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.

Week Three - cellar floor is cemented

More plumbing is done, more so for 17 and the bathroom is pretty well set to go.
Henry, the stone mason joins the weekly site meeting again and it's agreed to have a cement plinth across the bottom of the front wall over the waterproofing.

The reo came and went on Monday to return Tuesday on a smaller truck.
The cellar is framed and the floor is poured early on Friday.
It's comforting to know that the new hole, soon to be a cellar is very dry, nothing sneaking in.

With final internal dimensions of 2900 x 5800 and a depth of 2400, after stairs are put in, there should be enough room for a bottle or 2 amongst the stuff you'd normally find in a shed.

Time spent off site selecting window frame colours, finalise the air conditioning specs and solar options prior to commencing the electrical fit-out.