#DIYDay It's the simplest jobs that cause the most pain.

Had to rejoint the paving in the garden after jet washing it last week.

But even though it was only about 20sq/m and all I had to do was literally brush this 'dansand' Nogrow into the joins to lock them together again. It that constant stooping whilst brushing that triggers spasms in my lower back.

So after an hour... I was done with the main part, I've left some on the surface as I'll need to go over it again as it settles.

The product is a mix of granite dust and particles that reduce the ability for moss and seeds to take hold. It's only about £5 a bag more than kiln dried sand. Hopefully it mean I don't need to redo it again for a few years.

It also means I've got another 15sq/m or so to clean and rejoint at the rear of the house... and about 50sq/m of block paving to jet wash and rejoint at the front of the house.

#DIYDay well... afternoon. The paving in the garden is both hideous and hideously dirty.

3yrs since I last pressure washed it, all of the joins filled with moss and dirt, and everything looked dirty grey after the building work.

The pavers are red with grey block edging.

Now at least 75% of it has been pressure washed and cleaned off. Still need to do around the back of the new conservatory foundations and sheds.

I cannot wait until I can rip all of this shit up... It's the cheapest crap you can buy... and this plus the shittiest conservatory previous owners built... you know that pride and competence wasn't their concern.

Plans for next year are to build raised beds in a U shape around the old decking to create and semi hidden seating area. Later on, getting rid of the decking entirely and replacing with a nice paved patio using some kind of sandstone that has loads of colours in it.

Then just a basic path over from the doors to the seating area and around the corner to the sheds.

But for now... it's being cleaned.

#DIYDay The final touches to the new conservatory project.

A small step, made from some slabs removed for the base. Sitting on a compacted base. At the moment the slabs need a good clean, as does the rest of the paving... those paving slabs are actually a dark red... they look almost grey at the moment.

Will pressure wash them with the patio attachment., and then redo the joins with a resin based product that should keep the weeds at bay.

The conservatory itself has been booked and ordered... install sometime in 4-6 weeks.

Not a lot I can do before then... just strip back the wall to remove some old paper, take of part of the render with the SDS drill/chisel.

There's a gap around the base of the new walls, it varies because whilst the walls are square to the house... the paving isn't.

So ordered some bags of decorative stone to fill them with.

#DIYDay but not for me.

Inner block wall went up yesterday, and today they did the damp proof course and the corners.

So tomorrow ill be filling in between those corners and the house and the last 3 courses to bring the outer wall level with the inner.

They've done a really good job of spacing the bricks out. When they were delivered, they obviously came from 2 batches as the colour was quite different. With some being more orange than red. The bricks are a close match to those used on the corners of the house and the bay windows, there's also a band of then vertically around the middle.

#DIYDay but not for me.

They poured the concrete slab over the insulation yesterday afternoon.

Today they are going to start on the brickwork. for the outer dwarf wall and the inner block wall.

Starting late as waiting for the delivery, but should get the engineering bricks for the damp course in place this afternoon. Which is about 4 or 5 rows.

#DIYDay But not for me.

Builders are back to do the concrete slab for the base.

They'd backfilled it on Friday, so today was laying sand and getting the whacker plate on it to compact it all down properly.

Then they laid a damp proof membrane, 100mm of PIR insulation, then another layer of damp proof membrane.

Just waiting for the concrete truck to arrive to do the 100mm slab on top.

They were just laying the sand and getting the whacker plate going when I went out, came back and it's ready for the concrete.

#DIYDay but not for me.

Builders in for a few hours today, just to finish off the foundation walls and backfill around them.

You can now see the old concrete path that was around the rear of the house before the old conservatory was built... they just concreted over the top of it.

As it's on a solid base, it's ok to leave, they broke it up either side for the trench for new foundations. There's enough room for insulation and the slab on top.

Meanwhile, I discovered that the previous owners who had the original conservatory built... left the sill plate for the french doors in place and put flooring over the top of it.

So now I need to see if I can cut it back level with the new doors without damaging them, as those were installed to the old sill plate. Just leave the part under the door itself and concrete up to the top of the foundation, and then get it as level as possible with the flooring... Which will most likely be a nice tile about 12mm thick. Builder has said he'll leave me at least 15mm

#DIYDay but not for me... Day 3

Yesterday they broke up some more of the pad and dug the trench for the footings. Today, they levelled and squared of the trench, and filled the skip with all of the old concrete slab.

Then it was time to pour the new concrete footings. Finishing just as a light shower started.

#DIYDay but not for me... I'm paying people to do the job properly.

The old slab was pretty poorly done. No insulation, a poor damp proof membrane and moisture had gotten underneath the flooring and rotted out the base under the tiles.

So they broke it all up, and removed all of the block work around the outside of it. The digger wasn't delivered this morning... so they can't dig the foundations for the new wall until it arrives in the morning.

Got the guy coming round to recheck measurements next Monday for the conservatory. Hopefully the price won't be too bad.

Seeing as I was let down today by the guy helping to take down the old conservatory... I spent my #DIYDay (well, afternoon) painting the fence and fixing some handles to the shed that finally turned up.

7 Panels painted now, another 6 to go. Decided to paint by hand rather than use the sprayer, because they were previously a dark brown that had badly faded and hadn't been treated in years. So going to a dark anthracite needs a heavy coat and a spray gun puts thin layers on.

I've been assured that he's coming tomorrow at 9:30... I'm going to get stuck in too as he's got the tools to remove the trim pieces for the glass and roof... the rest of it basically screwed together. We'll dismantle it in a day with any luck and get it on his trailer to take to recycling.

Will post some before/after pics of that tomorrow.