Our first bit of machine power

Hardcore all in place we now needed to damp it down substantially to provide a stable base for the floor. Not being able to do this ourselves we have relented and hired a wacker plate compactor.

Filling the hardcore

At last we reach the end of the digging (for now!)

Having let our backs recover for all of 12 hours we then started the process of laying a bed of hardcore. This would need to be 40 cm deep at one end and 20 cm at the other. We had luckily retained a lot of hardcore when we previously knocked a hole through one of the barn walls to fit a door. Also, we have very helpful neighbours who let us have several trailer full loads. The weather has been beautiful whilst we have been digging and lugging stones around...very nice if we had time to sit in it but far too hot to be working in!

Digging again!

Having completed the arduous task of removing the excavated soil we then started on the removal of the turf. Due to the natural slope of the terrain, at the back end of the foundation it was not only the turf to be removed but another 30 cm of soil. Now we are beginning to realise the merits of a digger - even our clothes are beginning to give up!!!

With the concrete for the foundation laid our next task was to lay the foundation blocks. Here in France they use an almost solid block for the blockwork beneath the floor level.

We have a fair slope on the site so there was lots of time spent making sure we had every angle and level correct. The blocks now in place, we coated the exterior with a waterproof membrane.

We had planned to utilse the earth we had dug for the foundation to refill the excavation. Our first mistake! We only had to fill the exterior excavation and as we had almost filled the original excavation with concrete and block we had a lot of surplus soil. Another mammoth digging venture. It took the two of us almost 3 days of back breaking work to shift it!