We're getting there

This is the view from the main entrance balcony towards the station drive. The site has been cleared of the aftermath of building works. The area shown will, subject to planning permission, be occupied by a three bay garage. The pile of stones to the left are all that remain of a huge stone pile after the retaining walls had been faced. At the far side of the digger is the stock of stone slabs that had been removed from the tank house floor for re-use. . .

. . . and here is the start of their re-use, on the slope leading up the the side door. The square stones are setts reclaimed locally.

This shows a stone channel leading to the surface water drain. The channel is being constructed from stones reclaimed from the one time stables inside the tower.

The stone setts and the surface water grate - original to the tower and still in fine condition. The care being taken with this otherwise mundane aspect of the build is hugely impressive. These guys know what is right and they j.f.d.i.

A visit to Cardiff

Courtesy of the owners and of Tiger Aspect, we had the privilege of a televised viewing of The Cardiff Water Tower.   The contrasts and similarities to the project at Settle are remarkable.   We came away with many ideas - and many reassurances that solutions we have found have worked in Cardiff.

There are just too many pictures to show here but follow these links:
https://picasaweb.google.com/follyatsettle/CardiffWaterTower?authkey=Gv1sRgCLjykcvBk-HuVA
and
http://dcfw.org/casestudies/view/the_water_tower

If our project turns out as well as that at Cardiff (and we are quite confident of it) we shall be thrilled.

Elegant touches and we have a roof

The removal of scaffolding and tarpaulins has revealed the first floor to tank staircase. It is an amazing structure that seems to just hang there unsupported. You need to imagine it with wooden treads and risers and glass balustrades.

This is the northern retaining wall and steps nearing completion. The curve of the wall end is just the job. All the stone has come from the water tower or from Settle station.

The pathway alongside the new fence takes shape.

The photograph does not do justice to what has been achieved inside the tank during this heatwave week. The blue tarpaulin tent covers the area where the roof room will be. The grey surround is the finished glass fibre surface of the flat roof.

The main bathroom's shower enclosure is fitted.

First snow of winter?

Looking like a snow scene, this is the tank floor now covered with 170 mm of Duratherm foam. Before the day was over roofer James Holgate has laid roofing boards on top of the foam. Just for fun, the water inlet pipe of the tank has been flash sprayed with foam. It will later be painted, direct onto the foam.

This is Gary McKee, foam sprayer and Arabian impersonator. The sun today was so hot that the headgear was very practical. The sun's heat not only dried out the tank it helped the foam to cure quickly so that the job was done in a day.

Gary in action. The foam depth can be judged against the three untreated panels. The chemicals that comprise the foam are pre-heated and delivered to the spray gun at very high pressure via insulated pipework. The setting foam achieves an instant skin and can bear a man's weight almost straight away.

Tank insulation

We decided that the best way to insulate the tank base, with all its nooks and crannies, was to spray it on. Isothane's Duratherm was what we have used, supplied by Sprayseal. Here is one of four giant barrels of the foam - weighing in at 3/4 of a tonne of ingredients. The heated ingredients are delivered at high pressure.

Gary McKee in full swing with the insulation spray. We are using 170mm thickness of foam. The roof will be laid on top of it within 24 hours. It is amazing to watch Gary applying this stuff. He has been doing it for 28 years and thinks he will get to enjoy it eventually.

Pumping out the water tank for the very last time

0600 hours and Chris (You Dump It, We Pump It) Armstrong arrives on site with his sewage tank emptying machine - a giant vacuum cleaner. We have puzzled for long enough wondering how we could pump the tank absolutely dry before it was insulated and roofed. Chris came to the rescue with this novel idea. Besides having a dirty job he has a good sense of humour. The notice on the back of his lorry reads 'CAUTION Stool Bus'.

The Stool Bus watch dog, Heidi.

A sewage pipe runs up the main staircase.

On the dot of 0900 hours Sprayseal arrive to do the insulation. Click on the warning sign on the back of the sewage lorry.

Here at the other end of the pipe Chris Armstrong is sucking out the very final drops of water from the tank. Note the sunshine which quickly dried out any remaining dampness.

The water tank roof takes shape

An Indian summer is forecast so we are making full speed this week with the tank roof. This is James (Settle Roofing) Holgate who will be laying the flat roof surface. Today we have been laying the substructure, building in a 3" north to south slope. The fibreglass roof needs a high temperature to cure properly - we hope to get it on Tuesday and Wednesday. Fingers crossed.

This shows the hills behind Settle in the evening sunshine. The timbers are ready for the application of spray foam insulation tomorrow. We start pumping out the tank at 6am.

Possibly the last ever picture of the tank with water in it. The footprint of the 40 sq m roof room can be seen in this view. Also an intermediate step of the staircase from the floor below.

A view northwards towards Pen y Ghent.   The trees are on the turn.

And to the east we see Castlebergh rocks and flagpole.