Monday, 18 September 2017
Inspected
Today a nice man from the City of Port Phillip comes to inspect the pavements etc around the house, as part of getting an Asset Protection Permit. Peter takes photos as well, so that they can't later blame any existing issues on our building works. We then cough up a substantial deposit which the Council holds until works are complete, then returns to us provided we haven't damaged anything. Even for a very modest lot of building work we have to pay $2,000 - one wonders how much money they have in these deposits at any one time. As Albert Park/Middle Park are at the top of the leader board for most-renovated suburbs, one imagines that it's millions. Ah well...
Friday, 1 September 2017
Plans!
Winter has wended it's weary way - it's been cold, we've had colds, and nothing much happened on the building front until this week. Plans arrive Monday, are checked out by us Tues/Wed, and we fill in the form to appoint the Building Surveyor on Wednesday afternoon.
Builders tell us that action will commence once the plans are approved. Forecast for next week is more cold wet winter weather, despite the fact that Spring has officially sprung - hopefully it will have improved by the time work kicks off.
Builders tell us that action will commence once the plans are approved. Forecast for next week is more cold wet winter weather, despite the fact that Spring has officially sprung - hopefully it will have improved by the time work kicks off.
Friday, 14 July 2017
Conference no 2
Big meeting between Daniel (architect), Con (structural engineer), Tony and Dave (builders), and us. So good to have everyone together, making sensible suggestions.
Upshot is that the wall will be removed entirely and we'll put in a new beam, floor will be replaced with a slab.
Now over to Con to do the structural stuff, then Daniel to do plans for the Building Permit application.
Upshot is that the wall will be removed entirely and we'll put in a new beam, floor will be replaced with a slab.
Now over to Con to do the structural stuff, then Daniel to do plans for the Building Permit application.
Thursday, 6 July 2017
Gutted
Three days and five skips later...
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| What was the kitchen... |
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| ...the bathroom... |
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| ...the living area looking back up the hall... |
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| ... and the living area looking out into the courtyard. |
Monday, 3 July 2017
Demolition Day
Late June turns into early July.
During June we move all the furniture from the back room to the front bedroom, removing the doors from the wardrobe so that the bed could slide in (just fitted). Amazingly, we managed to then move in the sofa, dining table, fridge, TV table.
Later we pack up everything in kitchen and bathroom into storage boxes which go into the second bedroom. We remove the laundry trough and handbasin as they might be recyclable in the new layout. We remove the glass panelled door from the end of the hall, which we plan to relocate in the second bedroom, and replace it with the flat panel door from the bathroom, which Peter modifies so that it can secure the front part of the house when the back is gutted.
During one of our forays into the house to prepare for demolition we notice first that the back gate is open, and secondly that the back sliding door is off its runner, and looks as though someone's tried to jemmy it open. Several days later we realise that the TV (second hand, bought via Gumtree) is no longer on its table in the front bedroom. We realise that the jemmy effort was in fact successful, that the thieves then carried off the TV, probably out the front door. Nothing else touched. We are annoyed because you can no longer buy 32" TVs, but otherwise the loss is too minor for us to be anything more than irritated, and cross with ourselves for not locking the place more securely.
By the first Monday in July we have done all we can in preparation, and the builders duly arrive at about 7:30am. The sounds of demolition float over the wall as we drink our morning coffee and try to recover from getting out of bed at 6:30am on a very chilly winter's morning.
During June we move all the furniture from the back room to the front bedroom, removing the doors from the wardrobe so that the bed could slide in (just fitted). Amazingly, we managed to then move in the sofa, dining table, fridge, TV table.
Later we pack up everything in kitchen and bathroom into storage boxes which go into the second bedroom. We remove the laundry trough and handbasin as they might be recyclable in the new layout. We remove the glass panelled door from the end of the hall, which we plan to relocate in the second bedroom, and replace it with the flat panel door from the bathroom, which Peter modifies so that it can secure the front part of the house when the back is gutted.
During one of our forays into the house to prepare for demolition we notice first that the back gate is open, and secondly that the back sliding door is off its runner, and looks as though someone's tried to jemmy it open. Several days later we realise that the TV (second hand, bought via Gumtree) is no longer on its table in the front bedroom. We realise that the jemmy effort was in fact successful, that the thieves then carried off the TV, probably out the front door. Nothing else touched. We are annoyed because you can no longer buy 32" TVs, but otherwise the loss is too minor for us to be anything more than irritated, and cross with ourselves for not locking the place more securely.
By the first Monday in July we have done all we can in preparation, and the builders duly arrive at about 7:30am. The sounds of demolition float over the wall as we drink our morning coffee and try to recover from getting out of bed at 6:30am on a very chilly winter's morning.
Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Conference
When we return from our usual summer sailing in Hobart, we organise a meeting with Daniel (architect), Con (structural engineer), Tony and Dave (builders) to work out how best to deal with the bit of wall that we want to remove from the living area. To make it easier to see what's what, we spend a happy day wrecking the cupboard that once held the hot water service in the bathroom. What we find is not promising - no steel beam supporting the existing opening.
When the experts arrive, they confirm that the old opening was created by bolting two slim wooden beams on either side of the old brick wall at the level of the top of the opening, then removing all the brickwork below. Con the engineer confirms that if we re-arrange this at all, it will not pass current regulations. We all stand and ponder for a bit, then Tony suggests that we put a single steel pillar at the end of the current opening, and then insert a new steel beam to support a new opening from there to the outside wall. Con confirms that this is possible, and we feel that a pillar in the middle of the room could be made into a feature, rather than a bug.
We agree that the next step will be to demolish most of the internals at the back, so that Daniel and Con can really see what's under the floor and above the ceiling. The bad news is that Dave and Tony tell us that they are booked until late June, so there will be another pause before anything happens.
When the experts arrive, they confirm that the old opening was created by bolting two slim wooden beams on either side of the old brick wall at the level of the top of the opening, then removing all the brickwork below. Con the engineer confirms that if we re-arrange this at all, it will not pass current regulations. We all stand and ponder for a bit, then Tony suggests that we put a single steel pillar at the end of the current opening, and then insert a new steel beam to support a new opening from there to the outside wall. Con confirms that this is possible, and we feel that a pillar in the middle of the room could be made into a feature, rather than a bug.
We agree that the next step will be to demolish most of the internals at the back, so that Daniel and Con can really see what's under the floor and above the ceiling. The bad news is that Dave and Tony tell us that they are booked until late June, so there will be another pause before anything happens.
Tuesday, 15 November 2016
Meanwhile...
The architect comes, measures up, and is, we hope, currently drawing up plans.
Peter covers over the hole in the floor with mdf and sheets of masonite, and with a rug from the market over the top, the living room looks reasonably habitable.
We are giving up a storage area we've rented for years, and shelves from it are relocated in the second bedroom, giving us a place for the assorted tools that are living in there at present.
We acquire a single bed mattress, which will one day have a bed to go with it in the second bedroom.
After weeks of wet and windy weather, the old climbing rose blows down from the wall. We decide to seize the opportunity to render the newly-straightened wall. Our builders give us the contact for the guys who did the rendering of our renovation, and they are due tomorrow to do the wall. The rose has been cut right back to a mere three old stems, but I'm sure it will grow again. It was overdue for pruning, but it was so high up the wall it was almost impossible to do. So much easier with it lying on the ground!
Renderers come, and render, returning a few days later to do the top coat. Wall looks great, and the rose will be re-attached.
Peter covers over the hole in the floor with mdf and sheets of masonite, and with a rug from the market over the top, the living room looks reasonably habitable.
We are giving up a storage area we've rented for years, and shelves from it are relocated in the second bedroom, giving us a place for the assorted tools that are living in there at present.We acquire a single bed mattress, which will one day have a bed to go with it in the second bedroom.
After weeks of wet and windy weather, the old climbing rose blows down from the wall. We decide to seize the opportunity to render the newly-straightened wall. Our builders give us the contact for the guys who did the rendering of our renovation, and they are due tomorrow to do the wall. The rose has been cut right back to a mere three old stems, but I'm sure it will grow again. It was overdue for pruning, but it was so high up the wall it was almost impossible to do. So much easier with it lying on the ground!
Renderers come, and render, returning a few days later to do the top coat. Wall looks great, and the rose will be re-attached.
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