Week Twenty-seven – the Alucoil goes up, things are ready for the outside world

The decision is made to locate the rainwater tanks under the decking so research is required to work out the options including tank sizes, where the pumps will go, how the water gets into the tanks and out again either as storm water or feeding the ground floor toilets. Some digging will be required to them in place but it will free up some of the little outdoor space available. The pumps are best buried as well but need easy access.

Meanwhile the electrician is hard at work getting things ready for SAPN to connect things to the outside world with all utilities going underground. The plumber has done that by connecting the sewer in 17 as well as the gas and water for both.

With the place being predominantly water tight, the plasters start to get the wall looking a bit straighter.

There are door frames in the original halls where they meet the lounges and things look a bit like Alice down the rabbit hole with the halls extended so arches will replace the door frames.

Decision time, do we go with an exact match of the existing arch or compromise?

The existing arches would have been made in situ, the corbels and capitals would have been made by the plasterers on site using moulds that would be common with other houses built locally.

While an exact match would be possible, the easiest way to have them both matching is to replace all arches which doesn’t fit with what we’re doing.

So a compromise, where old meets new, we’re going to match the corbels as best we can but the arch will be square set but set at the same height, don’t point it out and no-one will notice.

Most of the Alucoil is in place and it’s amazing how it seems a different colour depending on the time of day or what is being reflected. We can’t wait to get a better look when the scaffolding comes down.

While there are some parts of the cladding that will rarely be seen, it is comforting to know the only maintenance required above the ground floor level will be painting the gable ends.

Week Twenty-six – more plumbing, some air-conditioning work and electrics continue

With holidays for Easter and Anzac Day, April will be a short working month so things will be a bit stop and start. It’s a short week and three trades do a bit more with the sewer of 17 being connected, the meter posts concreted in, the electrician and air conditioner guys do a bit more but not a lot to look at this week.

Week Twenty-five – Some capping, more electrics and a ditch is dug

All of the roof is on barring the bit where the carport will cut into the main roof. The iron cladding is up and the Alucoil fixers have fitted the top hats and measured for the panels.

 

 Kev is king of the castle and master of the flashing but it won’t be completed until the Alucoil is on as much of the top capping covers both materials.

The carpenters do a bit more such as the stud wall in the cellar so the electrician can get the switch plates in place.

The rain damaged ceilings in 17 are repaired and replaced as is the ceiling in the hall of 19 so the electrician can drill the holes for the lights and place the wires for the ceiling fans.

The bin has gone and room is being made so the carport construction can start and the plumber can get the gas and water connected.

Steel posts are purchased to house the meter boxes and the plumber agrees on the path for the sewer and to help get things moving, Paul spends quite a few hours digging the trench about 3 meters to meet up with the new street connection.

Week Twenty-four – Electricians are back and the steel cladding starts

It looks brutal when the sparkies chase the wiring into walls but there were plasterers long before electricity was invented who will make sure you don't know it's there.

Guessing Theodolites were not used widely when the house was originally built and the last thing we’ll be doing is moving the northern fence in around 200 mm. This also means there isn’t the room to relocate the meter from inside to on the side wall or even as planned on a dwarf wall adjacent, the meter boxes are 450 wide, we have 400 to play with so it will be more to the front, perpendicular and enclosed with fibre cement. Hopefully with the gas meter enclosed below.

This also means a switch box will be located inside with just the meter outside.

  

There’s a meeting on site to sort out where the return air ducts will sit to maximise the available space at the top of the attic ladders.

Scaffolding is erected to give easy access to install the first-floor cladding. It will stay for the Alucoil guys and the carpenters need to do a bit more framing up for the verges.

Sarking is applied to the outside walls and with things enclosed, you start to get a better idea of what it will be like inside when done.

The block-work is capped and the horizontal cladding is generally complete with the guys working hard on Saturday.