Month: June 2016

The first layer of the cladding is moving ahead (apologies for shadow)–ready then for the mesh and render. These panels have been painted to protect them; they are not the final colour–although Lesley is quite taken with them, so who knows. . .The plan as it stands is to cover them with a render that is more or less the same colour as the slab, a light grey–they can always be painted then if required.

 

The Vastu (boundary) fence has also been marked out, with more ground to the north and east , tighter to the south and west. Lesley intends to turn the spaces into a replica of the West Beach dunes–self-sustaining, water-efficient, etc.–in deep discussion here with Gary about the electrical set-up.

 

The roofing iron went on this morning–it was bit windy and grey early, and I was concerned that it might be difficult but Gary and the boys managed it all in a few hours. So now it’s starting to look like an actual house: you get a much better idea of the space, and I think it’s going to be very nice and cosy to live in.  The first level of external plywood cladding is also going on, for the next couple of days–they have to use hammers and nails because nail-guns are too powerful for that job. The windows too are due to turn up any time. The external doors are being ordered–so pretty soon it should be at lock-up, which is a great step.  I think Gary’s plan is to move on immediately to the gyprock inside, even if the windows and doors are still coming, putting temporary cover on the windows to allow that to happen. All go! Gary tells me you can see the top of the church from the roof.

The roof trusses are all in place now, ready for the roofing iron to go, which is beginning today. Nature has been kind: a perfectly still, sunny day, which is what you want when you’re throwing roofing iron around! The flat pieces on the ground are the plywood panels which will also go on around the wall frames, as the base for the render. They are painted black to absorb heat–which faces into the wall cavity (of course).