"Minafon" - week 10, Thursday pt2

Well the rain didn't arrive (but just starting now) so got over for a late check - as indicated, timber flooring has started to go down and it looks terrific - so a bit of a photo gallery for part 2 today!

flooring in progress - gap near wall is for the fireplace hearth

looking out from tv/library

bedroom 1

front entrance 

"Minafon" - week 10, Thursday

Had to take a ride over to the site a bit early today with rain threatening to arrive this afternoon. Managed to avoid the magpie with the help of my trusty weapon so he is learning to not bother with us. Found plenty of progress - the cladding is almost done, the doors are all in and they are starting on the flooring this afternoon. All those things to take and guess what?? - the battery on the camera was almost flat - got two photos in so they follow - will have a lot to report again tomorrow it seems.

The cladding is great - they "blind nail" it (across the top of each "board") so there are no exposed nail heads to treat, fill or to rust later. By the way, the colour showing is just the pre-undercoated condition - the actual colour will come later of course - "pinwheel" if you can find it on a Taubmans colour-chart!

If the rain holds off, might get a "part 2" for today's blog later this afternoon. Don't forget, if you click on the photos  you get full-size - much better.

Meet the builders- Steve (boss), Scotty (son), Brandon (carpenter) and new apprentice (un-named as yet)

now with the doors!!

"Minafon" - week 10, Wednesday

Full steam ahead - gyprock interior now finished and they started on the external cladding today. They will go close to finishing that tomorrow they think, doors also go in tomorrow and then the flooring timber goes down. Soon be ready for the interior contractors - tiling, painting, electrical and plumbing fit-out. Very exciting

You may remember the photo from about week 3 of the "pet" magpie. Well he has now turned vicious of course as its nesting season. According to Danielle our neighbour he ignores everything except cyclists but he really gets nasty with them - got Elizabeth's ear yesterday so now we go with weapon of choice (stick). Scott told us today he follows them around inside (no problem) but flew straight through the house from the river end today, exiting through the open louvres. He must have had millimetres of clearance!!

Hopefully photos of almost completed cladding tomorrow.

Now it starts to look like a real house!

Our bedroom now complete with bulkhead

"Minafon" - week 10, Tuesday

OK - all back on track. The cladding has been delivered, along with the brush box floorboards and the crew were all there today working on the internal gyprocking which is now almost finished.

Front door is also installed. Steve anticipates the external cladding will be done this week and then early next week the flooring goes in - then the plasterer comes in to do his work and  following that the painter comes in to do the ceilings and seal the walls. This is followed by the internal fit-out - kitchen, laundry, doors, skirting etc so we can see the end approaching on time. Spoke with Steve re the stairs (he will order iron bark treads) and stringers (galvanised steel).Better start sorting things out here!!

Front door installed

Brush Box flooring all delivered

The brush box flooring - looks beautiful!

"Minafon" - week 9, Saturday

Just in case you were thinking we are "off the air" for some reason, just advising that there was not much significant "photographable" work done on the house this week - the external cladding  (Hardie Linea) has not arrived as expected so we are on hold for just a bit. Some internal framing/gyprocking done but not much else.

Speaking with the kitchen people on Thursday about drawer handles and they advised that they have completed the manufacture of the kitchen and bathroom and laundry cupboards etc and that they are all off with the painter so they are ready to install all these as soon as the house is ready.

Hopefully some more significant updates next week!

Library/TV room - looking into living room

Study/bedroom 3 - bench to go under louvres

"Minafon" - week 8, Friday

Big day today. Mandy phoned this morning requesting a conference at the house to discuss the design of the "niches" (storage spaces in the ensuite/bathroom for towels etc) as "the boys are under the impression that the shelves will be mdf and that is just not going to happen". Also needed to discuss some building inspector worries re the laundry ramp so over we went. Three hours later we got home having decided on the shelving/storage construction of the "niches" (should look really good) and ascertained that the non-slip tiles we had chosen for the laundry ramp are OK by the building inspector so all good. Another "milestone" today - the timber french doors, sliding doors and the front door were delivered this morning and they look every bit as good as we expected - Graham has done a beautiful job - they go up sometime next week when the internal lining is done.
Scott told us that things really start coming together next week. They will spend Mon/Tues at another house getting the roof on and then they come back to ours to finish internal lining and start on the external cladding/putting in the doors. We are then at lock-up and the rest really gets going apparently with flooring, kitchen and bathroom fit-out, internal doors all (apparently) happening quite quickly. This is really getting to the interesting/exciting stage!!! Really pleasing also to see that the inside has plenty of light - now that the lining is up we can see how the inside actually feels and it is great - no problems with dark hallways, rooms etc.

french doors/louvre set for tv/library room

looking into our bedroom with doors ready for installation

front door set

"Minafon" - week 8, Thursday

Not a lot of significant change so far this week - lots of rain last night and today but the team was there today "Gyprocking" the ceilings. Solar guys have also been and done their internal wiring. No sign of the doors or external cladding material as yet but we are meeting with Steve tomorrow (Friday) so will get an update on progress from him then.

Kitchen/eating area and TV/library room now have a ceiling!!

.....as does the garage with insulation stored