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

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

[caption id="attachment_713" align="alignnone" width="703"] Site cut and 'hurdles'- Week 2[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_771" align="alignnone" width="704"] Excavation for garage, showing mains connection - Week 2[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_714" align="alignnone" width="704"] Foundations - Week 6[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_715" align="alignnone" width="699"] Insulated floor structure - Week 7[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_779" align="alignnone" width="700"] Sub floor showing stumps and Extasana wrap. R5 floor insulation is full depth of the floor joists - Week 7[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_774" align="alignnone" width="691"] Garage block wall and slab - Week 8[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_773" align="alignnone" width="689"] Social distancing - Week 8[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_717" align="alignnone" width="696"] Frame - Week 9[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_718" align="alignnone" width="899"] Roof trusses - Week 10[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_721" align="alignnone" width="900"] Posts - Week 11[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_723" align="alignnone" width="900"] Wall wrap and garage frame - Week 12[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_777" align="alignnone" width="900"] Roof and gutters on (Colorbond Surfmist) - Week 13[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_738" align="alignnone" width="479"] Window production complete. They start their long journey from Poland - Week 13[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_727" align="alignnone" width="900"] Post detail - 200mm x 200mm cypress with detail of joint[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_729" align="alignnone" width="900"] Vaulted ceiling and scissor trusses.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_730" align="alignnone" width="466"] Half-round Colorbond guttering and Cemintel fascia.  Even funny details like the bracket are appealing.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_733" align="alignnone" width="708"] Scaffold down, showing the glory of the posts - Week 14[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_782" align="alignnone" width="900"] In-ground concrete tank behind retailing wall - Week 16[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_736" align="alignnone" width="900"] Bitumen roof on garage - Week 16[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_740" align="alignnone" width="900"] The sloping ridge line of the roof is apparent from a distance - Week 17[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_745" align="alignnone" width="900"] Ship with windows arrives in Malaysia - Week 18[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_742" align="alignnone" width="768"] Garage door frame - Week 21[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_749" align="alignnone" width="767"] Windows arrive at Port of Melbourne - Week 27[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_743" align="alignnone" width="900"] Garage clad - Week 27[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_748" align="alignnone" width="900"] Windows arrive at site, six months since order - Week 28[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_757" align="alignnone" width="900"] Interior wrap commences - Week 29[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_754" align="alignnone" width="900"] Windows installed - kitchen looking south east - Week 29[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_756" align="alignnone" width="900"] Windows installed - main bedroom looking south west - Week 29[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_759" align="alignnone" width="650"] East end of house showing overhang and posts, and kitchen windows - Week 29[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_765" align="alignnone" width="900"] Living / Dining area looking north. Showing wall insulation - Week 29[/caption]