As with any older building The Lodge required repairs. It was found on lifting the floor to mend a springy joist that the rot was more extensive than first thought and that the recent inclement weather had brought more than "a scar o weet to mak the girse grow!" The sub floor was swimming in water and due to rot, several of the beams required replacements.

Just inside the door of the lodge is where the water was deepest. You can see the water lying in a huge pool in the image above. Fortunately the location of the ingress was located and action taken to prevent problems in the future.

Sadly other areas of the ante room required renovation, specifically between this room and the hall to the kitchen and meeting room. (see below)

After little deliberation due to the urgency of the situation, professional advice, lots of emails and arranging, it was decided to buy the materials immediately and begin work.

Above you can see the main hall had to be used to store carpets, chairs etc. They say the darkest time is before the dawn ...

On Friday 9th May 2009 the wagon from the local builders yard dropped off the materials and volunteers carried the expensive "stuff" from the back of the village hall at Murchiesons garage round into the lodge for use the following day.

Joiner Andrew and his labourer Seamus duly turned out the following
drizzly day to begin the works ... It actually turned out to be one of
the wettest days of the year, highlighting the water ingress problem.

Inside great progress is being made. Rotten timbers chopped out and new put in place.

Outside Seamus deals with the water issue. What you see below is not a path, but 3 inches of pooling water! The good news is that this has now been cleared and previously blocked existing drainage made good.

By the end of the day things are looking much better!

Below you can see the prep for the re-laying of the paving stones.

Before and after as they say ... A diamond wheel was needed to cut the slabs to size which looked like they were originally cast using granite chips.

Inside the Lodge Ante Room only requires a carpet to be good as new.

Completed.
Carpet back down as if nothing had ever happened!

It goes without saying that the Brethren of Lodge Kyle extend their thanks to all who assisted and especially Seamus Maguire and Andrew MacDonald who gave extensively of their time in the planning, organization and execution of the works.

TO DO (on-going maintenance)
South drain to be cleared