Day 107 – Chimneys come down

The end of the working week sees the work site in a state very different from what it was like on Monday. The chimneys have gone, along with the asbestos sheeting, roof and much of the framing. It shouldn’t take long for the last of it to be cleared on Monday. At this point we are not sure whether the floor will be retained but we do hope that at least the stumps and bearers can be used. That would save a bit of time and money (perhaps). We’ll wait and see what transpires next week.

Tuesday evening

The laundry skinned

End of Thursday

Brant begins on the north chimney

Friday lunchtime

Four guys for the afternoon

End of Friday

Day 69 – Four windows fitted

It’s taken a fair bit of brickwork by Matt but the windows for the kitchen and dining area are in. They are double-hung sashless windows with double glazing.

Window 3 – north side

Matt cleaning around the window opening.

Almost finished window 3

Admiring Matt’s handy brickwork

Window 2 – brickwork nearly finished

Window 1 – north side

Window 1 in place

South window

Day 4 – More holes and the last wall comes down

Day 4 and the workers dug more holes and removed the last of the bricks from the interior walls. Hooray! A lintel has been installed at the east end. We now have a true sense of the size of the space.

East end with lintel in place

The ‘cloak room’ wall removed

The last of the cement floor gone

Everything I need to know about cement I learnt from the Cordial Factory

Penny’s wall – Februrary

In an attempt to save some money the team decided to remove the cement floor themselves. It is an excellent example of the false economy one can experience when renovating. This task has included the hire and use of an electric jackhammer  (great tool but no match for the thickest of the cement), 3 hours work by a professional cement saw operator ($400 blade worn through), four trailer loads of cement to ASQ for recycling (and counting), the removal and stacking of 100+ bricks and several appointments to the chiropractor. The finish is in sight, well at least for this particular chapter of the build – or should that be preparation for the build.

Wet weekend – tools down

A very miserable weekend weather wise has provided an excuse to ‘down tools’ on exterior walls.  There was some progress made with the north interior wall, but criticism from the apprentices has hampered results a little.  Apparently the noise of a hammer on bolster disturbs their ‘train-ing’ – and obviously leads to disharmony and conflict, if the photo is anything to go by!

The moisture in the north wall is a great example of why we are toiling away at removing the cement render.  The bricks desperately need to breathe.  If you look closely between the bricks it almost looks like soil from a garden bed – probably could grow a few plants in the old mortar.

Disharmony amongst the apprentices

 

The Lifehouse Design team are visiting on Tuesday to share their ideas.  My co-worker and I are a bit like kids before Christmas, wondering what ‘Design Santa’ might have for us.

Queen’s Birthday weekend

I ache all over.  My shoulders have an awful tingly sensation.  Obviously a clear sign that I did too much work on removing the cement render off the walls over the long weekend.  My co-worker and I keep reminding each other “It will look worse before it looks better.”  The two ‘apprentices’ found great amusement in being able to look at each other through the gaps of the double-brick walls.  Once they tired of that they were somewhat helpful in removing the rubble.

Chipping away the cement render