About Me

My photo
EDIT - Now a 'work at the local school' mum a few days a week while juggling the job of parenting 3 teenagers! I am a SAHM who does work from home occasionally, dedicated to raising 3 Godly, independent, healthy children. Loving the home building process though it is not without challenges. I have fairly free reign over the creative aspect of the project...just not the financial side!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

External drainage


 Firstly, I have had to move my photo spot. A friend suggested that I take a photo from the same spot each time so that we can put them together into time lapse mode to easily see building progress. So I have been diligently taking a photo from the 3rd hole along in the fence at eye level. As of today, I have a newly erected pole in the way. A new position is required...


Lots of activity today as reported by a few friends. A digger up the back placing the stormwater drainage system in and other pipes being laid for the plumbing. 
Those black crate looking things are going in the absorption trenches in the backyard. Glad the slab has had time to cure enough for heavy machinery to run over the top of it ;-)

Friday, March 22, 2013

SLABBED!


After 18 months of planning (since we bought the block of land) we have a concrete slab. The workers looked at me rather strangely as I stood there with my camera around my neck. I smiled sweetly & waved gingerly. I am one very excited gal right now. Just waiting on the first invoice now which will activate our construction loan - maybe not so excited then.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Formwork completed




Formwork is now completed ready for the concrete pour tomorrow. Amazing that polystyrene foam is used for the foundations - mindboggling! Must be method to the madness.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Email from Troy

An email from Troy in regards to my question about timing of jobs.......

"The slab is scheduled for pour this Friday. There will be a curing period after the pour and then we will move on with external drainage, fill removal. Looking to deliver frames just after the Easter break. Construction will go in waves in terms of progress. Some periods of construction will appear to move very quickly and other times may appear slower. We are governed by trade availability and material availability and on site construction issues. There may be a trade scheduled for a particular day and the work may only take an hour or two, however the next work cannot occur on the same day because i don't know what time the first required trade will arrive. Their timing will depend on their workload and which area they are in at the time.
You would have seen signs of this at this stage of construction. There have been days when no one is there due to pending material deliveries, internal drainage install and some other things. The concreter is aware of the pour date that we agreed on prior to starting the work and, at this stage, will have no problems hitting this target date. Hope this helps."

Monday, March 18, 2013

Pre-plumbing



Today saw the pre-plumbing done.....
  

....and the delivery of the foam and bits & pieces (insert technical jargon) for the formwork.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Hot water system change


I received an email early yesterday morning from Troy suggesting we relocate the instant hot water system from the study/guest wall at the front of the house to the media room wall. This will improve the efficiency as it will be more central to the water supply points. More than happy to relocate. At tender, I did ask whether installing another system would be advantageous due to the length/size of the house. The study is a long way away from the kitchen! I was told it would be fine.

Friday, March 15, 2013

A busy day today



Work has been non-stop today from very early until at least 5:15pm. As I drove by on my way home this evening, the concreters were still there doing the piering (I think). Earlier this afternoon when I took the photos, one guy said there would be work happening on Monday if not tomorrow to get ready for the slab pouring. Good to see it all marked out on the block. easier to visualise the house & the area it will occupy.