Homework2

When you remove the plaster from a 200-year old house you are bound for surprises. Like old openngs in walls that were there in the past. This one is in the back wall of the house, and a lucky one. We wanted a new ventilation opening for the toilet,
as we used the old one for the pellet stove exhaust pipe, just around the corner at the same height. If only we'd known!

This we'll use as the toilet ventilation. And a nice big cap stone! Perfect!

Same with the front wall. We want a solar air heater there, that needs a pipe inside. That needs a hole in the wall. And it's already there! Near perfect spot!

Other surprises are that some people use old cement bags to "fill" holes, and simply plaster that over.
We call that "ansteystyle" work, after the previous owner, who used this kind of "finish" in more places.

Also at the back of the house: the donkey ring. That was used to tie your donkey. And that happened often,
as the ring is well worn. And see how it is attached to the wall? Smithy work around a pebble, and that set in mortar. Sorry the pebble is broken while removing the plaster.

I'm using the opportunity to treat all woodwork of the windowframes that are now accessible, with the plaster removed. Permethrin against termites and woodworm, and a few treatments with tung-oil for protection against water and humidity.
Around all window frames there's actual plaster (gypsum). That is traditional here, but also a bad idea. Gypsum is not waterproof. On the contrary, it attracts water. Lucky we have a dry climate here, and all woodwork is in very good condition. One exception is the lower beam of this window frame. It has been nibbled in the past. Now it has permethrin on/in it, and every termite or woodworm that sets its teeth in it will be taught a lesson.

If you look carefully you can see there was a door here, once.

The wooden beam is still in the wall. Just a bit of tree trunk, complete with bark. The bark is all gone (eaten), but the center wood still has some strength.

Matacarcoma - Permethrin 2

As you have probably read in this piece about matacarcoma-permethrin, you need to treat structural wood against termites and woodworm in this region. The ceilings and beams of the roof were done a few weeks ago, but the ceiling of the kitchen = first floor floor still needed to be one. 40m² wood, but with beams of 21x7cm you need to add 30m², so about 70m² total. You need to apply 250cc per m², so that's 17.5 liter. And that is about right, I have sprayed about 3 cans of 5 liters. Nasty work.

At the end of the day: below 90 kg! All water I'm afraid.

Matacarcoma - Permethrin

You may think total relaxation and laziness have taken over here if nothing is written. You are right of course, but only partly. Here is one of the less fun jobs if you live in an old house with lots of wood in a warm climate: protection of the wood against wood worm, termites etc.

We have a classic Spanish house with a roof that makes Spanish people swoon when they lay their eyes on it, as there aren't many of these roofs left. A roof was made here in the past by placing wooden beams on the walls, put a mat of bamboo-like reeds on top of the beams, apply a layer of clay-cement-like stuff of 5-10 cm, and put the roof tiles on top of that:

As you can see there is quite some wood visible in the open air. And where this is the case some hungry wood worms may abuse the structure for their digestive needs. That is why you can see some tiny holes here and there:

Fortunately these are old holes, there is no live woodworm or termite at this moment. But, an old house is susceptible. That is why I finished the remaining fly-screens the past weeks, so all windows now have a 100% ventilating and 100% insect-proof screen. No woodworm of termite will get into this house any more. Well, not via a window. It's still possible through the front door, that is usually open, even though closed off by a nice chains fly screen. A pregnant woodworm or termite may still get in.

Chemical engineers have found a counter measure: once every 5 years you need to treat your wooden beams with a repellent. Here we bought 5-liter cans with "Matacarcoma": a solvent with permethrin as the active ingredient. It's a "mild" pesticide. Nasty for insects but not very dangerous for mammals. It's also an ingredient of the flee-tick-sandfly drops of the dogs.

As it's not really a baby lotion either, you better use protecting dress, and ventilate well. The stuff stinks. Not the permethrin, but the solvent. Another reason the mosquito screens were finished first, so the windows could be wide open for ventilation and get rid of the stench. I tried to apply the stuff with a brush first. That works okay, as long as you can easily reach the wooden beams. However, we have quite some parts of the roof that are 4+ meters high, where brushing above your head is not fun. So we abuse a Gardena plant spray. Also because you cannot get to the area between beam and roof with a brush. With a spray you can, although you will "atomize" some of the chemicals. A big ventilator helps, but still it is a hell of a job.

Attic, bathroom 1 and 2, woodstove room, library-hallway are done. Still to do: living room, bedroom, and kitchen ceiling.I'm about half way through. Nearly used 3 cans of 5 liters, I think we need 2 more.