Week Ten – Things start to go vertical

T'was the week before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Not quite true, the steel fabricators did their bit in getting the pergola framework up as well as much of the backbone so that the carpenter can do his bit.

You can now get a good idea of the height of the ceiling over the kitchen and meals area.

The timber framing has been delivered in readiness for the carpenter in the new year.

The concretor was to come back to do the initial polish of the slab prior to any other building going up but it looks like that will also wait until the new year.

John the plumber, as usual, has been working away in small chunks, some of the copper piping has been done for the gas works.

Support bolts are set in the concrete and levels are set with the laser level

While most of the framework is welded off site, some last minute adjustments are required

But the weekly site meeting must go on

So much precision from the crane driver who lifts and places with millimetre accuracy

This indicates the ceiling height over the dining and kitchen area

The last timber delivery before Christmas

Week Nine - The slab is poured

The week starts with a phone call to say we've got a problem. The original supplier of the concrete cannot supply until Christmas Eve, another week later.

There is another supplier however who can supply this week but we'll need to go and make a selection for the aggregate given the finished product will be polished concrete. So it's in the car, head to Pooraka and choose the Salt and Pepper 10mm.

So it's full steam ahead finishing the trenching and formwork done in time for the Thursday pour. The cellar gets a lid and some wiring is put in place with orange plastic taking over everywhere.

Thursday comes and the action starts at 7.00 am sharp. 

Tight access will always be an issue

Jonno makes sure the plumbing is as it should be.

To finish the productive week off, the site is given a good cleanup, some marking out is done before the arrival of the steel framing and Clare gives her tick of approval.

And what's going on top of it? The following gives details of the cellar and ground floor layout.

Week Eight – Things are a bit slow this week

Not much happening, trades need to be scheduled and one can slow everything down.

Every building site in Adelaide want their slab poured before Christmas and we’re not alone.

The walls of the cellar get a bit of a clean-up and some more plumbing goes in before the formwork is done with more plumbing and electrics to be set in place before the cement is poured.

And as is normal, when things get quiet, far too much time is wasted on Sketchup.

Week Seven - It’s a big cellar, now for the slab

The formwork comes out of the cellar and you get a fair idea of just how big it’s going to be. Steel decking will sit on top of this and the slab will be poured to form a strong lid.

Most of the footings are dug and it’s a tight place to work with a few of the trenches needing to be dug by hand. Having a big obstacle in the middle doesn’t help. There’s a fair pile of dirt that needs to go before the final trenching is done ready for the plumber, electrician and the concreters. 

Off site, the solar system is ordered and more options are sought for air-conditioning.

Week Six - The cellar gets walls

Henry adds the pointing and oxide between the stones. The pin work starts but things need time to dry. Now the cellar looks more like a bomb shelter than a swimming pool and with the walls done, the trenching can start for the foundations.

The weekly site meeting takes place and selections will need to be made regarding the colour of the polished concrete and plans in place to meet with the council to work out the height of the footpath.

Week Five - work on the front continues

Henry continues the great work restoring the blue stone and installing a damp course, repairing the top plinth and putting one on the bottom. The inside is done, next step is the pointing on the outside.

Offsite, Paul is getting quotes for the Solar System. It would seem the best option is to go with 12 panels tilted north to 35 degrees being Adelaide’s latitude and the most efficient angle to maximise the capture of sunlight.

We will probably end up with a system that produces 3.0 to 4.14 kw depending on the panels used so won’t be going off grid in any hurry but it all helps.

Week Four - more than cosmetic surgery

The concretor won't be ready until next week so it's full steam ahead for Henry.
There's an issue with salt damp so it's agreed to put in a damp course on top of which will sit a layer of bricks to be rendered with some of the damaged bluestone replaced.
Given there will be a new roof, the chimneys also get a bit of a cleanup and are re-pointed.
On Friday, with about 13mm of rain dumped in 1/2 hour along with some hail, it's comforting to find the cellar isn't a swimming pool.