Big Holes in the Dirt!

Now that we’ve cleared away the ‘back end’ of the house, it’s time to drill dem mighty big ‘oles!

This was rather a painful experience, as the borer guy made some exceptionally large holes which were wayyy bigger than required, and therefore required wayyyy more concrete – and way more $$$’s.

The Aftermath! – Although the images may not show it – these holes are an impressive 1 metre deep.

If Leigh was to stand in one of these, you wouldn’t be able to see the top of his head!

An overly large hole below!

I woke up the next morning and i thought, what exciting, new experience can i do today.  How about cleaning out a few holes? (ooooh!)

Everyone enjoys a clean hole, especially if you are going to put a stump in it!

Stumped!

I had taken the day off to help with moving the concrete from the truck at the front and placing into the prepared holes.  In retrospect we should have got someone else to do it.  It was a 38 degree day, we had to fill over 60 holes, and the concrete began setting in 90 minutes from laying. 

Wheeling a barrow around what looks like a war torn landscape is not easy.  Not even for everyone’s favourite chippy, Jake.  But after 4 hours, we finally had all the concrete in and Jake could begin inserting the stumps.

   

After one day of very hard toil (I believe i even got a callous) the stumps were in and i was thinking that this building stuff was pretty easy!

Here’s a photo of me celebrating that i had now become a man!

OK – maybe these are really photo’s from the honeymoon (but it’s all i had)

I’m picking up good Foundations

Once we had laid the stumps it was Jake time.  If you look at the last photo’s (before the ones of me) you’ll see a load of wood on the side.  Well, that wood became this:

       Hmm – this photo doesn’t exactly make the house look very straight – but i’ve been assured by Jake that “She’ll be right”. Hmmmmm. 

Sisko and Inca inspect the work

Sisko looks pretty happy with the way things have turned out. 

Inca is taking time to check the levels.

Walls…. What are they good for?

To make it easier on our one man building machine, we agreed to let Jake put down chipboard to assist in putting the frame up quicker.

We had some inclement weather that night and some of the decking holes were overflowing with liquid.  It’s a good thing we didn’t leave Chunky out.

The next day was all sunshine though, and the first wall went up.  The closest is the kitchen with long window, and at the end is the dining room.

 

Looking back at the house, that’s the beginning of the staircase to the 2nd floor.  Jake also wrapped the existing house in builders wrap and a tarp to keep out the weather.

On the other side of that wall is our tv and beloved xbox!  Somehow no weather has gotten through which has brought much joy.

Next, the back wall and side window wall walls were put up.

And then the rest of the walls for story number 1.  But what we needed next was a material that could hold up the 2nd floor and be bolted into the concrete pads.  It’s Steel time.

  

        

After the steel was erected, there was a pause as Xmas 09 had approached and the Truss and Window place couldn’ t deliver until Jan 28.

Alright, i’m tired.  In the next instalment we will see real progress  (As Kate and I were away in Japan when an awful lot happened without photos)