A House

[Stephen B]

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I have recently completed enclosing the decks of the owner build house and studio we have been constructing since 2008. Outside this morning as I looked back, the thought crossed my mind - 'It looks Finished!'  [smile]
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Sure like most owner builds there is more to keep the Festools, Metabos and Makitas in productive servitude. A deck ramp comes to mind and inside there is still some fit out to complete, but more than just the basics are now done and it has an occupancy certificate.  [smile]

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[DirtyOldMan]

Looks very nice!

 

[Kev]

That looks great ... now you can get stuck into the weeds [big grin]

 

[DB10]

Good work Untidy, guess you'll be selling off all those Festools now, you won't be needing them out on the golf course  [big grin]

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]Thanks Kev, Dirty and DB10 for your comments. Looked up some photographs taken during foundation and framing and the beginning of internal works. Note the visit by the 'Building Inspector'.  [smile]

Obviously a build as big as this has involved a few trades as well as myself and Ms Untidy. This could be basically broken down as -

Design - Ms Untidy and Architect
Foundation layout - Carpenter and both of us
Foundation digging - Contractor
Stumps, bearers, joists and framing - Carpenter and myself as well as neighbours for lifting when required.
Roofing - Contractor
Cladding - Carpenter and myself.
Decking, external stairs, wire and railing, under deck cladding - myself
Plumbing - Plumber and myself
Electrical - Electrician
Windows - Supplied by manufacturer but installed by Carpenter and myself.
Wall Plaster (DryWall) - Plasterer and myself (assisted by labourer for areas with high slopping ceilings).
Internal fix, bathrooms and kitchen installs - myself
Painting and decorating, tiling including floor - Ms Untidy with me cutting tiles.

As stated in #1, there is still more to do, so no DB  the Festools are not for sale.  [smile]

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[member=13058]Kev[/member]  [member=42735]DB10[/member]  [member=52949]DirtyOldMan[/member]

 

[DB10]

Great selection of project photos you have there. Was the arial photo taken form a hot air balloon.

 

[Stephen B]

Great selection of project photos you have there. Was the arial photo taken form a hot air balloon.

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No Balloon. Taken by the Plumber from his airplane. Who else can afford a private aircraft these days. 

The photograph was taken on a Sunday. If you look closely you may see me amongst the joists and bearers installing pipe hangers for him and I to install waste pipes the next day.  [smile]

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[tbellemare]

Nice project!

So, is the whole thing on stilts - sort of a modified pier-and-beam?

If so, is that normal there?

Tom

 

[Stephen B]

Nice project!

So, is the whole thing on stilts - sort of a modified pier-and-beam?

If so, is that normal there?

Tom

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Thanks Tom.

No, most new houses in Australia, at least those by major project/display builders in the suburbs, are built on concrete slabs these days. Stumps were more traditional, but are still used particularly in rural areas, with non brick construction and where there is significant site slope as is the case here. There are 144 concrete stumps and the bearers and joists are LVL.

The use of LVL allowed greater distances between stumps and bearers than with solid timber. The external deck stumps are 100x100mm treated pine and the deck joists are 140x45mm M10 CCA pine. The decking is 90x19mm Merbu.

The roof and most of the external walls are colorbond steel corrugated roofing sheets. The use of this on walls is a traditional rural Aussie thing that stems from shearing shed construction.

[size=10pt]LVL - Laminated Vaneer Lumber
http://www.woodsolutions.com.au/Wood-Product-Categories/Laminated-Veneer-Lumber-LVL

Colorbond
http://www.steel.com.au/products/coated-steel/colorbond-steel

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[member=2298]Tom Bellemare[/member]

 

[dltflt]

Nice house. I bet there is a lot of satisfaction in finishing that project.

 

[benwheeler]

Looks like you have plenty of space there, both outside and in - some nice high ceilings!

Where are you located, Mr Shop?

 

[Larso]

Reach around and give you self a big pat on the back,thats one big project and it looks great.

I have to agree with the comments re the plumber and private aircraft,every week when i pay invoices i shake my head at the amounts charged for plumbing work on my jobs and i wouldnt be suprised if he shares hanger space with an electrician given the charge out rates seem at similar levels.

The verandah looks just about perfect for afternoon beers and admiring the view.

 

[Stephen B]

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Thanks Larso, Ben and Don for your comments since Tom's post.

Some readers may have noted from the photographs, that this house is in fact an 'extension' to a small holiday shack that was here when we purchased the property. See aerial photograph. The rafters were removed (as was the wall cladding and some framing) and the new roof covers both old and new.

These rafters, having been originally installed as green hardwood in the 1960s, were well seasoned. I machined this recycled timber and the Carpenter and I created this internal staircase about four years ago. Mostly MountainAsh but also some BoxWood and SugerGum.

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Ben the ceilings/walls are 2700mm except in the main Kitchen/Living area where there is a Cathederal Ceiling.
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[member=32319]Larso[/member] [member=40271]benwheeler[/member]  [member=2912]Don T[/member]
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Kev, re the weeds. Waste of time when surrounded by working farms. Spray occaisionally, but mainly just keep mowing. Too much spraying makes the weeds chemical resistant, especially Cape Weed.
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[member=13058]Kev[/member]

 

[Cheese]

Really nice job on the house. [thumbs up]

Love the corrugated on the side walls. The Merbu decking is fantastic. Most of the stuff here is cedar or pressure treated...boring.

That inspector looks like he means business. He looks to be trying to ferret out any small code infractions.