It's no longer a case of: get out of bed, have breakfast, get ready, and leave for work.Now it's: get out of bed and make it (ensuring all pillows are plumped and doona is straight). Have breakfast, then wash up dishes (making sure benches are tidy and clutter-free). Get ready for work, putting away any clothes / shoes / other such offending items to potential buyers. Leave for work...late.
This actually takes time and effort to live in such a ready-for-inspection state. We've had around 8 people through (we're not having any open homes) and a couple of contracts taken. The most difficult part is slowing down after such a hectic 9 months of repairs, additions and council inspections.
Some friends have commented that the house looks so good (it honestly does - we're not just saying it) that we won't want to let it go. We will, we do. We've emotionally detached. We had to let go in order to get this project finished. Otherwise we couldn't have maintained such fevered pace, we would have renovated like most people do - over a couple of years. Besides, we have bills to pay and need the house sale to cover the reno costs.
We did consider a few options, like selling the house and the vacant block but a capital gains tax of $100,000 on the vacant block put an end to that idea. We even considered selling both blocks to one purchaser - subdivided through council but not through the lands title office (emitting capital gains tax) but it seemed 1 big block would sell for less than 2 individual blocks - making our return on investment pretty low.
We're happy to sell this house now. It seems a shame in some ways - so much love and attention has gone into it - it looks better than we've ever seen it, but we know that we'll eventually grow out of it and we'd like to make an even better investment for the future.
Must get back to cleaning up the smallest of messes and filling the house with flowers. Still, it's better than laying turf, washing endless loads of muddy washing or waiting for council decisions.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Sunday, 16 October 2011
last push
Am so ready to fall into bed. This weekend has been exhausting! We set a cracking pace to get all of the final bits and pieces done to have the real estate photos taken tomorrow (and go on the market!),and we actually got there.
It was one of those days...wake up, put on washing, pick up turf aerator, have a squiz at a show home, get home, hang out washing, clean down outdoor furniture, stain back deck, iron a bus load of washing, lunch, return aerator, buy curtain rail, stain front deck, wash down driveway, move outdoor furniture around some more, vacuum, mop, dinner, hang some pictures, tidy up, clean bathroom...ughh, I'm exhausted just writing about it!
The house looks fantastic. We've never seen it look so good. There are a couple of things we still want to work on but even if we sold tomorrow (how cool would that be?), we've still got time to finish a few small things. I'm so proud of what we've done. It's enormous when you think about it, and I think it shows in the finished product.
I've got more to write but can barely lift my fingers to type so I'll add another post in a few days. Wish us luck! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
It was one of those days...wake up, put on washing, pick up turf aerator, have a squiz at a show home, get home, hang out washing, clean down outdoor furniture, stain back deck, iron a bus load of washing, lunch, return aerator, buy curtain rail, stain front deck, wash down driveway, move outdoor furniture around some more, vacuum, mop, dinner, hang some pictures, tidy up, clean bathroom...ughh, I'm exhausted just writing about it!
The house looks fantastic. We've never seen it look so good. There are a couple of things we still want to work on but even if we sold tomorrow (how cool would that be?), we've still got time to finish a few small things. I'm so proud of what we've done. It's enormous when you think about it, and I think it shows in the finished product.
I've got more to write but can barely lift my fingers to type so I'll add another post in a few days. Wish us luck! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Thursday, 6 October 2011
good news
Our final inspection yesterday with council was a success. One alteration required (we knew there would be something, but this is an easy fix) and we should receive the subdivision certificate next week.
I had to laugh, after all the debate of access into the stormwater pits including ladders, step irons and australian standards...the council inspector didn't even lift up a grate to have a look inside. Oh well, it's done, it's approved and it's safe for the new owner.
Our house painting also started yesterday and already the house looks transformed. The windows have been primed but not finished. I'll post a photo when the front is completed. It looks fantastic.
The last bit of good news is that the occupancy certificate is official. This was an underpinning piece of paper required from the moving of the house (yes, it took that long!). It ties everything together for the subdivision to go through.
I had to laugh, after all the debate of access into the stormwater pits including ladders, step irons and australian standards...the council inspector didn't even lift up a grate to have a look inside. Oh well, it's done, it's approved and it's safe for the new owner.
Our house painting also started yesterday and already the house looks transformed. The windows have been primed but not finished. I'll post a photo when the front is completed. It looks fantastic.
The last bit of good news is that the occupancy certificate is official. This was an underpinning piece of paper required from the moving of the house (yes, it took that long!). It ties everything together for the subdivision to go through.
Monday, 3 October 2011
we're only a few weeks away
Not long now and we should be putting the house on the market. While the list of big jobs is diminishing, the small jobs are growing - it's all the detailed stuff that we've been putting off that we need to get around to.
This week I gathered the required info to finish off the occupancy certificate (necessary to move forward with council), picked up the surveys of work completed and with a list of all the construction certificate and development application criteria completed, submitted this to council, lodging the subdivision certificate.
We've got the final inspection with council this week and hoping (and praying) all goes well, it should be through council in 10 days. Judging from prior experiences, we should really allow a good 3 weeks. Then it's onto the bank, then the land and titles office to make it all official - exciting!
Hang on...did I really just say that? A subdivision is what I now consider "exciting"? Is this what life has come too??? A word to the wise: if you really want a life, if you really want to discuss other topics than the state of your house, if you really want a normal social life (that doesn't revolve around trips to bunnings or home world)...don't renovate! Get out now, before it sucks you in!!!
On the upside, the rain has eased and we've been able to get some more prep work done for the house to be painted. See how I did that? I just started talking about renovations AGAIN!!
The staining on the deck has really transformed the look of the house (scroll down for the 'before' picture). We've sanded the house back (which is why if looks a little worse-for-wear) - ready for a fresh coat of paint.
Through the survey drawings we can really see how good our structural engineer, concreter and plumber have been at their jobs. The works-as-executed drawings highlight the original plans against actual work, and they've done a fantastic job under (sometimes) difficult conditions and specifications.
Ok, am going to go and relax now...maybe have a glass of red and watch an episode of Grand Designs. Arggghhh, it's taking me over!!!
This week I gathered the required info to finish off the occupancy certificate (necessary to move forward with council), picked up the surveys of work completed and with a list of all the construction certificate and development application criteria completed, submitted this to council, lodging the subdivision certificate.
We've got the final inspection with council this week and hoping (and praying) all goes well, it should be through council in 10 days. Judging from prior experiences, we should really allow a good 3 weeks. Then it's onto the bank, then the land and titles office to make it all official - exciting!
Hang on...did I really just say that? A subdivision is what I now consider "exciting"? Is this what life has come too??? A word to the wise: if you really want a life, if you really want to discuss other topics than the state of your house, if you really want a normal social life (that doesn't revolve around trips to bunnings or home world)...don't renovate! Get out now, before it sucks you in!!!
On the upside, the rain has eased and we've been able to get some more prep work done for the house to be painted. See how I did that? I just started talking about renovations AGAIN!!
The staining on the deck has really transformed the look of the house (scroll down for the 'before' picture). We've sanded the house back (which is why if looks a little worse-for-wear) - ready for a fresh coat of paint.
Through the survey drawings we can really see how good our structural engineer, concreter and plumber have been at their jobs. The works-as-executed drawings highlight the original plans against actual work, and they've done a fantastic job under (sometimes) difficult conditions and specifications.
Ok, am going to go and relax now...maybe have a glass of red and watch an episode of Grand Designs. Arggghhh, it's taking me over!!!
Sunday, 25 September 2011
10 best tools
Ok, so you can see that I've got some time on my hands with all of this rain. With all this time comes contemplation about what we need to get done and what we've already achieved.
That said, here are the tools we couldn't have done without (I'm not sure if the order is important here):
1: My husband - yes, the joke had to be made. But in all seriousness, he is amazing. I couldn't and wouldn't have done it without him. This is an amazing project we're completing together. What he doesn't know he's willing to learn, what he does know he's already onto. Ok, enough gushing, he's in the top 10.
2: Gumboots. Simple, yet very important during any excavations / stormwater installations / muddy weekends. Worth the $20 from bunnings.
3: Drop saw. We've borrowed this from my brother and used it almost every weekend. Sometimes all weekend (sorry to the neighbours). It's been absolutely essential.
4. Paint-sanding disk attachment for the angle grinder. So much better than using the attachment on a drill (and sooooo much better than hand-sanding). The downside is the sharp flecks of paint that get flicked back into your face and eyes - it really stings!!
5. Wheelbarrow. Where would we be without it? Probably still in bed exhausted from carrying everything (including wet concrete) around ourselves.
6. New makita drill from dad. This drill gets a real workout - there's always a spare battery on charge in the kitchen. In fact, dad's been great at letting us in on the important / time saving equipment. He's helped us with nearly all of this top 10. Thanks so much dad!
7. Scaffolding. Borrowed from a good family friend, it's been so useful accessing those points on the walls and roof that a ladder would have proved very difficult. The only downside is the amount of times we've all walked into the support posts banging our heads. It really hurts.
8. Tarpaulins. They start at $2 each and can be used in any circumstance. As a roof, as a floor, as a wall, for covering building materials, windows, tiles and even as a massive make-shift tree pot. What a bargain.
9. Gloves. You do genuinely get what you pay for in work / garden gloves and they will inevitably wear out but they are absolutely essential. I recommend having a spare pair for when you saw through yours with a tree saw. Oh, and a first aid kit too.
10. The internet. I could be sappy and say writing this blog is cathartic (which it is) and makes us realise how far we've come, blah, blah. Seriously, the internet has helped pull so many things together...council provisions, material suppliers, finding out the difference between the eaves and soffit (still not sure on that one).
That said, here are the tools we couldn't have done without (I'm not sure if the order is important here):
1: My husband - yes, the joke had to be made. But in all seriousness, he is amazing. I couldn't and wouldn't have done it without him. This is an amazing project we're completing together. What he doesn't know he's willing to learn, what he does know he's already onto. Ok, enough gushing, he's in the top 10.
2: Gumboots. Simple, yet very important during any excavations / stormwater installations / muddy weekends. Worth the $20 from bunnings.
3: Drop saw. We've borrowed this from my brother and used it almost every weekend. Sometimes all weekend (sorry to the neighbours). It's been absolutely essential.
4. Paint-sanding disk attachment for the angle grinder. So much better than using the attachment on a drill (and sooooo much better than hand-sanding). The downside is the sharp flecks of paint that get flicked back into your face and eyes - it really stings!!
5. Wheelbarrow. Where would we be without it? Probably still in bed exhausted from carrying everything (including wet concrete) around ourselves.
6. New makita drill from dad. This drill gets a real workout - there's always a spare battery on charge in the kitchen. In fact, dad's been great at letting us in on the important / time saving equipment. He's helped us with nearly all of this top 10. Thanks so much dad!
7. Scaffolding. Borrowed from a good family friend, it's been so useful accessing those points on the walls and roof that a ladder would have proved very difficult. The only downside is the amount of times we've all walked into the support posts banging our heads. It really hurts.
8. Tarpaulins. They start at $2 each and can be used in any circumstance. As a roof, as a floor, as a wall, for covering building materials, windows, tiles and even as a massive make-shift tree pot. What a bargain.
9. Gloves. You do genuinely get what you pay for in work / garden gloves and they will inevitably wear out but they are absolutely essential. I recommend having a spare pair for when you saw through yours with a tree saw. Oh, and a first aid kit too.
10. The internet. I could be sappy and say writing this blog is cathartic (which it is) and makes us realise how far we've come, blah, blah. Seriously, the internet has helped pull so many things together...council provisions, material suppliers, finding out the difference between the eaves and soffit (still not sure on that one).
so much to do...so little time
For months now we've had a white board listing all of the jobs we need to a) get through to subdivision stage and b) onto the market to sell. Every week I take great joy in crossing one or two of these off (or four when dad's around), making the list look smaller and smaller. The only frustrating thing is the big jobs (like painting the house) that take weeks of work to finally cross them off. There's no satisfaction from the whiteboard until it's finally done.
Here's what we've crossed off in the last 2-3 weeks:
A small win from council (these are like hen's teeth) meant that we didn't need to get the (overkill) termite protection on our 81 steel piers - the ant capping and steel piers was enough. This saved us close to $2000. Ok, ok, so this is an easy job to cross of the whiteboard but in the mean time council have asked for further information on the carport - setting us back time to have drawings made up. It's swings and roundabouts, I guess.
We installed the orifice plate and trash screen into the stormwater pit, ready for completion. For those of you who didn't know (or care) what a stormwater pit was until I started banging on about them in this blog, an orifice pit restricts the the flow of water into the main stormwater pipe (so it isn't bombarded by everyone's stormwater run-off in a large storm) and pushes it back up into our O.S.D causing it to flood like a small grassy pool until it slowly retreats. The trash screen ensures no leaves / sticks / rubbish flows into the mains. The only thing left to go is the ladder debate with council and I should have news next week on the outcome.
Our dining room is now a dining room (and not a room full of boxes / sporting equipment / christmas decorations / etc.). We re-claimed the space and packed everything into storage with lots or room to spare for our extra furniture while we move the minimal amount when building our new house.
The slats around the bottom of the house (so you can't see in under the house) are now completed all the way around the house. Unfortunately the rain this weekend is preventing us from staining the slats and deck (maybe next weekend I'll have something else to cross off).
Jobs still to cross off include:
Occupancy certificate with council
Surveyors drawings for subdivision
Lodgement to council and final inspection on all works.
Paint house
This doesn't include the million other little jobs to get the house finished like: attach the kickboard in the laundry, hang the mirror, get rid of building material, repair that crack in the wall, put up a gate, etc, etc, etc.
Go away rain, we've got work to do!
Here's what we've crossed off in the last 2-3 weeks:
A small win from council (these are like hen's teeth) meant that we didn't need to get the (overkill) termite protection on our 81 steel piers - the ant capping and steel piers was enough. This saved us close to $2000. Ok, ok, so this is an easy job to cross of the whiteboard but in the mean time council have asked for further information on the carport - setting us back time to have drawings made up. It's swings and roundabouts, I guess.
We installed the orifice plate and trash screen into the stormwater pit, ready for completion. For those of you who didn't know (or care) what a stormwater pit was until I started banging on about them in this blog, an orifice pit restricts the the flow of water into the main stormwater pipe (so it isn't bombarded by everyone's stormwater run-off in a large storm) and pushes it back up into our O.S.D causing it to flood like a small grassy pool until it slowly retreats. The trash screen ensures no leaves / sticks / rubbish flows into the mains. The only thing left to go is the ladder debate with council and I should have news next week on the outcome.
Our dining room is now a dining room (and not a room full of boxes / sporting equipment / christmas decorations / etc.). We re-claimed the space and packed everything into storage with lots or room to spare for our extra furniture while we move the minimal amount when building our new house.
The slats around the bottom of the house (so you can't see in under the house) are now completed all the way around the house. Unfortunately the rain this weekend is preventing us from staining the slats and deck (maybe next weekend I'll have something else to cross off).
Jobs still to cross off include:
Occupancy certificate with council
Surveyors drawings for subdivision
Lodgement to council and final inspection on all works.
Paint house
This doesn't include the million other little jobs to get the house finished like: attach the kickboard in the laundry, hang the mirror, get rid of building material, repair that crack in the wall, put up a gate, etc, etc, etc.
Go away rain, we've got work to do!
Thursday, 8 September 2011
everybody loves a laundry montage
The original laundry used to be outside in the garage. So when it came time to demolish the garage to make way for the house move, the laundry moved inside. Originally, this wall housed shelving for cook books, wine, etc. Now we have our very own inside laundry - love it!
I can see the goal posts now
With thanks to my Dad for another visit, we've got heaps done and we're on the track to finishing this place.
Last weekend we got the side of the house sanded, filled and painted in time for the carport to go up...and it looks great. We love the house color and the carport is in use already. Just a little concreting and painting-in of the old car port and that entire side of the house is finished.
Our house painter also stopped in and discussed our time and $$$ dilemma and he agreed to paint the house if we completed all of the prep work - a fantastic compromise. Guess what we're doing this weekend? Sandpaper anyone?
Check out the handrails on the deck and slats around the base of the house. It needs staining but you can see what it's going to look like with a little more finishing.
Lots more bits and pieces have been finished thanks to Dad, including a new drain pipe in the shower, stink pipe re-fitted, dryer exhaust installed in the laundry and a long term storage solution for all of our stuff (currently residing in the dining room as there's no room in the shed with our mountains of tools).
The O.S.D has been turfed which now creates a boundary line for the two properties. This has made another (simple, yet) dramatic difference to how the house looks. Being able to physically define the house makes it look even more spacious. The grass is going to look great in a few weeks. We just need a few trees and plants in behind the O.S.D brick wall to really bring it to life.
Next step? I'm arranging the the jobs to be completed for the final inspection. Did you know they charge per pier for termite protection? With 81 piers, this isn't coming cheap! I'm also fighting a council condition to install ladders in the storm water pits - it's against national standards but they just won't budge. Another good reason never to appoint council as your principal certifying authority!
There's lots of behind the scenes work to do but I'm certainly enjoying the weekends where we kick so many goals (nice pun, hey?). I almost can't remember what it's like to have a relaxing weekend.
Last weekend we got the side of the house sanded, filled and painted in time for the carport to go up...and it looks great. We love the house color and the carport is in use already. Just a little concreting and painting-in of the old car port and that entire side of the house is finished.
Our house painter also stopped in and discussed our time and $$$ dilemma and he agreed to paint the house if we completed all of the prep work - a fantastic compromise. Guess what we're doing this weekend? Sandpaper anyone?
Check out the handrails on the deck and slats around the base of the house. It needs staining but you can see what it's going to look like with a little more finishing.
Lots more bits and pieces have been finished thanks to Dad, including a new drain pipe in the shower, stink pipe re-fitted, dryer exhaust installed in the laundry and a long term storage solution for all of our stuff (currently residing in the dining room as there's no room in the shed with our mountains of tools).
The O.S.D has been turfed which now creates a boundary line for the two properties. This has made another (simple, yet) dramatic difference to how the house looks. Being able to physically define the house makes it look even more spacious. The grass is going to look great in a few weeks. We just need a few trees and plants in behind the O.S.D brick wall to really bring it to life.
Next step? I'm arranging the the jobs to be completed for the final inspection. Did you know they charge per pier for termite protection? With 81 piers, this isn't coming cheap! I'm also fighting a council condition to install ladders in the storm water pits - it's against national standards but they just won't budge. Another good reason never to appoint council as your principal certifying authority!
There's lots of behind the scenes work to do but I'm certainly enjoying the weekends where we kick so many goals (nice pun, hey?). I almost can't remember what it's like to have a relaxing weekend.
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
busy doing....what?
It's still really weird explaining to people what we've done to the house ("we picked up our house and moved it back on the block") and what we're planning to do ("we're going to subdivide and build a new house on the front block"). I admit, it sounds strange, but being in the thick of it, thinking about what we can accomplish this weekend, what the next big spend will be on, and what the next step is, it's just become normal life. I've even found myself daydreaming about what we could take on in the future!!!
In the mean time, my husband is working hammer and tong to finish repairing and painting the side of the house so the carport can go up this weekend. We salvaged the carport prior to the garage being demolished and are looking forward to finally having some dry cover (other than under our brand-spanking new eaves) when it rains. Unfortunately, this is the worst side of the house in terms of repair work needed (facing west) but will have the most dramatic transformation, given a little T.L.C.
He's also put in the concrete steps that support the back deck and concreted in the support posts. He sounds like a real handyman, huh? Prior to taking on this project, neither one of us really knew that we were capable (or actually good) at any of these jobs. I am amazed at what he's accomplished. He is amazing.
The roof has been re-pointed and new barge boards put in place (big thanks to my brother and his father-in-law). All pavers from the original turning area have been lifted and stacked for future use (big thanks to my chiropractor for seeing me after that effort).
Next step is to focus on the items necessary to get us through subdivision with council. It may take a few weeks to make it official so I'm trying to be proactive now and leave the final touches to get us on the market for when we're waiting for the paper work. We were originally planning to have the house painted but I have just added up the subdivision costs ($5000 for Surveyors Certificate, 88B instrument and Works as Executed Survey and $1000 to submit to council) and may look at painting the house ourselves to save a few $$$.
It's just as well I can see the light at the end of this long and expensive tunnel!
In the mean time, my husband is working hammer and tong to finish repairing and painting the side of the house so the carport can go up this weekend. We salvaged the carport prior to the garage being demolished and are looking forward to finally having some dry cover (other than under our brand-spanking new eaves) when it rains. Unfortunately, this is the worst side of the house in terms of repair work needed (facing west) but will have the most dramatic transformation, given a little T.L.C.
He's also put in the concrete steps that support the back deck and concreted in the support posts. He sounds like a real handyman, huh? Prior to taking on this project, neither one of us really knew that we were capable (or actually good) at any of these jobs. I am amazed at what he's accomplished. He is amazing.
The roof has been re-pointed and new barge boards put in place (big thanks to my brother and his father-in-law). All pavers from the original turning area have been lifted and stacked for future use (big thanks to my chiropractor for seeing me after that effort).
Next step is to focus on the items necessary to get us through subdivision with council. It may take a few weeks to make it official so I'm trying to be proactive now and leave the final touches to get us on the market for when we're waiting for the paper work. We were originally planning to have the house painted but I have just added up the subdivision costs ($5000 for Surveyors Certificate, 88B instrument and Works as Executed Survey and $1000 to submit to council) and may look at painting the house ourselves to save a few $$$.
It's just as well I can see the light at the end of this long and expensive tunnel!
turning a corner
Yesterday we had an excavator and bobcat come in and clean up the site to move the huge pile of earth (originally excavated to make way for the driveway) and shape it to meet the new contours of the driveway and O.S.D...making the world of difference. We've finally been able to back-fill the stormwater excavations and get some of our gardens back (from under huge piles of clay).
It was brilliant to drive in yesterday and see the results. The property has definitely turned a corner. It's huge, it's regal, and I can't wait to see the final pieces of this massive, 18 month long, jigsaw puzzle come together.
(before)
(after)
(before)
(after)
Ok, ok...so it may not look that impressive, but it's such a massive change to the landscape. It now allows us to put up the fence dividing the 2 properties and begin landscaping ready for sale. Can't wait!!
It was brilliant to drive in yesterday and see the results. The property has definitely turned a corner. It's huge, it's regal, and I can't wait to see the final pieces of this massive, 18 month long, jigsaw puzzle come together.
(before)
(after)
(before)
(after)
Ok, ok...so it may not look that impressive, but it's such a massive change to the landscape. It now allows us to put up the fence dividing the 2 properties and begin landscaping ready for sale. Can't wait!!
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
in between
Every weekend is a push to get as much done as possible. Thank you to all of our forgiving friends and family that are happy to catch up for dinners instead of breakfasts and lunches. Every rain-free daylight hour counts at the moment.
The jobs to get us to the subdivision stage are our priority (so we can get the submission into council) and jobs to get the house on the market are following closely.
I can't really show you any pictures here, it's all bits and pieces that are really important (gardening / cleaning up building materials / down pipes and storm water), but don't really translate (unless you'd really like to see a picture of our new down pipes / skip bin / stack of pavers??)
We've booked to get the house painted and am onto the earth moving quote - they'll be the money shots!! Until then, we're plodding along...not long to go now!
The jobs to get us to the subdivision stage are our priority (so we can get the submission into council) and jobs to get the house on the market are following closely.
I can't really show you any pictures here, it's all bits and pieces that are really important (gardening / cleaning up building materials / down pipes and storm water), but don't really translate (unless you'd really like to see a picture of our new down pipes / skip bin / stack of pavers??)
We've booked to get the house painted and am onto the earth moving quote - they'll be the money shots!! Until then, we're plodding along...not long to go now!
Saturday, 30 July 2011
recipe for gardening
Ingredients:
11 tonnes of topsoil, 125 rolls of turf, 10 trees and 2 people.
Method:
Prep ground by removing any debris (rocks/old grass). Smooth out top soil as a base for the new turf. Spread fertilizer over top soil. Roll out turf and water.
Makes:
A full day's work.
11 tonnes of topsoil, 125 rolls of turf, 10 trees and 2 people.
Method:
Prep ground by removing any debris (rocks/old grass). Smooth out top soil as a base for the new turf. Spread fertilizer over top soil. Roll out turf and water.
Makes:
A full day's work.
Thursday, 28 July 2011
smoke and mirrors
On any given night you can turn on the T.V and see whole kitchens / backyards / bathrooms transform in a matter of minutes. It makes any home handyman / decorator think that with a quick trip to the local hardware store and a few scatter cushions that they could get the same result...in the same time.
Unfortunately (as I've found out), it's all smoke and mirrors. Sure, with a team of tradies, weeks of planning and lots of editing (and let's not forget a massive budget), we could all get the same result.
Fortunately, we are up to the stage where we're starting to complete jobs that have a real visual impact. This weekend we are completing a really cool transformation. It may not be as styled as a T.V show (or be completed as quickly), but it should win us big points when it comes to the subdivision. Keep you posted...
Unfortunately (as I've found out), it's all smoke and mirrors. Sure, with a team of tradies, weeks of planning and lots of editing (and let's not forget a massive budget), we could all get the same result.
Fortunately, we are up to the stage where we're starting to complete jobs that have a real visual impact. This weekend we are completing a really cool transformation. It may not be as styled as a T.V show (or be completed as quickly), but it should win us big points when it comes to the subdivision. Keep you posted...
top deck
My dad has built the most beautiful deck to replace our previous patio (and allow us access to our front door once again). He started with the frame work and footings:
Then moved onto the support beams:
He installed the marine wire balustrades (thanks Richard for the loan of the crimping tool!):
And all that was left for us to do was put down the decking...and how awesome does it look??!!!
And if you're thinking "what are they doing with those uneven posts?", well they've yet to be trimmed down and finished off with a hand rail.
We'll get to that, we're just relaxing on our deck for now. Thanks so much dad!
Then moved onto the support beams:
He installed the marine wire balustrades (thanks Richard for the loan of the crimping tool!):
And all that was left for us to do was put down the decking...and how awesome does it look??!!!
And if you're thinking "what are they doing with those uneven posts?", well they've yet to be trimmed down and finished off with a hand rail.
We'll get to that, we're just relaxing on our deck for now. Thanks so much dad!
Sunday, 17 July 2011
o.s.d
Overindulgent Sloping Dam? Outside Sculptural Design? Overcharged Secluded Descent? Well, it's a little of all 3. An On Site Detention holds the water collected during a storm and restricts the flow into stormwater drainage (preventing creeks and rivers from flooding). An O.S.D works by restricting the flow via an orifice plate in the stormwater pit and providing extra storage for the water to sit until it gradually empties.
There are 2 basic designs: below ground - super-large concrete tanks placed underground and landscaped over. Above ground - water pools onto a contained, grassy area and is fed into a smaller stormwater pit.
The idea is that the O.S.D storage capacity is determined by the collection surface. Like everything else so far, the design has been really over engineered. But now it's passed through council, it's what we must comply with. Why didn't we negotiate a smaller detention area? Fewer stormwater pits? A more modest driveway design, you ask? Let's put it down to inexperience and too much faith in an engineer who took too long - we just had to get it through council.
Anyhoo, here it is. My amazing Dad spent 2 days building it to spec. All we have to do now is get a bobcat in to shape the earth around it - creating the correct fall, and lay some turf over the top. Easy peasy. It's also made a really nice retaining wall for future gardens. Watch this space for the 'after' photos.
There are 2 basic designs: below ground - super-large concrete tanks placed underground and landscaped over. Above ground - water pools onto a contained, grassy area and is fed into a smaller stormwater pit.
The idea is that the O.S.D storage capacity is determined by the collection surface. Like everything else so far, the design has been really over engineered. But now it's passed through council, it's what we must comply with. Why didn't we negotiate a smaller detention area? Fewer stormwater pits? A more modest driveway design, you ask? Let's put it down to inexperience and too much faith in an engineer who took too long - we just had to get it through council.
Anyhoo, here it is. My amazing Dad spent 2 days building it to spec. All we have to do now is get a bobcat in to shape the earth around it - creating the correct fall, and lay some turf over the top. Easy peasy. It's also made a really nice retaining wall for future gardens. Watch this space for the 'after' photos.
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Sunday, 19 June 2011
how was your weekend?
It's the question I ask / I get asked every Monday morning.
Short answer:
Great, got lots done around the house.
Long answer:
Up early on Saturday morning, had breakfast and put on a load of washing. Picked up wacker packer from the hire place (for more paving preparation) and stopped in at Bunnings for some supplies. Back home, hung out washing and set up high pressure hose. Lifted and cleaned 200 pavers. Lunch. Back to cleaning pavers, wrists and back starting to hurt, 400 stacked and ready to be laid. Pulled in washing. Went inside to get cleaned up for dinner out. Home by 9:30pm, got to bed early like an absolute nanna.
Sunday morning up and 2 loads of washing on. Raced to get last bits of crushed concrete packed before returning to hire place. Hung out washing. Start laying pavers (please note, this is my first attempt at it), realised I was paving askew, have to pull up 50 pavers and start on string line again. Lunch. Finish pavers, sigh of relief. Help cut small pieces to pavers to finish front path, looking awesome. Inside to clean up, vacuum house, wash up and mop floors. Am so stuffed, am writing this blog in slow motion. Ordered in dinner and collapsed on couch.
...so how was your weekend?
Back path in progress...
Back path mostly done...
Front path (see pix from last week's blog) finished...
Short answer:
Great, got lots done around the house.
Long answer:
Up early on Saturday morning, had breakfast and put on a load of washing. Picked up wacker packer from the hire place (for more paving preparation) and stopped in at Bunnings for some supplies. Back home, hung out washing and set up high pressure hose. Lifted and cleaned 200 pavers. Lunch. Back to cleaning pavers, wrists and back starting to hurt, 400 stacked and ready to be laid. Pulled in washing. Went inside to get cleaned up for dinner out. Home by 9:30pm, got to bed early like an absolute nanna.
Sunday morning up and 2 loads of washing on. Raced to get last bits of crushed concrete packed before returning to hire place. Hung out washing. Start laying pavers (please note, this is my first attempt at it), realised I was paving askew, have to pull up 50 pavers and start on string line again. Lunch. Finish pavers, sigh of relief. Help cut small pieces to pavers to finish front path, looking awesome. Inside to clean up, vacuum house, wash up and mop floors. Am so stuffed, am writing this blog in slow motion. Ordered in dinner and collapsed on couch.
...so how was your weekend?
Back path in progress...
Back path mostly done...
Front path (see pix from last week's blog) finished...
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
two steps forward...
...two steps back. It feels like we're standing still. I know the big jobs are done and it's down to the smaller details but I'm finding it hard not to bogged down (literally) in the rain and the mud, and hurdles we keep encountering. Oh, and the bills...they never stop! I swear we should have shares in Bunnings!
Last weekend on Saturday we got heaps done. I lifted (from the old driveway) and cleaned down 400+ pavers. The boys formed up and created a path bed with road base and crushed concrete, then packed it down with a 'wacker packer'. They then began to lay the pavers and start excavating another path for the back door. The system worked really well. Awesome day, feeling really excited to get one path down.
Saturday night it rained...and rained...and bucketed down some more. Sunday morning before returning the wacker packer to the hire place they tried laying the road base and it all turned to slush. The wacker packer sunk itself into a messy, muddy hole. Devastated. Nothing to do but clean up and get dry. This rain is not going to stop until next weekend. Back to the sanding and painting inside. Oh how I want this to be OVER!
Last weekend on Saturday we got heaps done. I lifted (from the old driveway) and cleaned down 400+ pavers. The boys formed up and created a path bed with road base and crushed concrete, then packed it down with a 'wacker packer'. They then began to lay the pavers and start excavating another path for the back door. The system worked really well. Awesome day, feeling really excited to get one path down.
Saturday night it rained...and rained...and bucketed down some more. Sunday morning before returning the wacker packer to the hire place they tried laying the road base and it all turned to slush. The wacker packer sunk itself into a messy, muddy hole. Devastated. Nothing to do but clean up and get dry. This rain is not going to stop until next weekend. Back to the sanding and painting inside. Oh how I want this to be OVER!
Friday, 3 June 2011
I can see it coming together
Though the list of jobs seems endless (tiling, painting, paving, landscaping, fences, gutters, downpipes and so on, and so on), the big jobs are done.
The house is moved. The driveway is down. The stormwater is in. I can't tell you how good this feels - a big weight has been lifted.
Now the race is on to get the house finished, ready for subdivision within the next few months. I don't feel like we can move at any other pace than fast. It's not like I would imagine most house renovation jobs: done in stages, one thing at a time - this needs to get DONE.
My Dad (a.k.a miracle worker) completed 90% of the decking prior to going back home. We just need to finish some of the footings and the top decking. Check out how it's looking!
The rain this last week has made things a bit soggy, including the carpet in 2 bedrooms, one wall and some treasured possessions but everything seems to be drying out - and gutters will make a huge difference once we have them installed (they've officially moved up the list of priority items).
Hopefully it will be dry enough this weekend to do some more work on the deck and pathways. If it rains, it's painting and tiling inside. Plenty to do, there's no shortage of jobs.
The house is moved. The driveway is down. The stormwater is in. I can't tell you how good this feels - a big weight has been lifted.
Now the race is on to get the house finished, ready for subdivision within the next few months. I don't feel like we can move at any other pace than fast. It's not like I would imagine most house renovation jobs: done in stages, one thing at a time - this needs to get DONE.
My Dad (a.k.a miracle worker) completed 90% of the decking prior to going back home. We just need to finish some of the footings and the top decking. Check out how it's looking!
The rain this last week has made things a bit soggy, including the carpet in 2 bedrooms, one wall and some treasured possessions but everything seems to be drying out - and gutters will make a huge difference once we have them installed (they've officially moved up the list of priority items).
Hopefully it will be dry enough this weekend to do some more work on the deck and pathways. If it rains, it's painting and tiling inside. Plenty to do, there's no shortage of jobs.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
how to build a stormwater pit (a rough guide)
Step 1:
Dig a really, really big hole and put in pipes.
Step 2:
Build custom formwork for concrete pit.
Step 3:
Pour concrete.
Step 4:
Remove formwork and reset for next pit.
Step5:
Place grate on top and backfill trenches.
On a slightly more detailed (and serious) note, most steps took over a day to complete - there's about 7 days labour in each pit and we have 3 to pour!
We employed a plumber to dig and shape the trenches, lay the pipes and connect to the stormwater main - he did an amazing job considering all of the hurdles.
As the pits themselves were incredibly over-engineered (council specs), it became difficult to find someone to take on the project and actually get them in the ground (both the plumber and concreter refused).
We owe everything to my Dad who gave up countless days to design the formwork, piece it together and manage the process - including negotiate all sorts of setbacks like tight spaces and council inspectors (sometimes wishing the council inspectors would fall in the tight spaces).
Thanks Dad.
Dig a really, really big hole and put in pipes.
Step 2:
Build custom formwork for concrete pit.
Step 3:
Pour concrete.
Step 4:
Remove formwork and reset for next pit.
Step5:
Place grate on top and backfill trenches.
On a slightly more detailed (and serious) note, most steps took over a day to complete - there's about 7 days labour in each pit and we have 3 to pour!
We employed a plumber to dig and shape the trenches, lay the pipes and connect to the stormwater main - he did an amazing job considering all of the hurdles.
As the pits themselves were incredibly over-engineered (council specs), it became difficult to find someone to take on the project and actually get them in the ground (both the plumber and concreter refused).
We owe everything to my Dad who gave up countless days to design the formwork, piece it together and manage the process - including negotiate all sorts of setbacks like tight spaces and council inspectors (sometimes wishing the council inspectors would fall in the tight spaces).
Thanks Dad.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
it's still a mess...but it's our mess
With a few days to simmer down and catch an update on how some of the QLD flood victims are slowly pulling their lives and homes back together, it's a good wake-up call that we chose for all of this to happen. The move, the mess, the stress - we took it all on for a larger goal. I know I'm terrible at 'seeing the forest for the trees' at the best of times - lucky I have such a supportive (and forest-seeing) husband.
Here's a little snapshot of where things have come from...
This is the lounge room when we first started renovating a few years ago (prior to even contemplating the whole house-moving thing). Love the 70's firebox!
It's amazing what a lick of paint, some sanding of floorboards and some gorgeous flowers can do! What a transformation.
When moving the house, we had to make a decision about the fireplace. Upon moving, the exterior brickwork would no longer be stable and coupled with a rusted-out flue, we decided to take it out completely.
This involved demolishing it from the inside-out...
...putting in new structural beams to secure the house...
...and re-covering the inside and outside walls.
We're not finished yet - there's still more sanding, priming, and painting to go, but I guarantee you'd never know there used to be a fireplace in the house when we're finished. I'm just looking forward to the 'finished' shot now!
Here's a little snapshot of where things have come from...
This is the lounge room when we first started renovating a few years ago (prior to even contemplating the whole house-moving thing). Love the 70's firebox!
It's amazing what a lick of paint, some sanding of floorboards and some gorgeous flowers can do! What a transformation.
When moving the house, we had to make a decision about the fireplace. Upon moving, the exterior brickwork would no longer be stable and coupled with a rusted-out flue, we decided to take it out completely.
This involved demolishing it from the inside-out...
...putting in new structural beams to secure the house...
...and re-covering the inside and outside walls.
We're not finished yet - there's still more sanding, priming, and painting to go, but I guarantee you'd never know there used to be a fireplace in the house when we're finished. I'm just looking forward to the 'finished' shot now!
Saturday, 30 April 2011
renovating: what it's really like
Anyone who has ever renovated whilst living in the house that they're renovating knows that this is no picnic....for example: last Saturday morning, around 4am we awoke to the sound of heavy rain. And dripping. On the carpet. Our newly placed eaves (without the fascia or guttering fitted yet) were funneling the particularly heavy rain back into the roof and onto the windowsill which (magically) had a small-enough crack in it to allow a good, steady stream of water into our bedroom and onto the carpet.
There I are at 4am, mopping up water with towels while my husband is outside in the rain fitting a tarpaulin in under the roof tiles. Oh, what I'd would do for finished guttering right about now.
I understand that this phase is relatively short-lived (it had better be!). It's just the lack of covered areas, clear paths ways, access to the front door, etc, etc, that really gets me frustrated with the entire process - the stuff that you usually take for granted.
Oh, and what I'd do for a sunny weekend! Why does it always f&%*king rain on weekends when we're desperately trying to get things done??? (hey, it's my blog and I'll moan if I want to!). Here we are, another rainy weekend so we've left the guttering for now (maybe the tarps around the house will begin to grow on me) and we're onto replacing the cracked plasterboard from the house being moved - there wasn't a lot, but enough to really accentuate the previously small cracks prior to the move - pretty normal for a 50 year old house.
So it's dust, dust and more dust. Sanding. Filling. More sanding. On a wet weekend with no where else to go - this is shit! Am I selling the benefits of DIY, or what? Time for clean-up and a bit of dinner and yet the vacuum has stopped working...completely. Words have failed me here *sigh*.
Breathe, have a glass of red, go to bed, get up to a new day.
Sunday update: vacuum has not gone to appliance heaven, we had somehow tripped one of the circuits in the house...maybe from drying clothes in the dryer?? Anyhoo, it's a sunny day today HOORAY!
There I are at 4am, mopping up water with towels while my husband is outside in the rain fitting a tarpaulin in under the roof tiles. Oh, what I'd would do for finished guttering right about now.
I understand that this phase is relatively short-lived (it had better be!). It's just the lack of covered areas, clear paths ways, access to the front door, etc, etc, that really gets me frustrated with the entire process - the stuff that you usually take for granted.
Oh, and what I'd do for a sunny weekend! Why does it always f&%*king rain on weekends when we're desperately trying to get things done??? (hey, it's my blog and I'll moan if I want to!). Here we are, another rainy weekend so we've left the guttering for now (maybe the tarps around the house will begin to grow on me) and we're onto replacing the cracked plasterboard from the house being moved - there wasn't a lot, but enough to really accentuate the previously small cracks prior to the move - pretty normal for a 50 year old house.
So it's dust, dust and more dust. Sanding. Filling. More sanding. On a wet weekend with no where else to go - this is shit! Am I selling the benefits of DIY, or what? Time for clean-up and a bit of dinner and yet the vacuum has stopped working...completely. Words have failed me here *sigh*.
Breathe, have a glass of red, go to bed, get up to a new day.
Sunday update: vacuum has not gone to appliance heaven, we had somehow tripped one of the circuits in the house...maybe from drying clothes in the dryer?? Anyhoo, it's a sunny day today HOORAY!
Saturday, 16 April 2011
things I wish I'd known before we started...
Here's the Top 10 so far...
1. You've heard of the 20% buffer for budgets? Try 50%...it's more accurate.
2. Gutters really matter when it's raining.
3. Sit down with the engineer who has drawn up your construction certificate / development application and go through every facet of the drawing. This information is gold.
4. Don't expect people in 'the know' to give you a heads-up on potentially important information (hence, point 3).
5. Don't use council as the certifying authority. This means they get to make the rules, then change them on you.
6. If you're moving your house, it's easier if you move out for a while.
7. Be aware of companies recommended by council. In fact, it's illegal for them to do so.
8. Clear paths and under cover areas are grossly underrated.
9. When you ring for a home delivery and say: "please don't drive on our newly poured concrete driveway, park on our neighbour's driveway instead", they may still mount the kerb, drive over the form work, through the safety tape and onto your driveway.
10. This is really, really, really hard.
1. You've heard of the 20% buffer for budgets? Try 50%...it's more accurate.
2. Gutters really matter when it's raining.
3. Sit down with the engineer who has drawn up your construction certificate / development application and go through every facet of the drawing. This information is gold.
4. Don't expect people in 'the know' to give you a heads-up on potentially important information (hence, point 3).
5. Don't use council as the certifying authority. This means they get to make the rules, then change them on you.
6. If you're moving your house, it's easier if you move out for a while.
7. Be aware of companies recommended by council. In fact, it's illegal for them to do so.
8. Clear paths and under cover areas are grossly underrated.
9. When you ring for a home delivery and say: "please don't drive on our newly poured concrete driveway, park on our neighbour's driveway instead", they may still mount the kerb, drive over the form work, through the safety tape and onto your driveway.
10. This is really, really, really hard.
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
driveway...done! storm water...(nearly) done!
Check out this gorgeous driveway (didn't think those words would ever come out of my mouth). We should be able to drive on it by the weekend. Council is happy (well, as happy as council can be), concreters are happy and most of all, we're happy!
The plumbers finally broke into the storm water pit, connected the pipe, got the O.K from council, backfilled and poured a new concrete path just before the lane closure finished. Phew!
Next step is to get the concrete pits poured in the ground, connected to the (already laid) pipes and backfill the trenches - then the storm water will finally be finished! I think it's going to be another tricky, fiddly job...and I don't think the plumber or the concreter want to do it. It seems our council is just so hard to deal with that no matter how much we try to smooth things over - it's just a lot of unnecessary hassle for them. Sometimes this feels impossible.
The plumbers finally broke into the storm water pit, connected the pipe, got the O.K from council, backfilled and poured a new concrete path just before the lane closure finished. Phew!
Next step is to get the concrete pits poured in the ground, connected to the (already laid) pipes and backfill the trenches - then the storm water will finally be finished! I think it's going to be another tricky, fiddly job...and I don't think the plumber or the concreter want to do it. It seems our council is just so hard to deal with that no matter how much we try to smooth things over - it's just a lot of unnecessary hassle for them. Sometimes this feels impossible.
driveway: take 2
Well the ROL licence has come through and we're onto the last bit of the driveway, pedestrian crossing and layback onto the street.
Yesterday we closed a lane for 5 hours while the concreters pulled up the old layback, excavated the new space, formed it up and put down trench mesh. Unfortunately, they ran out of time to pour the concrete within the RTA's road closure time frame and had to finish off the job this morning...
I'll take a finished picture at lunchtime - they should be finished by then!
The plumbers found a whole new set of problems including a disused water mains pipe sitting directly under the current water main - right in the path of our storm water connection, turning a 1 day job would turn into 2 day marathon.Check out the video of the plumber cutting through the cast iron pipe and his apprentice knocking through the storm water pit.
(section of the old cast iron pipe cut out by the plumbers)
Yesterday we closed a lane for 5 hours while the concreters pulled up the old layback, excavated the new space, formed it up and put down trench mesh. Unfortunately, they ran out of time to pour the concrete within the RTA's road closure time frame and had to finish off the job this morning...
I'll take a finished picture at lunchtime - they should be finished by then!
The plumbers found a whole new set of problems including a disused water mains pipe sitting directly under the current water main - right in the path of our storm water connection, turning a 1 day job would turn into 2 day marathon.Check out the video of the plumber cutting through the cast iron pipe and his apprentice knocking through the storm water pit.
(section of the old cast iron pipe cut out by the plumbers)
Sunday, 3 April 2011
the abyss...
New water for the new lot...how much should I budget?
One of the reasons I started this blog was to get some info out to other newbies. Info that's hard to find, info that might save you some $$$ (or help you budget a little better). Here is one the biggest budget blow-outs we've found so far:
One of the many conditions of our development application states "a Section 73 compliance certificate under the Sydney Water Act 1994 must be obtained". It also states that we must go through a Water Servicing Coordinator (WSC) and that the Section 73 is required prior to release of the plan of subdivision.
In a nut shell, we contact a WSC (listed on Sydney Water's website) and ask them to act on our behalf in liaising with Sydney Water - you cannot do this yourself for some unknown reason.
The WSC tells Sydney Water that we want to subdivide and Sydney water tells the WSC what we have to do to make this happen in relation to water / sewerage connections (called a Notice of Requirements).
Sydney Water application fee = $368
WSC to lodge the Section 73 to Sydney Water = $495
Am starting to feel a little ripped-off already!
The Notice of Requirements states that we need to have our building plans checked by a Quick Check agent and we need to get another water meter connection for the new property.
Quick Check of building plans = $26
Water meter connection consists of:
Digging and locating water main in nature strip in front of property (including backfilling and materials) = $750
Let me just say now, this is a massive 2m deep pit around an enormous pipe - it's a huge job!
Water drilling fee (by an Sydney Water accredited driller) = $770
Now that the Notice of Requirement items have been completed, the WSC inspects the water meter connection (basically, they drive out and check that it's actually there)= $660
WSC let Sydney Water know that we have completed all of the Notice of Requirements and ask for the Section 73 compliance certificate = $330
And what do we have after all of this, you ask?
Check out our brand-new shiny-looking (well, it's been a little spattered with concrete) water meter!!!! Totally worth the $3400!
Honestly, we're thanking our lucky stars we didn't have to dig into the road...or across the road to connect with the water main (I shudder to think how much that would cost). We're lucky we have such a good plumber and we're lucky we made it within the Notice of Requirements time frame (or it's application fees all over again).
One of the reasons I started this blog was to get some info out to other newbies. Info that's hard to find, info that might save you some $$$ (or help you budget a little better). Here is one the biggest budget blow-outs we've found so far:
One of the many conditions of our development application states "a Section 73 compliance certificate under the Sydney Water Act 1994 must be obtained". It also states that we must go through a Water Servicing Coordinator (WSC) and that the Section 73 is required prior to release of the plan of subdivision.
In a nut shell, we contact a WSC (listed on Sydney Water's website) and ask them to act on our behalf in liaising with Sydney Water - you cannot do this yourself for some unknown reason.
The WSC tells Sydney Water that we want to subdivide and Sydney water tells the WSC what we have to do to make this happen in relation to water / sewerage connections (called a Notice of Requirements).
Sydney Water application fee = $368
WSC to lodge the Section 73 to Sydney Water = $495
Am starting to feel a little ripped-off already!
The Notice of Requirements states that we need to have our building plans checked by a Quick Check agent and we need to get another water meter connection for the new property.
Quick Check of building plans = $26
Water meter connection consists of:
Digging and locating water main in nature strip in front of property (including backfilling and materials) = $750
Let me just say now, this is a massive 2m deep pit around an enormous pipe - it's a huge job!
Water drilling fee (by an Sydney Water accredited driller) = $770
Now that the Notice of Requirement items have been completed, the WSC inspects the water meter connection (basically, they drive out and check that it's actually there)= $660
WSC let Sydney Water know that we have completed all of the Notice of Requirements and ask for the Section 73 compliance certificate = $330
And what do we have after all of this, you ask?
Check out our brand-new shiny-looking (well, it's been a little spattered with concrete) water meter!!!! Totally worth the $3400!
Honestly, we're thanking our lucky stars we didn't have to dig into the road...or across the road to connect with the water main (I shudder to think how much that would cost). We're lucky we have such a good plumber and we're lucky we made it within the Notice of Requirements time frame (or it's application fees all over again).
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
the ups and downs
I'm struggling to think how to start this blog. Today's been a really tough day...in fact it's been a really tough week (and it's only Wednesday!!!).
Monday was a wash-out but our plumber was able to clear the trenches, shape the last of the pits and lay the pipes - what a champion!
Tuesday the trenches filled up again with rain water but at least they are now formed and fitted with pipes, ready for the concrete pits to be poured and connected to the street stormwater drain.
As the usual council inspector was away, a fill-in inspector checked out the driveway form work and took issue with the previously-approved key joins, threatening to shut us down. He stated a different (and much more expensive) bitumen filler be used instead and key joins be removed. BIG PROBLEM.
Until now, I've been really resistant to challenge council on their decisions. I've figured it was better to adhere to all conditions, changes and costs, thinking that it would only cost us in more time and unnecessary runaround. But change, for change sake is too much. Am tired of officials asserting their positions on plans that have been previously approved and signed-off by the necessary certifying bodies. Where does it stop?
I don't know if my phone call to his secretary had much effect - the fill-in inspector never bothered to call me back, but he did call the concreter back and negotiated to saw-cut the joins in the concrete and cork the spaces. Our concreter is still scratching his head at this methodology, but at least we're back on track to pour the driveway the following day.
Wednesday starts like a dream: driveway goes down, looks fantastic, plans are set for tomorrow's pour of the lay back (the pedestrian crossing and apron to the road).
Email comes in from traffic control company (the guys with the 'stop' signs and orange cones) requesting an ROL licence. ROL licence? Never heard of it. I've had my traffic control plan drawn up by engineers, certified by council and passed it onto my tradies to book traffic control but I've never heard of an ROL.
Traffic control tells us we're on a main road (knew that), the RTA overrules council on main roads (kinda knew that), RTA requires ROL licence for any traffic control (didn't know that), ROL licence takes 10 working days (really didn't know that), need to shut down tomorrow's schedule, including storm water connection to street until ROL licence comes through (didn't want to know that).
Am searching through D.As and C.Cs trying to find how I missed this. No one ever mentioned this. How do you plan for this? So disappointed.
The upside? By the time the ROL licence comes through, the newly poured driveway will have cured enough to have trucks drive on it to pour the stormwater pits and lay back on the same day. 2 birds, 1 concrete truck.
Monday was a wash-out but our plumber was able to clear the trenches, shape the last of the pits and lay the pipes - what a champion!
Tuesday the trenches filled up again with rain water but at least they are now formed and fitted with pipes, ready for the concrete pits to be poured and connected to the street stormwater drain.
As the usual council inspector was away, a fill-in inspector checked out the driveway form work and took issue with the previously-approved key joins, threatening to shut us down. He stated a different (and much more expensive) bitumen filler be used instead and key joins be removed. BIG PROBLEM.
Until now, I've been really resistant to challenge council on their decisions. I've figured it was better to adhere to all conditions, changes and costs, thinking that it would only cost us in more time and unnecessary runaround. But change, for change sake is too much. Am tired of officials asserting their positions on plans that have been previously approved and signed-off by the necessary certifying bodies. Where does it stop?
I don't know if my phone call to his secretary had much effect - the fill-in inspector never bothered to call me back, but he did call the concreter back and negotiated to saw-cut the joins in the concrete and cork the spaces. Our concreter is still scratching his head at this methodology, but at least we're back on track to pour the driveway the following day.
Wednesday starts like a dream: driveway goes down, looks fantastic, plans are set for tomorrow's pour of the lay back (the pedestrian crossing and apron to the road).
Email comes in from traffic control company (the guys with the 'stop' signs and orange cones) requesting an ROL licence. ROL licence? Never heard of it. I've had my traffic control plan drawn up by engineers, certified by council and passed it onto my tradies to book traffic control but I've never heard of an ROL.
Traffic control tells us we're on a main road (knew that), the RTA overrules council on main roads (kinda knew that), RTA requires ROL licence for any traffic control (didn't know that), ROL licence takes 10 working days (really didn't know that), need to shut down tomorrow's schedule, including storm water connection to street until ROL licence comes through (didn't want to know that).
Am searching through D.As and C.Cs trying to find how I missed this. No one ever mentioned this. How do you plan for this? So disappointed.
The upside? By the time the ROL licence comes through, the newly poured driveway will have cured enough to have trucks drive on it to pour the stormwater pits and lay back on the same day. 2 birds, 1 concrete truck.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
rain, rain go away...
Since my last post on Monday, a lot has happened...
Tuesday: council agrees to meet with the arborist to resolve the tree-area digging issue but the earliest appointment is Thursday *sigh*. This means no more stormwater digging until then - making pouring the stormwater pits (cast insitu) coincide with the pouring of the driveway even trickier. Surveyor finally shows up at 4pm (was booked for Friday/Monday) and only marks 1/2 the boundary pegs requested *sigh*. At least we can now progress with the driveway accurately.
Wednesday: the driveway is really starting to take shape. 150mm of crushed concrete has been spread and compacted down - finally creating a mud-free area to walk on. Have booked the plumber to return tomorrow - praying we get a good result from tomorrow's meeting with council and the arborist.
Thursday: council and arborist meet and agree to proceed as per plans...WTF???? You, like me, are probably asking what the hold-up on Monday was all about then? No answers given - maybe just different organisations trying to assert themselves? Who cares, we start digging...and digging...
Friday: ...and digging. By Friday afternoon the stormwater pits are looking good. There are huge piles of clay everywhere, but it looks good - we should be able to finish it over the weekend. The driveway is nearly all formed up ready for a Tuesday concrete pour. It looks like we might just meet our goal to have one load of concrete delivered and poured, saving us lots of $$$ *sigh of relief*.
And then, it rained - no, it actually teemed with rain Friday night, Saturday day and night, and Sunday morning our stormwater pits look like this...
Yes, that pit is 2 metres deep!!! It truly is a stormwater pit - it's catching and channeling the rain except it's got nowhere to go.
Weather forecast for the rest of the week? Showers until Thursday. Likelihood of pouring concrete into them on Tuesday? Pretty unlikely *sigh*.
Tuesday: council agrees to meet with the arborist to resolve the tree-area digging issue but the earliest appointment is Thursday *sigh*. This means no more stormwater digging until then - making pouring the stormwater pits (cast insitu) coincide with the pouring of the driveway even trickier. Surveyor finally shows up at 4pm (was booked for Friday/Monday) and only marks 1/2 the boundary pegs requested *sigh*. At least we can now progress with the driveway accurately.
Wednesday: the driveway is really starting to take shape. 150mm of crushed concrete has been spread and compacted down - finally creating a mud-free area to walk on. Have booked the plumber to return tomorrow - praying we get a good result from tomorrow's meeting with council and the arborist.
Thursday: council and arborist meet and agree to proceed as per plans...WTF???? You, like me, are probably asking what the hold-up on Monday was all about then? No answers given - maybe just different organisations trying to assert themselves? Who cares, we start digging...and digging...
Friday: ...and digging. By Friday afternoon the stormwater pits are looking good. There are huge piles of clay everywhere, but it looks good - we should be able to finish it over the weekend. The driveway is nearly all formed up ready for a Tuesday concrete pour. It looks like we might just meet our goal to have one load of concrete delivered and poured, saving us lots of $$$ *sigh of relief*.
And then, it rained - no, it actually teemed with rain Friday night, Saturday day and night, and Sunday morning our stormwater pits look like this...
Yes, that pit is 2 metres deep!!! It truly is a stormwater pit - it's catching and channeling the rain except it's got nowhere to go.
Weather forecast for the rest of the week? Showers until Thursday. Likelihood of pouring concrete into them on Tuesday? Pretty unlikely *sigh*.
Monday, 14 March 2011
is this for you?
If you can picture yourself watching your freshly delivered pizza go cold (because your oven isn't connected to power yet) while you're sitting in a trench in the fading daylight untangling and feeding telephone cable through a conduit to your partner who's on the other end - both getting frustrated, both hungry, both tired from a long day's work, both really questioning whether this was such a good idea in the first place...can you picture yourself here? Yes? Then, congratulations - this IS for you! Me? I'm not so sure today.
the $6000 day
I can think of many ways to spend $6K in a day...let's just say that paying 2 electricians, 2 plumbers, a surveyor and an arborist is not what I would have had in mind.
So here's how a day like this goes:
Plumber arrives at 7am to start digging trenches for storm water drainage. 9am council checks the necessary measures and leaves. 9:30am arborist arrives to supervise the said digging of trenches around native trees. 10:30am digging works come to a stand-still as arborist does not agree with construction certificate plans and shuts down digging in the tree affected area and leaves.
Meanwhile, electricians arrive and require new account numbers for power boxes (phone calls to providers) and surveyors don't show up. Plumber continues to dig in unaffected area but cannot get correct levels from engineer's drawings. Phone calls back and forth to hydraulic engineer. Correct levels confirmed.
3:00pm council returns and approves one of arborist's change in plans but overrules the other. 3:30pm plumber leaves for another job - can only return in 3 days. 5pm electricians leave but will be back tomorrow to finish connecting power to the house. 6pm arrive home, get changed and fill conduit trench with sand and safety tape.
That's right, all of this happened without us even here to see our $6K being spent. This is soooo stressful. If I've ever made out that this is a cruisy project - it ain't! Trying to field the phone calls today, find solutions, not explode on the phone to my husband and prevent this week's schedule of works from blowing out is my definition of hell!
And how does $6K look at the end of the day? Like a bunch of empty trenches, lots of conduit and a pile of mess. Ughh, and it's only Monday. Tomorrow it's onto council to get a final ruling on the digging in the tree area, arrange inspections for later in the week and begin excavations on the driveway for a Friday finish. Wish us luck!
So here's how a day like this goes:
Plumber arrives at 7am to start digging trenches for storm water drainage. 9am council checks the necessary measures and leaves. 9:30am arborist arrives to supervise the said digging of trenches around native trees. 10:30am digging works come to a stand-still as arborist does not agree with construction certificate plans and shuts down digging in the tree affected area and leaves.
Meanwhile, electricians arrive and require new account numbers for power boxes (phone calls to providers) and surveyors don't show up. Plumber continues to dig in unaffected area but cannot get correct levels from engineer's drawings. Phone calls back and forth to hydraulic engineer. Correct levels confirmed.
3:00pm council returns and approves one of arborist's change in plans but overrules the other. 3:30pm plumber leaves for another job - can only return in 3 days. 5pm electricians leave but will be back tomorrow to finish connecting power to the house. 6pm arrive home, get changed and fill conduit trench with sand and safety tape.
That's right, all of this happened without us even here to see our $6K being spent. This is soooo stressful. If I've ever made out that this is a cruisy project - it ain't! Trying to field the phone calls today, find solutions, not explode on the phone to my husband and prevent this week's schedule of works from blowing out is my definition of hell!
And how does $6K look at the end of the day? Like a bunch of empty trenches, lots of conduit and a pile of mess. Ughh, and it's only Monday. Tomorrow it's onto council to get a final ruling on the digging in the tree area, arrange inspections for later in the week and begin excavations on the driveway for a Friday finish. Wish us luck!
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