Rear Additions Part II

19 July 2009

One for the last time

On this particular Sunday, we set off to work. Our backyard may never look the same again. Correction, will never look the same again.

Pre-fab base structure

Remember the base frame that I was talking about? Yup, that's the one. It was a most lacerating experience, dragging that 3.6m x 3.6m base from the Garage to the backyard. Now the distance between these two spaces are not too far apart, but due to the size of the frame, we had to carry it the long way round. And it almost killed me, if I may put it so crudely.

Levelling

The base was 'hoisted' (more like dumped) into place and adjusted to suit the landscape.

Base Frame No. 1

This design is also made up of 3 portal frames to act as part of the base frame support as well as a structure for awning devices to rest on, at a later stage.

Portal in place

Two holes were dug at the ends of the base for the portals to go into. The portal was hauled up, jammed into the holes and clamped hastily to the frame. In the event that the portal was too high, we would just have to haul it back out, deepen the holes then haul it back in place again. Not very professional, I know.
The beautiful fact about pre-fabrication is that things seemed to be happening real quick. The not so fantastic part is that, it has to be precise, meticulous and easy to transport.

Not so easy to transport

Base Frame No. 2 was a killer. It was somehow heavier, nastier and seemed inclined to break my back and tear my hands. We managed to carry it until halfway round the house, then D heaved it on his shoulders and dragged it through the remaining journey all by himself. Herculean effort.

View from rear with dog as scale

Prior to the placement of the Base No. 2, we had to do some basic shovelling to level the land as required. Now that the second base is in place, its time to make more portals.

Portal joint detail

Work continues to dusk & nightfall...and is not completed still.

Dusk

Setting sun

View

We love the view. We will not get to enjoy this expansive scene once the fence is up.

Long shadows

Domestic Delights

Limited image entry. Its time to use the imagination. Today, we'll be giving praise to some of the modern day domestic delights.

Firstly, let's give thanks to a very distinguished gentleman, by the unmistakable name of Sir James Dyson. Although I have no idea how he looks like, I certainly agree with the way he thinks like. He has eradicated much hassle to the middle-class housewife (a part time indulgence of mine) with his funky invention, the sucker that sucks like nothing else.

The Dyson Vacuum Cleaner
the sucker that sucks like nothing else

Previously, I have glanced at the Dyson Vacuum and scorned it. It looks like an industrial apparatus, more suitable in the warehouse. One wonders why does a vacuum cleaner, a cleaner, for goodness sakes, has to have a motorhead, a barrel, a telescope wrap, a dozen different brushes, etcetera etcetera.

However, after much recommendation from professionals and colleagues alike, we have succumbed to the pressure of obtaining a Dyson for ourselves. Not that one needed much prompting when one owns a canine that sheds a monumental amount of hair per week.

This smells like an advertisement and it may be one

Still, the Dyson managed to deliver. Hair (human or animal), mud, dust, broken glass and socks meet their end in the barrel of the trusty machine. The dust management fails to impress though. But all in all, no regrets. It is a pretty good sucker after all.

The next delightful invention is, of course, the dishwasher. I'll eat back all my negativity about them in the previous post because ...

Who in the world can hate dishwashers?

They are absolutely indespensable if you like the idea of feeding more than 4 each weekend. Sometimes we get 6. Or 8 ... and beware, once used, there is no going back. Life's indeed, too short to be doing dishes. Cheers!

Rear Additions - Part I

17 July 2009

Things are proceeding at a faster rate than what I had in mind. We have stopped with the frontal additions and have developed to the rear area.

More decking

D has braced up a base frame the day before. It is of a similar structure as the front deck, 450 crs joists, spanning 3.6m wide and 3.6m long. He has prepared two of those. Also, a couple of 90 x 90 treated pine posts and beams were purchased from a second hand timber warehouse. They were of sound quality, albeit being slightly defective and therefore, cheaper.

The rear deck design will consist of a couple of portals & awnings (later stage). That is what the posts and beams are for.

the Stained and the Un-stained

The wood was stained to achieve an aesthetic that is close to a merbau finish. Apart from being weather-proof, it also acts as a moisture barrier.

Merbau stain

Close-to-finish products

After a couple of hours, we managed to get it all stained without being too delirious from solvent-sniffing. They were left to dry overnight. To achieve optimum results with the staining, you should really wait for 8 hours before applying the second coat. For us, the second coat will be applied when the deck is complete.

For our 3m high timber portals, D has custom-designed a metal holding plate prototype and had it fabricated from the local ironmonger. The plate shall be slotted in between a pre-cut in the posts and acts as a joining element between post and beam.

D's L-plates

They are of galvanised metal, holes in the required places and costs $12.90 each.

The pre-cuts

Well, I do not know what does one calls them anyway, so 'pre-cut' it is. D made an incision with the circular saw and I widen the cuts manually. The L-plates were then wedged into the cuts by using a hammer.

This is what I meant ...

Finally, just bolt through

And what happened next, is anyone's guess ...

Frontal Additions Part II

10 July 2009

Previously, we have just a base deck.

Work has commenced till dusk

Currently, we still have just a base deck.

Quality controller

Halfway through the construction, we stopped and assesed the work. We came to the conclusion that the original design should change. And change we did. We decided to create a platform.

A mound of gravel arrived on one peaceful arvo.

Basically, what we had in mind was to emphasize the entrance with a direct approach. Previously, the intention was to extend the timber deck from Porch to kerb. The thought was axed because we weren't not convinced that too much timber is ideal. Therefore the idea of a 'entry platform' was conceived.

Edge beams

The ingredients: - Concrete, gravel, timber posts, red gum sleepers and a couple of good bolts.

1: Mark out the perimeter of the platform with pegs / chalk / spray paint.

2: Create a slight indentation along the perimeter. Dig a trench if necessary.

3: Level the trench accordingly using sleepers and spirit level.

4: Cut posts as required to achieve suitable height. Stick posts into dug holes (approx 450 crs)

5: Bolt posts to sleepers. Pour mixed concrete into holes.

6: Wait for concrete to set. When formwork is complete, pour in gravel.

This image basically sums up Steps 1 - 6

Halfway there

D did all the platform work by himself. All the diging, levelling, shovelling, filling & mixing.

"so tiring"

The dog & I were just hanging around.

Frontal Additions - Part I

5 July 2009

Project number two started off with the installation of this:-

Foreign object identified

Postbox, handmade and handpainted by Malaysian for the Australian weather. The postbox was completed months ago prior to the completion of the house. All that was needed to be done now was to dig a hole, pour mixed concrete, stick the post box in, spirit-level it and wait for the concrete to set. Almost like baking a pie. Technically.

I agree that the post box seems to be sticking out of nowhere and another addition was soon 'encouraged' into place. We needed a connection and I felt that the post box looks pretty foreign in the context.

A timber deck was to be carried out. Firstly, we levelled the front area and cleared away the soil surrounding the porch. This is to ensure that we do not wreck the termite barrier which was surrounding the concrete apron. I am pretty pleased to say that the old dog has learnt a new trick called "Dig!" and contributed to the clearing of the soils.

Starters

Base

Next, a frame was set up using 90 x 45 studs. It was loosely constructed in the garage, screwed together where it matters, then carefully transferred over to the porch area.

Transfer complete

At this point, the structure is still quite flexible. D designed the frame to be made up of a series of joists, spanning 450 centres horizontally as indicated. After making sure that the frame fits the porch snugly, D began side-screwing the joists unto the frames. D is doing all the work, because I have more important things to do.

Like, digging holes

Luckily for me, D purchased a hole digger. Nothing fanciful except for the fact that it works better than a shovel. It is more focused, so you don't spend all your energy digging a huge hole when all you need is a 250mm hole. And if the texture / technique is right, the soil will be compressed as you dig so you can transfer the soil elsewhere without hassle. which was not the case for me.

More holes

Holes are created on each corner for the supporting posts. They are to house 100 x 100 solid timber posts that are approximately 500mm high. It is a bit of a structural overkill, but when you don't have an engineer at hand, it is best to just presume the worst.

Anyway, I stopped digging at 3 holes. Because I have more important things to do.

Like making lamb shanks for tea

Really cute, but good to eat, unfortunately

First things first

20 June 2009

What is the first thing you do when you move into a brand new house?

You put blinds in. After that you clean up. Then you perform some rituals involving scattering a mixture of rice grains, tea leaves & salt over all corners of the house. Next, you leave all the lights on (yes, including the pantry & garage), get out of the house and do not enter until 3 days later. If that is not what you did, then all the best to you.

Pseudosciences aside, these are the other things that we did: -

Installing towel rails and ...

Bet you never thought of this, toilet paper holder

Because we wanted to be different, we set about to implement some art installations using paper screens to our front entry door. It looks like this: -

Papier d'art

Ya, I wish. In actual fact, what we have done is plaster the sides of the glazed area with recycled paper. For protection. We wanted to frost up the clear glass.

AUD$15 a bottle from Bunnings. We bought them for $8 due to a scam.

The clear glazing on the front entry entitles us no privacy at all. I do not like passers-by judging me just because I watch Desperate Housewives. Therefore, we have to frost up the glass with some opaque-ish spray paint.

Notice the difference? Now you see me ...

Now you don't.

It is a pretty good product, but I would not recommend it as long lasting or heavy duty. Firstly, it scratches easily, secondly, it needs a steady hand to apply and thirdly, it is probably more ideal as a temporary solution.

Intermission

25 May 2009

Numerous trips on the trusty old Camry.

Two trips with the trailer.

Zero removalists.

We are in!