to £740.
Needless to say I chose the £502 that Wickes quoted - including delivery and vat.
My task was to remove the 200 or so blocks along with the sand and cement from the drive, to the back of the house and stack them all in an ordered and useable manner without them getting in the way.
Space is somewhat limited around the extension and drive, and I don't want to have to move things twice if I can avoid it.
I can't fault Wickes at all.
They sent me a text to confirm the date of delivery and the time-slot. They rang to give me 30 minutes' notice and sent a confirmation text afterwards.
The supplies came on 4 pallets:
- 2 pallets of medium-density concrete blocks - 176 in total
- 1 pallet of 100 Celcon aerated blocks
- a mixed pallet of 200 bricks, 25 bags of building sand and 5 bags of cement.
It was a challenge unloading them using the hydraulic lift on the back of the truck because of the telephone wire overhead.
The driver was very skilled and managed to weave around it - even removing the Celcon locks from the pallet for me so I had one spare to move the blocks onto.
Then I moved them: 176 x 20kg blocks, 100 x 5kg aerated blocks, 200 bricks, 25 x 25kg bags of sand and 5 x 25kg bags of cement. Total weight?
5 tonnes of building supplies.
All now neatly stacked waiting for me to have a free moment to start mixing mortar and laying blocks.
People have told me that the first few blocks, working below ground level, are the most difficult. I spent a long while getting lines and levels right, and started with the corners, ensuring I got the levels right to match with the existing Damp Proof Course.
I started with the medium density concrete blocks for just the outside skin and ensured that the blocks were vertical, straight and level; that the corners were at right-angles and the three lines between the existing damp courses and the new blocks were level.
A 5:1 mix of sand to cement meant that I was using 2 1/2 bags of sand to 1/2 bag of cement in the mixer. I had forgotten to get any plasticiser, but I shall remedy that tomorrow. Actually the blocks went down very easily and needed little adjustment; probably because of the time and trouble we took getting the foundation concrete level.
Before I did the blocks I decided to remove the old cast-iron soil pipe, a job I had not been looking forward to, partly because it is so heavy and partly because even at the top of my scaffold tower the top was out of my reach and would likely come crashing down onto the scaffold sending me catapulting into next-door's garden. 
