Refurbishment Project
On Monday 18th May 2015, the first phase of the refurbishment project started. This page of our website will keep you up-to-date with the project and advise you on the various works carried out. The hall committee have spent many months planning the work and visualising the hall after the works. This is where we are:-
Week 1 - Monday 18th May 2015
First day of phase one - The main hall
Joinery firm The House Doctors (Highland) were on site and laid protective ply (kindly supplied by Norbord), on the main hall floor. The wood panelling in the main hall has been stripped and the walls are back to stone. Scaffolding has been erected in the main hall for the stripping of the plaster and for the electricians to access the roof space.
Electrical company HHM were also on site to deal with the removal of electrics and creating a temporary supply for the duration of the works. Electric cables have been stripped back.
SSE were also on site regarding the position of a socket in respect of a generator as part of their Community Action Plan, whereby the hall would be used in the event of loss of power in the local and slightly wider community. It would be the place to gather and with the provision of a generator from SSE, we would be able to power some heating, lighting and cooker, so people could be warm and fed hot food and drinks.
The first of the skips are due on site tomorrow. The electricians hope to get up in to the roof space of the main hall to check out the position regarding the cables.
First day of phase two - Small hall
The worktop has been removed from the wall and taken away for safe storage. Again the wood panelling has been stripped back and.
What a difference a day makes. Already things are starting to look different but things have to get worse before they can get better. Our vice-chairman, Kerr McIntosh is on site daily and taking photographs which will be used to compile a project report.
Tuesday 19th May 2015
The first skip has arrived and now loaded with the wood.
Main hall - The plaster has been stripped from some of the walls.
Small hall - The plaster and laths have been stripped from the walls.
Wednesday 20th May 2015/Thursday 21st May 2015
Main hall - The plaster has been stripped from all the walls and the laths have been removed. The skips are filling fast but in the first week, things are looking quite different in the hall. Some ceiling tiles have been removed and the woodwork in the main hall roof is a wonderful sight, what craftmanship. However, once the new tiles are fitted, this will all be hidden. Everything that is in the hall is quite dusty.
Friday 22nd May 2015
We have now moved on to phase 2 and commenced stripping the changing room. Once again, the plaster in coming off quite easily ready for the removal of the laths. The steps in the chair storage room have been removed and this will give us more storage for the relocation of the tables from the changing room to this room. By the end of this week all the plaster and laths should be stripped and work on constructing the framing should start.
week 2 - Monday 25th May 2015
Phase 1 - HHM have carried out of the first-fix electrical work.
Phase 2 - The changing room has been fully stripped of laths and plaster.
In addition to this, the asbestos tiles have been lifted from the floors and removed from the premises.
week 3 - Monday 1st June 2015
Phase 1 - The framing has started to go up in the main hall and by the end of the week, only one wall is left for framing but a good part of this is made and ready for fitting. HHM have started fitting the lights and one third of these are already in place. The kingspan insulation has been ordered and is due on site next week.
The floor in the small hall has been repaired and new air vents have been installed. The floor has also been chemically treated for wood worm and dry rot.
Phase 2 - The chair storage room requires some extra work as an old fire place has been discoverd hidden behind the laths and plaster. Extra vents are been installed into this room.
Week 4 - w/c Monday 8th June 2015
The framing in the main hall has been completed and the framing in the small hall has been completed. The kingspan insulation has been fitted in these areas and we have started to fix the plasterboard in some areas which are not affected by the additional work required at the windows. The lights have been fitted into the ceiling in the main hall and all the electrics have been upgraded. The heaters have all been fitted in the ceiling in the main hall.
Progress is going well and we are seeing a big difference already. Once the works have completed, although the hall will look the same from the outside, the interior will be quite different, more warming and welcoming. The first month of work has seen quite a substantial amount of work and now that we are putting things back together, we look forward to the next few weeks. On Friday 19th June 2015, our CCF development manager is making a visit to the hall to see how works are progressing and our plans for the way forward.
Week 5 - w/c Monday 15th June 2015
Plasterboard has been fixed in the main hall, except around the windows. The small had has also has the plasterboard fixed. The strapping and insulation work has been completed in the the changing room and chair store room and a lot of the plasterboard has been fixed. We are awaiting replacement emergency light fittings so the new lights have not yet been tested. Hopefully these will arrive for next week. The windows and external doors are scheduled to be fitted from Monday 22nd June. Once these are in place, this will allow the joiners to complete work in the window alcoves.
Week 6 - w/c Monday 22nd June 2015
The windows and door were fitted this week what a difference to the hall. With the new double glazed windows and insulation, the hall is already quieter. The framing around the windows in the main hall has been completed. Insulated plasterboard has been fitted in the smaller rooms due to the type of blockwork.
Week 7 - w/c Monday 29th June 2015
The plasterboard has been completed around the windows and the taper is in sealing all the joints. The lights in the main hall have been tested and so have the heaters. The lights are dimmable and what a difference, the hall is so much brighter with more even lighting. Once the ceiling tiles have been fitted, this will also make a difference to the appearance of the lighting. Some of the rooms are ready for taping &painting and we are looking at colours for walls and woodwork and looking at which insulated floor to go with. Things have gone to really well over the last few weeks and it is great to see things going back together. We are now looking at dates for the opening day and hope to have this fixed over the next few weeks.
week 8 - w/c Monday 6th July 2015
The taping is complete in the building and paint is going on to the walls. The wood panelling is being fitted in the main hall and we are deciding on the final colour for this. We are also selecting the insulated flooring for the various rooms. The ceiling tiles and insulatation are going up in the main hall. The new lights have been fitteed in various rooms. What a difference in just two months. We just cannot wait to get back in to the hall and see what reaction we get from the users and the community and general. We hope that everyone will enjoy the "new hall" and make the best use of the facilities.
Week 9 - w/c Monday 13th July 2015
The first coat of main is complete in the main hall and the colour of the wood panelling has been chosen. The ceiling tiles and insulation in the main hall have been completed an a beading fitted on the walls where they meet the ceiling. The painting has been completed in many of the rooms and the corridor. The disabled toilet has been ripped out to undergo its refurbishment. The gents toilets are also being ripped out and upgraded. The heaters are being fitted in the small hall. The three back rooms have been painted and room thermostats have been fitted.
Week 10 w/c 20th July 2015
The work in the main hall has progressed well and the insulation and tiles are going up very quickly. Beading has been fitted around the edge of the wall and ceiling to give a smart appearance. A moulding has been fitted on top of the wood panelling and both parts have been varnished. A further coat of paint has gone on to the walls in the main hall.
Week 11 w/c 27 July 2015
The ladies toilets have now be ripped out and the room has been stripped back and insulated. Sensor lighting has been fitted in the room. The back rooms have had a final coat of paint and just await the new lights.
Week 12 - w/c 3 August 2015
The wood panelling is going up in the small hall. New flooring has gone down in the Scout room. Insulation has been fitted in the small hall.
Week 13 - w/c 10th August 2015
The last of the lights have arrived and these are being fitted this week. The wood panelling has been completed in the small hall.
Replacement crockery has arrived so we have started clearing out the kitchen and donated old crockery and cutlery to Newstart Highland, who have uplifted a number of boxes this week.
Week 14 - w/c 17th August 2015
The lights have been fitted in the small hall and the plywood has been fitted to the floor. The loft space above the small hall has had insultation fitted. The floor in the main hall is been stripped back, re-sanded, re-varnished and re-lined.
Week 15 - w/c 24th August 2015
The insulated flooring has been fitted in to a number of the rooms. The majority of blinds have been fitted in the main hall and other rooms. The painters have completed the work in the main hall and most of the back rooms.
Week 16 - w/c 31st August 2015
The insulated flooring has been fitted in the toilets and corridor but some of the welding has to be completed. The painters have started work in the kitchen. In order to protect the new flooring, rubber ferrules have been fitted to the chair legs and felt backing fitted to the benches. This should prevent the wook flooring or insulated floor being marked. The worktop has been fitted in the small hall. The wall units in the kitchen have been replaced with modern units finished in white gloss.
Week 17 - w/c 7th September 2015
Work in the disabled toilet is complete and the only thing that needs to happen here is the fitting of the baby changing unit. Wet wall has been fitted in to the ladies and gents toilets. Benching has been fitted in the changing room and shelving has been made for the toddlers rooms, so that the toy are stacked off the floor. The chairs and tables have all been moved in to the store room. The flooring on the stage has been replaced with an insulated flooring.
Week 18 - w/c 14th September 2015
Early in this week, the materials to complete the toilets should arrive on site. This will means that the internal works are 90% complete and just leaves the kitchen as an on-going project which should be completed before Christmas.
For information:-
The windows have been supplied by Norscot Joinery.
The protective ply for the floor has been kindly supplied by Norbord.
The timber for the framing, insulation and plasterboard has been supplied by Caley Timber.
The electrical materials have been acquired from Edmundsons Electrical.
The skips have been supplied by Finnies.
The scaffolding has been hired from Speedy Asset Hire.
Alliance Timber carried out the chemical treatement on the wooden floor in the small hall.
