Extensions - External
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Beginning Building Work Anew
It has been months since we joined the two houses together, and yet we never finished cladding that section. With PC’s CPA studies finally completed, it is time to begin extension work again. With some help from ‘the team’ the front wall was completed in a day. I particularly like how PC managed to continue the boards in a continuous sweeping curve over the angle, instead of meeting with a cut angle. We then moved around to the back section to finish cladding that area. Both sides of the future deck had to be cladded, taking another couple of days to complete. The finished result looks very impressive. (Regards the roof line, the high trusses will…
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No More ‘Big House’ and ‘Little House’
Last August we laid a walkway between the ‘big house’ and the ‘little house’. Boxing Day we began the task of making one house, this area will be our new kitchen and dining area. The carport had to be removed first, we were rather hampered by the rain and the weather forecast predicted rain for several more days. The iron had to come off So that the battens could come down and the posts pulled up. This frame has been our temporary wall for months, it is now moved and laid down for now. We could then cut the floor sheeting and nail it down. Next, part of the wall…
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Completing A Few Major Projects
The last couple of weeks have seen the completion of a few major projects. PC was pleased to finally begin and complete roofing the portico. He was rather surprised to discover it didn’t take as long as expected. Rain no longer comes into the front room:) Cladding the exterior of the house, begun weeks ago was finally completed too. A few boards are still to be nailed at the front. These will be added when the two houses are joined. Last week PC and I bought our front door! Hanging doors isn’t always the simplest project to tackle, so PC was very happy when all ran smoothly. We rather surprised…
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One Wall Completed!
Hard work has paid off. Cladding on the north wall is completed!! Very, very exciting:) *Progress is being made in other areas, we shall reveal soon.
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Chipping Tree Tops, Filling Piers
When the snigger cut the logs he left the tree tops. Deciding to use as much of the tree as possible we hired a chipper for the weekend. All branches under 100mm were cut off. We spent the weekend cutting and feeding the chipper. The heat was pretty incredible so for a large parts of each day we couldn’t work. We succeeded in chipping nine loads, about ten cubic metres. To be honest we are not convinced is was cost effective. Still we now we have lots of piles of chips to spread on the gardens. The children think the tops are wonderful to bounce up and down, and climb…
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Footings Poured, Piers Begun
* We’re sad to report we continued to lose photos:( Memory Disc has now been consigned to the bin. Tuesday morning was high excitement, it was the day of the footing pour. The cement truck arrived at 10:00am, it was happening! Thank goodness for the help of a couple of mates, Ug and Murray. They worked non-stop and we are very grateful for their help. Our two eldest, Koala and Carpenter worked continuously alongside. PC and Carpenter had spent the weekend cutting and labeling the rods meticulously. There was a bit of a rush at one stage as the cement started hardening and the rods were not yet in. Disaster…
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The First Sod is Turned
5.30am Thursday morning saw PC and I out finishing off the pier marking. At regular intervals we sprayed crosses on the ground in preparation for the digging Friday morning. Thursday afternoon saw us in a bit of a spin as we hadn’t get received construction approval from Council (this is extra to the DA approval) We went to bed with the ‘Dingo Man’ on standby and urgent messages left with the building inspector. We were unsure what Friday would bring. Early Friday we were still completing the marking when the building inspector rang at 7.45am to say we did indeed have the go ahead! A quick phone call to the…
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Building Preparation Continues
Last weekend hit with high temperatures of 37Celsius(98.6F)despite this, work continued. We are very pleased that we purchased a 15 litre cooler or we would have been dehydrated. The first job was to alter the carport to allow room for the dingo to dig the pier footings. The front tin was removed and a post taken out. Then it was time to ‘mark out’ the house outline with string. First the hurdles had to be built. It took much longer than we thought, but then it is a BIG house. I’m suggesting that I receive roller skates for…
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Building Preparation Begins!
Our DA application has been approved by council, our owner builder permit has been granted and we have begun building preparations. We are racing against the clock to have all materials ordered and delivered before Christmas when the building industry closes for a month. It would be a catastrophe to have PC home on holidays and my brothers here with no work to do!. One weekend was spent digging out our well established hedge and transplanting the shrubs. A long backbreaking job and there are still more shrubs to go. The boys are still moving a few every afternoon when the day cools off a little. The next weekend we…
