USVI-On-Line

Posted: **Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:03 am**

In last week we got windows and doors in the house, and the first layer of roofing felt was put on. So now it’s easier too see, how the house will be looking, when it finished.

The pump to the geothermal heat has been installed, and the builders told us that they were ready to start the heating of the floor in this week, so the house could be dried out. We looked surprised at them. The house was indescribable dirty. Because of all the rain we have had, there was a layer of mud overall, and in some of the rooms the floor was flooded with water. We couldn’t believe that they did not remove the water and the mud before starting to heat the floor. But no. That was not their intention.

We couldn’t stand thinking of how much electricity, there was needed to dry a house out (especially not now with all the climate talk here in DK), where there was water and mud all over together with scrap of cement, nails and cartons. So we used the weekend, a vacuum cleaner, which could take water too, shovel, broom and wheelbarrow and cleaned all rooms. A hard work but we enjoyed it afterwards seeing the cleaned house. And we would have liked to see the builders faces, when they saw it Monday morning.

Here the house now

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/Xlp ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/Sya5c ... 5.JPG"></a>

Our windows and doors are aluminium outside and tree inside (no need to paint them) and with glasses which save energy.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/MgC ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/SyiPO ... 5.JPG"></a>

Our sleeping room where a part is cleaned. In the corner you still can see a layer of sand and mud.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/jzv ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/Sya5e ... 8.JPG"></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/n0K ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/Sya5d ... 9.JPG"></a>

Our utility and “engine”room where the floor was filled with water

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/d62 ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/SyiRM ... 0.JPG"></a>

But I need to say that despite of the mess, we are satisfied with the builders work.

Linne

Posted: **Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:18 am**

Linne,

Friday night, my husband read this thread and wrote a long PM to you full of Danish building questions but lost it when he tried to send it.

He will be interested in seeing your new post.

Posted: **Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:01 am**

Wow, the builders combined with the rain sure does make a big mess! I'm surprised they didn't clean it, I would have done just what you did and clean it myself!

Linne - your house is beautiful! Thanks for keeping us updated! Have your neighbors said anything about the stone now that the exterior is all done? I really like it!

Posted: **Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:15 am**

PA Girl wrote:Linne,

Friday night, my husband read this thread and wrote a long PM to you full of Danish building questions but lost it when he tried to send it.

He will be interested in seeing your new post.

PA girl, you are welcome to ask questions in a PM, if you or your hubby like

California Girl wrote:
Have your neighbors said anything about the stone now that the exterior is all done? I really like it!

No, she hasn’t seen it yet. Her house is closed for the winter. But other neighbours said that they liked the stones now they could see a built wall. So perhaps it will be the same for her.Let's see.

Linne

Posted: **Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:42 pm**

Wow, that's quite a project Linne! I hope you fill it with many happy memories.

Posted: **Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:13 am**

Due to the weather condition the builders haven’t been able to work every day.

But the day, we had a meeting with the man. who shall deliver the kitchen and the bathroom closets, there were 3 bricklayers working and 2 plumbers.

One was making the installation for the taps. It’s a little complicated to install the taps, we have chosen. Do you know the Danish “Vola” taps (http://www.vola.dk/sw3882.asp)? We have them at home and like them, they are so easy to clean, but the type, which is installed in the wall, need much accuracy to make preparations for.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/VOp ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/Szofn ... 3.JPG"></a>

One was closing the hole around the place , where you can use the central vacuum cleaner.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/RdO ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/Szofr ... 6.JPG"></a>

And another had prepared the walls for painting. I cannot find the English word. We call it something like “water scrubbing”. You use a special mortar with cement, and scrub it on the wall.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/G7F ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/Szofp ... 8.JPG"></a>

And the bricklayer master himself was making the windowsill in the utility room

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/xuH ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/Szofq ... 5.JPG"></a>

Here the view to the snow. It got worse later on. The next day they couldn’t work.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/8Eu ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/Szofo ... 4.JPG"></a>

Linne

Posted: **Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:12 pm**

Linne - questions and comments from my husband and another guy in our office:

1. The advertisement/name & phone # on the side of the worker's pants is interesting to us. My husband likes the idea and wonders if our uniform company would do the same.

2. They (husband & employee) are shocked that you are painting the interior brick. They like the raw brick finish. Are you plastering it first? Or painting right on the brick?

Posted: **Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:23 pm**

Love those vacpans for the central vacuum

Nice house and I think it's cool tradesmen wear the company logo on their pants. Never seen that in the US

{edit} by vacpan I mean the dustpan attachment I think i'm seeing on the flexible hose.

Those are really nice, great in kitchens & baths to take care of a quick sweep job.

Funny I wasn't the only one to notice the logo on the pants.

Posted: **Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:36 pm**

Linne, your house is coming along so nicely! A central vacuum is something I've always wanted. We had one in a house we rented once, and it was fabulous! I checked out the Vola taps and they're beautiful!! I especially like the colored ones in the catalog! WOW! "Us" Danes have good taste in water taps!

(ok, so I'm only 1/4 Danish)

Posted: **Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:08 pm**

PA Girl wrote:Linne - questions and comments from my husband and another guy in our office:

1. The advertisement/name & phone # on the side of the worker's pants is interesting to us. My husband likes the idea and wonders if our uniform company would do the same.

2. They (husband & employee) are shocked that you are painting the interior brick. They like the raw brick finish. Are you plastering it first? Or painting right on the brick?

1. That’s so funny that the idea of using name etc. on the worker’s uniform isn’t common in USA.
I thought that everything like this came from you. In some situations Hubby wear a shirt with the name on the company, he works for, embroidered on. Isn’t that common in USA either ?

2. In Denmark it’s modern with big windows and light colours, and it has for many years been a part of the Scandinavian style to use light colours. Many new built houses are “black and white” - white walls and black tables, tiles or perhaps kitchen. Hubby and I are a little old fashion because we still have dark brick walls in some rooms in our house here. Many people would have painted them white, but we like the brick walls, and we like that it’s not what you see everywhere. But it makes the room darker! We want our summerhouse to be light, so the walls there will be painted white. Before painting we use a “primer” (plaster?) and then we will paint with a diffusion coating (don’t know if this is the right word). The bricks, which are used to the inside walls, are cheap bricks made on a machine, not very interesting to look at, so if you want a brick wall you will choose some others – as we do some places.

Wakey wrote:Love those vacpans for the central vacuum

Nice house and I think it's cool tradesmen wear the company logo on their pants. Never seen that in the US

{edit} by vacpan I mean the dustpan attachment I think i'm seeing on the flexible hose.

Those are really nice, great in kitchens & baths to take care of a quick sweep job.

Funny I wasn't the only one to notice the logo on the pants.

I have to tell that I never have tried a central vacuum cleaner. I have mostly chosen it, because as you say, I find that the dustpan attachment must be great to do a quick sweep job. Hubby didn’t want the central vacuum, it’s a little expensive, so we have had many discussions, he thinks I/he? will be tired of the long vacuum cleaner pipe, which is needed (9 meter). I don’t know, perhaps I will (but I will never admit it, if so

)

Linne

Posted: **Tue Dec 29, 2009 5:43 pm**

linne wrote: I have to tell that I never have tried a central vacuum cleaner. I have mostly chosen it, because as you say, I find that the dustpan attachment must be great to do a quick sweep job. Hubby didn’t want the central vacuum, it’s a little expensive, so we have had many discussions, he thinks I/he? will be tired of the long vacuum cleaner pipe, which is needed (9 meter). I don’t know, perhaps I will (but I will never admit it, if so )
Linne

Linne, I love my central vac (no dustpan attachments though) and the long pipe/hose is not a bother.
I like the comfortable way your dining area is already looking

...wonderful windows there.
I am enjoying watching this house being built and think it is looking great. Thanks for continuing to post the pics and for telling us what is happening next.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:44 am**

linne wrote: 1. That’s so funny that the idea of using name etc. on the worker’s uniform isn’t common in USA.
I thought that everything like this came from you. In some situations Hubby wear a shirt with the name on the company, he works for, embroidered on. Isn’t that common in USA either ?

It is common on shirts, we haven't seen it on pants.

Posted: **Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:59 am**

Linne I think you will love the vacuum you just need to learn to manage the hose.

I find it best to carry it coiled in large coils on your shoulder to where you need it.

Ask the installer for a sock that stretches over the hose, they are usually standard these days and very helpful in regard to accidental rubbing on woodwork in doorways.

Congrats on the house!

PS If it were me I'd ask the contractor not to use the vacuum to clean up construction mess. Fine dust from mortar and sheetrock wallboard can clog a filter really quick! Continued use with a clogged filter is not good for the motor. Have them give you the hose at closing

Posted: **Mon Jan 04, 2010 4:52 am**

lprof and Wakey: Thank you for the advice about the vacuum cleaner!

California Girl wrote: I checked out the Vola taps and they're beautiful!! I especially like the colored ones in the catalog! WOW! "Us" Danes have good taste in water taps! (ok, so I'm only 1/4 Danish)

Perhaps it is the Danish blood, which means that you like the taps CA girl, but it could also be because you can see the quality of the product.

I will do a little advertising for Vola.

The products are designed by the Danish architect, Arne Jacobsen for more than 40 years ago. He won a competition about building a new National Bank of Denmark. His style was a very basic and simple style, and a manufacturer gave him the idea to put the pipes to the taps etc. into the wall, so that they were invisible. This was completely new at that time. AJ like the idea and designed both the tapes and the accessories in a certain simple style and with different possibilities for combinations. (I can assure you that we don’t have stocks in the company

– I just like the story and the products.)

Here some pics:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/cy_ ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/S0Efw ... 5.JPG"></a>

The tap here is 33 years old, and we still have it in our guest bathroom (33 years ago brown was
a favourite colour). And the accessories are of course in the same colour.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/YcM ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/S0Efv ... 7.JPG"></a>

The tap here in our utility room is about 10 years old.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/OVm ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/S0Efu ... 9.JPG"></a>

The black one in the kitchen is 6 years old. We got it, when we renovated our kitchen and chose a sink in black silgranite – which I can recommend too!

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/tcW ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/S0Efs ... 1.JPG"></a>

At the same time we renovated our bathroom. We had coloured taps before, but in the new bathroom it was nicer with mat chrome. Besides- we were told that the coloured ones are not in the same good quality as before, because some of the materials, which were used to produce them, now are forbidden to use in the production.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/yVk ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/S0Efv ... 4.JPG"></a>

The accessories are the same style as for 33 years ago – but time change - we have no ashtray in the renovated bathroom!

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/nF9 ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/S0Eft ... 0.JPG"></a>

As you can see, the product is really a classic! We will have the mat chrome taps in our new house too.

Here the newest pic from the house. The weather still causes delay. But the builders have worked 3 days after Christmas and have built more of the outside wall.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/lh/photo/KNn ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4aSBK_jB-gs/S0EgN ... 3.JPG"></a>

Linne

Posted: **Mon Jan 04, 2010 12:40 pm**

Looking great can't wait to see the finished product

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