Here’s a pictorial essay showing the construction of the house up to the point that the windows are installed.
2020-09-13
Richard Keech
Getting started
Kicking off the build with Dave Martin – Week 1
It’s about three years from our first visit and finally, at the start of March, things get underway on site. On the first of March we celebrated the kick off with a glass of bubbly with Dave Martin (Martin Builders), and his partner Alice. Dave has advised a build schedule with an expected completion in January 2021.
The windows are ordered from Logikhaus at about the same time. Because they’re being made in Europe, the lead time is long. At this stage, the windows are not expected till early August, which makes them the critical path for the whole construction.
Green roof. I’ll post separately about the green roof on the garage.
COVID. We were worried about delays arising from COVID. We’ve been lucky to date, with only minor impact. The windows had production delays of about three weeks. In the scheme of 2020 craziness, that’s not too bad. The biggest impact has been restrictions on our own ability to visit site.
The first half of the build – a weekly journey
Site cut and ‘hurdles’- Week 2
Excavation for garage, showing mains connection – Week 2
Foundations – Week 6
Insulated floor structure – Week 7
Sub floor showing stumps and Extasana wrap. R5 floor insulation is full depth of the floor joists – Week 7
Garage block wall and slab – Week 8
Social distancing – Week 8
Frame – Week 9
Roof trusses – Week 10
Posts – Week 11
Wall wrap and garage frame – Week 12
Roof and gutters on (Colorbond Surfmist) – Week 13
Window production complete. They start their long journey from Poland – Week 13
Post detail – 200mm x 200mm cypress with detail of joint
Vaulted ceiling and scissor trusses.
Half-round Colorbond guttering and Cemintel fascia. Even funny details like the bracket are appealing.
Scaffold down, showing the glory of the posts – Week 14
In-ground concrete tank behind retailing wall – Week 16
Bitumen roof on garage – Week 16
The sloping ridge line of the roof is apparent from a distance – Week 17
Ship with windows arrives in Malaysia – Week 18
Garage door frame – Week 21
Windows arrive at Port of Melbourne – Week 27
Garage clad – Week 27
Windows arrive at site, six months since order – Week 28
Interior wrap commences – Week 29
Windows installed – kitchen looking south east – Week 29
Windows installed – main bedroom looking south west – Week 29
East end of house showing overhang and posts, and kitchen windows – Week 29
Living / Dining area looking north. Showing wall insulation – Week 29
