Category: Blog

This morning, Gino arived with the geologo to inspect the garden.

We went up to the gora and cosidered whether there is a risk of flooding that should be mitigated by the construction of a reinforcing wall. In the opinion of the geologo, the risk exists but is small and a retaining wall would be very expensive. He explained that the point of greatest risk is where the stream turns the corner. At this point there is an existing wall (probably a hundred years old) so we should be fine. In his opinion, the gora is so far above the house that water overflowing the banks should not be an issue (as there is plenty of land or it to soak away into). In any case, the lay of the land means any more substantial flooding (e.g. bursting the bank) would result in water flowing down the gulley betwen our house and Francesco’s (probably impacting our neighbour more than us).

He suggested we go up to the gora on a rainy day and take pictures to show the level of the water when it’s streaming down the hillside. He was surprised at the quantity of water flowing in the stream and thought it must have a water source such as a spring. I suggested that it might be water diverted from the main stream flowing down the valley (i.e. a small aqueduct for irrigation). He thought that was possible. I’ll have to ask a neighbour to find out.

The geologo would be happy for Andrea to straighten the existing concrete posts or even to lift them and replace them with chestnut poles. He does not think that would destabilise the banks.

We spent some time up by the old pool considering the options for the replacement pool. He suggested that the best option would be to dig out the terrace as the ground below would be more stable than the surface of the lower terrace where the old pool is located. We felt that this would leave insufficient room for paving to accomodate sun loungers so we kind of settled on excavating 3 meters leaving the pool partly in ground and partly above ground. We could pave the remainder of the terrace and continue round the pool with a wooden deck. We made it clear to Gino that we would prefer steps internal to the pool rather than a ladder (1.5m wide in the corner).

There were some discussions around the 100 sqm limit on impermeable surfaces again as we showed them where we want to terrace outside the back of the house. This limit would apply to new paving only not to paving that is already in place and condonato. More paving is possible provided irregation pipes are dug in under it.

Gino will return on Tuesday or Wednesday next week to take measurements for the pool. He seems to be quite focussed on our job at the moment and realises the importance of making decisions while we are still here.

We went to Gino’s office in Capannori to meet with him, Andrea, the geologo and the technico. We discussed our priorities, concerns with the gora, swimming pool options (above ground, in ground, half and half) and applying for permissions (CILA and full permissions).

Apparently, there is a hard limit of 100 square metres for any addition of impermeable surfaces in the garden. A 10m x 5m pool will account for half of that so there are limited options for further paving around the pool and in the rest of the garden. We were told that there are some options for using permeable surfaces and/or adding drainage to compensate.

Andrea is going on a trip to Poland and will start work on the permissions when he returns next week.

We booked in an appointment for the morning of Thursday 21 April for the geologo to inspect the gora, the swimming pool location and the rest of the garden.

It feels like we are getting some traction now.

We had a meeting with Gino booked for this afternoon to discuss the results of the inspections, applying for the permissions and getting some work booked in. At about lunchtime, his sidekick Andrea got in touch by WhatsApp to say they didn’t need a meeting as the termotechnico would do the “structural verification” and they could just get on with the CILA (notification of works to be carried out that do not need at full and formal permission).

I made it clear that we needed a meeting and that we were expecting it to be this afternoon as arranged. In particular, we wanted to discuss these points:

1. What the structural verification consists of and when it will take place.
2. When the geologo will come for that inspection. We have specific questions regarding the gora.
3. What work can start without any permission. e.g. renovation of the second floor bathroom.
4. What works will be included in the CILA and how long it takes to get approved.
5. What works will be included in the second stage permission and how long that takes to get approved.
6. What recommendations the termotechnico has made.
7. We would also like to consider adding a small internal vestibule at the front entrance. Does this need to be included in the CILA?

With a lot of tooing and froing by WhatsApp we rearranged the meeting to tke place this Thursday at their office and that the termotechnico and the geologo would both be present.

We also got clarification that all internal works including the replacement of windows can be covered by the CILA and that work can start immediately following submission (provided we can find contractors with availability of course).

The creation of the new kitchen door and modification of the existing one to a window will have to go through the full permissions process. Incredibly, so will the replacement of the shutters as we want to change the colour. It will take 3 to 6 months to get the approval.

For the bathrooms which are one of our most pressing issues, we can go ahead and choose the fixtures and fittings that we want. Gino and Andrea will need to source a builder/plumber to do the installations.

We established that we wanted to see the CILA before it is submitted to be sure it includes everything we have in mind. That is apparently the procedure and we’ll have to sign it and authorise them to make the submission.

So the plan is to get armed with our choice of bathroom fixtures and fittings before the meeting on Thursday. So we have a couple of showrooms to visit in the next day or so.

Needless to say, the termotechnico did not come the next day as Gino promised. Thankfully, he did come on Friday accompanied by Andrea (Gino’s English speaking geometra colleague).

We explained to the termotechnico that we were looking for both heating and cooling and that, if possible, we would like to locate the plant in the room that currently houses the washing machine. We let him know that we’d like to be able to control the heating remotely so that we can keep the temperature above 10C during the winter and fire up the heating a few days before arrival to ensure a comfortable house when we get there. We told him we were happy to go with his recommendations, but would like him to consider alternatives to pellet burners such as heat pump. He conducted his assessment of the house and the exisitng heating / cooling. There will obviously be an element of interdependence between the heating and cooling work and the work of the electrician. This is for the geometra to coordinate as a project.

Andrea is a very chatty and enthusiastic geometra. I think he’s hoping to manage the work on our house. This would be fine as he has good English, but I’ll be happy if he has the more steady Gino overseeing what he does. We think we can get going with some work that does not need permissions. The work that does require permissions, seems to fall into two categories: simple changes where the permissions are pretty much just a formality (e.g. moving the bathroom internally) and those where the comune will take a closer interest (e.g. moving the back door).

Surprisingly, Andrea thought that building a small wall at the front of the house would be problematic as may paving the front garden. We want the wall to make it less easy for people to park directly outside the house and especially to stop them parking with their wheels on our grass (which they seem to do when we’re away). We are now considering getting large rectangular planters to erect a non-permanent barrier instead.

There was no discussion of the garden as the geologo has not yet been.

Andrea suggested we could have a meeting to kick things off as early as Monday and he would discuss with Gino when he got back to the office….

Finally, Gino came to start the inspections. He brought with him a junior geometra and his son who seems to work for him and has some English. He also brought an electricista (electrician) along, but no termotechnico (heating engineer) or geologo (geologist). While Gino’s junior got on with taking measurements of all the rooms, we reiterated what our priorities were.

We also discussed our electical problems with the electricista. He agreed that the major cause of our problems was likely to be the old washing machine (for which we had already ordered a replacement). He also agreed that raising the power rating of the house would help reduce the tripping. We gave him a copy of our map of existing and new sockets and indicated that we wanted all wiring to be buried in the walls (as often people just add ugly trunking attached to the walls). He conducted his assessment of the existing wiring and kindly reconnected the power to our cameras.

Gino left with the electricista and told us the termotechnico would come the next day. He left his junior and son behind to complete tbe measurements.

The measurements the geometra took were pretty impressive. Dimensions of every room (length, width, diagonals, height) and the precise location and sizes of doors and windows. Everything was also photographed.