Progress

Sept-October 2013

One of the first tasks in the renovation was to check the existing Dietrich furnace and see whether is was repairable or not. Our plumber (Thierry Giraud) did this check in September 2013 and advised that while it might be salvageable, it was getting old, would probably give us problems in the future and was not very energy efficient. He advised getting a new condensing gas furnace from Dietrich (he said they were a good brand). So in October the old gas furnace was removed from the basement, and a new furnace placed on order. Along with the old furnace went many of the old water pipes and electrical wiring!

June 2014

Since late-2013, when the furnace was removed from the cellar, not much happened down there apart from some rejuvenation of some wiring and plumbing. However, June has seen a flurry of activity, with a new furnace being delivered, and awaiting connection to the gas and water supply systems. Once again we have gone with a Dietrich model, but a more modern version of the condensing gas furnace variety.

But the real reason for the increase in activity in the cellar at this time was the discovery of a hidden manhole in the floor of the ground floor toilet, giving access to a space behind a walled off section of the cellar. Initially, it was uncertain as to the purpose of the space below the manhole. Because it contained liquid when we found it, we thought that perhaps it was a holding tank, but it appeared to be unconnected with the toilet system, since it has no smell. However, further examination showed that there was a “room” under the manhole in the walled-off area of the cellar.

So, a little journey into the “room” showed that the liquid was perhaps just leakage from pipes or the groundwater table. Indeed, from inside it really did look like a room, and so we theorised that perhaps it had been a hiding space during the first or second world wars, given that the house had been built in 1906. Further investigations may reveal the true history of the room.

However, the structure of the room was so unique that we decided to open it up within the basement and convert it into a usable part of the basement. The results of doing this have been outstanding, with an amazing wine cellar being created from the space.

The walled-off area in the basement was quite substantial. While we expected a brick wall, we did not expect one over 30cm thick. Clearly, given that there was no entrance except for the manhole, it was designed to be very secure, and not easily discovered or broken into. The room itself has a rounded ceiling, which normally signifies a room of great strength. To complement this rounded ceiling, the new doorway into the room was given a rounded arch. The rounded ceiling looks like it has been carved out of stone, with the entrance from the manhole reached up a rectangular shaft. A new LED light has been installed in the cellar to match the new LEDs installed in the rest of the basement area.

With the wine racks moved out of the main basement area and a small wooden wall removed, the area available in the basement is now much larger and can be used for a variety of purposes (probably storing"junk")..

New LED lights have been installed at the top of the basement stairs and at several places in the basement, while the wastewater pipes from all the upper floors are now connected to a main pipe leading out to a pit under the footpath on Rue Gambetta.

July 2014

The new furnace has started to be connected, despite some problem with the water supply and gas connections by the authorities. The waste water connections from various parts of the house have also been concentrated along the west wall of the cellar.

August 2014

With just two weeks before the band arrives to take up residency, the furnace has been installed and tested. Initially, the hot water was running too hot, but Thierry found a piston that was maladjusted when delivered, and after fixing that, all seems to now be working well. He has also done a grand job tidying up the multitude of gas and water pipes and electrical cables running through the cellar to and from the furnace.