The Topping out Ceremony

You are cordially invited to the Topping Out ceremony.... well cyber-invited.

I got the gravelled mansard roof in place today so it was, officially,  the end of the build............

This building is early Victorian (maybe on an older cottage base) and mansards of poorer buildings weren't covered in lead - far too expensive.  They were made from about five layers of felt in the rafters covered with a tarred membrane and topped with gravel encased in a small edging with drainage access.  So, in keeping with that, here's the finished roof top.

In my case, this was made from (wallpaper) lining paper with a thin strip of wood all round; except where the hinges are.  I painted this with brown acrylic paint and left it to dry - under heavy books.  It was then daubed with Elmer's best and the gravel pressed into it.  Dried again and stuck down in the same way as the floors with double sided sticky tape - so if there is ever a lighting problem it can be easily removed.

The shop name is made from sticky back plasticy-paper letters painted gold.  It was customary for the local Earl (or large landowner) to fund pubs for their workers; this one was courtesy of Lord Stanley and was called the Stanley Arms.  Lucky for Vianne as it meant she could salvage the letters needed for Maya.  Good job it wasn't the Lord Raglan.

Here's the end result - chocolaterie/patisserie Maya!

You might notice it is also almost fully moved in.  I'll share those photos with you each day for the next few days.  For now let's just raise a glass to Vianne for a job well done.

.........and yes, that is champagne.  I know how to finish a project!