Month: May 2023

Electrical audit and start of porch

In the beginning of June we visited Ikea, I wanted to check out some curtains and especially the electric ones, as they could be added to the home automation. We found the price of the electric curtains was not worth it, but we did find the very nice Hoppvall cellular pocket curtains that would fit exactly between the windows  in the studio. Because of the air pockets, it has an insulating effect, both against heat and against cold. We also found a nice rainbow coloured mat to replace a pretty worn mat at the backdoor.

Then finally the electrical system and solar panels were tested, so we can finally get some money back for the solar energy produced. It seemed they did not like it that an amateur had done the system, so they were really looking for issues. They only thing they could find was:

  • the switch cabinet was not grounded
  • the main switch and main fuse (which are in the same spot in every house) were not marked as such (I checked several houses afterwards but I have not found any markings).
  • I had made a 5 wire system (3 x phase, Neutral and (own) Earth) while in Estonia they use the 4 wire system, where there is a combined Neutral and Earth. Just a bridge between the two solved that issue.
  • The main switch for the solar system had to be next to the inverter, not in the meter closet, so now I can disconnect the system in two spots. 

All in all, if those were the things they could find, I am pretty proud of myself

To be able to finish the roof over the lower part of the house and the covered veranda/shed, I had to build the veranda outside of the backdoor and replace the window from the covered veranda and put a wall there.

A very nice improvement of the covered veranda, as now finally the ugly stones got covered as well.

Curtains between the windows
The auditors measuring
Start of a back porch

Raised beds and a compost bin

As the garden beds in the back of the garden have not been very successful so far, Mo asked if I could build some raised beds. I decided to use new wood for this, so after a visit to Puumarket, I could quickly build 2 raised beds lined with root cloth. They were mostly filled with the compost from the old compost pile with a top layer of peat dirt. Mo planted the first seeds in it and a week later she stained the wood with a yellow lacquer. Meanwhile I replace one of the legs of the picnic table. Now it could finally stand stable without a rock under the rotten leg.

Upon reading the final regulations regarding organic waste, we found out an open compost pile was only allowed for garden waste. Kitchen waste needed to be collected in a bought compost bin. After some online research, we got a simple one that would meet the regulations, it was delivered within a day and easy to assemble. I put it in front of the old shed next to the three stage composter and sent a picture to prove we have a compost bin and do not need a green container with a subscription for having it emptied. 

Mo staining the raised beds
A new leg for the picnic table
Composting upgrade

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