Category Archives: Renovations

Task

I was asked if I could get involved with the building works as the owner builders didn’t know where to start because the scope of the works was too overwhelming. The old part of the house was to remain and then a two storey structure to be added on with a carport and landscaping.

First of all we had to demolish the old additions to the house. The owners were happy to do that but when it came to breaking up a few layers of concrete, disposing it and earthworks they knew that machinery was the only way to do it. Actually we ended up disposing around 50 plus tonnes of concrete.

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The Process

So we raised the house with a reputable house raiser. As the house is in a character precinct the front could not be changed so we braced as much of the house for the lift and renovation. As soon as the house was lifted a lot of excavation work had to happen before the house was able to be placed into position. Footings big footings for structural walls soil/mosture retention and house load points.

One day a storm came out of nowhere actually rain was predicted later that day but the way the storm arrived with force and speed it was like somebody was turning on a circuit switch. We nearly lost the house luckily I placed the excavator bucket up under the house beams and braced it and it worked. I finished the build but I also had a mental breakdown. I saved the clients hundreds of thousands of dollars and in the end I didn’t even get a proper thank you for all my effort. Felt like an idiot.  You know building is a very complex job especially if you’re renovating. It is like doing a 50 000 piece puzzle and you know there will be pieces missing and also not painted. Some of the pieces have to wait before the others are ready. That is just the building process, don’t even mention other legal obligations and all these run simultaneously with the build.

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Footing works pre slab.

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LUCKY SUMO

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Removed over 100M3 of soil and waste.

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Footings in place for the two story build and attach.

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First level.

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Second level being installed.

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This is what you call a big house, and boy you feel it at the end of the day. The worst thing any tradie will tell you is packing up the gear at the end of the day. When you’re building the tools just pile up. It’s probably like surgery at the end of the day the operating table is covered with implements.

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Task

I was asked by the client if I could inspect their home regarding work that they had in mind. The client wanted to remove a wall and make it open plan living converting a bedroom and kitchen into a living / dinning and kitchen. The rooms were dark and the walls and ceiling were made of fibro, containing asbestos. This had to be removed before work could commence.

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The Process

Once the internal cladding was stripped a hanging beam was installed to give the ceiling a seamless  look. Steel furring channel was fixed and timber battens removed to give the gyprock an even look and flow it is also better for fixing.

Below you will see the photos as we are starting the works. We decided to close of the old entry into the house and install the door in the bedroom which is the new living room. We also installed a double hung window with side lites. The side kitchen window was sheeted over to allow for future shelving space.

The window carpentry was also altered to give it a new look.  We also introduced our electrician who did the electrical works.

frame keperra 1

frame Keperra 2

new door entry

Floor boards being installed where the wall frame sat.

install floor boards

Plaster works and setting.

keperra plastering

 

Window installation and exterior wall cladding where we closed the window in.

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Internal painting

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House Before And After

Build a kitchenette under the existing deck. Enclose the top half and make it part of the dining room. Build a deck and a patio area with a 75mm SolarSpan roof attached to the same side of the house. Concrete the whole area and tile the front entrance areas of the house. Use the same profile of FC cladding to match the old part of the house. This brings uniformity and, in the end, makes the building look as one and not an add-on.

Renovations Runcorn 1.1

Renovations Runcorn 1.2

 

runcorn deck/patio